ANDREW SHORTALL | staff writer
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courtesy of APU Athletics
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| Junior RYAN DELGADO (top) has a .351 batting average, 7 home runs and 23 RBIs while junior ANTHONY DELGADO (bottom) has a .357 batting average, .500 slugging percentage and .526 on-base percentage on the season thus far. |
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There are two new brothers on the APU’s baseball team this year. These new additions from Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga have brought plenty of offense along with them.
Ryan Delgado, APU’s starting third baseman, was initially recruited by APU’s baseball coach Paul Svagdis.
Soon after, Svagdis began inquiring about the possibility of Anthony Delgado, joining his brother at APU as well.
Anthony Delgado is currently the starting catcher for the Cougars.
“We were not sure if Anthony was going to be able to come because of finances, but things worked out and we ended up playing together,” Ryan said.
The Delgado brothers are pleased with their new team as well. They both agree the biggest difference between playing for a junior college and APU is the level of play and competition here at APU.
“This is the best team I have ever been on, as far as the depth with pitching and hitting. Any player in the lineup can hit the ball out,” Ryan said.
Although the Delgado brothers are new additions to the team, they hope to pick up where the team has left off the past few years.
Anthony and Ryan Delgado are both juniors and business administration majors.
Anthony is only 15 months older than his brother Ryan. Their proximity in age is almost as close as their proximity in the batting lineup for the Cougars.
Anthony and Ryan follow each other in the lineup at the third and fourth spot. Anthony referred to this as “a little Delgado special.”
Ryan Delgado, number 22, currently leads the Cougars in hits, 20 and RBIs at 23. His batting average is a solid .333 with a .750 slugging percentage.
Anthony Delgado, number 13, is also contributing to the Cougar’s lineup with a .357 batting average and solid defense with 1.000 fielding percentage.
The Delgado brothers almost set the record for the most homeruns in a single game by a pair of brothers at their previous junior college, Chaffey College. They hope they will be able to bring their back-to-back power to the Cougars this season.
However, their focus is elsewhere than their personal statistics.
“I try to focus on the team, I do not let my personal stats effect me; just go game by game and see whatever happens, happens. I just try and stay mentally focused on each game, one at a time and let the numbers play themselves out,” Anthony said.
The Delgado brothers are also known for a very strong work ethic.
“We have been really impressed with their work ethic and attitudes,” Svagdis said. Their similarities off the field, in name and age draw assumptions.
“A lot of people think that we are twins. It is funny. We get it a lot,” Ryan Delgado said. Once they are on the field though, they’re just part of the team.
“Once you know they are brothers you can see the resemblance, but you do not think, ‘These guys have to be brothers,’ as soon as they walk into the yard,” Coach Svagdis said.
One thing which separates the Delgado brothers on the diamond is their style of play.
“Ryan is more vocal than Anthony, but Antony is like that silent worker who works really hard for everyone. Anthony is that silent leader that we need,” junior backup catcher and communications major Chris Feicht said.
Svagdis believes these differences help complement the overall makeup and chemistry of the team.
“Both of those traits are good for our team. Sometimes you need that quiet, thinker type person who just goes about their business, like Anthony. And there is Ryan who can go out and hit a homerun or strikeout and he has the same positive attitude, to a certain point,” Svagdis said. “Your team needs that guy too. They need to see that your number four hitter does not get down when he gets punched out. He is ready to go the next time he steps to the plate.”
Svagdis identified another compliment the Delgado brothers bring to the team is their proclivity to immerse themselves into the whole team and not cling to one another. Anthony agreed, admitting he feels the hype of being brothers on the same team, but tries to not let it affect him, by looking at his brother as just another teammate.
“They got along really well, but they do not seclude themselves. They are both integrated into the team,” Svagdis said. “Me and Ryan have built that camaraderie around each other and you built it around other people and everyone becomes closer,” Anthony said.
When all is said and done though, these brothers are more concerned the new tools they bring to the Cougars will lead them back into the NAIA World Series, for the third straight year. This year the Delgado brothers hope to hoist the hardware with their new teammates.
The Cougars next play conference opponent Fresno Pacific today at 2 p.m.
