Baseball team bids fond farewell to the class of 2003

The Tufts class of 2003 has made an indelible impact on the history of Jumbo baseball. It will be remembered as the first class to ever have 20 win seasons in each of its four years. Centerfielder Evan Zupancic, shortstop Brian Shapiro, and pitchers Jon Lee and Dave Martin make up the core of this renowned Tufts baseball class.

"They're the most talented class to assemble at a Div. III school I've ever seen," junior teammate Randy Newsom said. "Being the class behind them is like being the red headed step child; we're like Marcia Brady."

Coach John Casey had similar sentiments.

"There is only one class of 2003," Casey said. "It is not often that four kids have had that impact on a team. 20-win seasons are pretty impressive considering we only play 33 games a year."



Evan Zupancic

Tri-captain Evan Zupancic began his baseball career as soon as he was big enough to pick up a ball.

"My first memory of baseball was when I was about two or three," Zupancic said. "I've been playing competitively since I was six or seven."

Over his four year Tufts career, Zupancic excelled as a five tool player. He dominated the lead off spot in the batting order with a career average of .341, 104 RBI, and a Tufts record 22 homeruns.

"There have been some great athletes before me," Zupancic said. "To be at the top of the [homerun] list is a great honor. It's one of my best memories of college."

"He is an outstanding athlete," Casey said. "Not all guys can take athleticism and make themselves into baseball players, but Evan has been an all-around player. He's the all-time home run leader, but I don't think of him that way. He's a complete baseball player."



Brian Shapiro

Shapiro started on varsity as a freshman. He gobbled up grounders and anchored the double play combination for four years.

"Playing in the hole, he makes things look effortless," Newsom said.

Shapiro also was a presence on the pitcher's mound. He has 3.04 career ERA and 5-1 record. Shapiro also set the Tufts career record for saves (12) on Mar. 22 of this year.

"He has come in in relief and been huge," Casey said.

Shapiro has been a standout at the plate as well. He has a .302 career batting average with 115 RBI, 12 homeruns and 30 doubles.

Shapiro was honored with the 2000 NESCAC Rookie of the Year award, along with being named to the All-New England first team and All-NESCAC second team after his junior season.

All in all, Shapiro has left an impression on the baseball program.

"Shapiro moments are too numerous to recall," Casey said. "These guys have left their mark. There is only one 2003 team."



Jon Lee

The winningest pitcher in Tufts history has been playing baseball longer than he can remember.

"I guess I just started when everyone else was playing t-ball," Lee said.

Over his four years in the Jumbo starting rotation, Lee had a 2.62 ERA and won 29 games.

The right-hander began and ended his Jumbo career with no-hitters. His first gem came on May 7, 2000 against Bowdoin during Lee's rookie year. He followed up with a second no-hitter on Mar 29 of this year in an 8-0 home win over Bates.

"He's a really talented pitcher," Newsom said. "I can't imagine Tufts baseball without him, I'm going to miss [watching] Jonny throw those no hitters."

Lee was named 2001's NESCAC Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore and has been the NESCAC's Player of the Week six times in four years.

The baseball program will miss having a consistent workhorse like Lee in the rotation.

"Jonny Lee is the best pitcher in the history of this place," Casey said.



Dave Martin

"I started playing tee-ball when I was six or seven years old," Martin said. "[Pitching] just kind of happened. I started when I was eight. The ones who threw the hardest were the pitchers early on; I just kept going with it."

Luckily for Tufts baseball, Martin went with it for over a decade.

In his four-year stint as a Jumbo, Martin amassed an 18-6 record with a career ERA of 2.96. He pitched in 195.2 innings and gave up just 100 runs.

As a junior starter in 2002, Martin was second in the nation with a 0.85 ERA. He earned first team All-NESCAC honors that year for his efforts.

"Martin was phenomenal last year," Casey said. "He has continued that this year as well."

Newsom recalls Martin keeping the ball low in the zone and forcing opposing teams to put the ball on the ground.

"I'm going to miss Dave getting ground out after ground out after ground out," Newsom said.

When these four players, along with fellow seniors Mike Byron and Jon Herbert, toss their caps in the air and begin the next chapters of their respective lives on May 18, they will leave behind a legacy of baseball excellence.

"You can't replace these guys," Casey said. "They have left their mark."

"I don't think you'll see a class like that for a long time," Newsom said. "To have six seniors stick it out that long, it's just amazing."