Last season didn't go the way the Wildcats would have hoped. Injuries and inconsistencies led to a 13-24 overall record and an 8-16 record in Northwest Conference play. The good news for this 2024 Linfield squad is all the opportunities are right in front of them.
Dan Spencer enters his fifth season at the helm and is ready to guide a hungry retooled squad to compete.
"We have a deeper roster this year," Spencer said. "We're better positionally. The guys that had good solid years for us last year are back for the most part on offense. The pitching staff has a chance to be really good."
Linfield returns
Jake Hoskins,
Tyler Marr and
Casey Struckmeier who were all named Honorable Mention All-NWC after last season. The returning trio looks to help the Wildcats prove some doubters wrong after they were picked to finish sixth in the NWC after a preseason coaches poll.
Hoskins was one of two players who appeared in every game for Linfield, starting in 36 of the Wildcats' 37 games. He batted .301 with 46 hits, a team-leading 28 runs, 22 RBI and tied for the team lead with six home runs.
Marr emerged as the No. 1 option behind home plate last season for the Wildcats. In 27 games, he batted .343 with a .411 on-base percentage totaled a .455 slugging percentage and added 11 doubles.
Struckmeier had a strong sophomore season, appearing in 10 games and starting in eight. He won two games on the mound to go with 25 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA that ranked inside the top three in the NWC.
ON THE MOUND
Struckmeier will be a key part of the 2024 rotation. Joining him will be some new faces, including
Camden Oram and
Jacob Swenson who both touched the rubber in the season-opening series down in California.
Coming out of the bullpen,
Gavin Ludlow appeared in 16 games and finished second on the team in total strikeouts (24) while
Jackson Koons (22) and
John Over (21) finished third and fourth in total strikeouts. That trio will be reinforced by the likes of
Brian Mannion,
Nick Alder,
Wyatt Hurley,
Casen Reed and
Logan Travis.
With so many arms returning and joining the staff this season. The focus for the Wildcats will be improving on a 6.63 team ERA that landed seventh in the conference last season and limiting free runners on base due to walks. Linfield gave up the fifth-most walks in the NWC last year.
IN THE BATTERS BOX
The Linfield offense returns some key bats in the lineup this season. Hoskins and Marr will be joined by the likes of
Danny Kahn who was named Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2022 and hit over .300 in 25 games played.
Nick Holm will also provide a steady back in the lineup, he led the 'Cats with 33 RBIs and tied for the team lead in home runs.
New additions to the lineup this season will be Corban transfer
Elijah Maris who's already off to a strong start with five hits in three games. Along with
Matthew Lewis who hit Linfield's first home run of the season.
Nathan Kassler,
Bodey Smith and
Trent Wainfeld are a few names that will provide some depth for the Linfield offense.
ON DECK
The Wildcats already opened the season with a three-game series down in Claremont, Calif., against Pomona-Pitzer. The Sagehens took all three contests but the 'Cats battled until the final outs, losing the first two games by one run each.
Linfield now returns to Roy Helser Field for the next 14 straight games and hosts Division-II Central Washington for a doubleheader on Friday starting at 1 p.m.
"We're really excited to play at home," Spencer said. "We need to do a good job at home and create some momentum since we have the next three weekends here."
