Baseball | 5/11/2026 2:59:45 PM
The Empire 8 Conference announced its 2026 Empire 8 Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team on Monday, May 11. Sophomore first baseman Darren Dengler of Russell Sage College was named the Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Gators to their first league title.
Dengler hit .500 (6-for-12) with five runs scored and three RBI in four Russell Sage contests. He went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI in an 8-5 win over St. John Fisher on May 8 that put the Gators in the championship series. In the title game on May 9, Dengler went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases in Russell Sage’s 6-2 win over the Cardinals that gave the Gators their first Empire 8 Championship. Dengler was one of four Russell Sage student-athletes to earn All-Tournament Team honors.
2026 Empire 8 Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team
Matthew Coon, Gr., 1B, SUNY Brockport (Elmira, NY/Elmira)
Michael Norton, Gr., DH, SUNY Brockport (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk)
Darren Dengler, So., 1B, Russell Sage (Hobart, NY/South Kortright) *
Evan Grimes, Sr., OF/P, Russell Sage (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa)
Nick Irizarry, Fr., OF, Russell Sage (South Plainfield, NY/South Plainfield)
Tyler Murray, Jr., P, Russell Sage (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia)
Justin Christensen, Fr., P, St. John Fisher (South Glens, Falls, NY/South Glens Falls)
Ethan Fulton, Sr., P, St. John Fisher (Trumansburg, NY/Trumansburg)
Noah Pohrte, Sr., OF, St. John Fisher (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North)
Lance Berger, Sr., 2B, Utica (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony’s)
* Named 2026 Empire 8 Baseball Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player