Delaware State ‘Like A Home Away From Home’ For Da Silva

Levy Da Silva OF / RHP / St.Mark's School, MA / 2025

PEABODY, Ma. - Familiarity with the new coaching staff at Delaware State made a college decision easier for Levy Da Silva.

“The new coaches have been part of the summer program I’ve been playing for,” Da Silva said in reference to head coach Pedro Swann and assistant CJ Loper, who he played under with the 5-Star organization (Select and Prime). “Both of these guys have been big for me and it’s exciting to play for them.

“When coach Loper took the job he called and asked my thoughts on playing for him. Once they took the job, within three weeks they offered. It didn’t take me too long to make a decision.”

Being in Delaware, located five hours from home, will be nothing new for the St. Mark’s High School senior.

“The past three or four years I’ve been playing for 5 Star Prime which is based in Delaware,” explained Da Silva. “Every summer I leave Massachusetts, go there and spend 90 percent of my summer. I’m very familiar with the area. It’s like a home away from home.”

Delaware State sees the 6-1 195-pounder making an impact in more ways than one.

“One thing they emphasized about me is how I can two-way, pitching and playing outfield with a lefty bat,” noted Da Silva, who was also recruited by schools such as Franklin Pierce, Norfolk State, Mt. St. Mary’s and Maryland Eastern Shore. “They want to bring me in and if being a two-way works out, perfect. At the end of the day, the goal is to get drafted, and having those two things under my belt will be a very good opportunity.”

Admittedly, it was far from a smooth recruiting process for the 18-year-old.

“My recruitment was a lot of mid-Atlantic schools and those up here,” related Da Silva, who lives in eastern Massachusetts just north of Boston. “The big thing for me was trying to find the right place. There were times schools would reach out and talk a lot and then it would go dark. People staying in contact was big for me. Some coaches were very invested in me and some invested and then moved on. It was like a roller coaster. It wasn’t easy but it worked out.

“I did a Scout Day with Prep Baseball and played at LakePoint twice and that got me in front of coaches,” added Da Silva. “The first college that looked at me was VCU and that came from LakePoint. There’s no place like that environment to attract coaches.”

Da Silva did his best to make an impression wherever he was seen, even considering putting a focus on just being a pitcher.

“Sophomore year at St. Mary’s I was mainly pitching and almost gave up on playing outfield and hitting,” Da Silva reflected. “It took a lot of dedication to do my throwing and also the same amount or more of hitting. The culture at my school helped. Everyone wants to get an offer and really works at it.

“It’s not only the physical part, but the mental and psychological parts of the game that has really helped me improve the past year.”

High school coach Robert Calagione and Next Level Boston coach Christian Ortiz along with Loper have been the biggest influences according to Da Silva, who also credited his parents with playing a major role in his journey to college baseball.

“When I made the decision I couldn’t put the feeling into words,” Da Silva said. “It never happened before. I was very happy and very proud. The support cast with my family, my friends and my coaches were all very proud of me. The decision took a lot of weight off me.”

Da Silva points to effort as something he will bring to the Northeast Conference program.

“That’s one thing there’s no excuse for not having,” Da Silva said. “If people aren’t buying into the program it’s not going to work. I’ll bring a work ethic and energy to the team.”

Familiarity with coaches and other players is just part of what Da Silva is excited about when it comes to playing college baseball at Delaware State.

“The chance to play a sport at such a high level and get that education is going to be great,” concluded Da Silva, a 3.4 student at St. Mark’s with aspirations to major in kinesiology. “Delaware State is an HBCU college known for having a good community so that’s going to be a very good thing.”