Della Ratta back with Pelicans as pitching coach

Della Ratta

Once a Pelican, always a Pelican. That statement has never been more true than with the recent signing of Pete Della Ratta as the team's pitching coach for the 2007 season.

Della Ratta was a member of the Pelicans 2 0 0 2 inaugural champio n s h i p team as both a p l a y e r and a manager. D e l l a R a t t a r e t i r e d f r o m professional baseball a year later but has remained active in the community with the Pelicans as a part time instructor at the many clinics the Pelicans hold through out the year.

"I've known Pete for more than 20 years as a player, instructor, coach, and a friend," said Pelicans manager Mac Seibert. "His baseball career and experience will be a valuable resource for our younger pitchers to benefit from. He's been there and done that and knows what to expect during the season."

The Gulf Breeze native and resident was originally drafted by the Oakland A's in 1996, where he played for three seasons advancing to double-A. From 1999 to 2001, Della Ratta pitched for the New York Mets double-A team. Following his year with the Pelicans in 2002, Della Ratta spent 2003 in the Florida Marlins organization.

"I'm looking forward to working alongside and learning from someone who has as much baseball knowledge and experience as Mac does," said Della Ratta. "It will be great to be back in a Pelicans uniform as we strive to bring home the organizations second league championship."

Della Ratta currently teaches at Woodlawn Beach Middle School and coaches baseball at Gulf Breeze High School.

In other Pelican

related news

Della Ratta, Seibert and several local minor leaguers will be conducting the third annual Future Pelicans Clinic Saturday. The group will be in Navarre from 9-11 a.m. at Gospel Projects in Milton from noon-2 p.m. and at NEP from 3-5 p.m.

For more information or directions to the clinic locations, call the Pelicans office at 934-8444.