Joyner is Named First Team All-NWC; Seven Bearcats Earn Honorable Mention
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University junior right-handed pitcher Brady Joyner (Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) has been chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2023 season as a relief pitcher. In addition, seven Bearcats were selected for Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition as voted on by the NWC head coaches. Willamette players who were named Honorable Mention were Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Sr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS), Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS), Carl Lawson (Jr., RF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona), Jonny Suchor (Sr., OF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS), Steven Verespey (Fy., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS), Layton Wagner (Sr., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), and Logan Haslam (Jr., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS). Verespey was selected as the NWC Rookie of the Year.
A total of 56 student-athletes were included on the 2023 All-NWC Baseball Team. Fifteen players were named First Team All-NWC, with 15 players on the Second Team, and 26 players on the Honorable Mention list.
Willamette has achieved a 22-14 record this season, including 15-9 in the NWC (2nd place tie). The Bearcats qualified for the four-team NWC Tournament for the fourth time since 2016. Willamette will conclude the season this weekend with three non-conference games against Occidental College at John Lewis Field. On Saturday, May 6, the Bearcats and the Tigers will play a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will play one game on Sunday, May 7, also at 12 p.m.
Third baseman Jack Thompson from Lewis & Clark College was named NWC Player of the Year for the second season in a row. Julien Hernandez from Whitman College was chosen NWC Pitcher of the Year. Head Coach Matt Kosderka of Lewis & Clark, a former Willamette player and assistant coach, was voted NWC Coach of the Year.
First Team All-Northwest Conference
Brady Joyner (Jr., RHP) earned First Team All-NWC recognition as a relief pitcher for the first time this season, after being named Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2021 and 2022. This year, Joyner is tied for ninth in NCAA Division III with nine saves. He has registered a 5.04 earned run average and 29 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched. He is averaging 10.44 strikeouts per nine innings. His nine saves are third all-time at Willamette, just one save behind Chris Hopton in 1993 and Mike Corey in 1994.
In 2022, Joyner was credited with a 4.21 ERA, four saves, and a career-high 39 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings. He held opponents to a .200 batting average. As a first-year pitcher in 2021, Joyner grabbed a 6-1 record with five saves, and a 1.74 ERA. He struck out 30 batters and limited foes to a .135 batting average. Also in 2021, Joyner was named Second Team All-West Region by D3baseball.com, and was chosen Third Team All-West Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
Joyner's career stats include a 9-5 record, 18 saves, and a 3.53 ERA in 44 appearances. He has accumulated 98 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings. He ranks second in Willamette history with 18 saves, and trails only Corey, who set the Bearcats' record with 23 saves from 1994-98.
"It is a luxury to know that you have someone who can shut the door at the end of the game," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "Brady has done that better than anyone in the NWC and is on his way to being the best closer in program history."
Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference
Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Sr., 1B) was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC this season after receiving Second Team All-NWC recognition in 2021 and 2022. This year, he batted .289 with 23 RBIs and 17 runs scored. He belted five doubles and one home run. On defense, he provided 235 putouts and 14 assists with just one error for a .996 fielding percentage.
His career totals include a .349 batting average with 473 at bats, 165 hits, 104 runs, and 96 RBIs. Werkmeister-Martin has pounded out 33 doubles, one triple and 16 home runs. He has been successful on 36 of 42 stolen base attempts. He owns an impressive .990 career fielding percentage with 868 putouts. His batting average ranks sixth on Willamette's career list, and he is fourth in putouts, ninth in hits, and tied for 10th in doubles.
Werkmeister-Martin was chosen Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-America in 2022 and was named Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-America in 2021. He earned First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, he was selected Third Team All-America by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and was named First Team All-West Region by the ABCA and D3baseball.com.
"Luke has always found ways to impact the offense, either with getting on base, stealing bases, or getting hits," Swick commented.
Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS) was an Honorable Mention All-NWC selection this spring after garnering Second Team All-NWC honors in each of the past two seasons. He was chosen Third Team All-West Region by D3baseball.com in 2021.
During the 2023 season, Fischel has batted .301 with 29 runs scored and 28 RBIs. He has connected on a team-high seven doubles and has blasted six home runs. On defense, he has earned 38 putouts and 93 assists.
