St. John Fisher Baseball Receives NCAA Sportsmanship Award

The St. John Fisher College baseball team was presented with the NCAA Male Sportsmanship Award for Divisions I, II and III on Friday, February 20th. The Cardinals, who were also named as the Empire 8 Conference's Male Sportsmanship Award winner, received national attention last May after conceding the ECAC Upstate Championship to SUNY Oswego. ...Read More>>

St. John Fisher - Baseball

The St. John Fisher baseball team, led by head coach Dan Pepicelli, received national recognition for their act of sportsmanship in conceding the conclusion of the game in an ECAC Upstate Championship play-in game.

The Cardinals trailed in the ninth inning when Oswego head coach Frank Paino was struck on the right side of the head with a line drive.  Pepicelli, who was the first person to reach the unconscious Paino, met with his players in the dugout and decided to not continue the game, assuring Oswego of the victory and ending the NCAA tournament hopes of the Cardinals.

The gesture was featured in various regional publications and garnered national attention on espn.com as an extraordinary example of sportsmanship.

“This is a tremendous display of sportsmanship,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano.  “The game is never over until the last out and with a potential ECAC championship and NCAA berth on the line, St. John Fisher maintained a healthy perspective and made the honorable decision.  It is a life lesson that will remain with those student-athletes longer than any memory of that potential win.”

Shannon Desgrosiellier - Field Hockey

Desgrosiellier served as an Elmira College ambassador for four years, an orientation leader, sports medicine assistant, and as a school senator.

She was passionate about her role as student-athlete and led her team by example and with her words.  She consistently praised teammates and congratulated opponents on their performance, holding herself responsible for she and her teammates being respectful and sportsmanlike on and off the field.

Several officials commented to the Elmira coaching staff on Desgrosieller’s leadership, respectfulness, and sportsmanship.  She was honored for her outstanding performance in the sports medicine department and received the Coach’s Award for the field hockey team, honoring her leadership and character.

“Shannon provided invaluable leadership to a team that endured three coaching changes,” said Mitrano.  “While the team began to lose its composure, she ensured they remained focused and competed with honor and respect.”