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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. 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. PREVIOUS SPOTLIGHT PLAYERS
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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. 
