WINONA, Minn. – This week, Saint Mary’s University is proud to celebrate one of the most accomplished pitchers in program history as Steve Brieske B’92 prepares to be inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame this spring.
Brieske’s legacy within the Saint Mary’s baseball program is defined not only by his dominance on the mound, but also by the lasting impact he made on teammates, coaches, and the broader university community. The Saint Mary’s University Athletic Department, in partnership with the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association, will officially induct Brieske into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 21, 2026. He will be honored alongside fellow former student-athletes Bailey Edwards B’12 and Kate Jerman ’97 during the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner on campus.
Despite being one of the most recognizable pitchers to come through the program, Brieske admitted the news came as a surprise.
“A little bit of shock, because it has been a while since I played there,” said Brieske. “Then just a great sense of pride and accomplishment.”
Brieske ranks second all-time in strikeouts (189) and second in strikeouts per nine innings, underscoring his ability to overpower opposing hitters throughout his career. He also sits eighth in career wins (18), 12th in lowest ERA, and 16th in innings pitched. These numbers reflect both his consistency and reliability every time he took the mound.
“This honor means all the summers I spent playing baseball instead of hanging out with my friends was worth it,” he added.
When reflecting on his time at Saint Mary’s, Brieske pointed to the relationships he built as the most meaningful part of his experience.
“It is the people,” he said. “The friends I made on the team, all the experiences we had, and all the friends I made at school — such great times we had.”
Those same friendships and memories will be celebrated once again this spring as the Saint Mary’s community gathers to honor a career, and a legacy, that will forever be etched in program history.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame celebration are now on sale and available on the Saint Mary’s athletics website under the “Give Now” tab or here.
