2026 Empire 8 Baseball Players to Watch

Baseball | 2/24/2026 10:00:00 AM

The 2026 Empire 8 baseball season is underway. The Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport will attempt to win their second straight Empire 8 crown as nine teams will battle for the 2026 E8 Championship. League play gets started on Saturday, March 21.

The top six teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with a play-in game Tuesday, May 5, second play in game at the top-seed on Thursday, May , followed by a four-team double-elimination tournament Thursday, May 7 - Saturday, May 9. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.  
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Brian Kehew
Cameron Brought, Jr., INF, Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro – Brought, a 2024 E8 third team all-conference member, will gain a larger role in the lineup for the Saxons in 2026. Last year, he totaled nine hits, one double and drove in seven runs. In the field he held a .950 fielding percentage with19 putouts. 

Angelo DeFilippis, Sr., OF, Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic - In his sophomore season, DeFilippis finished with a .241 batting average. He totaled 14 hits on the season with three doubles and three runs batted in. He added four stolen bases and nine runs scored. On defense, he held a .974 fielding percentage with 37 putouts. 

SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Nick Pontari
Kyle Blake, Jr., OF, East Greenbush, NY/Columbia - Blake, a 2025 E8 first team all-conference member, was one of the top hitters for the Golden Eagles. He finished up his season hitting .396 with a .973 OPS. He had 13 doubles, one homerun, scored 35 runs and batted in 37 runs. His impressive season earned him third team ABCA All-Region honors. 

Josh Indek, Sr., 2B/OF, Plainview, NY/Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy - Indek, a 2025 E8 second team all-conference member, was as key member of the lineup for the Golden Eagles. He finished his season hitting .336 with a .873 OPS. He totaled 49 hits with two doubles, led the team with three triples and one homerun. Indek scored 49 runs and batted in 21. He added 12 stolen bases on 13 attempts.  

ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Anthony Goncalves
Xander Canfield, Sr., INF, Schenectady, NY/Schenectady - Canfield was a staple of the Soaring Eagles batting order in 2025. He held a .304 batting average and a .757 OPS. He totaled three doubles, one triple, one homerun and 21 runs batted in. On the mound, Canfield in 17 innings pitched had seven strikeouts.

Connor Stone, Sr., C, Scituate, MA/Scituate - Stone, a second team all-conference member in 2025, led the Soaring Eagles at the plate. He held a .319 batting average and a 1.094 OPS. He had a team-high two homruns with four doubles, two triples and 29 runs batted in. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Brian Reitnour
Qingyang Feng, Jr., OF, Qianjang, China/Nanjing Dongshan Foreign Language School - Feng, a 2025 E8 second team all-conference member, had an excellent sophomore season. He was a top-three hitter for the Highlanders. He finished his season with a .359 batting average and a 1.020 OPS. He was a team leader in doubles (17), triples (5) and homeruns (3). He scored 47 runs and drove in 37. His efforts earned him 2025 D3baseball.com first team all-region and 2025 ABCA third team all-region honors. 

Christian Tortorici, Sr., C, Schenectady, NY/Schalmont - Tortorici, a 2025 E8 first team all-conference member, was a leader for the Highlanders in his junior season. He was a staple in the lineup and behind the plate. He held a .354 hitting percentage and a .953 OPS. He totaled 56 hits with 10 doubles, four triples and one homerun. He scored 43 runs and batted 41 home. Behind the plate, he had 291 putouts and caught 14 runners stealing. His impressive seasob earned him 2025 D3baseball.com and ABCA second team all-region accolades. 

KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Matt Michalski
Alex Evans, Jr., SS, Liverpool, NY/Liverpool - Evans, a 2025 E8 third team all-conference member, was an offensive leader for the Wolves. He held a .377 batting averaged and a .880 OPS. He totaled 43 hits, six doubles and 43 runs scored. He added 17 runs batted in with five stolen bases. 

Derek Novicki, Sr., 1B, North Haven, CT/North Haven - Novicki is expected to carry a larger role in the lineup in 2026. In 2025, he held a .328 batting averge and a .875 OPS. He totaled 41 hits with a team-tying 10 doubles, one triple and two homeruns. He scored 20 runs and drove in 30. At first base, he had 216 putouts, 12 assists with a .987 fielding percentage. 

SUNY POLY - Head Coach Paul Ludden
Quinn Hill, Jr., INF, Bayport, NY/Bayport Blue Point - Hill, a 2025 E8 second team all-conference selection, led the way for the Wildcats in his sophomore season. He had an impressive .400 batting average and a 1.098 OPS. He had 50 total hits, leading the team in doubles (14) and triples (2). He scored 45 runs and drove in 27. His efforts landed him 2025 ABCA third team all-region. 

Luke Landis, So., INF/RHP, Moravia, NY/Moravia - In his debut season, Landis made a big splash for the Wildcats. He was second in hitting with a .339 batting average and a 1.034 OPS. He totaled 42 hits, 14 doubles and led the team with six homeruns. He added 35 runs scored and was the leader in runs batted in with 38.

