The St. John's University baseball squad enters the inaugural Orlando Baseball Classic as the reigning BIG EAST regular‑season and tournament champions, ready to test its mettle against a field that includes NCAA Tournament qualifiers.
Coach Mike Hampton, in his seventh season at the helm, guided the Red Storm to seven All‑BIG EAST honors and earned both BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year and ABCA/ATEC Northeast Region Coach of the Year honors.
The three‑day showcase, held at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from February 26 to 28, will feature games at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day.
St. John's opens against Michigan on Friday morning, travels to face West Virginia on Saturday and concludes the round‑robin with a Sunday matchup against Pitt.
The Red Storm holds a 30‑18 edge over West Virginia in a series that spans decades, while the program enjoys a 47‑22 advantage in 70 meetings with Pitt.
Earlier this spring, St. John's advanced to its first Super Regional since 2012 by defeating No. 10 Florida State twice in the Tallahassee Regional, underscoring the team’s resurgence.
A reunion with former BIG EAST rivals
Both West Virginia and Pitt, once conference foes, now meet the Red Storm on neutral ground, reviving historic rivalries that have defined the program’s recent trajectory.
The event also includes participants UCF and Indiana State, though they will not square off against St. John's during the Classic.
Fans can expect a blend of early‑morning and evening contests, with the schedule designed to showcase the talent on display across the six‑team field.