UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced its All-GLIAC awards and teams Thursday evening. The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team earned seven All-GLIAC honors, and Jordan Lewis was named the GLIAC Freshman Player of the Year, becoming the sixth player in program history to receive the honor. He also earned Second Team All-GLIAC recognition as a shortstop, alongside pitchers Jack Decker and JJ Arbini. Lucas Mead and Jake Shelagowski were named to the First Team All-GLIAC as an outfielder and relief pitcher, respectively, while Ryan Jarvis and Austin Cicerone received All-GLIAC Honorable Mentions.
Lewis appeared in 30 games, collecting 21 hits in 76 at-bats. The Chesterfield, Michigan native recorded seven doubles, one home run, 12 runs scored, and 22 RBIs. In 2025, he slashed .276/.394/.408 and made seven appearances on the mound, posting a 2-0 record with 8.2 innings pitched and 16 strikeouts. On March 21, Lewis went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, and two RBIs against Roosevelt. He hit his only home run of the season on March 28 at William Jewell, finishing that game with three RBIs for the second time this year.
Head coach Adam Piotrowicz praised Lewis's impressive debut season:
"Jordan is one of the most mature freshmen I've coached in 17 years. He's got incredible work ethic, athleticism, and make-up. He's been a true difference maker on both sides of the ball and someone who can impact the game in many ways. He's had a special freshman season and is very deserving of this award."
Sophomore Lucas Mead entered the GLIAC Tournament leading the conference in batting average, on-base percentage, and on-base plus slugging, slashing .441/.531/.641 for an OPS of 1.172. His .641 slugging percentage ranked second in the GLIAC.
"Lucas has been the most complete player in the league all season," Piotrowicz said. "He's played a phenomenal center field, has double-digit stolen bases, and has been one of the biggest offensive threats in the region. His approach and discipline at the plate have been the biggest reasons for the jump you see from his freshman year to now. He's going to be a great player in this league for years to come."
Redshirt sophomore Jake Shelagowski recorded 11 saves during the regular season, setting an individual single-season record for the Cardinals and helping the team achieve a program record of 17 saves. In his 18 appearances, Shelagowski posted a 1-0 record, 11 saves, 30.1 innings pitched, 47 strikeouts, a 4.15 ERA, and a 1.42 WHIP.
Piotrowicz praised his closer:
"Jake has tremendous work ethic and has grown as a pitcher each year he's been on campus. There aren't many arms more talented than him in the region at any level. His fastball sits at 95+ mph and has touched 100 multiple times. He's got feel for three pitches and broke the save record last week. It's been an incredible season for Jake, and he's a big reason this team has had the success it's had."
Jack Decker and JJ Arbini have both been standouts on the mound all season. Redshirt senior Arbini ranks third in the GLIAC with a 2.36 ERA, while junior Decker is seventh with a 3.18 ERA. Decker also ranks third in innings pitched (68.0), third in strikeouts (66), and second in wins (9). Arbini allowed the fewest hits in the conference (31), held opponents to a .159 batting average, and surrendered the second-fewest earned runs (15).
Piotrowicz commented on the two starting pitchers:
"JD is one of the best arms in this region, let alone the conference. He's been a workhorse for us all season and put up some incredible numbers. There are very few pitchers I've coached, or coached against, that have the feel, pitchability, and competitiveness that Jack has. There isn't anyone in the league we would rather have pitching a big game for us.
JJ has been unhittable this season. He's been fantastic as a starter and is very deserving of this award. He's extremely difficult to hit—second in the country for hits per nine innings—and has been consistently dominant throughout the season. His success is a testament to his work ethic and not a surprise to anyone who knows him."
Lewis joined Decker and Arbini on the Second Team All-GLIAC list. Piotrowicz added:
"Jordan has been on a tear during conference play. He leads all freshman hitters in batting average and is already one of the most polished middle infielders in the league. JLew is going to be an incredible player in this league and is a spark offensively and defensively."
Sophomores Ryan Jarvis and Austin Cicerone earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention honors. Jarvis, who earned the starting role in his second year, led the team in at-bats and hit .328 with a .453 on-base percentage and a .475 slugging percentage. He is tied for third in the conference in doubles and tied for first in walks.
Cicerone, the only Cardinal with previous All-GLIAC honors (Second Team in 2024), continued his on-base excellence. He led the league in hit-by-pitches last season and is tied for second in 2025. He also ranks third in walks and ninth in on-base percentage (.439). Cicerone improved across the board this year, slashing .304/.439/.405 for an .844 OPS.
Piotrowicz had high praise for both:
"Ryan is one of the most consistent hitters in the league. He's got incredible discipline at the plate and rarely has a bad at-bat. For a sophomore to have more walks than strikeouts, combined with his power numbers, is truly special—especially doing this so early in his career. This is just the beginning of what will be a very successful career for Ryan.
Austin has made an impact since he stepped foot on campus last season. He backed up an All-Conference freshman year with another great year offensively. He was our most experienced returning player, putting a spotlight on him for opposing teams. He handled it well and put up another great season. Austin's consistency and leadership have been a huge reason for our team's success."
The seven All-GLIAC selections tie the mark set in 2023 for the second-most in SVSU baseball history since 2008, trailing only last year's total. The Cardinals enter the GLIAC Tournament with 29 wins, the second-highest total for the program since 2008.