SALEM, W.Va. — Salem University baseball earned multiple national honors from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association following the 2026 season, as Aaron Forbes and Reese Rinna were named USCAA First Team All-Americans, Cody Thomas earned Second Team All-American honors, and Joe Wintermute was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American.
Forbes put together one of the top offensive seasons in the USCAA while anchoring Salem's lineup and defense throughout the year. The senior first baseman batted .368 with 60 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs, and 47 RBIs across 50 games. Forbes also posted a .534 slugging percentage and a .458 on-base percentage while committing just one error in 327 total chances for a .997 fielding percentage.
Rinna earned First Team All-American honors after delivering a breakout season for the Tigers. The sophomore slugger hit .327 with 52 hits, 15 doubles, 13 home runs, and a team-best 56 RBIs while compiling a .679 slugging percentage. Rinna also drew 30 walks and finished with a .442 on-base percentage while posting a .988 fielding percentage defensively.
Thomas garnered Second Team All-American recognition following an outstanding all-around campaign. The infielder hit .365 with 57 hits, 17 doubles, seven home runs, and 43 RBIs while leading the team with a .622 slugging percentage among qualified hitters outside of Rinna. Thomas also contributed defensively with 91 assists and a .977 fielding percentage.
Wintermute rounded out Salem's honorees with Honorable Mention All-American recognition after another productive season in the middle infield. Wintermute batted .323 with 51 hits, nine doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 33 RBIs while stealing 23 bases. Defensively, he led the Tigers with 131 assists and helped turn 30 double plays during the season.
Salem also earned significant recognition in the classroom, with 14 Tigers named USCAA Academic All-Americans. Andrew George, Brandon Hoftijzer, Chase Clemons, Cody Thomas, Conor Thiele, Dimario Ballom, Eric Kovach, Garrett Hofer, Garrison Dougherty, Jacob Stauffer, Landon McAlpine, Mason Wagner, Max Atkinson, and Max Castro were all honored for their achievements academically during the 2025-26 academic year.
The All-American and Academic All-American honors capped off another strong season for Salem baseball, as the Tigers finished with a 33-17 overall record and continued to build momentum both on the field and in the classroom within the USCAA.
