Delvets aiming to make their own American Legion World Series history
Lots of championship athletic teams are developed through years of hard work and team-building concepts. For the Delvets of Delaware Veterans Post 1 in Wilmington, Del., veteran coach Mike Buono has spent the last 16 years developing the program in hopes of making the history they’ve made this season.
The Delvets are making their American Legion World Series debut this season, and it took quite an effort to get there.
Not only are the Delvets frequently confused with longtime rival (and 2018 ALWS champion) Wilmington Post 1, they overcame an opening-round loss in the regionals and were one strike away from elimination in the title game before rallying to make history as the fifth Delaware team to advance this far.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Buono said. “We’ve been working hard with these guys for years now. We found out what we had coming up about eight years ago with this group and we knew this group was going to be special. They’ve played together for years starting in Little League and we’ve finally got them all back together as 18- and 19-year-olds."
After qualifying for the Mid-Atlantic Regional with a 14-3 victory over Stahl in the Delaware state tournament for their second state championship in three years, Delvets lost 3-0 to Cumberland (Md.) Post 13 in their first game.
With the odds stacked against them, Delvets won five straight games that included a 7-4 victory over four-time ALWS champion Brooklawn (N.J.) Post 72 on the third day and a pair of dramatic victories over Cumberland on the final day Sunday.
In the first game Sunday, Delvets trailed 6-4 in the bottom of the 11th inning and were down to their last strike before Brady Fox hit a tying, two-run double and Jack Rossi followed with a game-winning RBI single.
In the winner-take-all finale, Delvets snapped a 2-all tie in the late innings for a 3-2 victory that sent them to the ALWS.
“We’re usually a slow starting team,” said Buono, whose regional MVP was Hunter Dicarlantonio. “Once we got to the regionals and figured out what it was all about, we ran the table after that loss and we’re happy to be here because of it.”
Buono said there was no motivational speech that sparked the five-game winning streak for his team, which enters the ALWS with a 21-6 record.
“The togetherness of the team and the bonds these players, coaches, parents and the post is just phenomenal,” Buono said. “We were just so excited to win and more excited to be here.”
Wilmington Delvets pool play schedule (all times ET):
Aug. 15: vs. Billings Scarlets (Mont.) Post 4, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 17: vs. Midland (Mich.) Post 165, 3 p.m.
Aug. 18: vs. Bossier City (La.) Post 202, 4 p.m.
