Bennett Lee, Camden Minacci discuss catcher-pitcher relationship

One of the most important relationships in all of sports is that of the catcher and pitcher. In many cases, one cannot be successful without the other. That’s certainly the case with Bennett Lee and Camden Minacci of Wake Forest.

It was Minacci who came into the game against LSU, shutting the door on the Tigers for the final 1.2 innings without allowing a Tiger to get on base in a one-run game. Afterward, he and Lee spoke about that unique catcher-pitcher relationship.

“It’s unbelievable,” Lee said. “This guy right here, best friends in high school. Co-captain on our high school team. He’s my Catholic confirmation sponsor. I just can’t say enough, and there’s no one I’d rather be in the foxhole with battling with 30,000 people screaming at us. And there’s just, with him there’s just this comfort — and we both know what’s going to happen. When he comes in, the game’s over.”

Minacci agreed with Lee. There’s no one he’d rather be working with out there.

“He said it best. He’s my foxhole guy. Every time I got on the mound we give each other one of these. And at that point we just let our process take over and the results will be what they will be.”

The pair’s relationship goes back to high school, where they played together at Tampa’s Jesuit High School. Lee, initially, went to Tulane before transferring to Wake Forest. So, for the pair, this has been a full-circle experience.

“We both have worked so hard together. We’ve had such a great process together. We mold so well together. It’s just a lot of fun,” Minacci said. “To go from starting games in high school to closing games in college, with him behind the plate, it’s kind of a full-circle moment. And it’s pretty incredible. I can’t say enough about it. It’s so much fun.”

Bennett Lee broke down the eighth inning

Wake Forest wasn’t able to take the lead from LSU until the eighth inning. Once the Demon Deacons took the lead, they didn’t give it back, though. It was a momentous inning, which Bennett Lee broke down after the game.

“I think it starts with the mound visit we’ve had. Actually Coach [Tom] Walter told me to tell Brock [Wilken] to maybe get the out at home if we have it. So that was already in our heads coming into it. And then Beloso hits a little squibber, and that was actually a really good play by Brock,” Lee said.

“And then the at-bat, got down 0-2. I thought [Thatcher] Hurd executed a good slider on the outside corner first pitch. Then I took a really good swing at a hanging slider next pitch, fouled it right back. Battled, battled, fouled off a heater. Then it was 1-2, I think, and my boots were shaking a little bit. So I was, like, all right, I’m going to go talk to Billy. Get a good hug from Billy. He’s like a father figure to all of us. He’s got like five kids. So I went over for some comfort. And then he was just like, hey, man, just find a way to get this ball through. I love you. And it just calmed me down, put me in a good head space for one pitch. And that’s what happened.”