Sylas Mills and Pierce Bouwman, two standout athletes from Catawba Valley Community College, have been selected as NJCAA All‑Americans, a distinction that highlights their exceptional performances on the diamond this spring.
A Season of Milestones
Mills posted a .403 batting average while launching 21 home runs and driving in 70 runs, numbers that helped the Red Hawks finish the 2026 season with a 36‑23 overall record. Bouwman wasn't far behind, batting .387 with 23 homers and 70 RBI, and he set single‑season program records for home runs, extra‑base hits, total bases, plate appearances and at‑bats.
Their contributions were instrumental in pushing the team to its most successful campaign in recent memory. Both players expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support of their coaches, teammates, friends and family, emphasizing that the accolade belongs as much to the collective effort as to individual talent.
Program History and Future Prospects
Mills and Bouwman are the 13th and 14th Red Hawks to earn All‑American status, and they represent only the second time in program history that two or more players have received the honor in a single season. Their 67 runs scored and 70 RBI rank among the second‑most productive seasons in school annals.
Looking ahead, Mills will continue his baseball career at Old Dominion University, while Bouwman is headed to Campbell University. Both institutions will benefit from the proven skill sets and competitive fire that the Red Hawks have cultivated over the past year.