Thursday, August 05, 2004

Craig Delk, who lifted Warren East’s baseball program out of the cellar, has been hired as an assistant coach at Franklin-Simpson.

Delk will replace Johnny Vance, who left F-S after 13 seasons to head up Barren County’s baseball program. Delk will assist longtime Wildcat head coach Greg Shelton, who has compiled an impressive 678-315-2 record over 29 seasons.

“He’s (Delk) a good person and a good coach. He’s obviously a great teacher, and he will bring some youthful energy to our program,” said Shelton. “And when I decide to leave, there will be someone to take my place.”

A graduate of F-S High and Murray State University, Delk was the head coach at Warren East High for four seasons, leading the Raiders to their first District 14 championship since 1988. His 2004 squad went 18-13 and lost to Glasgow in the Fourth Region semifinals.

Delk started three seasons for Shelton and hit .365 as a senior, .374 as a junior and .294 as a sophomore. He went on to set several school hitting records at Murray State.

During his first two years at the helm of Warren East, Delk won a total of 18 games. He went 30-26 the last two, ripping the 14th District Tournament title out of the clutches of Warren Central, Bowling Green and Greenwood.