INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Horizon League announced their #HLSB Regular Season All-League Teams and Awards on Tuesday, May 7. The teams included several names from Oakland, as seven Golden Grizzlies were named.

The first Golden Grizzly to be named is Sydney Campbell as she was crowned Horizon League Pitcher of the Year for the third consecutive season. She finished the regular season with a league-low 1.70 ERA and 18-7 record, holding the second most wins in the conference. The ERA would be the lowest of her career and the fifth lowest in a single season in Oakland history. She also finished the 2024 regular season with the fifth most strikeouts (93), league-best six shutouts, and 21 complete games. In 25 starts, she held teams to three or less runs 16 times and five starts allowing three or less hits. Her most notable performances include a complete game, ten strikeout shutout against South Carolina State (2/24), a career-high 11 strikeout game against CMU (3/27), and coming just one out away from her first career no-hitter as she led Oakland to a 10-0 victory against Detroit Mercy (4/9). 

Campbell's season also earned her All-League First Team honors, joining teammates Maci Brown and Reese Ruhlman among the elites of the league.

In her senior year Brown had one of her best seasons, earning her second consecutive All-League First Team nod. Batting .313 on the season and a seventh best mark of .408 in conference play, she remained one of the most reliable hitters in the two spot for Oakland. Starting all 42 of Oakland's regular season games, she tallied multiple hits 11 times, including a trio of three hit games as well. She was just one of five players in the league with three or more triples on the season, mastering the extra base hit. She tallied 31 total hits in conference play, seventh most in the league, and seven stolen bases which was tied for second most in the league. She also was as reliable as they come on defense, anchoring down second base to dish out the third most assists in league play (49). She never shies away from the moment, and delivered big hit after big hit, including a walk-off double against YSU (4/5).

Ruhlman closed out the First Team for the Golden Grizzlies, being named to the team for the second consecutive year as well. The graduate student also hit .313 on the season, while also hitting three home runs and 21 RBI. In games against league opponents she ranked second in both on base percentage (.514) and sixth in OPS (1.121). Her power and ability to bring runners home to score is second to none, and despite battling through an ankle injury for a portion of the season, she always found ways to positively impact the team, showcasing it at times like the Robert Morris series, where she hit home runs in back-to-back games to help Oakland battle from behind for a win.

The Golden Grizzlies saw three more players featured on the All-League Second Team in Jen Krizka, Kamryn Troyer, and Brooklyn Plitz.

Krizka, the all-time Oakland RBI leader and second in home runs, adds another notch to her amazing career with the selection, her second straight All-League Second Team honor and third of her career. She batted a career-high .407, second best in the Horizon League, and hit a team high five home runs. She also ranked second in slugging percentage (.611), first in OBP (.496) and OPS (1.107), and fifth in RBI (32). A true team leader behind the plate at catcher, she led by example and through her play all season long.

The standout catcher also was named Defensive Player of the Year, one of four players to share the honor. Behind the plate Krizka caught five runners stealing and was always a threat to pick off unsuspecting runners with a quick throw down to a base.

A Sophomore, Troyer settled into the Oakland lineup and thrived, earning her first All-League selection. Batting an even .300 on the season, she tallied a team-high 14 extra base hits (11 doubles, three triples) and collected 26 RBI, 21 in league play to rank in the top ten in the Horizon League. Ranking in the top ten in doubles and triples in both league play and overall, Troyer elevated her game to another level. 

The final member of the All-League Second Team for Oakland is freshman Brooklyn Plitz. Bursting onto the scene for the Golden Grizzlies, the outfielder hit .341 in her debut season, .367 in conference games. She used her speed to make an impact on defense and offense, using lightning quickness to earn 30 hits, many of them coming from infield hits, and a team-high 28 runs scored. She hit .341 in her debut season, .367 in conference games. Her sensational freshman season also earned her a spot on the All-Freshman Team.

Joining Plitz on the All-Freshman Team is pitcher Alyssa Balcom, who anchored down the second spot in Oakland's rotation. With a 4-4 record she tossed over 55 innings and allowed opposing hitters to bat just .256, seventh best in the conference. Her 2.26 ERA was fourth lowest in the league, while allowing the fewest hits (54), runs (23), earned runs (18), doubles (8), and home runs (1) of any qualified pitcher. A strong start to her career, she is sure to get even better.

View the full All-League Teams and Season Awards below:

Player of the Year: Elyssa Imler, Youngstown State
Pitcher of the Year: Sydney Campbell, Oakland
Defensive Players of the Year: Kendal Calvert, IUPUI; Maddie Lacer, Northern Kentucky; Jen Krizka, Oakland and Conchetta Rinaldi, Youngstown State
Freshman of the Year: Aglaia Rudd, Purdue Fort Wayne
Coach of the Year: Brian Campbell, Youngstown State
Sportsmanship Award: Maddie Lacer, Northern Kentucky
 
All-League First Team
Position Players
Brooke Albaugh, Cleveland State
Melissa Holzopfel, Cleveland State
Kendal Calvert, IUPUI
Kennedy Cowan, IUPUI
Ella LeMonier, Northern Kentucky
Jena Rhoads, Northern Kentucky
Maci Brown, Oakland
Reese Ruhlman, Oakland
Grace Hollopeter, Purdue Fort Wayne
Aglaia Rudd, Purdue Fort Wayne
Elyssa Imler, Youngstown State
 
First Team Pitchers
Melissa Holzopfel, Cleveland State
Sydney Campbell, Oakland
Sophie Howell, Youngstown State
 
All-League Second Team
Position Players
Emma Gilkerson, Cleveland State
Becky Hurosky, Cleveland State
Maddie Lacer, Northern Kentucky
Olivia Pastin, Northern Kentucky
Jen Krizka, Oakland
Brooklyn Plitz, Oakland
Kamryn Troyer, Oakland
Charlotte Grover, RMU
Anna Resnik, RMU
Conchetta Rinaldi, Youngstown State
Lydia Wilkerson, Youngstown State
 
Second Team Pitchers
Lauryn Hicks, Northern Kentucky
Alanah Jones, Purdue Fort Wayne
Madison DeVault, RMU
 
All-Freshman Team
Paige McPhearson, IUPUI
Brooklyn Ballis, Northern Kentucky
Alyssa Balcom, Oakland
Brooklyn Plitz, Oakland
Aglaia Rudd, Purdue Fort Wayne
Kaylyn Hopf, RMU
Kaitlyn Molitoris, RMU
Macy Littler, Youngstown State
Lydia Wilkerson, Youngstown State

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