South Sound baseball: Midseason MVP shortlist and top performers
We’re around the halfway point of the high school baseball season in the South Sound. Who have been some of the area’s most valuable players at the midway point? Let’s dive in.
I received input from several coaches in the area when making this list. Of course, there’s plenty of season left, and it’s possible a player not on this list explodes in the second half of the season and leads his team on a deep playoff run. It’s also worth noting that a lot of pitchers don’t pitch deep into games early in the season, so for a lot of them, the picture is incomplete.
But if the season ended today, these 15 players would be on the MVP shortlist in their leagues. This list is presented in alphabetical order by last name.
SS Riley Angelo, Curtis, sr.
A plus defender, the speedy shortstop has been key for the Vikings this spring at the plate and has been a menace on the base paths, hitting .512 with three doubles, a triple, a home run, 17 runs scored and 11 stolen bases.
Coach Bryan Robinson: “He’s been aggressive early in his at-bats and has been driving the ball to all fields. Anytime he puts the ball in play with his speed, he puts pressure on the defense with infield base hits or stretching a single into doubles.”
CF Preston Bolam, Emerald Ridge, jr.
This junior could care less what the count is. Take for example the 3-0 pitch he took yard against Puyallup, or the 0-2 pitch he hit a home run on against Bothell. Bolam’s mature approach is a major reason why the young Jags look like a state tournament team this spring. He’s hitting .467 with three triples, three home runs, 15 RBI and 18 runs scored.
Coach Justin O’Keefe: “There’s no messing around with Preston. In practice, he’s just one of those elite players when it comes to practices. Everything is taken seriously. … He has no fear of striking out. … He looks to do damage with every pitch. … He’s got the ‘it’ factor and he’s only a junior. It’s just about making himself bigger, stronger, faster, some small tweaks. The kid’s one of the best juniors I’ve ever seen.”
LHP Neal Burtis, Tahoma, sr.
The lefty Oregon State commit has been lights out on the mound and dangerous at the plate for the Bears. He has yet to allow an earned run in 18 innings of work, posting a 4-0 record with 25 strikeouts and six walks. At the plate, Burtis is hitting .345 with seven doubles, a triple, five RBI and 17 runs scored.
RHP Jackson Dion, Emerald Ridge, jr.
Both Dion and teammate Zach Morris have been tough to hit this spring, but Dion has been the team’s road warrior. His simple mix of fastball, curveball, changeup has kept hitters guessing; he has allowed just three earned runs this spring. Dion has a 3-0 record with 23 strikeouts and a 1.23 earned run average in 17 innings pitched.
Coach Justin O’Keefe: “He just wants to compete. He wants to win every pitch. … He’s healthy as an ox, getting stronger. The mental part of the game, he’s got beat right now. He gives up a couple base knocks here and there and it’s different for him. He’s like, ‘Yeah, OK, a good hitter beat me there, but it’s not gonna happen again.’”
3B/C/P Ethan Flavel, Decatur, jr.
Flavel missed all of last year with a lower back injury. He’s back, Decatur is undefeated and has ripped through the 3A NPSL thanks in large part to the contributions of this utility star, who has yet to surrender a run in 10.2 innings of work on the mound. At the plate, he’s hitting .520 with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI.
Coach Chris Fox: “He made it his focal point to come back better and stronger than ever. Has worked in the offseason on swing mechanics and perfecting his accuracy with his fastball, as well as getting better with his secondary pitches. He’s currently uncommitted and will be a steal for any college.”
C Joe Giles, Curtis, sr.
Defensively, Giles has been elite and an “extension of the coaching staff” this season for the Vikings, per coach Bryan Robinson. Giles has not allowed a passed ball and at the plate, is hitting .419 with a home run and 16 RBI.
Coach Bryan Robinson: “He is a true leader for us and provides our pitches with tons of confidence. … Offensively, he has developed into a gap-to-gap hitter with pop all the way around. He has a clear idea of what he wants to do with each at-bat and more often than not, he executes his plan at the plate.”
SS/P Dylan Hoots, Fife, sr.
Hoots brings passion and energy to the diamond every time he suits up, and he is racking up hits left and right, batting .480 with a pair of doubles, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored for the Trojans this spring. Also has a team-high seven stolen bases.
Coach Waylon Tulip: “He’s a threat one the basepaths, a lockdown defender at shortstop and a true leader on the field. At the plate, he’s a dangerous hitter who utilizes the entire field. On the mound, he’s electric, often striking out the side to close the door on opponents.”
