2024 Academic All-District Baseball Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – Four Bulldogs from the 2024 GPAC championship Concordia University Baseball team have been recognized by College Sports Communicators (CSC). As announced on Tuesday (June 4) by the organization, pitcher Blake Benson, designated hitter Brad Hallock, second baseman Ty Nekoliczak and third baseman Jaidan Quinn have all been named to the list of 2024 Academic All-District Baseball award winners. Both Nekoliczak and Quinn are repeat honorees from 2023.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in order to be nominated for this award. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender.
Named the GPAC co-Player of the Year along with teammate Joey Grabanski, Quinn enjoyed another stellar campaign in 2024 as he reset program single season standards for home runs (tied at 27), runs scored (81) and walks (49). The Bonner Springs, Kan., native batted .387 and posted impressive .535 on-base and .880 slugging percentages while starting all 57 games. He also drove in 75 runs while primarily batting out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup. A three-time First Team All-GPAC honoree, Quinn has played in 173 career games as a Bulldog and has batted .360 with 200 hits, 214 runs scored, 37 doubles, 73 home runs and 205 RBIs. He was named an NAIA Second Team All-American in 2023 and ranks as one of the top hitters in school history. Quinn majors in Exercise Science and has one season remaining at Concordia.
Nekoliczak moved from short to second in 2024 and earned a GPAC Gold Glove award while also being chosen to the conference’s second team. The Greeley, Neb., native hit .326 in 2024 with 58 runs scored, three doubles, two triples, two home runs and 31 RBIs to go along with a .445 on-base percentage. Also named a First Team All-GPAC honoree in 2023, Nekoliczak has played in 172 games at Concordia and has batted .354 with a .457 on-base percentage, 193 hits, 161 runs scored and 104 RBIs. A two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Nekoliczak is a K-12 Physical Education major (Business minor).
A two-year Bulldog after transferring in, Benson (Springdale, Ark.) made seven starts (eight appearances) on the mound in 2024. He posted a 5-2 record and 5.23 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 43 innings. His best outing of the season resulted in six shutout innings with only two hits allowed at Briar Cliff. In two seasons at Concordia, Benson owns a 4.75 ERA, a 13-4 record and 127 strikeouts in 24 appearances (15 starts). He will graduate in December 2024 with a degree in K-12 Physical Education.
Hallock came to Concordia after previously attending Lamar Community College and the University of Northern Colorado. He was named an Honorable Mention All-GPAC choice in his first season as a Bulldog. Hallock wound up hitting .309 with 35 runs scored, seven doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. He posted a .414 on-base percentage and .514 slugging percentage in 54 games as the team’s primary designated hitter. Hallock is majoring in Exercise Science.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on July 2.