The season didn't go as well as Linfield hoped as the Wildcats (13-24, 8-16 NWC) missed out on postseason play one year removed from sharing the Northwest Conference regular-season championship.
 
But there were a lot of positive takeaways and solid individual performances, headlined by three Wildcats who were named honorable mentions on the 2023 All-NWC Baseball Team, released Friday.
 
Junior shortstop Jake Hoskins, sophomore catcher Tyler Marr and freshman pitcher Casey Struckmeier all made their debuts on the All-Conference Team. Hoskins transferred to Linfield after two standout seasons at Linn-Benton Community College. Marr spent time at the junior varsity level as a freshman last year while Struckmeier was still enrolled at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington.
 
Hoskins is one of just two players who appeared in every game for Linfield, starting in 36 of the Wildcats' 37 games. The Hillsboro native batted .301 with 46 hits, a team-leading 28 runs and 22 RBI. He finished tied for the team lead with six home runs.
 
Catcher was the deepest position for Linfield heading into the season, but Marr separated himself from the rest to become the team's No. 1 option behind the plate. The Great Falls, Montana, product batted .343 with a .411 on-base percentage and a .455 slugging percentage. He led the 'Cats with 11 doubles and posted a .986 fielding percentage.
 
Struckmeier appeared in 10 games and started in eight in his breakout first season in purple and cardinal. He won two games on the mound to go with 25 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA. Struckmeier threw five or more innings five times, ending the season with a scoreless outing in 6 1/3 innings against Willamette on April 15 at Roy Helser Field.
 
Lewis & Clark's Jack Thomson defended his title as the NWC Player of the Year while the Pioneers' Matt Kosderka earned NWC Coach of the Year honors. Julien Hernandez of Whitman was tabbed as the NWC Pitcher of the Year, and Willamette's Steven Verespey was selected as the NWC Rookie of the Year.