JUNE 11, 2026, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College baseball standout Peter Heintz has been named the recipient of the 2025-26 MCCAA Dick Shilts Student-Athlete of the Year Award, recognizing his exceptional achievements in athletics, academics, and community service.

Now in its sixth year, the Dick Shilts Award annually honors one male and one female student-athlete from across the Michigan Community College Athletic Association who exemplify excellence in competition, the classroom, and co-curricular involvement.

A sophomore first baseman from East Grand Rapids High School, Heintz leaves GRCC as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history. He will continue both his academic and athletic career next season at Northwood University.

On the field, Heintz produced one of the most dominant offensive seasons in the NJCAA. He led the entire MCCAA in batting average (.443), home runs (13), RBI (62), slugging percentage (.869), and on-base percentage (.547). He also led the Raiders with 252 putouts and five sacrifice flies while posting a .982 fielding percentage.

His performance elevated even further during postseason play, as he batted .500 with five home runs during regional competition to earn All-Region Tournament Team honors.

Heintz played a pivotal role in helping the Raiders capture their fourth consecutive MCCAA Northern Conference Championship during the 2025-26 season. His efforts earned him All-Region, All-MCCAA, and First Team All-Conference honors after finishing second in the conference player of the year voting. As a freshman, Heintz was recognized as a Second Team All-Conference selection and earned a spot on the conference's All-Freshman Team.

Away from the diamond, Heintz excelled academically as an Education and Child Development major, carrying a 3.91 GPA. He is slated to receive Academic All-NJCAA honors and will soon become a two-time Academic All-MCCAA selection when the association announces its annual academic awards later this month.

His impact extended well beyond athletics and academics through a variety of community service efforts. Heintz volunteered with Feeding America, donated used baseball equipment to children in need, served as a volunteer coach for a local high school baseball team, and participated as a guest reader at local elementary schools.

His commitment to serving others has long been recognized. While attending East Grand Rapids High School, Heintz received the prestigious Spirit of Jimmy Gerken Award, presented annually to one graduating senior and one staff member who embody the passion, love, dedication, and community spirit of Jimmy "Kabookie" Gerken.

"Peter represents everything you hope for in a student-athlete," said GRCC Head Baseball Coach Mike Eddington. "His accomplishments on the field speak for themselves, but what makes him truly special is the way he approaches every aspect of his life. He's an outstanding student, a tremendous teammate, and someone who genuinely cares about making a difference in his community. This award is a reflection of the person he is and the impact he's made on our program, our campus, and everyone around him."

The award honors the legacy of Dick Shilts, a revered leader who served as Athletic Director at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and remains the longest-serving president in MCCAA history. Throughout his tenure, Shilts championed academic achievement and student-athlete recognition while helping advance the mission and impact of the association.

For Heintz, the award serves as the culmination of two remarkable years at GRCC, where he established himself as one of the conference's premier players while exemplifying the values of academic excellence, leadership, and service that the Dick Shilts Award was created to recognize. 
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