Conference Carolinas
Brian Hand
MARSHALL, Minn. – Four Conference Carolinas student-athletes were named to the Conference Commissioners Association NCAA Division II All-America baseball teams.
North Greenville’s John Michael Faile was named to the first team as a catcher, while Erskine’s Livan Reinoso was tabbed to the third team at third base. Mount Olive’s Hunter Stevens was selected as a third team All-American as a starting pitcher, while North Greenville’s Gehrig Octavio was named a third team All-American at utility.
The Conference Carolinas Player of the Year and the Conference Carolinas Tournament Most Valuable Player, Faile hit .438 for the Crusaders in 2021 with 23 homers and 78 RBIs. The redshirt sophomore from Boiling Springs, South Carolina also had 11 doubles and a triple on the year, scoring 59 runs while compiling an .899 slugging percentage and .512 on-base percentage. The Southeast Region Player of the Year had 78 hits on the season.
Reinoso hit .423 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs, which were all team-highs for the Fleet. The Hazelton, Pennsylvania native started all 43 games for Erskine in 2021 and also led the Fleet in hits (74), runs (52), doubles (15), and OPS (1.276).
A junior from Garner, North Carolina, Stevens was 9-0 on the year in 71 innings pitched for the Trojans. Stevens struck out 91 and opponents hit just .201 against him in the 2021 season.
A redshirt junior from Hilo, Hawaii, Octavio finished the 2021 campaign with a .418 batting average. He scored 53 runs to go along with 24 RBIs. Octavio had 14 extra-base hits on seven doubles and a league-leading seven triples.
The CCA All-America and All-Region baseball teams, which are selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) members from schools playing Division II baseball, were first established in 2007. This is the sixth year in which the program is solely sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.