#HLBASE

Baseball

Jake Paulick tabbed #HLBASE Player of the Year, one of six Norse on All-League teams

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Horizon League announced its All-League teams and individual award winners on Tuesday, as Northern Kentucky University Norse baseball catcher Jake Paulick was tabbed the Horizon League's Player of the Year following a historic 2026 campaign. Paulick joined five other Norse on the Horizon League's All-League teams. 

"I couldn't be more proud of this accomplishment for Jake," stated Northern Kentucky Head Coach Dizzy Peyton. "Since the day he showed up on campus, he has poured his heart and soul into being a Norse. His passion for the game, his teammates, and the NKU baseball family has always been at the forefront of his journey. Jake is one of the most humble and talented players in our baseball history. He has grown into an elite player, but he has never wavered from who he is as a man. It has been so incredible to watch and be a part of his journey. He is loved by his coaches and teammates because of who he is, not what he can do on the baseball field. That says a lot about who Jake Paulick is and what he's all about. Congratulations, Jake, this is a very well-deserved honor and couldn't have gone to a more deserving young man."

Jake Paulick was named the Horizon League Player of the Year, making him the third Norse to win the award over the past four seasons, joining Liam McFadden-Ackman (2024) and Noah Fisher (2023). The Northern Kentucky catcher was the best hitter in the Horizon League in 2026, leading the conference in OPS, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, walks, and runs. On the season, he posted a .341 average with a 1.131 OPS, with 63 hits, 56 runs, 51 RBI, 14 home runs, and 14 doubles in 50 games. Paulick was outstanding in Horizon League play, hitting .411 with a 1.263 OPS, 31 runs, 24 RBI, 12 doubles, and six homers in 24 games against conference opponents. Behind the dish, Paulick recorded 248 putouts and recorded 30 assists with a .986 fielding percentage, and caught 14 of 43 stolen base attempts. Paulick earned a pair of Horizon League Batter of the Week awards earlier this season and was named an All-Academic selection last week. Paulick was also named as the starting catcher on the All-League First Team.

Pierce Bauerle joined Paulick on the All-League First Team, representing the Norse at third base. The Eastern Illinois transfer emerged as NKU's everyday third baseman and eventual leadoff man, starting a team-high 52 games for the Norse. Bauerle hit .286 with an .852 OPS on the season, scoring a league-high 56 runs while batting in 34. Bauerle recorded 14 extra-base hits on the year, with eight doubles, five home runs, and a triple. He stole eight bases on the season and finished third on the squad with a .434 on-base percentage, and ranked sixth nationally in hit by pitches with 27 plunkings on the season. 

Ethan Thomas earned the All-League Second Team nod at first base, as the Norse slugger was one of the best hitters in the league in his lone season with Northern Kentucky. Thomas hit .315 on the year with a .968 OPS, finishing third on the squad with nine home runs. Thomas scored 38 runs and drove in 38 on the year, hitting 12 doubles in 48 games. He also provided a steady glove at first, leading the Norse with 328 putouts and a .994 fielding percentage, receiving 30 double plays on the season.  

Marcus Harrison was named an All-League Second Team selection at second base, as he was one of the most consistent bats for the Norse in the 2026 campaign. Harrison hit .335 with a .902 OPS, scoring 45 runs while driving in 45. Harrison appeared in 51 games for the Norse, starting 50, primarily at second base. He logged 12 doubles and three homers, as he walked 33 times on the year, finishing second on the team. Harrison also stole 13 bases on 15 attempts on the year. The Arizona native also recorded 107 infield assists and 100 putouts on a .972 fielding percentage. 

Josh Williams also earned a spot on the All-League Second Team, as he hit .333 with a 1.018 OPS in 49 games for the Norse. Williams led the team in doubles with 18 and extra-base hits with 31, hitting 11 homers on the season. Williams drove in 49 runs and scored 47 times, stealing 12 bases on 14 attempts. The Norse right fielder was always a threat to have a big game, showcased by his three-homer game against Morehead State and a six-hit game in NKU's 30-9 win over Oakland that set a new single-game record for individual hits. In the outfield, Williams recorded 124 putouts and six outfield assists with a .970 fielding percentage.

