Sports
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Issue 10 • March 11, 2011 • www.deltacollegian.com
Coach: ‘Our goal is to win a championship’
us, we’re playing really good baseball,” said Hassna. “Just working hard and trying to improve.” Not to be outdone is the Mustangs Two years ago Delta’s Head Baseball offense, which has averaged over eight Coach Reed Peters got to that champi- runs a game this year thanks to league onship game, falling leader in RBIs Randy Villa one victory short. and Ricky Acosta, who leads This year Peters the league in batting avermight just get anage, on base percentage and other shot as the is tied for league lead in hits. n at Cosumnes Delta Mustangs are As good as it has been River 1:00 p.m. off to a excellent for Delta, the season is still start. young and Peters knows n vs. Sacramento “It was a lot of there is room for improveCity 2:30 p.m. fun, and we know ment. what it takes to get “Consistency, just playing there,” said Peters. good baseball every single n at Modesto It’s a month into day, we have a very deep team Junior College 2:30 the season with offensively and defensively p.m. league play apit’s just a matter of bringing proaching and so far it everyday,” said Peters. n vs. Santa Rosa the Mustangs have With the most important 1:00 p.m. looked very imprespart of the schedule apsive going a near proaching, the Mustangs are n at American perfect 12-1. ready to make a statement River 2:30 p.m. The hot start has and achieve the goal of winalso put the team ning a championship. atop the NORCAL n at Diablo Valley “We’re off to a good start poll. and if we keep improving I 2:30 p.m. The top ranked think we’ll have a shot at Mustangs main playing for a championship,” weapon is a very deep pitching staff led said Peters. by undefeated starters Trevor Miller (5The Delta Baseball team starts league 0) and Kyle Hassna (4-0) who provide play on March 12, when the team travels a dynamic one-two punch at the top of to Elk Grove to take on Cosumnes River. the rotation. To contact this reporter, e-mail at: “Our coach is expecting a lot out of johnnydetsunami@gmail.com
By John Wallace Staff Writer
Upcoming games
PHOTO BY: JOHN WALLACE
SPRING TRAINING: Starting pitcher Eric Watts and teammate get in swings before
Tuesday’s game.
Softball starts season strong
Athlete of the issue
By Eric Culpepper Sports Editor
Despite a perfect non-league record to start the season Delta College’s third-year softball coach Jim Fisher is focused on what his team can do to get better. “I’m expecting a little more offensively,” said Fisher. “I feel like we’ve had a hard time producing runs.” While trying to find their way on the offensive side the team has relied on defense and pitching to carry them through nonleague play. “Strengths, probably our three pitchers,” Fisher stated. “(Katie) Cotta, (Genevieve) Reyna, and (Andrea) Lutz, they have all done a great job for us this year.” Coach Fisher was not looking to give any predictions when asked about the upcoming season.
Rachel Borges #15 Sophomore Position: CF PHOTO BY: ERIC CULPEPPER
PRACTICE: Coach Jim Fisher works with players in preparation for the upcoming season.
Favorite Athlete: Buster Posey
“Win or lose we want to do the best that we can, everything else is out of our control,” Fisher said. Instead of stats or star players Fisher was quick to turn the conversation into team play and leadership, something he is looking at within his team. These traits along with many others are building blocks of
Highlight: Selected for her leadership and on field performance in recent games
“The Pyramid of Success,” a coaching philosophy made famous by former UCLA Men’s Basketball Coach John Wooden which Fisher said he likes to use in his coaching. The coach’s message has been made clear to leaders on his team. When asked about her expec-
tations of the season ahead, second year player Rachel Borges mimicked her coach. “We can win it all if we play to the best of our ability,” said Borges. With the building blocks in place the softball team is poised to make a run at the Big Eight Conference title when the team opens up the regular sea-
son schedule on the road to play American River College, March 12. To contact this reporter, e-mail at: culpeppereric@gmail.com