Shpur, Van Emon To Continue Baseball Careers At UConn

BEVERLY, Mass. – Recent Endicott College graduates Caleb Shpur (East Canaan, Conn.) and Gabe Van Emon (Lexington, Mass.) will continue their academic and baseball careers at the University of Connecticut (UConn) next year.

Shpur will major in sport management, while Van Emon will study business management as members of the UConn baseball program.

"I'm very proud of both Caleb and Gabe," said Endicott head coach Bryan Haley. "Both of these young men developed immensely over the past four years. They've both really come a long way as students, teammates, leaders, players, and most importantly, as people. UConn will be getting two fine young men who will undoubtedly add great value to their program, just as they have here at Endicott."

This past season, Shpur and Van Emon led the Gulls to their first-ever NCAA Division III College World Series appearance and a program record 45 wins.

Shpur collected several awards this spring highlighted by a pair of All-America honors (ABCA/D3sports.com), Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year accolades, and a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America® Second Team selection.

Meanwhile, Van Emon was named the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III National Pitcher of the Year, claimed two All-America awards, and also received CSC Academic All-America® Second Team accolades, among many other honors.

"I have been extremely grateful for spending the last four years playing at Endicott. Coach Haley, Coach O, and Coach Buzz have created a winning culture which I was honored to have been a part of during my time there. I want to thank all of them for their dedication to making this program so successful," said Shpur.

He continued to sum up his Endicott experience.

"Reflecting back on my time playing at Endicott makes me now understand the importance of having such a close group of teammates as our chemistry greatly impacted why we were, and will continue to be, so successful. The program means everything to me as I was able to come in as an undersized and underdeveloped player and be able to improve each year with the help of our coaching staff and Jack Dustin, our strength coach. I could not have asked for a better journey through college baseball as I have learned a lot about the game and myself during this time. I am excited for the future of Endicott baseball and am thankful for everything the program has done for me."

Van Emon also weighed in on his career at Endicott.

"My time at Endicott was invaluable and shaped me into not only a better baseball player, but a better person. I am extremely grateful for the past four years I have spent at Endicott, and am very thankful for Coach Haley, Coach O, and Coach Buzz for their guidance, time, and effort."

Van Emon continued to elaborate on his time at The Nest.

"Reflecting on my time at Endicott, it truly shows how a close-knit group of teammates, who genuinely care about each other creates a winning culture that thrives to new heights. This past season especially, we were able to achieve new heights as a program and I believe it is because of this close team chemistry we formed as a team, that spread throughout the entire roster. It was really special to be a part of a group like this, and the run we had. It takes a lot to win, and a work ethic was instilled into all of us in order to do so. It continued in the weight room where our strength coach, Jack Dustin, pushed us constantly to get stronger and be better, and truly cared about us as people and our development. Overall, my experience at Endicott was unforgettable. I am very excited to see the heights the program reaches in years to come."

Shpur and Van Emon will join a UConn team that went 44-17 overall and 15-5 in BIG EAST contests last season.

The Huskies earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, marking their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and ninth overall since 2010.

UConn bowed out in the Gainesville Regional, hosted by No. 2 overall seed Florida, by going 1-2 in the bracket against Texas Tech (L, 3-2), Florida A&M (W, 9-6), and the previously mentioned Gators (L, 8-2). 

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(Photo Credit - Mazzie Hinsdale '26)