BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Megan Valentine, Director of Athletics and Recreation at St. Joseph's University, N.Y. – Brooklyn, and head baseball coach Rich Pecoraro have announced that the program's Skyline Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 26, against Mount Saint Mary College will be played at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) Community Park on Staten Island. First pitch of game one is slated for 12 pm.
The date will serve as the team's Senior Day. "We are very excited to host our 2025 Senior Day game at the beautiful SIUH Community Park," commented Pecoraro. "This is a day to celebrate the college careers of all our seniors, so it was very important to the coaching staff that this wasn't just another game."
The program will honor seniors Michael Gardener, Ryan Wnorowski, Doug Paider, Dominic Yumul, and Chris Perez prior to the first pitch.
"We wanted this day to be a special experience for all of our players, their families, and everyone in attendance," Pecoraro added. "It's a day for our seniors to reflect on their journey while also providing our underclassmen with something to look forward to."
In addition to the Senior Day celebration, the Department of Athletics will host its Morgan's Message Mental Health Awareness games. Morgan's Message honors the legacy of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University Lacrosse student-athlete who tragically passed away in July 2019 after battling mental health challenges.
"Mental health is something that impacts all of us," stated Valentine. "While it hasn't always been a topic that people—particularly those in athletics—feel comfortable discussing, our hope is that by raising awareness and hosting these Mental Health Awareness games, people will recognize that support and resources exist."
Morgan's Message works to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and aims to equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.
"It's okay to not be okay, and we want people to know they're not alone. If these games help just one person, then it's a step in the right direction, and we're happy to be part of erasing the stigma," concluded Valentine. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to SIUH Community Park for partnering with us for these games."
Located on the northeastern tip of Staten Island in the St. George neighborhood, SIUH Community Park opened in 2001, hosting the Staten Island Yankees through 2020, the Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees. After renovations in 2021, the park has been the home of the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball since 2022.
The Bears have a connection to SIUH Community Park, having played a non-conference away game against New York University there in May 2023.
Live stats and video for both games will be available on sjbkathletics.com.
