First- and second-team selections for The News Tribune’s 2022 All-Area baseball team.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rylan Haider, Olympia, sr. — The Washington State-bound Haider was a perfect 10-0, including wins over Chiawana and Richland in the 4A state tournament. He had both a sub-1 earned run average (0.89) and WHIP (0.97). His strikeouts to walks ratio was 6.7-1. As a batter, he hit .327 with nine doubles and 21 runs batted in. “It’s been a pleasure coaching him,” said Olympia coach Derek Weldon.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Derek Weldon, Olympia — For two years, Washington’s high school spring sports were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. They never got started in 2020, had no state tournaments in 2021. When they revived this year, Weldon’s Olympia baseball team was better than it had been in making it to the 4A championship game in 2019, winning the title in thrilling fashion over SPSL archrival Puyallup. It was the first state baseball crown in Olympia history and capped off a 25-3 season that included three wins in four tries against Puyallup, the second seed to the Bears first in the state tournament. Weldon is 68-25 in five years at Olympia.

FIRST TEAM

Pitchers

Taber Fast, Olympia, sr. — The lefty Fast was the postseason hero for the Bears, shutting out Issaquah in the regional final, then making a dramatic walk-off throw to the plate from right field to end Olympia’s 7-6 Class 4A state championship game win over Puyallup. The Texas Tech signee finished 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA and 77 strikeouts. He batted .425 and drove in 20 runs. “Competitive greatness means being your best in the biggest spots. Taber was that guy for us all season long,” said Weldon.

Brett Haggerty, North Thurston, jr. — The 3A South Sound Conference pitcher of the year had a 1.60 ERA, throwing at 85-plus miles per hour. He struck out 85 batters in 42 innings, allowing just 15 hits. Showing gap-to-gap power at the plate, he had a .303 average, .447 on-base percentage with seven doubles and a home run. “He’s intimidating. Our defense didn’t have to do much on the days he pitched,” said Rams’ coach Pete Peppley.

Jordan Hanson, Tumwater, sr. — Blessed with size at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, the UNLV-bound Hanson was 5-1 on the season for the 2A state champion Thunderbirds. He had a 0.61 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, struck out 77 in 46 innings and allowed just 24 hits. He shut out Columbia River for 6 2/3 innings in the state championship game. “He’s very fluid, he locates well, he’s probably got the best command of all three pitches on a consistent basis,” said Tumwater coach Lyle Overbay earlier in the season.

Ryan Orr, Tumwater, sr. — The ace of a strong Tumwater staff, the Washington State-bound Orr also had a huge moment with the bat, driving in the winning run in the T-Birds state championship triumph over Columbia River. On the mound, he finished 8-1 with a 0.86 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, striking out 93 and giving up just 22 hits in 48 innings. He hit .348 with two homers and 17 RBI. “Ryan’s a dominant pitcher,” Overbay said. “He throws one of the best curveballs we’ve seen.”

Catcher

Kaleb McNeely, Timberline, jr. — A first-team All-3A SSC choice, McNeely hit .432 with a .573 on-base percentage. He doubled four times and homered once. Selective, he walked 10 times and was also hit by a pitch twice.

Infield

Gavin Fugate, W.F. West, jr. — An All-2A EvCo choice, the 6-foot-3 Fugate, the Bearcats quarterback during football season, batted .407, scored 26 runs and drove in 22. He ripped 12 doubles and also stole 12 bases.

Evan Nicol, Olympia, soph. — Nicol batted .373 and drove in 27 runs while earning first team All-4A SPSL honors. “He has the ability to deliver big hits with runners in scoring position,” said Weldon.

Alex Overbay, Tumwater, jr. — A first team All-2A EvCo choice who was also the T-Birds quarterback when the football team finished second at 2A state, Overbay is expected to be one of Tumwater’s pitching aces next season. This spring, hit .354 with four doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI and 24 runs scored.

Franco Segura, Timberline, sr. — Also a notably versatile football player for the Blazers, Segura was named first team All-3A SSC has a shortstop, but also pitched. He hit .366 with a .491 on base percentage.

Logan Shepherd, Olympia, jr. — Weldon says Shepherd hits the ball harder than any player he’s coached, even as an assistant at NCAA Division I Tennessee Tech. He hit .340 and scored 28 runs. He also shined for the Bears defensively.

Outfield

Braden Hartley, Rochester, jr. — A first team All-EvCo choice, Hartley batted .410 but was also “as dominant as anyone in our league on the mound,” according to Warriors’ coach Brad Quarnstrom.

Chanz Doughty, River Ridge, sr. — A returning member of the All-Area first team, Doughty batted .552 with a .623 on-base percentage. Bound for Edmonds Community College, he had 13 doubles, scored 16 runs and drove in 16 more. “He is a very unselfish player and played for his team. I have the upmost respect for Chanz,” said Hawks coach Chad Arko.

Logan Moore, W.F. West, sr. — The 6-foot-2 Moore earned first team All-2A EvCo after blasting four home runs to drive in 26 and scored 28 more on the season. As a pitcher, he was 8-3, with a 1.78 ERA, striking out 82 batters in 59 innings pitched.

Designated Hitter

Parker Termini, Black Hills, sr. — The All-2A EvCo designated hitter, Termini hit .344 with a homer and 16 RBI.

Utility

Cody Strawn, Tenino, soph. — Strawn hit .403 for the Beavers, with a .565 on base percentage. As a pitcher, he was 4-0 with a 2.60 earned run average across 39 2/3 innings.

Wyatt Wagner, Shelton, soph. — Wagner hit over .400 for the Highclimbers during their breakout season that saw them reach the state regional round.

SECOND TEAM

Pitchers: Sax Matson, Olympia, junior; Blake Smith, Tumwater, senior.

Catchers: Lane Fuller, Olympia, junior,; Austin Gonia, Tenino,; Cole Schlender, Shelton, senior.

Infielders: Landon Hawes, Rochester, senior; Kellen Knox, Tenino; Michael Navarro, Capital, sophomore,; Brody Phinney, Olympia, senior,; Brendan Wagner, Shelton, junior; Braden Oram, Tumwater, junior.

Outfielders: Kyler Collier, Tumwater, junior; Will Feltus, Tenino, Xander Shepler, Black Hills, junior.