Delaware Tech Baseball Earns Third Seed in Region Tournament

Delaware Technical Community College’s baseball team played well throughout the 2023 season, finishing with a 30-17 record and earning the third seed in this weekend’s NJCAA Region 19 Division II Baseball Championship Tournament.

“Throughout the season, we spent a lot of time focusing on little things, and getting as many guys reps as possible,” Head Coach Stu Madden said. “We had a few stretches of struggle, but in the long run it has made us better and more prepared to win in multiple ways, which has made us a better team.”

The tournament will take place May 12-14 at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Penn. Delaware Tech’s first game will be at 10 a.m. against the second seeded Sussex County Community College. At the same time, top seed Lackawanna College will be playing the winner of the play in game between Mercer County Community College and County College of Morris.

The team that wins the region tournament will host the East District tournament May 19-21, while the runner-up of the region tournament will advance to the district tournament.

Delaware Tech is led on the mound by sophomore Zach Hart, who finished the season 6-1 with 65 strikeouts and a 3.05 ERA. Sophomore Kyle Coffey went 7-3 with a 3.54 ERA and 51 strikeouts, and sophomore Cade Williams went 6-2 with a 3.91 ERA and 51 strikeouts. At the plate, sophomore shortstop Hunter Rauch is batting .405 with 62 hits, sophomore outfielder Kory Pritchard is batting .395 with 68 hits, and freshman catcher Mason Morris is batting .378 with 45 hits, 10 home runs, and 46 RBI. Sophomore outfielder Will Turner is batting .384 with 53 hits and 43 RBI, and sophomore first baseman Matt Rodriguez is batting .358 with 43 hits and 45 RBI.

This season has featured several historical accomplishments for the team on the field. Williams threw a no-hitter, Rodriguez became just the second player in at least the last 10 seasons to reach 100 career hits and 100 career RBI, and sophomore designated hitter Christopher Friend became the first player in at least 10 seasons to reach 25 career home runs.

“If we play the way that we are capable and we execute and do the little things the way we are supposed to, then we are really hard to beat because we have a lot of talent on this roster,” Madden said.

The entire tournament will be livestreamed by Lackawanna College on the Lackawanna Falcons website.

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PHOTO: Top left, Delaware Tech’s baseball team was led in 2023 by sophomore Kory Pritchard (most hits), freshman Mason Morris (most home runs), sophomore Zach Hart (lowest ERA), sophomore Hunter Rauch (highest batting average), and sophomore Matt Rodriguez (first player to achieve 100 career hits and 100 career RBI in the past 10 seasons.) Top right, Delaware Tech’s defense is anchored by sophomore pitchers Kyle Coffey, Chad Reichhold, Zach Hart, and Cade Williams, and freshman catcher Mason Morris. Bottom, Delaware Tech’s lineup scored 376 runs, hit 41 home runs, and had a team batting average of .337. Leading the way are, freshman Conor Evers, sophomore Kory Pritchard, sophomore Michael Breen, sophomore Matt Rodriguez, sophomore Christopher Friend, sophomore Hunter Rauch, and sophomore Will Turner.