As a young squad that entered the 2004 pre-season with little idea how even its starting lineup would look, Tufts baseball made an impressive run this spring, finishing at 18-14 and nearly qualifying for the NESCAC conference tournament.
Much of that success - and the potential of next year's squad - can be credited to the five seniors graduating today, co-captains Adam Kacamburas and Randy Newsom, and Dave Frew, Nick Palange, and Drew Blewett.
Head coach John Casey credited his seniors, especially the co-captains, with helping to shape the underclassmen and make this transition season a winning one as well.
"I think it was a very difficult year, we were in transition of playing some of the younger guys, and it's a tough place for the older guys," Casey said. "I think Adam and Randy both did a great job with that."
Paired with their leadership, Newsom and Kacamburas were also invaluable for the talent, work ethic and resulting success that they brought to the diamond during their Tufts careers.
In four years on the mound, Newsom racked up impressive statistics that are among the best Tufts has ever seen. He is second all-time in career appearances at Tufts (48), third all-time in strikeouts (165), fourth all-time in innings pitched (209.1), and sixth all-time in winning percentage (.720).
His career record is 18-7, with a 3.05 ERA.
"His numbers speak for themselves. He was one [heck] of a pitcher," Kacamburas said. "It was not easy following up guys like Steve Lapham, Jon Lee, and Dave Martin, but Randall worked his [butt] off from the first day we were here on campus and it paid dividends."
In his senior campaign, Newsom led the NESCAC in strikeouts with 57 and finished the year 6-1 for the Jumbos with a 3.10 ERA - earning him a nod onto the All-Conference First Team.
Newsom, a native of Cincinnati, played in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League last summer, and has aspirations of entering the minor leagues.
"Obviously Randy was one of our top pitchers and had a great season and did everything we asked," Casey said. "He's gone out on the mound and pitched well, and he's been seen by enough people, so we just wait to see and hopefully it will work out for him."
Kacamburas, a third baseman from North Reading, Mass., boasts a .314 career batting average and a r?©sum?© that includes 46 RBI, 22 stolen bases, and 62 walks.
He was named NESCAC Player of the Week last month following an impressive showing that included a crucial three-game sweep of conference foe Colby. In four games that week, Kacamburas hit .500 (7 for 14) with six runs scored, six RBI, and seven walks.
Perhaps his most impressive career stat, though, is a cumulative .437 on-base percentage.
"Adam's always found ways to get on base, and he's always found a way to help the team," Casey said. "I think he's made himself quite an effective ballplayer. He's had to work hard, but all the more to his credit that he's done that."
Newsom praised Kacamburas as well, for his intensity, determination, and the example he set for the rest of the squad.
"Adam is a competitor, he never once backed down," Newsom said. "He always came up big when we needed it, and he led by just being a savage on the field."
According to Casey, the work ethic that Kacamburas has displayed and his success on the diamond were an integral part of his leadership style.
"Adam was a tremendous leader for us this year. I thought he was outstanding in every way," Casey said. "[Kacamburas and Newsom] were very different but I think they complimented each other very well."
"I think the young kids came in and were great for us, and I think Randy and Adam did a great job letting them know what our expectations were and really helping them out and taking them under their wings."
According to captain-elect Bob Kenny, both Kacamburas and Newsom will be missed in the future, for the unique combination of baseball and leadership skills that each contributed to the team.
"[Kacamburas] was probably the best leader on the team. He worked hard for it and led by example mostly, and he got the job done," Kenney said. "[Randy] was our number one pitcher and that's hard to replace. Their play will be missed, and they'll both be hard to replace."
