Broadcasts of Deltaville Deltas’ games return to the air

By Michelle Smith

Going to a Deltaville Deltas game at their hometown stadium is nostalgic, almost like stepping back into the ’50s, according to General Manager Jerry Crittenden. The team, whose history dates back more than 75 years, proudly claims its hometown venue—built in 1948—is Virginia’s last remaining all-wooden baseball stadium and one that commonly hosts sold-out games.

Now, for the first time in decades, those who can’t experience the games in person have the option of listening to live broadcasts on WIGO Country 104.9, one of Kilmarnock’s hometown stations.

Delivering the action over the airwaves are play-by-play announcer Josh Suszek and veteran color analyst Demetrius Means.

For Means, broadcasting the Deltas’ games is a “rekindling,” as he was behind the mic in 1998, the last time the team received on-air coverage. Then broadcasting on WIGO’s sister station, he was also the one who presented the idea of bringing the games back to radio.

Means explained that he spoke with Lauren James, general manager of Two Rivers Communication, and told her it would be a good idea to broadcast the games because it would benefit Deltaville and Middlesex, and because the community enjoyed listening back in 1998.

Last season, Means and Suszek began broadcasting Lancaster High School girls’ softball and boys’ baseball games. Means said James agreed to broadcast the Deltas’ games if Suszek was on board to handle play-by-play. The pair now broadcast the Deltas’ Saturday night home games.

Crittenden is happy to have the games back on the air. He said the Kilmarnock radio stations are the only ones that have ever broadcast the team’s home games, and he also noted there was a large following back in 1998.

This go-round, “it’s been all positive feedback,” he said. “I talked to a man the other day whose son is in Oregon working and listens to it on his laptop.”

He believes the reach provided by radio is important because this is a retirement community, and many people can’t get out at night to see the games, though they can still listen. And although it hasn’t happened yet, Crittenden hopes to hear that the broadcasts have reached men and women serving overseas.

The Deltas are fortunate to enjoy deep, long-running community support. This time of year, Deltas games are still the big thing on Saturday nights in Deltaville. Crittenden said the team operates at capacity, and having games broadcast “adds on top” of that community connection.

“Our community has really backed us—the team and the stadium,” he said. The stadium, owned by the Deltaville Community Association, survives on donations and receives no tax dollars.

It’s all made possible by “people who realize we really have a gem here in Deltaville,” said Crittenden. That genuine love helps him secure sponsorships and recruit players.

Although beloved as Deltaville’s hometown team, the Deltas are a semi-pro club composed of high school, college, and minor league players from across the state—from rural localities like the Northern Neck to cities including Fredericksburg and Virginia Beach, as well as students from several universities. The entire league is similarly diverse, Crittenden said.

The Deltas play in the National Adult Baseball Association (NABA) Richmond League, which includes teams from Tappahannock, Henrico, and Chesterfield. NABA Richmond is a nationally recognized woodbat league featuring nine-inning games.

The Deltas’ season runs from the last weekend in May through the first weekend in August, with home games every Saturday. Several Friday night home games are also on the schedule, including this upcoming weekend.

With two NABA Richmond titles to their name, the Deltas are aiming for a third this season.

For those catching games on the radio, Means said it’s going to be exciting. Suszek is a “rising star,” “has a great voice, is quick with quips, and has a good broadcasting future,” said Means.

“Although this is our second year together, I see only great things as our chemistry gets better with each broadcast.”