Fitzsimmons, Panas, Stewart receive Presidential audience

Canisius president John J. Hurley and his wife Maureen visit with former Griffs, from left to right, Connor Panas, Devon Stewart and Jon Fitzsimmons. Photo: Canisus.

Canisius College President John J. Hurley and his wife, Maureen, were guests of Peter and Rita Carfagna, the owners of the Lake County Captains minor league baseball team in Willowick, Ohio. President Hurley and his wife had the opportunity to see three Canisius alumni who are playing in the Class-A Midwest League.

The Captains played host to the Lansing Lugnuts, with Canisius alums representing both teams. Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) ’15 plays for the Lugnuts, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Devon Stewart (Maple Ridge, BC) ’15 and Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) ’13 play for the Captains, the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The trio joined Hurley and his wife on the field for a pregame photo.

Panas was the only player of the three former Griffs to see action in the game, and made an impact early in the contest, doubling to center in the top of the second inning. He later came around to score to tie the game at 2-2.

Panas finished the contest by going 2-for-3 along with a walk and a run scored. Lake County went on to defeat Lansing, 8-6. Panas, a former Toronto Met, hit .231 with 17 homers and 50 RBIs at Lansing.

This season, Stewart is 1-1 with an 8.10 earned run average and nine strikeouts in 10 innings pitched at Lake County. On the season, the Langley Blaze grad also spent time with the Mahoning Valley Scappers going 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA as he walked 11 and struck out 20 in 24 2/3 innings covering 18 games.

Fitzsimmons has also seen time on the bump for the Captains, going 1-0 in relief with a 3.31 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. The former London Badger started the season for the independent Quebec Capitales going 1-0 with 13 saves and a 1.26 ERA in 25 games.

Panas, Stewart and Fitzsimmons are three of five former Griffs playing professional baseball in the Class-A Midwest League. Brett Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) ’15 plays for the Beloit Snappers, the Class-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, while Rohn Pierce ’14 plays for the Clinton LumberKings, the Class-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.