EJ Miramontes was NKU's lone pitching representative on the All-League teams, as he earned a spot on the Second Team. Miramontes led the Norse in innings pitched, starts, ERA, wins, and batting average against among players with ten or more innings. The Clint, Texas native threw 56.2 innings on the year with a 5.40 ERA in 13 starts, finishing 4-4 on the season. In eight Horizon League starts, Miramontes recorded a 4.14 ERA and a 4-2 record, including a seven-inning complete game victory over Milwaukee, where he struck out six and allowed just one run. 

Northern Kentucky opens up play in the 2026 Horizon League Championship on Thursday, taking on second-seeded Milwaukee at 11 AM in Dayton. 

View the full list of Horizon League honorees below. 

2026 #HLBASE Awards
Player of the Year: Jake Paulick, Northern Kentucky
Pitcher of the Year: Braden Gebhardt, Youngstown State
Reliever of the Year: Camden Kuhnke, Milwaukee
Freshman of the Year: Keegan Holmstrom, Wright State
Coach of the Year: Alex Sogard, Wright State
Sportsmanship Award: Patrick Fultz, Wright State
 
All-League First Team
Jake Paulick, Northern Kentucky, C
Keegan Holmstrom, Wright State,1B
Hunter Warren, Wright State, 2B
Pierce Bauerle, Northern Kentucky, 3B
Kyle Revere, Oakland, SS
Charlie Marion, Milwaukee, OF
Dylan O'Connell, Milwaukee, OF
Andrew Duncan, Wright State, OF
Dominic Kibler, Milwaukee, Flex
Gavin Theis, Milwaukee, SP
Chet Lax, Wright State, SP
Griffen Paige, Wright State, SP
Braden Gebhardt, Youngstown State, SP
Camden Kuhnke, Milwaukee, RP
 
All-League Second Team
Aidan Schuck, Oakland, C
Ethan Thomas, Northern Kentucky, 1B
Lucas Day, Oakland, 1B
Marcus Harrison, Northern Kentucky, 2B
Patrick Fultz, Wright State, 3B
Braylen Blomquist, Wright State, SS
Josh Williams, Northern Kentucky, OF
JP Peltier, Wright State, OF
Brady Shannon, Youngstown State, OF
Ben Clark, Oakland, Flex
EJ Miramontes, Northern Kentucky, SP
Ben Green, Oakland, SP
Jack Messmore, Youngstown State, SP
Michael Bilo, Wright State, RP
 
All-Freshman Team
Max Glusick, Milwaukee
Ben Green, Oakland
Josh Rosenblitt, Oakland
Cooper Gilkerson, Wright State
Keegan Holmstrom, Wright State
Michael Zielinski, Wright State
Alex Jang, Youngstown State
Bryce Palms, Youngstown State
Misael Uriepero, Youngstown State
 
Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Sotaro Ishida, Milwaukee
Sam Bond, Northern Kentucky
Sam Griffith, Oakland
Patrick Fultz, Wright State*
Nathan Beckley, Youngstown State

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Players Mentioned

Sam Bond

#18 Sam Bond

C
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Marcus Harrison

#10 Marcus Harrison

INF
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Jake Paulick

#27 Jake Paulick

C
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Josh Williams

#29 Josh Williams

OF
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
EJ Miramontes

#35 EJ Miramontes

LHP
6' 0"
Graduate Student
L/L
Pierce Bauerle

#25 Pierce Bauerle

INF
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
Ethan Thomas

#7 Ethan Thomas

INF
6' 6"
Graduate Student
R/R

Players Mentioned

Sam Bond

#18 Sam Bond

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
C
Marcus Harrison

#10 Marcus Harrison

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
INF
Jake Paulick

#27 Jake Paulick

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
C
Josh Williams

#29 Josh Williams

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
OF
EJ Miramontes

#35 EJ Miramontes

6' 0"
Graduate Student
L/L
LHP
Pierce Bauerle

#25 Pierce Bauerle

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
INF
Ethan Thomas

#7 Ethan Thomas

6' 6"
Graduate Student
R/R
INF