The news for the Calvert Hall baseball program was twice as good on Wednesday.
In addition to coming away with a 9-1 win at McDonogh, the No. 1 Cardinals (14-6) also learned they will have their ace pitcher back.
Senior Nick Delp, who has been sidelined since April 2 when he took a pitch to the face, suffering slight fractures to his nose and cheek bone, has been cleared to play. Calvert Hall coach Lou Eckerl said he'll see how practice goes on Thursday and may send Delp to the mound as early as Friday when the Cardinals travel to Mount St. Joseph.
On April 15, Delp returned to practice with a return date to play set for May 2, but his doctor gave him the immeidate green light during Wednesday's visit.
Before his injury, Delp, an All-Metro second-team selection last year, was dominating on the mound with a 3-0 mark and no runs allowed in 18 innings. He also was batting .286 with eight RBIs.
He said he's getting ready to pick up where he left off.
"I'm feeling a lot better, the swelling is going down and everything. My teeth are still numb because of the nerve, but, other than that, I'm going back to Hopkins on Wednesday and hopefully I get cleared for next week," he said on Monday.
The Cardinals have been hit hard by injuries this season, but have stayed atop the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference with a 9-2 mark. Slugging third baseman Brandon Dorsey was sidelined last week with a shoulder injury and outfielder and cleanup hitter Nate Bosse left Monday's loss against Archbishop Spalding with concussion-like symptoms after a collision with second baseman Gabriel Nieto in the second inning.
Eckerl said Delp's return is a big deal.
"That would be a big injection shot of adrenaline to get him back. He's definitely a force to be reckoned with," he added. "His attitude and work ethic is great, and he's getting his pitching in so he doesn't miss anything."
Delp's top priority when he returns is helping the Cardinals win the conference championship, but a personal milestone is within reach. The three-year starter has 20 career wins, just two shy of tying the program's all-time mark, set by 1995 graduate Andy Bair.
Delp will wear a protective mask when he gets back and doesn't expect any difficulty returning to the top form he displayed before the injury.
"I'm going to keep the same mindset, go out there and give 110 percent and hopefully my teammates will help behind me — they always are," he said.
And what about breaking the program record?
"It's in the back of my mind, but I really don't want to think about that when I'm back out there," he said. "I just want to concentrate one strike at a time."
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