Pioneers leading off

green ball on sand

Delta’s baseball and softball teams shake off the rust during spring training

By: Blake Metiva

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” These words quoted by the great Ernie Harwell signified the beginning of baseball season for many Detroit Tiger fans. Now, the season has sprung for both the baseball and softball teams here at Delta.

Delta’s baseball team began their season this week at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida. The Pioneers played nine games at the complex, coming away with two victories. 

In their first victory of the season, the Pioneers defeated the Nittany Lions of Penn State Mont Alto. Freshman center-fielder Layke Hornung was the stand-out player of the game. He finished the game with 6 runs batted in, a homerun, and 2 runs of his own. Sophomore catcher Colby Corlew had 2 RBI’s, a double and a run scored. Freshman pitcher Alex Pahl pitched 3.1 innings, gave up 3 hits, gave up no base on balls and struck-out 5 of Mont Alto’s batters. The Pioneers won their second game against the College of Lake County by a score of 3-2.

The softball team began their season a few states away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where they played five games and came away with a victory against St. Clair County Community College.

The next home games for Delta’s baseball and softball teams are against the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders on Friday, March 29. Two games will be played back-to-back by both teams. Game 1 for both teams begins at 2 p.m., with game 2 beginning at 4 p.m. for the softball team and 4:30 p.m. for the baseball team.