RIVER FOREST, ILL. -- Five members of the Concordia University Chicago baseball team have earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Tyler Dorsch (Phoenix, Ariz.), Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.), Michael Kasik (Chandler, Ariz.), Eliot Higgins (Park Ridge, Ill.), and Dylan Ferraro (Windsor, Colo.) all excelled on the field and in the classroom this season. To make the CSC Academic All-District Team student-athletes must have a 3.5 GPA or above in order to be nominated. 

Dorsch picked up his third CSC Academic All-District recognition after rounding out his career with many postseason accolades. As the primary right fielder this season, he recorded a team-high 60 hits, team-high 49 RBIs, the second-best batting average of .353, and the second-most runs scored with 42. On the base path, he totaled 15 stolen bases, three of which came against Dominican on March 26. As the primary right fielder, Dorsch picked up the third-most putouts on the team with 106. In the NACC, he tallied the second-most RBIs, fifth-most hits, and sixth most home runs with nine. After this season, Dorsch has broken into the top ten in the Cougar record books in five different career categories: highest batting average (#9 - .361), highest slugging percentage (#5 - .602), highest on base percentage (#6 - .462), most runs scored (#10 - 149), and most home runs (#8 - 24). Additionally, Dorsch earned NACC All-Conference First Team and ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All Region honors for his work on the field this season. As a business major, Dorsch rounded out his career with a 3.89 GPA.

Mahler picked up his first CSC Academic All-District recognition after having a standout junior season. Working primarily as a designated hitter, Mahler led the team with a .382 batting average, a.473 on-base percentage, had the second-best slugging percentage of .618, and had a team-high 18 doubles. He also recorded 33 runs scored, 33 RBIs, and six home runs. Compared to the conference, Mahler ranked second in doubles, fifth in on-base percentage, seventh in slugging percentage, eighth in batting average and ninth in hits. After this season, Mahler has broken into the top ten in the Cougar record book for highest career slugging percentage (#10 - .569). Additionally, Mahler earned NACC All-Conference First Team and ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-Region honors for his work on the field this season. As an accounting major, Mahler has accumulated a 3.76 GPA.

Kasik earns his third consecutive recognition on the All-District team. As the Cougars's lone first baseman this season, he recorded the third-best batting average on the team with .345 while boasting a .500 slugging percentage. Starting in all 42 games, he scored the most runs on the team with 43, recorded the second-most hits with 59, and collected 28 RBIs. In the NACC, he ranked second in putouts, fourth in fielding double plays, and eighth in hits. Kasik led the team with 317 putouts was a part of 23 double plays. After this season, Kasik has broken into the top ten in the Cougar record book for most career home runs (#10 - 22). This season Kasik earned NACC All-Conference Second Team. Though this is Kasik's third All-District recognition, he was named to the 2023 CSC Academic All-America Third Team. As an accounting major, Kasik rounded out his career with a 3.96 GPA.

Higgins picked up his first CSC Academic All-District recognition after an effective junior campaign. Higgins posted an ERA of 2.39 as a reliable relief pitcher for the Cougars. In his 15 appearances on the mound, he pitched 26.1 innings and recorded four saves, the third-most in the NACC. With a 3-0 record, he struck out 29 batters and had an opposing bat average of .169. He recorded a season-high four strikeouts against Rockford on April 15. After this season, Higgins has broken into the top ten in the Cougar record book for single season lowest opponent batting average (#4 - .169). As a business major, Higgins has accumulated a 3.74 GPA.

Ferraro picked up his first CSC Academic All-District recognition after working as one of four primary starting pitchers for the Cougars. He started in eight of his nine appearances on the mound for CUC this season while posting the second-best ERA on the team with 3.83, pitching 44.2 innings. Ferraro recorded a 4-4 record, recording one shutout. The shutout came against Dominican on March 26, where Ferraro pitched all seven innings with a career-high eight strikeouts on 26 batters faced. In the NACC, he ranked ninth in ERA. After this season, Ferraro has broken into the top ten in the Cougar record book for most career shutouts (tied #9 - 1) and most single season shutouts (tied #6 - 1). Ferraro rounded out his undergraduate degree with a 3.83 GPA. 

Dorsch, Mahler, Kasik, and Higgins have been selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists and they will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members, which will be announced on July 1st. 

To view the complete list of 2025 Academic All-District Team, click here.