PEMBROKE – Impeccable work ethic both in the classroom and on the playing field paid off for the 26^th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team on Tuesday when five student-athletes were lauded with academic all-district honors from College Sports Communicators.
 
Jake Inman, Christian Jayne, Chase Jernigan, Branden Kunz and Ethan Ott all secured a spot on the distinguished squad which serves as a prerequisite for CSC Academic All-America accolades. The announcement marked the seventh time in the last 18 years that the program has had at least one student-athlete lauded with the honor, and the second-straight season that the Braves have had multiple representatives on the squad.
 
It is the second-such honor for Kunz, while Inman, Jayne, Jernigan and Ott picked up the award for the first time. The quintet will now move to the national ballot for academic all-America consideration. The results of that voting will be announced on June 7.
 
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his current institution. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games at the position listed on the nomination form. In baseball, pitchers must have at least 10.0 innings pitched.
 
Jayne and Ott are everyday starters for the Black & Gold at first base and centerfield, respectively. Jayne registered a 3.50 cumulative grade point average as an undergraduate student at UNCP, and currently maintains a 3.80 GPA in the master's of business administration program. Ott maintains a 3.62 GPA as an exercise & sports science major.
 
Inman, Jernigan and Kunz have all proven to be valuable cogs in UNCP's pitching efforts this season. Inman and Jernigan both maintain 3.59 GPAs as exercise & sports science majors. Kunz posted a 3.96 GPA as an undergraduate in Pembroke, and currently holds a 3.91 as a student in the MBA program.