The Collegian

After coming off their most successful season since 1959, the Delta baseball team is hoping to return to glory despite losing many of last year's stars.

Last season, the Mustangs collected such accolades as a trip to the regional/super regional championships, a final four seed in the "Big 8 Conference" as well as being named top team in Northern California en route to finishing runner up in the state championship game.

The Mustangs excelled in Big 8 play, leading the conference in team era, fielding percentage, opponent batting avg. and doubles.

Only nine players are returning from last year's team, however, with 26 transfers and freshman making up new additions.

Despite these personel losses, the Mustangs were voted No.1 by the California Baseball Coaches Association in the Nor Cal preseason poll after bringing in a strong recruiting class. Of the nine returning players, only two, one position player and one pitcher, were starters a year ago.

Zach DeValle and Stuart Burnett, who transferred to Park College and Sacramento State University respectively, are two of the Mustangs' major losses going into the season.

Both DeValle and Burnett were All-Americans last season, with the former being voted California Pitcher of the Year.

Reed Peters, who is entering his third season as head coach of the Mustangs, feels that the team is more than capable of duplicating last season's success; his only concern is the lack of experience of this year's squad.

"Obviously we want to get back to where we were last year," said Peters. "We have the talent but not the experience."

The Mustangs are optimistic about this season's potential, in large part due to their numerous additions.

One such addition, redshirt freshman Stephen Malcolm, has already signed a letter of intent to play at Virginia Tech University next season. Malcolm will play both shortstop and pitcher for the Mustangs this season.

Justin Tomek, a red-shirt freshman transfer from Lewis and Clark College, is already enjoying his time in Peter's program.

"I like it here [because] we are more like a family, [all] with the same goal."

The Mustangs start off the season with a three game series against San Jose City. The second game of the series is today at 1p.m. at Nick Cecchetti Field. Sat. Feb. 13 will mark the third and final game of the series and will be held at 12p.m.

"We are going to play hard; we are determined to win, and give it our all," said Jordan Ribota, another red-shirt freshman for the Mustangs.

Article Tools