Seven Millikin Baseball Players Earn All-Conference Honors

DECATUR, Ill. -- Seven Millikin University baseball players and the Big Blue coaching staff were honored by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) with selection to the 2026 All-Conference Baseball Team announced on May 5.

 

Millikin junior shortstop Carder Riech (Newton, Newton H.S.\Olney Central College), sophomore designated hitter Ty Cribbett (Gibson City, Gibson City Melvin Sibley H.S.), and freshman pitcher Brayden Saling (Springfield, Williamsville H.S.) were named to the CCIW All-Conference First Team. Sophomore second baseman Pete Britton (Dieterich, H.S.\Oakland City University), senior outfielder Sam Bushur (Teutopolis, H.S.), sophomore pitcher Caleb Akins (Troy, Ohio, H.S.) and sophomore relief pitcher Gavin Houchins (Moweaqua, Central A&M H.S.) were named to the All-Conference Second Team.

 

The Millikin coaching staff was named the CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Big Blue to a 15-5 conference record winning the CCIW Regular Season Championship. Millikin is the top seed and will host the CCIW Tournament May 6-9 at the Workman Family Baseball Field. Head Coach Brandon Townsend leads the Millikin staff. His assistants are Dylan Hamilton, Ryan Jenssen, Kevin Koslofski, John Hickman, and Mike Mose.

 

Reich hit .354 overall with 13 doubles and 43 RBI. He added 17 stolen bases. In CCIW play, he was fifth in hitting with a .413 average.

 

Cribbett was Millikin’s top hitter on the season with a .377 average with 52 hits. He had nine doubles, five triples, three home runs and 34 RBI. He added 10 stolen bases. He walked 18 times and was hit by a pitch 12 times for an on-base percentage of .488.

 

Saling was 10-0 on the season. His 10 wins tops all of NCAA Division III. Overall, he has 2.49 ERA with 40 strikeouts. He has tied the school record for wins in a season.

 

Britton hit .333 on the season with 12 doubles and three triples. He drove home 22 runs and stole 22 bases.

 

Bushur earned All-Conference honors for the fourth time in his career. He holds the Millikin record for hits in a career with 226. He hit .321 on the year with five home runs and 43 RBI.

 

Akins was 9-1 on the season with a 2.42 ERA with 70 strikeouts.

 

Houchins is the Millikin record holder for saves in a season with nine. He has a 3-0 record with a 1.49 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 42.1 innings of work. He ranks in the top 10 in the country in both saves and ERA.

 

Senior Kolby Koslofski (Decatur, Mt. Zion H.S.) was named Millikin’s CCIW RESPECT Award winner. The CCIW RESPECT award is presented at the conclusion of every sports season with each varsity program recognizing one student-athlete. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.