Former big league catchers calls NCAA tournament game

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - For a dozen years, Bruce Benedict called pitches in the big leagues. This week, the former All-Star catcher and current New York Mets scout called something else -- his first game as an NCAA tournament official. <br> <br> Benedict blew the whistle Thursday as Ohio State beat Davidson 69-64 in the first round of the West Regional. <br> <br> The former Atlanta Braves catcher said, ``I&#39;ve been fortunate to be at a lot of big sporting venues in my life, and this was one of the best. This was a wonderful, intriguing, passionate experience. The energy of the kids, their skill, what&#39;s at stake, it&#39;s unbelievable.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> And, Benedict&#39;s three-man crew had it pretty easy. No technical fouls, no altercations and not too much shouting by the coaches. <br> <br> Too bad that his time&#39;s up at the tournament. Benedict now heads back to his baseball job as an advance scout for the Mets. <br> <br> Benedict said he was returning home to Atlanta Friday and would be in spring training by Tuesday. <br> <br> He said, ``I&#39;ll be watching Pittsburgh and Atlanta because that&#39;s who we play in the first two series of the season.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The 46-year-old Benedict spent his entire major league career as a catcher with the Braves, playing from 1978-89. <br> <br> An All-Star in 1981 and 1983, he hit .242 with 18 home runs and 260 RBI&#39;s in 982 games. He reached the postseason in 1982 when the Braves lost to St. Louis in the N.L. championship series. <br> <br> He credits his experience on the ball field with helping him officiate at the NCAA&#39;s highest level. <br> <br> Benedict said, ``I&#39;ve been in the heat of battle and know how things happen, what gets said and how players react. Obviously, there are things that come up. You just try to get him to talk about something else, to diffuse the situation. You want to manage the game, not become a part of it.&#39;&#39;