Albany 'A Blessing From God' For Delamota

SHEFFIELD, Ma. - Admittedly, the recruiting process was frustrating for Jeremy Delamota.

“I was thinking of reclassifying or waiting to see what happened in the summer,” related the Berkshire School 2021, whose recruitment was moving no place during the COVID-19 shutdown. “I didn’t know what I was going to do. It was tough and I was frustrated.”

But things changed on the first of July.

“It all started at the PBR Top Prospect Games,” the 10th-rated senior outfielder in New England noted. “After the event, Albany contacted me. Dennis (Healy, PBR Massachusetts Director of Scouting) put in a good word for me and they reached out. I had a good conversation with their coach and we began updating each other every day.”

Said Healy in a “Quick Hit” on the PBR website about Delamota’s performance at the TPG event: “He put on a show with his bat. He’s a high-level hitter.”

That is an area that stood out about Delamota for the University at Albany as well.

“They like my hitting,” Delamota said about the coaches at the American East Conference school. “They also like my character. We had a one-hour zoom call with (head) coach (Jon) Mueller and coach (Jeff) Kaiser and there were no negatives. My high school coach also put in a good word. They saw me as a good fit.”

Delamota also liked what he heard from Albany.

“What I first loved was the staff,” the 41st-ranked 2021 in New England said. “They were always reaching out trying to make the best offer for me and my family. You could tell they’re there for the kids and dedicated to their work.

“It’s a good academic school and a good criminal justice school which I want to go into,” added Delamota. “They made me feel welcome and I wanted to go somewhere I’m wanted. There was a lot of frustration to the recruiting process for me, but then this popped up. It was a blessing from God.”

A commitment came on July 28 after the PBR New England Combine.

“I had some D-III offers like Bapson and was talking to Randolph-Macon and Catholic University, but those are expensive schools with no athletic aid and a lot tougher for me and my family,” explained Delamota, who also was being pursued by North Carolina Central. “My goal was to try and reach a D-I program so this is great. Plus I’m from (Queens) New York so I get in-state aid as well.”

Coaches Danny Duverge, Carlos Pena and Jason Gappa played prominent roles along the way in helping the 6-2 205-pounder reach his Division I aspiration.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play college baseball since I was a little kid,” Delamota reflected. “Division I has been a goal for me and it happened. Using baseball as a way to go to college … where I’m from there are not a lot of good opportunities. Now if all goes well I’ll get drafted by a major league team.”

Attending Berkshire helped the cause in the eyes of Delamota.

“I knew if it wasn’t Albany I know I’d still end up at a good university,” Delamota said. “Going to a prep school like Berkshire really matured me and made me into a young man and a great student.”

Delamota, who carries a 3.4 GPA, believes there is a lot he can provide the program at Albany.

“The first thing I see myself bringing is my hitting,” Delamota said. “It’s a big part of who I am today as a player.

“But I can also help just in the way I am as a person. I’m very outgoing and a good teammate. I feel I can bring good things individually and as a teammate with my hard work and my mentality.”

With a Division I commitment comes relief.

“It’s an amazing feeling, not just for me but for my family,” Delamota related. “We didn’t know what the summer would bring. We’re so excited and thankful for the opportunity given. Thankfully Albany saw me and we built a good relationship. Dennis (Healy) is the one that told them they needed to look at me and I can’t thank him enough.”