The College Sports Communicators has revealed the 2026 CSC Academic All-District Baseball Team, a roster of 27 student-athletes who have distinguished themselves both in competition and in the classroom. Selected from the eight institutions that comprise the Empire 8 conference, these honorees exemplify the conference’s commitment to developing well-rounded leaders.
Eligibility for the distinction requires a minimum 3.30 cumulative GPA, sophomore standing or above, and participation as a starter or key reserve on the team. The recognition highlights the growing emphasis on academic achievement alongside athletic performance in Division III baseball.
Those named to the All-District squads will now move forward in the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team All-America honorees are slated to be announced on June 23, bringing additional national attention to the scholars who have excelled on the field and in their studies.
Spotlight on Empire 8 Institutions and Their Scholars
The eight Empire 8 schools contributing to this year’s list include Alfred University, SUNY Brockport, Elmira College, Houghton University, Keuka College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Russell Sage College, and St. John Fisher University. Each institution celebrated its own standouts, ranging from Cameron Brought, a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Alfred, to Sean Cleary, a sophomore Finance and Accounting student at St. John Fisher.
Additional honorees include Kyle Blake of SUNY Brockport, a junior outfielder from East Greenbush, NY, and Brady Buttice of Elmira College, a senior Biology major. At Houghton University, Conner Benitez, a junior Computer Science student from Livonia, NY, earned recognition as a pitcher, while Keuka College’s Hunter Corkran, a sophomore Management major from North Syracuse, also made the list.
The academic distinction is bolstered by partial financial support from the National Collegiate Athletic Association for Division II and III programs, as well as backing from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for NAIA participants. This support underscores the broader institutional commitment to promoting scholarly excellence among student-athletes.