The Deltaville Deltas’ 2025 season came to an end last Thursday night in Deltaville, as the Richmond El Heaters used a three-run eighth inning to edge the Deltas, 6-3.
The game had the makings of an instant classic for most of the night. The Deltas took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Creston Saunders drove a low line drive to centerfield. The centerfielder dove for the ball to attempt a catch but came up just short, and the ball bounced over and past him to the wall. Saunders took advantage: the lightning-fast Deltas shortstop flew around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
The lead was short-lived, however. In the top of the third, the Heaters used a pair of singles and a throwing error to tie the game at 1-1. In the fourth, the Heaters took the lead, 2-1, after stealing home on a passed ball.
The Deltas tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth on a steal of home. The Heaters retook a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh on a pair of hits, but the Deltas immediately tied the game back up at 3-3 when Benny Walker drove in Jacob Houston with an RBI single.
Unfortunately for the Deltas, things went poorly in the eighth inning. A single and a defensive error have the Heaters a 4-3 lead. Two of the next three Heaters batters got hits as well, plating two more runs, extending the lead to 6-3.
Down to their last at-bat in the ninth, the Deltas made it exciting. Spencer Crittenden led the inning with a double, and Scott Crump drew a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate. A couple of hard-hit balls put in play by the Deltas gave brief hope to the capacity crowd, but they were well played by the Heaters’ defense, who stranded the Deltas on base.
Matthew Kleinfelter was the pitcher of record for the Deltas. The ace went into the eighth inning, recording 11 strikeouts over 71/3 innings while allowing three earned runs. Dylan Amend and Cole Stamm combined to pitch the final 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Heaters, three-time league champions, moved on to face the defending league champion Tappa-hannock Tides in the best-of-three Richmond NABA Championship Series. Tappahannock won Game 1 on Sunday by the score of 10-9 on a walk-off 10th inning hit. Games 2 and 3 were played this week but results were not available at press time.
The Deltas finish their 2025 season with a 15-3 overall record. More than 3,000 fans packed Deltaville Ballpark over the course of a phenomenal season.
