The Canisius baseball team and 12th-year coach Mike McRae have announced the course they have set to defend the 2015 MAAC title, releasing the 2016 schedule on Monday. The Blue and Gold are slated to play 28 non-conference contests against 13 different opponents, highlighted by Michigan, which like Canisius, was a 2015 NCAA tournament competitor.
The Griffs kick-off the 2016 slate with a three-game set against the Wolverines in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Feb. 19-21. The trio of games starts a 15 game road-swing, that will bring the Blue and Gold to Wilson N.C. to take on Fordham (Feb. 26-28), Blues Creek, N.C. to take on Campbell (March 4-6), Cincinnati, Ohio to play the Bearcats (March 11-13) and to the “city of brotherly love,” Philadelphia, Pa., to compete at the Big 5 Baseball Bash, playing LaSalle (March 18), Saint Joseph's (March 19) and Villanova (March 20).
The Griffs begin its home schedule on March 22, when familiar foe, Buffalo comes to the Demske Sports Complex. Shortly after, Canisius kicks off MAAC play, welcoming Saint Peter's for a three-game set on March 26-27.
A brief two-game series in Morgantown, Va., brings conference-play to a short hiatus, before the Blue and Gold welcomes 2015 MAAC tournament runner-up, Siena to town on April 2-3 for a three-game series.
Canisius then heads out for a four-game swing after that, taking on Kent State in Kent, Ohio on April 6, and then travels to Manhattan following that contest for a series on April 9-10.
The Griffs play two key MAAC series on April 16-17 against Rider in Lawrencville, N.J. and host Iona at the Demske Sports Complex (April 23-24), with mid-week games against Buffalo, sandwiched in.
Ivy League opponent Cornell will also make an appearance in Buffalo, N.Y. this year as the two squads play in a doubleheader on April 26.
Canisius then begins an eight-game road trip, playing Youngstown State (April 29-May 1), Buffalo (May 3), St. Bonaventure (May 4), and conference foe, Fairfield (May 7-8).
Canisius will have its final home contests played on May 14-15, as the Griffs take on Quinnipiac, before finishing the year with the rival Purple Eagles on May 19-20, in Lewiston, N.Y.
In what has become an exciting tradition thanks to the efforts of coach McRae and his team, the Griffs attempt to defend its MAAC title in the MAAC Championship, which returns to Fishkill, N.Y. on Wednesday May 25 for a four-day tournament.
The Blue and Gold is coming off a incredibly successful season, where the squad won its second MAAC title in program history, as the Griffs went 34-30 overall, and 16-8 MAAC play to earn the second seed in the conference tournament. After dropping the opening contest to Quinnipiac, Canisius reeled off five-straight victories in the matter of three days to capture the MAAC crown.
In the NCAA tournament, the Griffs drew the Missouri regional, taking on Missouri State and Oregon in Springfield, Mo. After Conor Panas belted the first pitch of the game against the Bears, over the right field wall to start regional play, the Griffs dropped both contests to be ousted from the tournament.
The Griffs boasted many accolades throughout the year including the 2015 MAAC Player of the Year Brett Siddall, three All-MAAC selections, the MAAC tournament MVP in Connor Panas, All-American selections for Panas, Siddall and freshman Ryan Stekl, and Panas was named the MAAC Male Student Athlete of the Year.
Major League Baseball also took notice of the Griffs success in 2015, as the squad had three players drafted. The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians took Panas and Devon Stewart in the ninth round, respectively, while the Oakland Athletics also took Siddall in the 13th round.