RHP Travis Kunkel, Olympia, sr.
It feels like Derek Weldon always has a few good arms at Olympia. Kunkel is the latest, with a high 80s fastball. He has a 0.94 earned run average, racking up 25 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched so far this spring. At the plate, he’s hitting .278 with 10 RBI.
SS Brayden Landry, Puyallup, jr.
When Landry makes contact, chances are he’s getting at least to second base. The UW commit has been an extra-base hitting machine with a 1.64 OPS, a single, nine doubles, three triples, a home run and 13 RBI.
Interim coach Dennis Schmitten: “He has spent a lot of time this last offseason working on his body getting stronger and understanding his swing by letting the ball come to him. ... I see a lot of Trea Turner actions on the field and at the plate. ... With his swing, there is some serious pop line drives at times.”
1B Thomas Marzano, Peninsula, jr.
In one of the league’s best lineups, Marzano has been the most consistent midway through the season, hitting for average and for power. He’s batting .585 with six doubles, two triples, nine walks, 19 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Coach Matt Thomas: “The biggest thing with Marz is he isn’t chasing pitches. Swinging at strikes and also not trying to kill every baseball.”
2B Jake Miller, Sumner, jr.
Miller has been “Mr. Clutch” for the Spartans this year, delivering in key moments and hitting best with runners on base. He’s batting .424 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, 10 runs scored and 15 RBI. He has also pitched three innings, striking out two and not yet giving up a run.
Coach Dylan Mclauchlin: “Just one of the clutchest dudes on our team. He’s hitting .670 or something with guys on base. A ton of production with runners on base. He’s not missing many pitches right now. Great at-bats, great approach and understands some guys are gonna throw around him and understands when he might find something to bang.”
RHP Christopher Moore, Kentlake, sr.
Falcons coach Michael Suguro compares Moore’s cut-action fastball to a dominant run game in football: you know it’s coming, but you can’t stop it. Moore, a UW commit, is blowing his low-90s heater by hitters with ease this spring and mixing in a sinker, slider and changeup, compiling a 0.35 earned run average with 39 strikeouts in 20 innings. And he’s been just as dominant at the plate, too, with a .676 batting average with six doubles, three home runs and 20 RBI.
Coach Michael Suguro: “For him, with the stuff he has, it’s just attacking the strike zone and attacking hitters. …He attacks hitters, wants to get hitters out as quickly as he can. I think he always knew he had the stuff, it was more so just about harnessing it. … He’s one of the rare players who follows a linear path on his progression. Most players plateau. Going off last year, he hit .430 and it was like, ‘Can he really get much better?’ Holy smokes. He hits for average, has got some pop, he’s super disciplined.”
SS Parker Myers, Yelm, sr.
Team wide, Tornados aren’t as loaded as some 4A SPSL peers, but Myers is a factor whenever he steps into the batter’s box. Hitting .568 with a 1.58 OPS, seven doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored.
Coach Dakota Hill: “He’s been a relentless worker and it’s all starting to show and pay off. Great athlete that can hurt you in a lot of ways. Very dependable. Sets the tone for the rest of the squad.”
P/OF Wyatt Plyler, Sumner, jr.
Expect the batting average to pick up even more as the weather warms up for Plyler, one of the state’s top two-way players. He’s hitting .367 with three doubles and 10 RBI. On the mound, he’s been lights out, compiling a 0.35 earned run average with 29 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.
Coach Dylan Mclauchlin: “He’s gotten walked a lot. He has a good on-base percentage. Some tough outs, hard contact and just some tough outs, unlucky outs. The bat is good, a lot of good, hard hits. The bat’s starting to go. Pitching wise, he’s been a dude. Absolutely dominates the zone, goes after guys. You don’t really have to worry about him when he’s on the mound.”
UTIL Trey Smith, Franklin Pierce, sr.
Odds are, Smith is going to get on base when he steps up to the plate. He’s mashing with a .619 average, five doubles, a home run and 13 RBI for the Cardinals this spring. Defensively, he’s a true utility player, appearing at catcher, pitcher and playing in the infield.
Coach Nick Aloisio: “He plays everywhere we need him, behind the plate — which no one runs on him — on the mound or in the infield. He constantly works in the cages, on the tee and during BP to get better every practice.”
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "South Sound baseball: Midseason MVP shortlist and top performers."
