The Valparaiso University baseball program has earned recognition for its success in the classroom as head coach Brian Schmack’s team was honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association as a Team Academic Excellence Award recipient for the second consecutive season.

Programs coached by ABCA members that posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale during the 2020-2021 academic year were recognized.

Valpo had a pair of individuals earn Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team status this season as Steven Fitzsimmons (Golden Valley, Minn. / Robbinsdale Cooper) was named to the first team and Jon Tieman (Crystal Lake, Ill. / Prairie Ridge) earned honorable mention. In addition, 21 members of the program were named to the MVC Academic Honor Roll.

On the field, Valpo accrued its highest league winning percentage since joining the prestigious Missouri Valley Conference and finished the season on a high note with two victories in the MVC Tournament for the first time since joining the league.