Date: April 4, 2002
CALLAHAN TOPPLES BASEBALL'S HITS AND TRIPLES RECORDS
MEDFORD – Senior tri-captain Dan Callahan (Medfield, MA/Medfield) of the Tufts Baseball team had a record-setting day at Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Hendy Field on Tuesday (Apr. 2). By going 4 for 6 with three runs batted in, two triples and two runs scored in a remarkable 25-4 Tufts win, Callahan became the program's career leader in triples and hits.
The right fielder topped the career triples mark first, ripping his 10th during a six-run second inning. He added his 11th triple in the next inning, as the Jumbos again scored six runs to take a 12-2 lead. Callahan entered the game with nine career triples, tied for the team's all-time lead with former all-star center fielder Dan Morse (1996-99). Callahan already has four triples in 13 games this spring, which ties the single-season record that he already shares with two others after stroking four three-baggers in 1999.
A single in the ninth was Callahan's 182nd career hit, surpassing Morse's 181. The NESCAC Player of the Year last season, he is hitting .423 this year (22/52) with a team-high 17 runs scored, 14 runs batted in, two home runs and three stolen bases. He's slugging .712 and has a .483 on-base percentage.
"Triples are hit by athletes," said Head Coach John Casey, whose team has won nine straight and is 9-3-1 overall. "Morse was one of the most athletic kids we've ever had here, and Callahan's right there with him. He's worked hard to improve every year. He was a good player as a freshman, but he's added power to his batting average. He's just a great baseball player, simple as that."
There's potential for Callahan to go on a record-setting binge this season. His 130 career runs scored are second all-time, 16 behind Morse. He's third on the career runs batted in list with 108, eight behind Bill Canon's (1987-90) mark of 116. Brian Symmon's record 41 career doubles is also within the reach of Callahan, who has 37. The lanky 6'4", 190 pounder currently carries a .389 career batting average (182/468), which is creeping up on John Flack's .410 record from 1996-99.
Callahan hit .420 with 12 doubles, five home runs, 38 runs, 41 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases during his Player of the Year campaign in 2001. The 41 rbis are a Tufts single-season mark. His 16 doubles in 2000 are also the team's single-season standard.
He's equally successful in the classroom as an International Relations major with better than a 3.5 grade point average. He was named to the Verizon Academic Northeast Region Team last season.
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