A sophomore captain is rare in college athletics. Three sophomore captains on the same team are unheard of. The Southern Vermont College baseball team had exactly that in the fall of 2008, when Dan Cook, Dave Gage, and Adam Northup were named captains. The trio of captains had the task of leading a team that hadn’t eclipsed the 10 win mark since 1988.
In their first year as tri-captains they did that. They not only won 12 games they also led the Mountaineers to an NECC regular season championship, and the right to host the conference tournament. Although the Mountaineers haven’t been able to repeat the feat of hosting the conference tournament in the three’s final two years, they did make the conference tournament again as juniors. Thus making them the first ever baseball team to make back to back playoff appearances. When the Mountaineers needed four wins in its’ final five games in order to make the playoffs in 2011 the trio of captains led the team to exactly that feat. The Mountaineers didn’t only make the playoffs they went on to finish 90 feet away from tying the championship game and the right to go the NCAA tournament.
“We built a foundation,” said Gage “It’s great to know the three of us have laid the ground work for the program to be successful.”
Laid the groundwork is exactly what the three Mountaineers did. Cook and Gage rushed on to the scene as freshman earning second team AD3I All-American honors. In 2009 Northup earned All-Conference honors and in 2010 Cook garnered NECC honors with Gage earning All-tournament team. In their senior year Northup was named All-tournament team and Gage earned 1st Team All NECC second baseman.
It wasn’t the awards, or the accolades that made these three special” stated head coach Don Schaffer, “it is their leadership on and off the field. These three were a perfect fit for each other. If there is one aspect one of them doesn’t have the other two do, and best of all there are a lot of aspects all three of them have.”
Cook a center piece in the Mountaineers middle of the lineup started 135 games, second best in SVC history. Cook started all of his games behind the plate or as the DH. In his freshman season Cook accomplished a feat that is unheard of in college baseball, starting every game behind the dish. Cook finishes his career a .300 hitter with 136 hits, 11 home runs and 82 RBI’s. The captain is fourth in Career batting average, as well as second in walks, hit by pitches, and on base percentage at SVC. Cook finishes his career third in career hits, runs, home runs, and RBI’s. Cook is also on the SVC All-Time Record list for single season hits, runs, walks, and hit by pitches.
“Cookie gave this team everything he had every single day” said Schaffer, “There wasn’t a day he didn’t want to be behind the plate, and a lot of our pitchers success can be accredited to Dan for the way he called the game.”
Northup also had a major impact throughout his four years as a Mountaineer. A career .296 hitter, Northup recorded 117 hits and drove in 99 runs. The 99 RBI’s are second on the All-Time Record list, and his 12 home runs are tied for the most in a career. Like his fellow captains, Northup is listed in the top five of multiple categories in the record book: games started, season average, career average, season on base percentage, career on base percentage, career hits, career runs, season home runs, career home runs, season RBI’s, career RBI’s, career walks, career hit by pitches. That is just offensively as Northup was a main component on the mound for SVC his first three years before undergoing shoulder surgery his senior year. Northup leads SVC in career wins and career strikeouts.
In 2010 Northup was the key to SVC’s post-season run as the Mountaineers won four of Northup’s five conference starts. Northup was once again a major part of the Mountaineers late run in 2011 when the natural first baseman converted to third base. The Mountaineers were struggling defensively and the captain went to Schaffer and asked to play third. His wish was granted and couldn’t have paid off better as after the change SVC went on to win 10 of their last 15 games.
“Adam was the definition of a great captain, he wanted the ball on the mound when we needed a win and would do whatever it took to help this team win.” said Schaffer
The last of the captains, Gage, led off 138 games in a Mountaineer uniform the most all time in SVC history. Gage hit .307 in his career but it was his impressive .480 career on base percentage that made him special to the SVC lineup. Gage who set a NCAA record for hit by pitches in a career with 82, walked 67 times, and recorded 138 hits over his four years. Gage also scored 111 runs for SVC and stole 31 bases. The second baseman finishes his career on top of seven offensive categories in SVC history, and is second in four others. Gage is also SVC’s all time leader in saves with 10 and saves in a season (5).
“Dave was our table setter. When he was playing well we played well as a team,” stated Schaffer. “He is exactly the type of guy I try to recruit. His commitment to this program is a major reason we are where we are. I’m looking forward to continue working with Dave as he becomes an assistant coach”
“It is going to be different not writing the same three guys in the lineup every day” joked Schaffer. “I’m going to miss these guys, their teammates will miss them, but most of all the program will miss them.”