Softball | 3/1/2024 9:55:28 AM
St. John Fisher will look to repeat their Empire 8 Championship, as eight teams will battle for the 2024 league title. The upcoming season is underway with league play beginning on April 5-7. Five teams will advance to the Empire 8 Tournament, which will take place first with the fourth place team hosting the fifth place team in a play-in game on May 7, followed by a double-elimination four-team tournament at the home of the regular season champion and top-seed from May9-11. The Empire 8 Champion will reciee an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
Empire 8 Players to Watch (Sorted Alphabetically)
Madi Brown-Bloom, Elmira, Gr. OF, Barrington, NH/Oyster River - Brown-Bloom was an All-Empire 8 third team selection in 2023. She was a consistent force at the plate hitting .324 with an. 849 OPS, while driving in 29 runs and had eight extra base hits.
Makenna DeMoney, Keuka, So. C, Conklin, NY/Susquehana Valley - DeMoney comes off of an excellent debut at Keuka, earning All-Empire 8 third team honors. She led the team in extra base hits (13) and RBI's (25) while hitting .319.
Emily Joss, Utica, Gr. 2B/SS, South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls - A two-time Player to Watch, Joss is a back-to-back All-Empire 8 first team selection after hitting .415 with one home run, 21 RBI's and 1.207 OPS. She was also an All-E8 third team pick in 2021.
Jen Page, Houghton, Sr. OF, Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy - A 2021 All-Empire 8 third team pick, Page is set to lead the way for the Highlanders this season. She hit .303 and led the team in runs scored with 18.
Jessica Remm, Alfred, So. OF, Carmel, IN/Carmel - The 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year is slated for another impressive season for the Saxons. She was an All-E8 first team selection, and earned Division III NFCA All-Region III third team accolades. Remm hit .411 with a .574 slugging percentage and an 1.014 OPS and will be counted on to lead Alfred at the plate in 2024.
Madi Rose, St. John Fisher, So. 2B, Averill Park, NY/Averill Park - Rose was a 2023 All-Empire 8 first team selection in her inaugural season as a Cardinal. She led the team with a .459 on-base percentage while hitting .347 to go along with an .823 OPS.
Maddy Spakoski, Nazareth, So. OF, Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder - Spakoski finisher her first season for Nazareth hitting .318 with a .486 slugging percentage. She led the team with four home runs and drove in 26 runs last season.
Isabella Vano, Russell Sage, Sr. OF, Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown - Vano heads into the 2024 season as a leader for the Gators. She finished the 2023 season with 28 hits and 18 RBI's.
Team Capsules (Sorted by Spring 2023 Standings)
Alfred
Alfred, the 2023 Empire 8 Regular Season Champions, will look to win its third league title in four seasons in 2024. The Saxons finished 14-2 in league play and won 25-14-1 games overall in 2023. While Alfred will look to replace shortstop Ashley Lugo, who finished her career in the top-five all-time Division III with 164 stolen bases, several standouts return. Sophomore Jessica Remm, the 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, All-E8 first team selection, and NFCA All-Region III third team selection, will lead the offense after hitting .411 with a .574 slugging percentage and 1.014 OPS in 2023. Fellow All-Empire 8 first team selectio Mya Wells, third team pick Megan Bennett and Abby Gatza will also be counted on to lead the way in 2024. The Saxons are also excited to welcome Kendall Steward, Delaney Prather, Paris Guzman, Kody Watson and Samantha Vidal as top newcomers.
St. John Fisher
The Cardinals will look for back-to-back Empire 8 Championships this season after winning 28 games and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in program history. The Cardinals will return All-Empire 8 first team pick Madi Rose who led the team with a .459 on-base percentage, while hitting .347 to go along with an .823 OPS. Fellow All-Empire8 first team pick Mari Spitz, along with All-E8 second team picks Kelly Cournoyer, Maddie Donlin and Cassidy Ormond will return. Ainsley Evanetski will be a key returner in the circle for the Cardinals as well.
Russell Sage
The Gators are ready to recreate their success they had in 2023 after advnacing to the Empire 8 Championship gmae. While Russell Sage will look to replace two-time Empire 8 Player of the Year, Arianna Papas and three-time All-E8 selection Taylor DiCranian, several standouts returning, including outfielder Isabella Vano, 2023 All-E8 second team Madalyn Ring and sophomore catcher Serina Garmendiz. Russell Sage will have a new look in the dugout, as Stephanie Reinhardt takes over as head coach in 2024.
Nazareth
Nazareth will have a new look in 2024, as Margaret Yerndon-Grange takes over as head coach. Yerndon-Grange, who spent the last 14 seasons as head coach at the University of Rochester, where she led the Yellowjackets to 345 wins and seven trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Flyers are coming off of a fourth place finish in the conference and will look to climb the league standings this season. Sophomore Maddy Spakoski is expected to lead the way after pacing the Golden Flyers with four home runs in 2023. Senior Megan Pum and sophomore Ashley Bell are also expected to be top returners for Nazareth.
Elmira
The Soaring Eagles are coming off of an Empire 8 Semifinal appearance in 2023 and will look to make the ascent up the league standings in 2024. Graduate Student Madi Brown-Bloom will be Elmira's player to watch after an All-E8 third team nod last year. All-E8 second and third team selection Maryann Sobel will also be returning, along with fellow third teamer Kaitlyn Belmont. Katie Distefano and Asia Curkendall will be key pieces to the Soaring Eagles roster. Brianna Ramstine, a transfer from SUNY Broome Community College, will look to make an impact as well.
Utica
With a full season under her belt, head coach Rinae Olsen and the Pioneers are looking to make a deep postseason run in 2024. Graduate Student Emily Joss will lead the way for the Pioneers this season. The two-time All-E8 first team selection is coming off of a .415 batting average and 1.207 OPS season. Fellow All-E8 first team selection Maddie Zulager will also be returning to the outfield. All-E8 second team selection Lauren Paul, third team selection Kylie Murray and pitcher Jordyn Conte will also be expected to be leaders in 2024. Olsen welcomes her first recruiting class with a trio of newcomers from California, first-year standouts Rachel Little, Frankie Luster and Jennifer Rodriguez. Junior college transfer Brooke Beleza will also be counted on to patrol the infield.
Keuka
The Wolves will look for a spot in the Empire 8 Tournament this season. Sophomore catcher Makenna DeMoney will lead the way for Keuka in 2024. DeMoney finished the 2023 season as an All-E8 third team selection after hitting .319 with 25 RBI's. Senior Emily VanDelinder and sophomores Grace Eagen, Emily Cutrona and Olivia Flynn will all be expected to lead the way for the Wolves. They will return seven starters while also welcoming Hailey Jasinski as a top newcomer.
Houghton
The Highlanders will look to earn an Empire 8 postseason berth in 2024. Senior outfielder Jen Page is expected to be a top returner for the Highlanders. An All-E8 third team pick in 2021, Page hit .313 and led the team in runs scored last season. Upperclassmen Lydia Peterson, Chyanne Bushyhead and Carlee Miller are all top returners as well. The team will be returning seven starters and welcomes transfer pitcher Olivia Carr as a top newcomer.
Final 2023 Empire 8 Softball Standings
Alfred (25-14-1, 14-2 E8)
St. John Fisher (28-14, 12-4 E8) - League Champions
Russell Sage (23-18, 11-5 E8)
Nazareth (14-17, 8-8 E8)
Elmira (20-19, 8-8 E8)
Utica (19-16, 8-8 E8)
Medaille (16-18, 7-9 E8)
Keuka (11-27, 3-13 E8)
Houghton (7-30, 1-15 E8)
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and YouTube
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