Senior Salute - Baseball

The COVID-19 pandemic brought an abrupt end to winter and spring sports for the 2019-20 academic year. This weekend (May 2-3) would have marked the second-to-last home series of the spring season for the baseball program, a weekend where the Golden Griffins would have honored their 2020 Senior Class and celebrated the program's alumni.

As a result, GoGriffs.com and each spring sports team's social media channels have posted a "Senior Salute" for each senior throughout the past few weeks.

#2 Jake Burlingame • Outfielder • Horseheads, N.Y.
A four-year starter for the Golden Griffins in center field, Burlingame has led the team in stolen bases for two-straight seasons and sits among the top-10 in program history for fielding percentage. Burlingame earned 2020 Preseason All-MAAC honors after a junior campaign that saw him tally 13 extra-base hits and 20 walks while producing 26 runs and 23 RBI for the Griffs. Being named to the MAAC All-Academic Team twice in his career, he will graduate with his bachelor's degree in sport management.

#8 Canice Ejoh • Outfielder • Toronto, Ontario
A three-year member of the program after transferring from Cochise College, Ejoh ranked second in the MAAC during his first season on Main Street with 15 steals as he was a key piece of the team's late-season run to the 2018 MAAC Championship. The Canadian recovered from major injury before the 2019 campaign to make 12 appearances for the Griffs this season. Ejoh will earn his degree in management from the College.

#15 Jacob Victor • Outfielder • Orchard Park, N.Y.
A four-year letterwinner for the Blue and Gold, Victor was the breakout star of 2019, emerging as the team's top hitter to led the team in batting average, hits, runs and RBI, while also being near the top of the team in every other batting category. He continued that production into 2020 by knocking in six RBI and scoring five times in the shortened season, appearing in all but one game this year. The two-time MAAC All-Academic Team member will graduate from Canisius with his degree in health and wellness.

#18 Andy Leader • Outfielder • Kitchener, Ontario
A two-year letterwinner for the Griffs after joining the team from Colby College, Leader acquitted himself in his first campaign by tallying 32 hits, 28 runs scored and eight stolen bases to go with a .346 on-base percentage. The Ontario native then broke out this spring to lead the Griffs in batting average, hits, runs and triples, starting in 14 of 15 contests. The 2019 MAAC All-Academic Team selection will earn his degree from Canisius in Communication studies.

#21 Kyle Warner • Pitcher • Springville, N.Y.
A four-time letterwinner for Canisius with 81 innings under his belt, Warner worked his way up the pitching staff to being a top reliever in 2019 and leading the starting rotation this spring. Posting three saves and 31 strikeouts across 17 appearances last year, the southpaw made his first career start in the opening weekend of 2020 and ended this season leading the staff in wins and innings pitched. Warner will graduate from the College with a bachelor's degree in physical education and sport studies.

#26 Will Frank • Pitcher • Grand Island, N.Y.
A four-year letterwinner for the Blue and Gold's pitching staff, Frank sits fourth all-time with 12 career saves while striking out 126 batters over 114.1 innings, serving as the team's set-up man during the 2018 MAAC Championship run and taking on the closer's role for the 2019 team that captured the MAAC regular-season title. This season saw the right-hander led the MAAC in starts, holding a 3.22 ERA over 22.1 innings. A MAAC All-Academic Team selection in 2018 and 2019, Frank will graduate with a degree in finance from Canisius.

#30 Stephen Bennett • Third Base • Auburn, N.Y.
A 2019 All-MAAC Second Team selection and four-year member of the Golden Griffins, Bennett is fourth in program history with 10 career triples, notching 33 extra-base hits during his career on Main Street. A career year in 2019 saw Bennett lead the Griffs in all three extra-base hit categories with 10 doubles, five triples and five home runs, with his five triples ranking 37th in the nation. Leading the Griffs this spring with 13 walks, the two-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection will graduate from Canisius with his degree in criminal justice.

#36 Jarod Burmaster • Pitcher • Fredonia, N.Y.
Playing two seasons for the Blue and Gold after coming from Niagara County Community College, Burmaster has been an integral part of the bullpen with 37 innings pitched across 22 outings. The righty compiled a great 2019 campaign that included two wins, a save and 27 strikeouts while holding a 3.86 ERA for the Griffs, then making three appearances in the shortened 2020 season. Burmaster will earn his degree from Canisius in physical education and sport studies.

#39 Noah Thompson • Pitcher/Infield • East Aurora, N.Y.
A two-year letterwinner for the Golden Griffins and a product of Niagara County Community College, Thompson began his time at Canisius as an infielder and helped the Griffs at the plate with six runs scored in 2019. The right-hander then transitioned to the mound late last season, and appeared in four games this season for the Blue and Gold out of the bullpen. Thompson will graduate from Canisius with a bachelor's degree in management.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Stephen Bennett: 3B; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#2 Jake Burlingame: OF; 5' 10"; Senior; L/R

#36 Jarod Burmaster: RHP; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#8 Canice Ejoh: OF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#26 Will Frank: RHP; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#18 Andy Leader: OF; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#39 Noah Thompson: RHP; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#15 Jacob Victor: OF; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#21 Kyle Warner: LHP; 6' 0"; Senior; R/L

Players Mentioned

#30 Stephen Bennett
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: 3B

#2 Jake Burlingame
: 5' 10"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#36 Jarod Burmaster
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#8 Canice Ejoh
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: OF

#26 Will Frank
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#18 Andy Leader
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#39 Noah Thompson
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#15 Jacob Victor
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#21 Kyle Warner
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/L
: LHP