Baseball | 5/29/2026 2:00:00 PM
Three Empire 8 Standouts were named 2026 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-America selections. Senior utility player from Russell Sage, Evan Grimes, was a first team selection, senior first baseman Jack Griffin and freshman pitcher Justin Christensen were both fourth team selections.
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. The D3baseball.com selections Players were nominated for these awards by the Sports Information Directors at the various schools.
Grimes, a senior from Clifton Park, NY, finished his season with a sparkling 7-2 record and 2.92 earned run average, while striking out 80 batters in 69.2 innings pitched. Opposing batters have hit just .206 against him this season. He went 5-0 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings in conference play. Grimes also excelled at the plate with a 1.160 OPS, 27 extra base hits (13 doubles, seven triples and seven home runs), 38 walks, 57 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 31 attempts. Grimes becomes an All-American for ABCA/Rawlings for the first time in his career. He adds to his set of accolades for the 2026 season including D3baseball.com first team All-American, first team D3baseball.com All-Region, first team ABCA/Rawlings All-region, 2026 ABCA/Rawlings Region III Position Player of the Year, 2026 Empire 8 Pitcher of the Year and a first team All-Conference nod.
Christensen, who also earned first-team All-Empire 8 recognition, capped a remarkable debut season that saw him go 7-0 with a 1.77 ERA across 12 appearances, including nine starts. The South Glens Falls native struck out 68 batters in just 45.2 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .160 batting average and allowing only nine earned runs all season. He was equally impressive in the Empire 8 Tournament, throwing seven innings of shutout ball in a 3-0 win over SUNY Brockport.
Griffin, a senior from Clifton Park, NY, the Empire 8 Player of the Year, put together one of the most prolific offensive seasons in Cardinal's history. He hit .423 with a nation-leading 24 doubles and 116 total bases, while leading the Empire 8 with a .542 on-base percentage, .744 slugging percentage and 1.286 OPS. He also ranked in the conference's top five with 66 hits, 52 runs scored, 54 RBI and 35 walks, reaching base in 41 of 42 games this season. This was Griffin's second time earning has earned All-Region honors.