​Morton has found its new baseball head coach.Ben Studebaker’s hiring was approved by the District 709 school board on Tuesday, July 14, becoming the third head coach in three years for the Mid-Illini Conference program. Studebaker replaces Ryan Lindley, who resigned in June.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStudebaker served as a 12-year varsity assistant coach at Eureka following 10 seasons as the Peoria Christian baseball head coach.Ben Studebaker, Morton baseball head coach“I’m truly honored to have been selected as the next head coach of the Morton Potters baseball program,” he said in a release. “I will forever be grateful to coach Dane Wear and the administration at Eureka High School for giving me the opportunity to remain in high school baseball over the past 12 seasons, and I am excited for the opportunity to lead the next chapter in the proud tradition and rich history of Morton Potters baseball.”During his dozen years with Eureka, Studebaker helped the Hornets win seven regional titles highlighted by a 2025 Class 2A third-place finish. His PCS tenure included leading the Chargers from 2004 to 2013.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We are incredibly excited to have coach Studebaker lead our MHS baseball program,” Morton athletics director Scott Jones said in a release. “Ben’s vision, passion, and commitment to development will create life-changing experiences for our student-athletes for generations to come.”We are confident his leadership will continue the proud tradition of Morton baseball while building an exciting future for our program.”The Potters went 23-13 overall and finished third in the Mid-Illini Conference at 10-4 in the 2026 campaign. Morton won five in a row before its season ended after getting run-ruled by Dunlap in a Class 3A regional championship.Rising senior Hudson Lovell was an all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team selection last season, while graduating seniors Cam Crawford, Camden Taylor and Collin Burns were second-team all-league players.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Morton hires longtime Eureka assistant as new baseball head coach