FARMVILLE, Va. - Longwood University junior baseball right fielder Brandon Delk/Newport News has been named the Longwood Male
ARMS Software Athlete of the Week. He started all four games played last week, hitting .412 (7-17) with two home runs, one double, four RBIs and two runs. He was 2-4 with a stolen base at Virginia Tech, 3-4 with a home run, double, two RBI and a run against Liberty in the series opener, 1-5 with an RBI in game two against the Flames and 1-4 with a homer, RBI and a run against Liberty in the series finale. On the season, Delk has started 32 of 35 games and is batting .304 (second on the team) with seven home runs (co-leader), one triple (second on team), four doubles (fifth on team), 24 RBI (co-leader), 19 runs (third on team) and six walks.
Question and Answer Session with Brandon Delk and Ashley Robbins AR: Coming back from injury, you've been able to help the team at the plate beginning with a pair of hits at Virginia Tech. Talk about your recent hitting success.BD: Well I believe my hitting success recently has come from an increased focus on technique during practice and a calm more relaxed approach when hitting in the games.
AR: You’re second on the team with a .304 average. What does it mean to you to be such a big contributor to the team?BD: I'm just happy I can help my team. I just want to set a good example for my teammates. I'm proud that I have been doing well, but I always want to do better.
AR: Now that you're an upperclassman, do you find yourself giving advice to the younger players? If so, what kinds of leadership do you provide?BD: As an upperclassmen, I find myself trying to guide the younger players to do the right thing like going to class or not back talking our coaches. But I don't give specific baseball advice.
AR: What are your individual and team goals for the rest of the year?BD: The goals I set for myself are to stay focused and confident in my games and practice. I don't like to focus on the number because no matter how good I am, I will always be at the mercy of the opponent’s defense.
AR: What's one of the best pieces of advice you've gotten from any of the coaches during your time here?BD: Well there are two things that my coaches have said to me that have really stuck and made me a better player. The first one is to stop talking because listening to other people is how you learn. The second is to stay relaxed because when you relax you perform better.
AR: What would you say to a young athlete hoping to play DI someday?BD: Well the first thing I would tell them is life is not fair. The only thing you can do is control yourself. Live the life you want to live, if you want to be an athlete work hard. Don't let someone tell you can't do something.
AR: Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals?BD: I have a few baseball rituals. I won't shave until I end a hitting streak. If we have a good day, I won't change the socks I've been using no matter how holey they get. I wash them of course. For every home run I hit, I put another dash line on my bat and there are some other superstitions that I have, but if I told people they would work anymore.
AR: What drew you to Longwood?BD: Well I came to Longwood because I liked the size of the university and because Longwood has many traditions that I love to participate in.
AR: What is one thing you hope to accomplish looking ahead to your senior season and do you plan on preparing any differently than you have in the past?BD: I'm looking forward to being a senior, but I haven’t made too many plans yet. I still need to evaluate this season as a whole, and find things that both the team and I did wrong, so we can try and fix them.
AR: Any plans for after graduation?BD: After I graduate I'm looking to be a strength and conditioning coach. I really want to work with athletes and make them the best they can be.
AR: What’s your favorite meal/book/class/band?BD: My favorite meal is probably my dad's four meat spaghetti with lots of cheese. Favorite class is my exercise science seminar because Dr. Morrison makes the class fun and educational.
