All-Star Nats, Best Buddies & Lessons at The Dugout - Adam Crocker’s Big Summer

For Springfield College varsity athlete Adam Crocker, the summer of 2026 was defined by intense competition, personal growth, and a profound commitment to passing knowledge down to the next generation of athletes. From representing Nova Scotia on Canada’s biggest baseball stages to serving as Vice President of his college’s Best Buddies chapter and coaching young players at The Dugout, Adam’s busy summer offers a blueprint for what it means to be a modern student-athlete.

As he prepares for his final collegiate season in Western Massachusetts, Adam sat down with Dave Williamson to reflect on an unforgettable summer and look ahead at what comes next.

National Stage: Competing at 22U and Senior Nationals

Adam’s summer on the diamond was packed with high-level competition. Invited as a pickup player for two separate national championship tournaments, he stepped into major roles under very different tournament dynamics.

22U Junior Nationals

Suiting up with the Dartmouth Junior Renegades at the 22U National Championship, Adam reconnected with long-time provincial teammates. Facing top-tier talent from across the country, the team finished with a 3–3 record. For Adam, the tournament was a low-stress environment that allowed him to play loose, reconnect with lifelong friends, and rediscover the pure joy of the game.

Senior Nationals & Tournament All-Star Honors

The intensity reached another gear at the Senior National Championship in Chatham, New Brunswick. As the youngest player on Nova Scotia’s senior roster—competing alongside veterans pushing 40 and 50—Adam experienced the electric atmosphere of senior-level baseball.

In front of over 3,500 fans during the opening night festivities, the team launched into a memorable tournament run highlighted by a dramatic 9-inning, double-extra-inning walk-off victory over tournament favorite Quebec. Adam’s standout individual performance earned him Tournament All-Star honors, proving his caliber against top-flight arms across the nation.

"Playing Senior Nats was so passionate and intense in all the best ways. Winning that Quebec game in double extras... I've played three years of college ball, and that might be my favorite game I've ever been a part of."

— Adam Crocker

Leadership Beyond the Diamond: Best Buddies Leadership Conference

Baseball wasn't the only arena where Adam made an impact this summer. Pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy, Adam's passion for helping others led him to serve as Vice President of Springfield College's Best Buddies chapter—an international organization dedicated to creating one-to-one friendships and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

In early July, Adam traveled all-expenses-paid to Indiana University for the national Best Buddies Leadership Conference, joining student leaders from top universities across North America (including Florida, Tennessee, Harvard, and Boston College).

Adam cited hearing stories of incredible resilience—such as two brothers completing multiple Ironman triathlons together despite quadriplegic cerebral palsy—as one of the single most inspiring moments of his year, shaping his perspective on sports, therapy, and life.

Giving Back at The Dugout & The W28 Development Vision

When he wasn't competing on national fields or attending conferences, Adam spent his summer at The Dugout. Beyond helping run cage operations and staff events, Adam stepped up to conduct private lessons, giving young players direct access to college-level insights.

Empowering Young Athletes

Adam focused heavily on keeping lessons engaged and enthusiastic. Rather than rigid repetition, he built fun competitions into tee work and cage drills to help kids fall in love with improvement.

World-Class Training Tech

As a senior-level hitter, Adam utilized the facility's advanced tech—including HitTrax velocity tracking and full-length 60-foot lanes paired with top-tier Spinball pitching machines—to simulate realistic college-level offspeed pitches and game speeds.

Structured Growth with Trevor Wamback & W28

Looking at the broader vision of player development at The Dugout, Adam emphasized the value of the new W28 Development Plans led by coach Trevor Wamback (who coached Adam during his high school career at King's Edge-Hill School):

"A lot of kids have the drive, but they don't have the direction. Giving them a clear blueprint leaves nothing to chance. Coach Trevor is so deliberate—he explains why a drill makes you better, not just what to do. Having structured feedback and a personalized plan is something I wish I had growing up."

What’s Next: Heading Into Senior Year

As Adam returns to Massachusetts for his 4th and final year at Springfield College, he carries a renewed mindset. Hitting over .300 across his college career, Adam is ready to translate his pressure-free, locked-in approach from Senior Nationals into a dominant final collegiate season.

Everyone at The Dugout wishes Adam the absolute best of luck in his senior year! We look forward to welcoming him back home soon.