Nic DeLuca started his college baseball career the same he started his Taylorsville High School career - as a champion.
In 1988, DeLuca's started his sophomore year with the Warriors' American Legion State Champions, and Most Valuable Player of the tournament.DeLuca actually played on three American Legion Championship teams '88-90, and one high school, '89.
Friday night at Lewis & Clark Field, the shortstop was named the NAIA World Series Tournament Most Valuable Player, leading his Bellevue University (Nebraska) team to the championship, an 8-5 win over Cumberland, Tenn.
"I just wish the guys back in Utah could see how we play ball back here," DeLuca continued. "What they don't understand is that the guys back in Utah are just as good as the players back here.
"That's what I wanted to prove by coming here to play."
DeLuca finished the tournament with a .480 batting average.
Former Bingham player Dusty Stauffer, a sophomore, and former Alta catcher Brandon Ellgren, who didn't play, because of an injured arm, shared the championship with Nic DeLuca and Wilson.