Two Bengals commit to national powerhouse CSN
 

    (Nov. 20, 2007) – Bonanza seniors Chasen Shreve and Tomo Delp have verbally committed to play baseball for the College of Southern Nevada, the 2003 NJCAA National Champions.

    The duo decided on the local school after garnering interest from several NCAA Division-I schools, including University of Nevada-Reno and San Diego State. The seniors are the fifth and sixth Bonanza players to commit to CSN in the past three seasons.

    "We are very proud of Chasen and Tomo," Bonanza head coach Derek Stafford said. "These guys have been in the program all four years and have been a shining example of what we stand for here. They put in the time, bought into our system and their athletic ability took care of the rest."

    Delp, who has been on the varsity squad since his sophomore season, comes into the spring as the team's top offensive player and shortstop. Delp, who has a 2-year varsity career .370 batting average with 11 doubles, 33 RBI, 34 runs scored, 16 stolen bases and 54 hits, chose CSN for its track record of sending players on to top-level Division-I schools.

    "I chose CSN because it felt like a good choice," Delp said. "It seems like a great place for me to further my skills and prepare for bigger things beyond baseball, in life."

    A starter on the Bonanza basketball team, Delp will focus strictly on baseball for the first time in many years.

    "I have always played both basketball and baseball and this will be the first time I will be focusing all on baseball," the 6-foot-4 shortstop said. "What I look for at CSN is for me to develop into a Division-I player. And, from my knowledge of their program and coaching staff, I believe this to be a good possibility, if I work hard enough."

    Shreve, who is the team's ace on the mound and defensive cornerstone in center field, will become the second Shreve to play for the Coyotes. His older brother Colby – who was drafted in the 8th round this past spring by the Atlanta Braves – currently plays for No. 16 CSN.

    I chose to go to CSN because it's a great school to go to," Chasen Shreve said. "The coaches are really nice and knowledgeable. My brother has also told me great things about the program and I have seen him progress so much from being there. I think it will do the same for me."

    CSN hopes Shreve – a 6-foot-3 lefty who was named first-team All-Sunset and second team All-Southern Nevada this past spring – will make the same program his older brother made. In his first full season on varsity this past spring, Chasen posted a 3-5 record with a 3.55 ERA in 49 1/3 innings. He was also given the program's Fireman Award.

    "I think CSN will help me get into a great Division-I program, just like my brother, who is going to Arkansas," Shreve said. "It will help me get the experience and athletic ability to further my baseball career."

    Shreve also batted .260 with 14 RBI last spring, and both he and Delp played in the Blue-Gray Game in Arizona this past September. Both players are excited about making the collegiate jump together.

    "For Tomo and I to both be going to CSN will be great," Shreve said. "We have been playing together for almost our whole baseball career. He is one of my good friends and I think he will help me stay on track and get better. I'm sure he will do the same for me."

    Delp agreed.

    "It's a great relief having Chasen go to the same school," Delp said. "It is a new experience for both of us and just an extra comfort to have a teammate and long-time friend there with me."

    Both players are the cornerstone of a team that is looking to compete in the extremely tough Southwest Division. The Bengals finished 19-11, ranked ninth in the city after finishing fifth in the division. They are two of six returning seniors for a program looking to return to the regional title game for the second time in three years.

    "These guys, along with their teammates, have the future in their hands," Stafford said. "If they keep working hard, leading our guys and showing by example, I think the possibilities are endless come spring time. These guys care about playing the game the right way, just as much as they love winning.

    "They understand that it's more than winning that matters. It's doing things the right way, on and off the field. These guys have done this and the sky is the limit for them both."