Four Millikin baseball players earn ABCA/Rawlings all-region honors

DECATUR, Illinois-Four Millikin University baseball players were named to the 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region teams announced on May 26.

Teams in 10 regions were selected after being voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and coordinated by the ABCA NCAA Div. III All-America & Coach of the Year Committee.

Millikin sophomore pitcher Caleb Akins (Troy, Ohio, H.S.) was named to the All-Region First Team. Sophomore second baseman Pete Britton (Dieterich, Oakland City University), sophomore relief pitcher Gavin Houchins (Moweaqua, Central A&M H.S.) and freshman starting pitcher Brayden Saling (Springfield, Williamsville H.S.) were named to the All-Region Second Team.

The group of Millikin players played key roles in helping the Big Blue post a record of 35-10 on the season. Millikin won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Akins went 10-2 on the season, earning CCIW All-Conference Second Team honors. He posted a 2.63 ERA and had 84 strikeouts.

Britton was a CCIW All-Conference Second Team honoree after hitting .335 on the season with 25 RBI and 24 stolen bases.

Houchins recorded a school-record nine saves on the season and posted a 1.32 ERA that ranked him in the top 10 in the country. Houchins was 4-0 on the season with 55 strikeouts. Houchins was named to the CCIW All-Conference Second Team.

Saling was a CCIW All-Conference First Team selection after posting a 10-0 record with a 2.80 ERA.

The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-America teams will be announced on the evening of Thursday, May 28, following the Opening Ceremony at the 2026 NCAA Division III World Series in Eastlake, Ohio. Only First Team All-Region selections are eligible for All-America honors.

ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams for all divisions will be announced on Wednesday, June 17, while the 2026 ABCA NCAA Division III Region All-Defensive teams will be released on Thursday, June 18.

The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now spans nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first introduced in 2007.