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Matt Marsh
Xavier Garcia, Sr., LHP, San Diego, CA/Saratoga Springs - Garcia pitched four wins in the 2025 season for the Gators. He held a team-best 3.76 ERA on the season. He pitched 52.2 innings allowing 35 hits with 71 strikeouts.

Evan Grimes, Gr., LHP/OF, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa - Grimes, a 2025 E8 first team all-conference member as an outfielder and a second teamer as a utility player, was an important contributor for the Gators. He finished up his season at the plate with a .333 batting average. He had 51 hits, 13 doubles, one triple and five homeruns. He added 31 runs batted in and scored 43 runs himself. On the mound, Grimes won a team-high six games. He held a 4.14 ERA on the season with 54.1 innings pitched. He added 62 strikeouts. 

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Brandon Potter
Mario Cubello, Gr., UTL, Bethlehem, NY/Glenmont - Cubello, a 2025 E8 first team all-conference member, was a top hitter for the Cardinals. He held a .382 batting averaged and a 1.193 OPS. He totaled 42 hits, three doubles and eight homeruns. He scored 48 runs and brought in 30. He led the Cardinals with 22 stolen bases on 23 attempts. 

Jack Griffin, Sr., 1B, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa/St. Rose - Griffin, a 2025 E8 first team all-conference member, generated the most offense for the Cardinals. He led the team in batting average with .383 and had a 1.080 OPS. He totaled 49 hits with eight doubles and six homeruns. He was the team leader in runs batted in (49) and scored 43 himself. At first base, he had 77 putouts with 21 assists. 

UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Joe Milazzo
Kody Czternastek, Sr., P/INF, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro - Czternastek led the way at the plate for the Pioneers in 2025. He finished up with a .371 batting averaged and a .976 OPS. He totaled 33 hits with six doubles, one triple and one homerun. He drove in 21 runs and scored 27. On the mound, he pitched 4.2 innings and earned one win and a 1.71 ERA. 

Ty Montrose, Jr., UT/P, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro - Montrose was second at the plate for the Pioneers in 2025. He finished his sophomore season with a .330 batting average and a .906 OPS. He led the team in hits with 37 with seven doubles, one triple and two homeruns. On the mound, Montrose went 2-2 in 13.2 innings pitched. He held a 1.98 ERA with 17 strikeouts. 

Final 2025 Empire 8 Baseball Standings
Brockport (36-5-1, 21-1-1 E8) - League Champions
Russell Sage (27-15, 18-6 E8) 
St. John Fisher (21-19-1, 15-8-1 E8)
Utica (18-16-1, 12-11 E8)
Houghton (24-21, 11-13 E8)
Keuka (16-20, 10-14 E8)
Poly (14-22, 10-14 E8)
Elmira (13-25, 7-17 E8)
Alfred (4-32, 2-22 E8)

2025 Empire 8 Baseball Tournament Recap

Tuesday, May 6
No. 5 Houghton University defeated No. 6 SUNY Poly, 7-3 – BOX SCORE 
 
Thursday, May 8
Wild Card – No. 5 Houghton University defeated No. 4 Utica University, 23-9 – BOX SCORE
Game 1 – No. 2 Russell Sage College defeated No. 3 St. John Fisher, 6-5 – BOX SCORE
Game 2 – No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 5 Houghton University, 11-1 – BOX SCORE
 
Friday, May 9
Game 3 – No. 5 Houghton defeated No. 3 St. John Fisher, 16-10 – BOX SCORE (St. John Fisher eliminated)
Game 4 – No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 2 Russell Sage, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
Game 5 – No. 2 Russell Sage defeated No. 5 Houghton, 4-3 (10 innings) – BOX SCORE (Houghton eliminated)
 
Saturday, May 10
Game 6 – No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 2 Russell Sage, 11-0 – BOX SCORE

2025 Empire 8 Baseball Championship Most Valuable Player
Anthony Lapine, Sr., P, SUNY Brockport
 

• Jordan Perry, St. John Fisher, So., OF, Malone, NY/Franklin Academy - 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• Jacob Scalise, Utica, Jr., C, Utica, NY/Whitesboro - 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• Kooper Knabe, Utica, Sr., RHP, Cortland, NY/Cortland - 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• Christian Tortorici, Houghton, Sr., C, Schenectady, NY/Schalmont - 2025 ABCA Second Team All-Region, 2025 D3baseball.com Second Team All-Region
• Qingyang Feng, Houghton, Sr., 3B, Qianjiang, China/Nanjing Dongshan Foreign Language School - 2025 D3baseball.com First Team All-Region, 2025 ABCA Third Team All-Region
• Quinn Hill, Poly, Jr., SS, Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point - 2025 ABCA Third Team All-Region
• Jack Griffin, St. John Fisher, Sr., 1B, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa - 2025 ABCA Third Team All-Region, 2025 D3baseball.com Third Team All-Region
• Kyle Blake, Brockport, Jr., OF, East Greenbush, NY/Columbia - 2025 ABCA Third Team All-Region
• Mario Cubello, St. John Fisher, Gr., OF, Bethlehem, NY/Glenmont - 2025 D3baseball.com Second Team All-Region; 2025 Empire 8 Man of the Year