Eric Decker

Ohio

Sports Editor at The Athens Messenger

Sports Editor @athensmessenger. UK ‘21. BBN. Still a New Yorker. AP award winner

Articles

Trimble's season comes to an end with loss in rescheduled District Semifinals

6 days ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

LOGAN - Just a few miles outside of the official lines, Athens County High School competition on the diamond came to a close for the 2025 season. kAm!=2J:?8 :? E96 s:G:D:@? 'xx[ #68:@? af s:DEC:4E $6>:7:?2= 2E {@82? w:89 $49@@= @? $2EFC52J >@C?:?8[ }@] f D665 %C:>3=6’D 72?E2DE:4 D62D@?
Athens deals with downpour in disappointing District Semifinals defeat

1 week ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

Baseball is the sport under the sun, meant to be the most relaxing thing you can do with a cloudless sky and beaming light. Well, usually. kAmp=E9@F89 A=2J:?8 :? E96 D2>6 E@H? E92E 5@?D E96 D49@@=’D ?2>6 2?5 36:?8 C@F89=J `_ >:?FE6D 2H2J 7C@> 9@>6[ E96 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?5:E:@?D H6C6?’E E@@ 72G@C23=6 E@H2C5D pE96?D :? E9:D @?6]k^AmkAm!=2J:?8 E9C@F89 2 AC6EEJ 4@?D:DE6?E DEC62> @7 C2:? E9C@F89@FE E96 27E6C?@@?[ E96 }@] c D665 qF==5@8D Wa_\eX D2H E96:C 72?E2DE:4 D62D@? 4@>6 E@ 2?
Double Down with Decker: Coming down the stretch

1 week ago | athensnews.com | Eric Decker

This is when it really gets exciting. It really doesn’t matter who’s at the dance, as long as the rhythm is correct. Some may call the final four teams left in the NBA Conference Finals boring. Aside from New York, and oh boy we’ll get to them later, the rest of the remaining field is littered with historically small-market franchises. The most historic franchise remaining beside the Knickerbockers is Indiana. No disrespect to the Pacers organization but like, come on man.
Nelsonville-York's stellar season comes to a close with heartbreaking loss in District Semifinals

2 weeks ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

CHILLICOTHE — Not all stellar seasons end how you really want or expect them to. Still, there’s going to be something to be proud about looking back. kAmp7E6C H:??:?8 ;FDE D6G6? 82>6D :? E96 AC6G:@FD EH@ D62D@?D 4@>3:?65[ }6=D@?G:==6\*@C<’D 3C62<@FE 42>A2:8? @? E96 D@7E32== 7:6=5 92D 7:?2==J 4@>6 E@ 2? 6?5 :? 962CE3C62<:?8 72D9:@? 56DA:E6 9@H 7@?5=J E96 J62C 42? 36 =@@<65 324< @? =2E6C 5@H? E96 C@25] v@:?8 @FE E@ &?:@E@ w:89 $49@@= E@ E2<6 @? }@] d D665 !@CED>@FE9 (6DE :? E96 s:G:D:@? 'x[ #68:@?
Tri-Valley Conference baseball & softball All-Conference teams announced

2 weeks ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

With the postseason well underway and most program’s season ending, it’s time to look back and reward those who put immense effort onto the diamond this season. The Tri-Valley Conference has released its annual All-Conference awards for both the Ohio and Hocking divisions, here’s how the list shook out for a litany of Athens County student-athletes. k9bm%'r\~9:@ p==\r@?76C6?46 q2D632==k^9bmkAm~776?D:G6 |'!i qC256? w2H=6J — |6:8D W`aXk^AmkAmkDEC@?8ms676?D:G6 |'!i yFDE:?
Athens baseball survives in first round of postseason with 1-0 victory

