Versatile Andrews Finds Home At Delaware

FAIRFIELD, Ct. - A post grad year has worked out the way Jack Andrews had hoped. A long recruiting process has come to an end with a commitment to Delaware.

“My high school coach was roommates at Monmouth with their assistant coach Chris Collazo,” Andrews reflected on how Delaware came into the picture. “He came to see me in the spring, and then he got a job at Delaware. A couple of weeks later he came and watched me again and I got a couple of hits. We talked after that and he gave me an offer.”

A visit to the school 31/2 hours from home went well.

“I took a tour and I loved it,” the 18-year-old related. “They have a long history of winning at Delaware and when I saw the new facilities and took a tour I really loved the place.”

The versatility of Andrews stood out to Delaware, which also has a new head coach in Greg Mamula in addition to Collazo filling the role of assistant coach and recruiting coordinator after seven years at his alma mater, Monmouth.

“When coach Collazo first came to see me in the spring I got two opposite-field hits,” the sixth-rated 2023 third baseman in New England noted. “When he came to see me the next time the same thing happened. He likes that I can hit to all parts of the field and also that I can play anywhere.”

St. John’s, Bryant and Quinnipiac were others that showed interest in Andrews, who was seen by colleges playing third base and second base, with outfield another possibility at the next level.

“I think I’ll bring to the program a versatile player with leadership on and off the field,” Andrews explained. “I’ll get the job done hitting and running the bases and I’m also capable of hitting the long ball.”

Improvement for the 6-3 205-pounder has helped make a commitment take place.

“The weight room was big for me,” Andrews noted. “After my sophomore year I started to get serious and it definitely showed in my game.”

The idea of playing after high school began a decade ago.

“Ever since I started playing Little League college baseball has been a dream of mine,” the 70th-ranked 2023 in New England said. “After I started going to tournaments and talking to coaches for the first time I realized it was a possibility.”

But it was far from easy in the eyes of Andrews.

“It was definitely pretty stressful going through my recruitment,” the 18th-rated 2023 in Connecticut admitted. “Junior year I started going to camps and senior year I went to a camp at Bryant and they really like me. A month later I went to a PBR at Danbury and that’s when it blew up with coaches reaching out to find out about my summer games.”

Now a post grad at Fairfield Warde, Andrews credited high school head coach Brett Conner and travel coaches Mike Morris and Max Catapano with helping make a college commitment a reality.

“It’s definitely relieving and has taken a lot of weight off my shoulders,” Andrews said of knowing where he will be going to college. “It’s great to finish the process before post grad so I can focus on academics and play more freely.”

Plans are to major in criminal justice according to Andrews, a 3.3 student enthusiastic about what lies ahead at the Colonial Athletic Association university.

“I’m looking forward to being independent and living away from home for the first time,” Andrews concluded. “Something else I’m excited for are team practices and traveling. I’m definitely looking forward to that.”