By Andy Walter

DOVER — The NCAA Transfer Portal isn’t just for football and basketball.

Delaware State’s baseball program is being reminded of that this summer.

Two of the Hornets’ marquee underclassmen, second baseman Evan Bouldin and pitcher Kieran Etwaru, are among a handful of players who have transferred since the season ended.

Bouldin, an Appoquinimink High grad, was the Player of the Year in the Northeast Conference while Etwaru was the league’s Pitcher of the Year this past spring.

Bouldin has transferred to Delaware while Etwaru is returning to his home state to play for North Florida.

The situation probably isn’t helped by the fact that DSU still doesn’t have a head coach in baseball.

J.P. Blandin announced on March 29 that he was stepping down after 23 seasons as the Hornets’ head coach. As of this past Monday, however, Delaware State still hadn’t advertised the position.

Bouldin wrote on social media that the Hornets not having a coach right now played into his decision to move on.

“I would like to thank Delaware State Baseball and everything they allowed me to accomplish,” the Middletown native wrote when he entered the portal.

“With that being said, due to coaching uncertainties I am entering the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left.”

Sophomore catcher Joey Current also mentioned “recent coaching uncertainties” when announcing he was putting his name in the portal.
Nickolas Gnardellis, who appeared in only five games this season before getting hurt, announced that he’s leaving DelState to play for Bellarmine University.

The Hornets made a nice run in the final month of the regular season to qualify for the NEC Tournament. DSU had 11 players on that roster listed as seniors to go with the four who have announced that they’re transferring.

Bouldin batted a team-leading .382 with 16 doubles, seven home runs, 39 RBI and 52 runs scored.

Etwaru went 7-0 with 74 strikeouts and 33 walks in 73.2 innings pitched with a 3.91 ERA.

UD renovating softball field

The University of Delaware has started renovating its softball stadium, which annually hosts the DIAA state championship game.

The upgrades are slated to include the installation of AstroTurf Diamond Series, larger, heated dugouts, expanded grandstands for increased fan capacity, an expanded press box with the installation of an HVAC system, a new video board, and a concession and restroom building.

The university announced that the renovations are being made in conjunction with the state of Delaware.

“The renovated stadium will be a true gem for our Blue Hen student-athletes and the entire state, providing players and fans with a top-notch facility and an outstanding competition experience,” UD president Dennis Assanis said in a press release.

“We sincerely appreciate the state partnering with us on this project through capital funding support, which will help the University to meet our Title IX commitments to provide gender equitable experiences across all sports programs on campus.”

The project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2025 season.
Lights were added to the field during last season, allowing the state title game between Sussex Central and Caravel to be played at night. The plans are also to start playing the state semifinals at UD as well.

Delaware has already been selected to host the 2026 Conference USA Tournament in the Blue Hens’ first season in the league.

Delaware has won the CAA regular-season title in two of the last three seasons and has made the CAA Tournament in four-consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.

Notes

•Website Sidelines CFB ranked Delaware’s football recruiting class as the top one in FCS nationally. The Blue Hens are transitioning to the FBS level.

•Former Delaware State women’s basketball coach EC Hill was recently hired as an assistant coach at Arizona State by former Delaware coach Natasha Adair. The Hornets went 4-40 under Hill in 2021-23.

•Linebacker Jackson Taylor, who played at Delaware last fall, has been signed to the practice squad of the CFL’s BC Lions.

•Delaware State has picked up transfer offensive lineman Jonathan Tejada, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound sophomore from El Camino (Calif.) Junior College.

•The Delaware football team recently added transfer defensive back Mysonne Pollard, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder from Monroe (N.Y.) Junior College.

•Milford High grad Bryce Greenly, a DH on the Delaware baseball team, was selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division 1 East All-Region second team.

Greenly had a .298 batting average with nine home runs, 30 walks and 43 RBI. He had 19 multi-hit games, including a four-hit game against Monmouth.

•The Delaware baseball team hired Daniel Sweeney as its new pitching coach. He was the pitching coach at William & Mary for the past three seasons.

•The MEAC is holding its Media Day for football on July 23 in Norfolk, Va.