INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Released on the eve of the conference tournament beginning in Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday, five Oakland Golden Grizzlies received 2023 All-Horizon League honors on Tuesday, May 23.

Junior right-hander Brandon Decker took home a spot on the First Team and was named the Horizon League Reliever of the Year, while senior outfielder Ian Cleary, graduate student first baseman Gabe Lux and sophomore Hunter Pidek, a fellow righty, were all Second Team selections.

Rounding out the Oakland representation, outfielder Reggie Bussey was chosen for the All-Freshman Team.

"I couldn't be more proud of these guys and the way they represent our program," head coach Jordon Banfield said.

"All are very deserving, especially a guy like Deck who sacrifices a spot in the starting rotation to play a more valuable role taking the ball in the most high-leverage innings we play. As the second place team in the Horizon League, I can't help but think we have other guys that are deserving of honors, but we'll get back to work and continue proving the Golden Grizzlies belong on these teams."





Appearing exclusively as a reliever in 23 games this season and owning an impressive ability to work five-plus innings in this capacity, Decker has racked up a 7-2 record, five saves and has struck out twice as many hitters as he has walked in 62 frames.

Second in the Horizon League with these seven wins, he also ranks in the top-seven in batting average against, saves, ERA and strikeouts and was named the conference's Nike Pitcher of the Week on April 25 after saving the final two games of the series with the Youngstown State Penguins the weekend before.

Graduating with a remarkable 3.99 GPA, Cleary has been quite possibly the Golden Grizzlies' most consistent bat this year, playing in 55 of the 56 regular season games and slashing .319/.422/.473 with 17 doubles, four home runs, 37 RBI and seven stolen bases.

Putting together a nine-game hit streak from April 30-May 13, his 17 doubles are tied for the second-most in the Horizon League and he is eighth in the conference in batting average and tied with Lux for 10^th in on-base percentage.

Looking at Oakland specifically, Cleary's batting average is dead even with junior right fielder Lucas Loos for the club best and he leads the team in hits, doubles and RBI.

Unquestionably a leader for the Golden Grizzlies on and off the diamond, Lux has compiled a slash line of .292/.422/.404 through 178 at-bats with 17 doubles, a home run, 35 RBI and six stolen bases while being one of just three players to see action in all 56 contests.

Terrific defensively at first base, he possesses one of the Horizon League's most accurate eyes at the plate, ranking second in the conference with 40 walks, the same spot he placed with 41 a year ago.

As is the case with Cleary, Lux's 17 doubles are second-best in the league and he also resides in the top-10 in runs (ninth with 42) and on-base percentage (tied for 10^th at .422).

Returning to the mound, Pidek has emerged as Oakland's ace in 2023 and has been particularly sharp since the calendar flipped to April, completing at least five innings in each of his last seven outings and delivering four quality starts over this span.

Having only allowed one run in three-straight starts and picking up his second consecutive win in his last trip out against the Northern Kentucky Norse on May 18, his 3.74 ERA is the conference's second-lowest and he is second in batting average against, as well, holding opposing hitters to a .240 clip.

Able to generate swings and misses with his curveball and consistently change the eye level of hitters, Pidek has given up just 28 earned runs over 67.1 innings this season, the second-fewest among the league's qualified pitchers, and he has issued only 15 walks while striking out 53.



Seeing action in 51 games as a left fielder, center fielder, defensive replacement and pinch-runner, Twinsburg, Ohio's Bussey showcased a rare ability to contribute immediately as a first-year player and concluded the regular season hitting .265 (27-102), the fifth-best mark on the club.

A left-handed hitter with blazing speed, Bussey's 11 stolen bases are eighth in the conference and he has tallied six multiple-hit games, three of which have come in May.

With their attention now focused on the 2023 Horizon League Tournament at Nischwitz Stadium on the campus of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, the Golden Grizzlies and their recent accolades will next be in action in Game 4 of the tournament on Thursday, May 25 at 3 p.m.

Oakland's opponent will be determined by the results of the Wednesday, May 24 games, which will see 4-seed Youngstown State battle the 5-seed Milwaukee Panthers at 12 p.m. and 3-seed Northern Kentucky square off with the 6-seed Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons at 4 p.m.

Every pitch of the 2023 Horizon League Baseball Tournament will air live on ESPN+ (subscription required).

A link to the All-Horizon League release is available here.