Why DeLome, 2009 Hooks Resonate with Fans

by Matt Rogers

The consistently best teams that come through Whataburger Field or go through any other venue in any other sport have one thing in common.

They are all business on the premises.

Some times you can sense it when they get off the bus. Players and staff are polite and gracious, acknowledging you with eye contact and a smile, but conversation is minimal. Rice, Arizona State, Arizona and Alabama operated that way during past Whataburger College Classics. They were on business trips and the results confirmed the wisdom of their approach.

The 2006 Texas League Champion Corpus Christi Hooks were a talented, focused group of players with an intense desire to compete. In truth, manager Dave Clark’s electric smile belied an inferno of competitiveness.

Remember Hunter Pence’s decision to remain with the Hooks rather than attend the Olympic Trials? His commitment to the club fueled its championship run, as did Josh Anderson’s amazing defensive play and offensive table-setting. Their selflessness and hard play made them icons in this town.

As was the case in 2006 with Pence (Texas-Arlington), this year’s team has a former Southland Conference Player of the Year in the outfield. Collin DeLome played collegiately at Lamar, earning the award the same year Pence and Anderson helped deliver Corpus Christi’s first Texas League title in 48 seasons.

DeLome, a Buna native who played high school baseball for his father Russell, embodies the approach characteristic of the 2009 Hooks.

“My dad taught me you don’t throw your helmet, you don’t throw your bat,” DeLome said. “Everybody knows you’re upset. You don’t have to show it. You take care of your business professionally.

“I’ve never been a guy to blow up on the field. That stuff rubs off on your teammates. If they see you playing hard, well, that rubs off too. I play as hard as I can, knowing I’m going to have some success and some failure. Some people take failure so hard they don’t remember how to have success again.”

DeLome takes his responsibilities seriously. He is always on time for media and off-field team commitments. All he asks for an interview with Matt Hicks on the Sherwin-Williams postgame show is a cold Dr Pepper. He’s done it after a multiple home run game and after a 14-2 loss.

Thing of it is, you always get the same Collin DeLome. Thoughtful. Patient. Easy-going. A good communicator who talks with his hands, too. His body language doesn’t seem to belie anything.

As a coach’s son, he had the opportunity to eat, drink and sleep baseball. Collin was born as Russell finished his playing career at Lamar. There’s a family picture of Collin as an infant teething on a baseball.

“I was always at the field with him and I still love being at the field,” DeLome explained. “I get here early all the time. I always went early with him because a coach has to be at the field early.

“Some people keep their working life and their home life separate, but not dad.”

Collin likes to keep things simple. When not at the field, he prefers life at home or in the outdoors. Like 2007 Hooks all-star outfielder Beau Torbert and 2008 team MVP Drew Sutton, he’s picked up the guitar for relaxation.

“In the off-season, I like hanging out at home and in the country, near where I live. Sometimes, I’ll go night hunting for predators with my buddies, guys I haven’t seen in a while because I’m playing ball. I spend time at Sam Rayburn Lake, Sabine Lake.

“Outdoors you get to bond with your friends. We just like to go out, sit by the fire, hunt and fish. I can sit out there all day and soak it up, just enjoy everything the day brings.”

Hooks fans are soaking up their 2009 home nine, enjoying their boys night after night. Having already connected with Corpus Christians, DeLome knows why.

“Dad taught me to play the game a certain way,” the Texas League home run leader and Baseball America No. 9 Houston prospect said. “We have a good group of guys who are competitive. We have that fight in us. We have so many threats; you never know when a big inning might happen.

“We’re playing a full nine innings. Great teams play nine innings. They’re not ready to leave until the game’s over. You haven’t beaten us until the scoreboard says so at the end. The media talks about our focus, but it’s just the way we play. It’s understood.

“People respect a team like we have because they know what they’re going to get every night. That’s why they keep coming.”

As do Collin DeLome and the 2009 Hooks.