Pittsford, NY – Russell Sage College's baseball team was playing for the 2023 Empire 8 Championship and a spot in the 2023 NCAA Division III Championship Saturday afternoon. Top seeded St. John Fisher University won their third straight title with a 5-1 win over the Gators. SJFU has earned the automatic bid to the NCAA's and stands at 30-12 riding a 16-gamewin streak entering the tournament.
Only a second-year team, RSC's baseball team made their first appearance in the Empire 8 Championship and wrapped a record season under the direction of head coach Nick Pontari and cap the year with a record of 18-25.
2023 Empire 8 Championship Schedule
Game #6 St. John Fisher def. Russell Sage College, 5-1
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but RSC tied the action in the top of the second as sophomore third baseman Christian Brown (Troy, NY/Troy) added a double and was able to score after sophomore second baseman Dom Caminitti (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) singled but was thrown out attempting to steal second allowing Brown to come home.
The Cardinals answered right back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning and never lost the lead after that despite RSC's best efforts.
Sophomore outfielder Brendan Espinal (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) also connected for a double for the Gators.
Right handed sophomore Ricky Parks (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) got the nod as RSC's starter. He worked 1.0 plus innings, allowing two earned runs off of four hits with a strikeout. He suffered the loss to wrap the season at 3-4.
Sophomore reliever Jaylen Cuevas (Bronx, NY/Fordham Prep) came in for the Gators, working 3.1 innings, allowing just two hits and no earned runs with three walks and a strikeout. Senior Will Simkin (Canberra, Australia) closed the game for RSC as he gave up two earned runs off of five hits in 3.2 innings. Simkin struck out three along the way.
For the year, Cuevas led the Gator pitching staff with his 20 appearances. Simkin caps his RSC career having made 28 career appearances (No. 4) with 50 career strikeouts, which also ranks fourth. He stands No. 2 in the career record book as well having worked in 76.1 innings.
Among the many highlights of the season, senior left fielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) capped his first year with the Gators with 52 hits as both he and Espinal had 52 hits for a single-season record. Lubanski set a program record with 18 doubles and 78 total bases, while the Gator duo both drove in 34 runs this year. Lubanski capped the spring with 78 total bases, while Espinal had an impressive 21 stolen bases along the way as the team played 43 games in 2023.
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