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| PING!BASEBALL SPOTLIGHT PLAYER
Will Delawter
Maryland-Baltimore County
Retrievers |
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It would be an understatement to say that
the 2007 baseball season was unkind to the University of Maryland,
Baltimore County Retrievers. UMBC finished with a 13-40 overall
record and last in the America East with a grim 4-20 mark
- a far cry from their accomplishments just a handful of years
past when the Retrievers went 31-20-2, won the NEC title and
made an appearance at the NCAA Regionals.  Yet,
baseball success has been cyclical in nature for the UMBC
over the past two decades and slim wins could quickly be a
thing of the past. If you were to graph the Retrievers’
wining percentage over the last twenty seasons you’d
get a wave that would make even the saltiest of sailors a
bit queasy.
Even without that trend, it would appear
things are looking up for head coach John Jancuska and his
team. The Retrievers return four out of their six starting
pitchers as well as two-thirds of their starting lineup. However,
the biggest reason the Black and Gold could be back on the
upswing is their star designated hitter/starting pitcher,
Will Delawter. Last season, his first with UMBC after playing
two years for the Chesapeake College Skipjacks, Delawter paced
the team in almost every offensive category. He lead the team
in batting average (.365), hits (62), RBI (38), slugging percentage
(.553) and on-base percentage (.418) and ranked second in
doubles (14), home runs (6) and total bases (94). He also
displayed excellent bat control, fanning only 16 times in
187 plate appearances. His marks earned him selection to the
America East All-Conference First Team (as well as to the
All-Academic Team) as he ranked third in the conference in
batting average, fifth in slugging percentage, sixth in on-base
percentage, seventh in RBI, tied for seventh in hits, tied
for eighth in doubles, tied for fifth in home runs and tied
for seventh in total bases.
While not quite as imposing as his offensive
numbers, Delawter was an effective member of the UMBC pitching
staff as well. He appeared in twelve games (11 starts) and
earned a victory and one save in 58 innings pitched with a
6.67 ERA. He also threw a complete game and recorded 28 strikeouts.
Coach Jancuska anticipates another sensational
season from his senior leader this season. "We expect
a big year from him as a formidable 3-4 hitter. He has a 'Closer
Mentality' so we are going to use him in that role as a pitcher.
He is the whole package as a true 'Student/Athlete'",
Jancuska praised of Delawter.
Delawter spent his first two seasons of college
ball at nearby Chesapeake College. There, along with UMBC
teammate Ryan Morse who redshirted last season, he helped
the team to a fifth place finish at the 2005 NJCAA World Series.
He earned a number of junior college honors, including being
named to the MDJUCO All-Region XX First-Team and MDJUCO All-State
Team during the 2005 and 2006 seasons as well as an NJCAA
All-American in ’05. In his two years at Chesapeake,
Delawter hit .383, compiled 96 RBI and hit 16 homers.
Delawter's coach at Chesapeake, Coach Frank
Szymanski, had nothing but praised when recently asked about
his former star, "Will is hard working, loyal, and committed
to his team, family, and baseball. He is also one of the best
clutch hitters to ever play at Chesapeake College. He also
comes from a great family!"
This past summer Delawter played summer
ball for Winchester of the Valley Baseball League. Delawter
batted .293 (24 for 82), playing in 28 games with 21 starts
for the Royals.
UMBC begins their season February 29th,
hosting Army in a three game series. With a repeat performance
by Delawter and breakout seasons by a few other Retrievers
(be on the lookout for sophomore Eddie Bach who went 1-1 with
a 2.65 ERA and 20 Ks in only 17 IP before missing the rest
of the season due to injury), UMBC baseball could provide
something entertaining to watch in Baltimore once “The
Wire” series finale is over.
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