Baseball | 5/27/2026 1:00:00 PM
Thirteen Empire 8 baseball student-athletes earned All-Region honors, as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced their 2026 All-New York Region teams. Five players from 2026 Empire 8 Champion Russell Sage College were honored, while St. John Fisher University had four players, SUNY Brockport had a pair of players honored and Utica University and Houghton University each had one player earn All-Region plaudits.
2026 Empire 8 Pitcher of the Year Evan Grimes of Russell Sage was named the 2026 ABCA/Rawlings Region III Position Player of the Year.
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.
Below are all of the Empire 8 All-Region selections.
2026 ABCA/Rawlings All-New York Region Selections
First Team
Jack Griffin, Sr., 1B, St. John Fisher (Clifton Park, NY/St. Rose)
Joseph Karpierz, Sr., SS, Russell Sage (Cohoes, NY/Shaker/Xavier)
Mike Rockwell, Sr., OF, Utica (Liverpool, NY/Cicero)
Michael Norton, Gr., DH, Brockport (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk)
Evan Grimes, Sr., UT, Russell Sage (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa/SUNY Adirondack)
Justin Christensen, Fr., P, St. John Fisher (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls)
Second Team
Jordan Perry, So., OF, St. John Fisher (Malone, NY/Franklin Academy)
Aidan Green, Sr., P, Russell Sage (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro/Onondaga CC)
Third Team
Christian Tortorici, Sr., C, Houghton (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont)
Matthew Coon, Gr., 1B, Brockport (Elmira, NY/Elmira)
Anthony Rizzo, Sr., 2B, Russell Sage (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC)
Jayden Kennedy, Jr., 3B, Russell Sage (East Patchogue, NY/Patchogue Medford/HVCC)
Robert Leach, Jr., P, St. John Fisher (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park)