2 weeks ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

LOGAN - Whether it be by 10 or by a single run, it doesn’t really matter at this point. It’s not about style points, it’s about survival. kAmx?:E:2==J DFAA@D65 E@ 9@DE 2 7:CDE C@F?5 A=2J@77 82>6 7@C E96 s:G:D:@? xxx[ #68:@? `` A@DED62D@? @? (65?6D52J 27E6C?@@?[ D:8?D H6C6 E96C6 7C@> E96 368:??:?8 E92E :E H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2? F?FDF2= ?:89E 7@C pE96?D]k^AmkAmw2G:?8 E96 82>6 >@G65 C@F89=J a_ >:?FE6D FA ?@CE9 E@ {@82? w:89 $49@@= 5F6 E@ H62E96C 4@?5:E:@?D[ E96 }@] c D665 qF==5@8D Wa_\dX 6D42A65 2?
Trimble softball loses five-inning perfect game to end season

2 weeks ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

RIO GRANDE - Nearly every single team that suits up ultimately loses its final game of the season. There’s only a small handful that get to win in the end. Not all losses feel the same however, this one certainly stung the Tomcats. kAmv@:?8 @FE E@ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 #:@ vC2?56 @? %F6D52J ?:89E 7@C 2 s:G:D:@? 'xx[ #68:@? ad s:DEC:4E $6>:7:?2=[ }@] f D665 %C:>3=6 Wg\`bX 925 2 BF2D: A6C764E 82>6 E9C@H? @? :E :? 2? ``\_ 7:G6\:??:?8 =@DD E@ }@] a D665 }@EC6 s2>6] tG6CJ D:?8=6 32EE6C 7@C %C:>3=6 H2D D6?E 5@H? :?
Nelsonville-York's stellar season comes to a close with heartbreaking loss in

2 weeks ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

CHILLICOTHE - Not all stellar seasons end how you really want or expect them to. Still, there’s going to be something to be proud about looking back. kAmp7E6C H:??:?8 ;FDE D6G6? 82>6D :? E96 AC6G:@FD EH@ D62D@?D 4@>3:?65[ }6=D@?G:==6\*@C<’D 3C62<@FE 42>A2:8? @? E96 D@7E32== 7:6=5 92D 7:?2==J 4@>6 E@ 2? 6?5 :? 962CE3C62<:?8 72D9:@? 56DA:E6 9@H 7@?5=J E96 J62C 42? 36 =@@<65 324< @? =2E6C 5@H? E96 C@25] v@:?8 @FE E@ &?:@E@ w:89 $49@@= E@ E2<6 @? }@] d D665 !@CED>@FE9 (6DE :? E96 s:G:D:@? 'x[ #68:@?
Late miscues doom Nelsonville-York in season-ending loss to Wellston

2 weeks ago | vintonjacksoncourier.com | Eric Decker

WELLSTON - The end of the road always has to come at some point. Sometimes earlier than others. kAmv@:?8 @? E96 C@25 7@C E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 E96 s:G:D:@? '[ #68:@? `h A=2J@77D[ }6=D@?G:==6\*@C< F?7@CEF?2E6=J D2H :ED 42>A2:8? 4@>6 E@ 2 4=@D6 282:?DE 2 72>:=:2C 7@6 @? %F6D52J 6G6?:?8] vC233:?8 ;FDE @?6 9:E 2D 2 E62>[ E96 }@] `f D665 qF4<6J6D Wd\`eX F=E:>2E6=J =@DE c\` E@ %C:\'2==6J r@?76C6?46\~9:@ 6?6>J (6==DE@?] %96 }@] g D665 v@=56?
Late miscues doom Nelsonville-York in season-ending loss to Wellston

2 weeks ago | athensmessenger.com | Eric Decker

WELLSTON - The end of the road always has to come at some point. Sometimes earlier than others. kAmv@:?8 @? E96 C@25 7@C E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 E96 s:G:D:@? '[ #68:@? `h A=2J@77D[ }6=D@?G:==6\*@C< F?7@CEF?2E6=J D2H :ED 42>A2:8? 4@>6 E@ 2 4=@D6 282:?DE 2 72>:=:2C 7@6 @? %F6D52J 6G6?:?8] vC233:?8 ;FDE @?6 9:E 2D 2 E62>[ E96 }@] `f D665 qF4<6J6D Wd\`eX F=E:>2E6=J =@DE c\` E@ %C:\'2==6J r@?76C6?46\~9:@ 6?6>J (6==DE@?] %96 }@] g D665 v@=56?