Baseball | 5/13/2026 10:00:00 AM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University baseball team claimed a major Empire 8 award and placed 11 players on the All-Empire 8 teams as the conference announced its honors for the 2026 season on Wednesday.
Senior first baseman Jack Griffin was named Empire 8 Player of the Year after one of the most prolific offensive seasons in program history. Griffin headlined a Cardinals squad that placed three players on the first team – to go along with two second-team and six third-team honorees.
Griffin, freshman starting pitcher Justin Christensen and sophomore outfielder Jordan Perry each earned first-team All-Empire 8 recognition. Second-team honors went to sophomore shortstop Austin Droge and junior starting pitcher Robert Leach. Freshman catcher Hunter Fales, freshman second baseman Jacob Penafeather, sophomore third baseman Ryan Vanderlip, junior outfielder Jackson Frey, graduate designated hitter Mario Cubello and senior relief pitcher Dylan Becker each earned third-team recognition.
Additionally, senior pitcher Michael Bowler was chosen as St. John Fisher's representative on the conference's Tomorrow's Leaders Team, which recognizes a student-athlete from each E8 team who has demonstrated leadership in competition, in the classroom and in their community.
Griffin has been the engine of the Cardinals' offense all season, he is second in the league with a .423 batting average, while leading the E8 with a .542 on-base percentage, .744 slugging percentage, 1.286 OPS, a nation-leading 24 doubles, and 116 total bases. Griffin is in the top-five in the league with 66 hits, 52 runs scored, 54 runs batted in and 35 walks. Griffin hit .494 with a 1.476 OPS, 17 doubles, four homers, 35 RBI and 33 runs scored in 22 regular season E8 contests. He has reached base in 41-of-42 games this season and is the tenth different Player of the Year in program history.
Christensen has been equally dominant on the mound, compiling a 7-0 record and a 1.77 ERA in 12 appearances, including nine starts. The freshman from South Glens Falls has struck out 68 batters in just 45.2 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .160 batting average. He has allowed only nine earned runs all season.
Perry has been one of the most reliable hitters in the Empire 8, batting .398 with 72 hits, 15 doubles and four home runs over 42 games. The sophomore from Malone has driven in 47 runs, scored 52 and swiped 10 of 11 attempted bases while committing just one error in the outfield.
Droge has been a steadying presence at shortstop, batting .292 with 35 hits, eight doubles and four home runs in 32 games. The sophomore from Warwick has driven in 28 runs and scored 40 times.
Leach, a junior from Orchard Park, has put together a strong season as one of the Cardinals' top starters, going 7-2 with a 3.44 ERA over 13 appearances and 12 starts. He has logged 49.2 innings, striking out 49 batters and allowing just 19 earned runs.
Fales has provided steady production from the catcher position, batting .337 with 31 hits, 11 doubles and three home runs in 26 games. He has reached base at a .466 rate.
Penafeather has been a reliable presence in the infield as a freshman, hitting .297 with 41 hits and 13 doubles while driving in 29 runs in 38 games. He has handled 136 chances at second base and turned 13 double plays in his first collegiate season.
Vanderlip has provided pop from the third base spot, batting .315 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 27 games, while Frey has been one of Fisher's most well-rounded hitters, batting .311 with 47 hits – including eight doubles and a team-leading 10 triples – and 56 RBI in 41 games.
Cubello has been one of the most dynamic players on the roster, batting .292 with 45 RBI and a team-leading 28 stolen bases in 30 attempts across all 42 games. Becker has been a reliable option out of the bullpen, posting a 3.62 ERA with 28 strikeouts and a save in 27.1 innings over 13 appearances.
St. John Fisher ended their season 30-12 (16-6), their highest win total since the 2023 season.