In his career, which began with the 2019 season, he has recorded 161 hits, 31 doubles, one triple, and 28 homers. He has a .282 career batting average. Fischell is second all-time with 146 RBIs, is sixth with 571 at bats, and is ninth with 125 runs scored. He has walked 66 times and has stolen 21 bases on 26 attempts. His 28 home runs are fifth on WU's all-time list. He has played in 157 games with 152 starts. He is sixth all-time at Willamette with 364 putouts on defense.
"Ethan has been steady since the moment he arrived on campus," Swick noted. "He brings great energy and enthusiasm to the field every day. His stats on the field are only a fraction of what he contributed to our program."
Carl Lawson (Jr., CF) joined the Bearcats this season and provided strong play in the outfield and on offense on his way to earning Honorable Mention All-NWC.
Lawson has been a solid contributor to the team on offense and defense this spring after transferring from Cal Poly Pomona. He has supplied Willamette with a .312 batting average and a .391 on-base percentage. He has blasted six doubles and three home runs. He ranks second on the team with 35 runs scored. He has achieved 17 RBIs and is 9 for 10 on stolen bases. Lawson has registered 90 putouts and one assist in the outfield with a .978 fielding percentage.
"Carl brought a spark and an edge to our team," Swick said. "He contributed in a variety of ways and by getting some big hits early on in the season."
Jonny Suchor (Sr., LF) was named Honorable Mention All-NWC for the first time. He has been near the top of Willamette's offensive statistics for most of the season. His .360 batting average ranks second among Bearcats with at least one at bat per game, and he leads Willamette with a .467 on-base percentage and 18 walks. He is third on the team with 34 runs scored, has registered 21 RBIs, and is 14 for 17 on stolen bases.
In 2022, he hit .327 with 11 runs and 10 RBIs. His career statistics include a .320 batting average, 62 hits, 41 walks, seven doubles, one triple, and two home runs. He has a career .455 on-base percentage.
"Leading our team in on-base percentage, Jonny was in the middle of most of our big offensive innings," Swick recalled.
Steven Verespey (Fy., RHP) impressed the NWC head coaches with his efforts as a first-year pitcher and was chosen NWC Rookie of the Year. He also received Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition.
This spring, Verespey pitched in 12 games with eight starts. His 3.19 earned run average led all of WU's pitchers with 10 or more innings on the mound. He struck out 31 batters in 48 innings. He achieved a 4-4 record with one save. Verespey was credited with two wins versus Whitworth University, and one victory each against Whitman College and Linfield University. He provided a save in a win over Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.).
"Steven's ability to throw four pitches for strikes and to keep hitters off balance was excellent, especially for a first-year player," Swick commented.
Layton Wagner (Sr., RHP/INF) was selected Honorable Mention All-NWC as a starting pitcher this year and as a utility player in 2022. He was named First Team All-NWC as a starting pitcher in 2021.
As a pitcher and a designated hitter, Wagner contributed throughout the season. He was WU's #1 starter and supplied the Bearcats with a 4-4 record and a 5.15 ERA. He led the pitching staff with 80 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings and allowed 20 walks. He was the winning pitcher in NWC victories over George Fox University, Pacific Lutheran University, Whitman, and Lewis & Clark College. On offense, he hit .253 with 18 RBIs and 11 run scored. He belted three doubles and was 6 for 8 on stolen bases.
Wagner's career pitching statistics include an 11-8 record and a 4.65 ERA. He ranks ninth on WU's all-time list with 182 strikeouts in 172 1/3 innings. He has pitched in 34 games with 30 starts. He also owns a .297 career batting average with 125 hits, 25 doubles, one triple, and nine homers. He is 21 of 30 on stolen bases.
"The role of the starting pitcher is to give your team a chance to win and to pitch deep into the game," Swick said. "Layton was consistent in both of those areas as he competed each time he got the ball."
Logan Haslam (Jr., RHP) received Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition this year. He was a key contributor on the mound with 16 relief appearances and a 3-1 record with one save in 30 innings pitched. His 4.20 ERA ranked second on the team. He struck out 29 batters.
He was credited with wins this spring in non-conference victories over the University of Redlands (Calif.) and the University of Puget Sound, plus an NWC victory against Whitworth. He recorded his save in an NWC win over Lewis & Clark.
Haslam has pitched in 31 games in his career. He has registered 43 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings.
"Logan was our most improved player this year," Swick noted. "He pitched in a number of big spots, especially with runners on base. When Logan pitched, it seemed as if we won those games."