The 2026 Empire 8 Conference baseball awards have crowned Russell Sage as champions, and the accolades keep coming.
Jack Griffin of St. John Fisher was selected as the Player of the Year after a season that saw him top the league in several offensive categories, underscoring his impact at the plate.
Evan Grimes from Russell Sage earned Pitcher of the Year honors, posting a 7‑1 record, a 2.70 earned run average and 80 strikeouts, a performance that helped anchor the team’s rotation.
Collin Casey was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year, boasting a .987 fielding percentage with only four errors in 313 chances behind the plate.
Freshman Nick Irizarry took Rookie of the Year, batting .358 with 63 runs scored, 36 RBI and a league‑leading 44 stolen bases.
The conference also named Russell Sage’s coaching staff as Coaching Staff of the Year, reflecting the program’s overall excellence.
Depth of talent recognized
Across the board, Russell Sage dominated the All-Conference selections, landing six players on the first team and accumulating ten total honors, a testament to the depth of talent on the roster.
Other notable mentions include Christian Tortorici of Houghton University and Griffin himself earning first-team honors for the second straight season, while a member of each team was selected for the 2026 Baseball Tomorrow’s Leaders Team, which celebrates excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.