Hillsborough's Matt Hornich Signs to Play at University of Delaware

There are lots of skilled players hoping to crack into collegiate baseball, but Hillsborough High School Baseball Head Coach Norm Hewitt said Matt Hornich has something extra you can't coach: size.

The 6-foot-4 lefty weighs in at 220 pounds, which means he can hurl a good fastball, as well as cover first base.

Those may have been some of the skills that caught the eyes of recruiters at the University of Delaware, where Matt signed to play after graduation, Thursday. Holding a signing ceremony at Newell Strength Conditioning, where he's been training with owner—and soon-to-be fellow Blue Hen Kyle Newell, Matt was surrounded by family, coaches and friends ready to congratulate him.

Matt said he chose the Colonial Athletic Association team because of the coaching staff, especially Pitching Coach Brian Walker.

"He knows what it takes to get to the next level—and that's what I want to do," he said, adding he wants to help take the Blue Hens team back to the NCAA championships.

Coach Hewitt said "the next level" in Matt's baseball career might be beyond Omaha, though.

"He's focused and he knows what he wants," Hewitt said. "He's a very gifted athlete."

Just how gifted was proven to Hewitt the first time he saw Matt at bat: it was almost four years ago, during a Homerun Derby fundraiser held by the Diamond Club.

"I had my college kids come in for it—and he ran away with it," Hewitt said. "I don't think college will be the end of his career."

Matt said playing professionally has long been a dream of his—"Ever since I picked up a ball when I was three years old"—but he also knows there's a lot that can happen between here and there.

Just as there was a few years ago, when he began working out at Newell's to gain strength and condition—as well as develop his mental "conditioning."

"He never lets me get away easy," Matt said of Newell. "He's a big influence on me."

Newell was honored to host the signing event, which included Matt's family, including his sister, Emma, mother Wendy and father, Ed, as well as other family members.