Former Viking senior Gage Underwood felt pulled to Campbellsville University due to a close tie to his family.
After visiting the school and a brief tryout period for the Tigers’ coaching staff, Underwood knew where he would be spending his college career.
Earlier this week, he made it official and signed his letter of intent to continue his baseball career at Campbellsville.
“I have family there. My grandma just passed away and I wanted to go there for her. It’s a good school and I’ll be playing friends I know,” he said.
It was a mutual interest between the school and Underwood that led to his eventual signing.
“We both kind of reached out at the same time. I went and did a tour of the school and did a little tryout kind of thing and pitched in front of them. The coach was really nice and said he wanted me on the team,” Underwood said.
Underwood was a key cog in the Vikings’ roster during the 2022 season that led to a Class 2A state sectional run.
Underwood’s work ethic not only helped push the Vikings to within one win of making the Class 2A state tournament, but also helped him find a spot on a collegiate roster.
“Gage has been one of the hardest workers we have ever had in the program. Everything he has gotten he has earned with his work ethic and Coach Jake Roberts deserves a lot of the credit helping get Gage where he is now,” Viking coach Robbie Davis said.
“He had a great senior season and we don't make the sub-state without him. He has great family support and Campbellsville is getting a true winner in every sense of the word.”
While most college signees ink their letters of intent in late spring, Underwood was able to secure his in mid-summer, which made it a little tougher to prepare for the athleticism of college competition this fall.
“It’s hard, but I’m just ready to get started. I’m going to go in straight away and start working,” Underwood said.
For now, Underwood is putting in the work on his own before getting on an official college regimen later this summer when he reports to campus.
Underwood made his living for the Vikings with a steady arm on the mound and a reliable bat at the plate.
While roles at the college level are more exclusive pending each player’s strengths, the Campbellsville coaching staff sees Underwood as a pitcher, but could see him in another role as needed.
“They said I was going to be a pitcher only, but I might get a few at bats,” he said.
Throughout his time playing for Community, Underwood was part of plenty of memorable games and moments, but his favorite was pitching the Vikings to a win against Cascade in the District 7-AA tournament and bumping the Cascade Champions out of the tournament.
“I was determined to get the win. I had to close it out,” he said.
Underwood plans on pursing a degree in either criminal justice or sports management.
Campbellsville competes in the NAIA and is part of the Mid-South Conference.
In 2022, the Tigers posted a 25-24 overall record.