Foreign baseball star feels right at home

Ian Robert Delemarre is a Saint Augustine’s University student with exceptional baseball talent, and a sensational background story as well. Normally coaches go all over the United States to find talent but in this case Saint Augustine’s University Assistant Coach Tom Stewart recruited Ian from The Netherlands – also known as Holland.

“I had a brother down in Holland and he said, ‘I have a really decent pitcher that might be able to help your program,” Stewart explained. “So I said. ‘Well, send me some film on him,’ and I must say I was really impressed.”

Delemarre, a pitcher, has played in the United States before as a 17-year-old in a national AAU baseball tournament. So coming to the states was not a difficult transition for him.

“Since I played here and loved it here, I really thought it would be a good experience for me to receive my education in the states and play the game that I love so much as well,” Delemarre said.

He has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old and he has two twin brothers who also played baseball back in his hometown, so baseball was kind of a family thing. “Back home baseball is a way to bond and really enjoy each other,” he said. “My whole family loves the game of baseball and, being the youngest, my older brothers used to push me really hard so that I could be good.”

Delemarre’s mother and father are originally from the Netherlands and they both played baseball and softball as well. He knew that he eventually wanted to take baseball seriously and being able to play collegiate baseball was an opportunity for him to represent his family’s passion, he said.

Surprisingly, Delemarre says the transition from a foreign country was not only not difficult; it was the total opposite, he said.

“Being at Saint Aug, the students have made it real easy for me to adjust,” he said. “I feel like a normal kid here — I love it here.”

Delemarre takes baseball seriously but on his down time he likes to relax with his friends and enjoy his time on the Saint Augustine’s University campus. “The atmosphere here is amazing,” he said. “I’m glad I’ve taken the opportunity to come here I have nothing but good things to say about this place.”

The Holland sensation is excited about having four years here to build memories with his teammates and new friends. Although he enjoys his social life his dedication to baseball is not compromised.

“Working hard is the only thing I know — no shortcuts,” he said.

The freshman athlete gets a chance to display his skills in February when the Falcon baseball team opens up in their 2014 season against High Point University.

“ I’m so excited because it’s going to be my first game playing with the Falcons and I can’t wait to see all of our hard work pay off,” Delemarre said.  “I can’t wait!”