CCIW All-Conference Graphic

Baseball

Millikin Baseball’s Townsend and Seven Players Honored by CCIW

DECATUR, Illinois—Millikin Head Baseball Coach Brandon Townsend and seven Big Blue players were honored by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) on Tuesday with the announcement of the 2024 CCIW All-Conference Baseball Team.

Headlining the awards was Townsend being named the Co-Coach of the Year with North Park's Luke Johnson and graduate student pitcher Caleb Buehrle (Wildwood, Mo., St. John Vianney H.S.) being named to CCIW Pitcher of the Year and to the All-Conference First Team.

Joining Buehrle on the First Team were senior starting pitcher Drew Detmers (Chatham, Glenwood H.S.),  senior catcher Ryan Jenssen (Nokomis, H.S.), junior third baseman Kyle Gibson (Niles, Niles West H.S.) and senior second baseman Tommy Shaw (Elburn, Kaneland H.S.).

Sophomore outfielder Sam Bushur (Teutopolis, H.S.) and junior outfielder Tyler Gade (Rochester, H.S.) were named to the CCIW All-Conference Second Team.

Graduate Student Christian Badorek (Bloomington, Normal Community H.S.) was Millikin's winner of the CCIW RESPECT Award.

Under Townsend's guidance, Millikin finished the regular season with a 16-4 record in the CCIW sharing the CCIW Regular Season Championship with North Park University. It was Millikin's first regular season title in baseball since 1975. The Big Blue finished the regular season 26-14 overall.

Buehrle is 9-2 on the season with a 2.15 ERA and 74 strikeouts. Buehrle was 6-0 with one save in CCIW action with a 1.03 ERA with 48 strikeouts. Batters hit just .172 against him.

Detmers was 3-1 in CCIW games with a 1.85 ERA. Overall he is 3-4 with a 3.31 ERA.

Janssen hit .331 on the season with three home runs and 40 RBI. In CCIW action, he hit .320

Gibson led Millikin with a .363 batting average with 36 RBI. He drew 31 walks on the season. In conference action, Gibson was first in the CCIW in on-base percentage at .561, first in walks with 17, third in batting average at .457 and third in OPS at 1.161.

Shaw hit .358 on the season with five home runs and 40 RBI. He had 57 hits giving him 206 in his career setting a new Millikin record. Shaw set Big Blue records for games in a career at 173 and at-bats in a career at 652. Shaw hit .390 on conference games.

Bushur had a .348 batting average in 2024 with two home runs and 34 RBI.

Gade batted .361 on the season with three triples, two home runs and 28 RBI. He added 10 stolen bases on the season.

Badorek was Millikin's recipient of RESPECT Award. 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.
 
2024 CCIW All-Conference Second Team Graphic
 
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Players Mentioned

Christian Badorek

#30 Christian Badorek

RHP
6' 3"
Graduate Student
R/R
Caleb Buehrle

#45 Caleb Buehrle

RHP
6' 3"
Graduate Student
R/R
Sam Bushur

#9 Sam Bushur

OF
6' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
Drew Detmers

#24 Drew Detmers

RHP
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
Tyler Gade

#21 Tyler Gade

OF
5' 10"
Junior
L/R
Kyle Gibson

#19 Kyle Gibson

INF
6' 0"
Junior
L/R
Tommy Shaw

#5 Tommy Shaw

INF
6' 1"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Christian Badorek

#30 Christian Badorek

6' 3"
Graduate Student
R/R
RHP
Caleb Buehrle

#45 Caleb Buehrle

6' 3"
Graduate Student
R/R
RHP
Sam Bushur

#9 Sam Bushur

6' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Drew Detmers

#24 Drew Detmers

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Tyler Gade

#21 Tyler Gade

5' 10"
Junior
L/R
OF
Kyle Gibson

#19 Kyle Gibson

6' 0"
Junior
L/R
INF
Tommy Shaw

#5 Tommy Shaw

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
INF