BILLINGS, Mont. – Five members of the Montana State University Billings baseball team were recognized for their accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom, earning 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
 
Senior designated hitter Kaden Bertram, senior pitcher Brennen Chappell, senior shortstop Ryker Fortier, senior outfielder River Smith, and sophomore third baseman Nate McDonald represented the Yellowjackets on the prestigious academic team.
 
The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher while meeting sport-specific participation requirements.
 
Bertram, a Business Administration major from Beaverton, Oregon, earned Academic All-District honors with a 3.62 GPA following one of the most productive offensive seasons in recent history. The senior garnered First Team All-GNAC and NCBWA Honorable Mention All-West Region recognition after leading the conference with 10 home runs. He started all 49 games and slashed .423/.488/.667 with a 1.185 OPS while pacing the Yellowjackets with 52 RBIs. Bertram totaled 74 hits, including 16 doubles and a triple, and is a two-time Academic All-GNAC selection.
 
Chappell, a Business Administration major from Kimberly, Idaho, compiled a 3.84 GPA while establishing himself as one of the top pitchers in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The First Team All-GNAC selection led MSUB with six wins and three complete games while making 13 starts during his senior season. Chappell posted a 4.74 ERA across 76 innings and ranked third in the GNAC with 75 strikeouts. He also finished his career among the program leaders in multiple categories, ranking ninth in career strikeouts (125), tied for 10th in career starts (25), sixth in complete games (6), and tied for 10th in victories (10). Chappell was named GNAC Pitcher of the Week three times and earned NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Week honors during the season.
 
Fortier, a Physical Education major from Ellensburg, Washington, maintained a 3.75 GPA while putting together a record-setting senior campaign. A Second Team All-GNAC selection, Fortier started all 49 games and batted .342 with a .420 on-base percentage and .462 slugging percentage. He led the Yellowjackets with 52 runs scored and collected 63 hits, 38 RBIs, 14 doubles, and 28 stolen bases. Fortier broke the MSUB single-season stolen base record with 28 steals, set the program mark for consecutive successful stolen bases with 24, and tied the school's career stolen base record with 46. He was also named GNAC Player of the Week during the 2026 season.
 
Smith, a Kinesiology major from Livingston, Montana, earned Academic All-District recognition with a 3.86 GPA. The senior outfielder started all 49 games and received Second Team All-GNAC honors after hitting .272 with an .806 OPS. Smith totaled 46 hits, 31 runs scored, and 38 RBIs while leading the team with 18 doubles. He also added three home runs and 28 walks while posting a .978 fielding percentage. Smith earned both GNAC Player of the Week and NCBWA West Region Player of the Week honors during his senior season.
 
McDonald, a Business Administration major from Billings, Montana, rounded out the Yellowjackets' Academic All-District selections with a team-best 3.87 GPA. The sophomore started all 49 games at third base and earned Honorable Mention All-GNAC and Academic All-GNAC recognition. McDonald hit .263 with 47 hits, including 11 doubles, three triples, and two home runs. He scored 34 runs, drove in 23 more, and anchored the left side of the infield with 73 assists and 29 putouts.