GREENWOOD, Ind. — Five Utah Valley baseball players were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All‑District team on Tuesday morning. Chipper Beck, Hunter Katschke, Colton Kennedy, Aaron Rice, and Maddax Peck all earned the honor.
 
Katschke received the award for the second time in his collegiate career after a standout season in his lone year in Orem. He set the program's single‑season home run record with 22 and moved into the WAC's top 10 for career home runs. The first‑team All‑WAC selection finished with 13 doubles, 57 hits and 55 RBIs. 
 
Beck earned Academic All‑District honors for the first time after transferring from Brigham Young University for his final season. He hit .358 with four home runs and 36 RBIs while providing strong defense at both third base and shortstop.
 
Kennedy concluded his UVU career with 57 appearances and 32 starts, ranking eighth all‑time in program history in starts. He recorded 185 career strikeouts, fifth most in school history. In 2026, he led the Wolverines with 61 strikeouts and logged five innings in three outings, including a May 1 appearance against California Baptist.
 
Rice earned his first Academic All‑District selection after going 2–0 with one save in 20 relief appearances. The Brillion, Wisconsin, native threw 30 1/3 innings and struck out 17. His season‑high 3 2/3 innings against Utah Tech helped spark a potential comeback.
 
Peck, in his first season at UVU, also earned the honor for the first time. He went 1–2 with two saves in 17 appearances and threw a career‑high five innings with five strikeouts against California Baptist on May 3.
 
Each school can nominate up to five student-athletes for the award. To qualify for Academic All‑District recognition, student‑athletes must hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and meet participation requirements, including appearing in 90 percent of games for position players or making 66 percent of starts. Pitchers must make at least 17 appearances or throw at least 35 innings. Freshmen are not eligible.
 
For more information about the CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-America program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.