The News Tribune’s 2026 All-Area high school baseball team
First- and second-team selections for The News Tribune’s 2026 All-Area high school baseball team, as selected by The News Tribune with input from local coaches.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner, jr. — The best player on the state’s best team, Sumner’s five-tool, two-way star made an impact on the mound, in the outfield and in the batter’s box. Had a 9-1 record on the mound with 100 strikeouts and a 1.43 earned run average in 53.2 innings, which included a dominant outing in the Class 4A state semifinal win over Kamiakin, sending the Spartans through to the championship game. At the plate, with .383 with eight doubles, three triples, a home run and 25 RBI. Wake Forest commit is one of the state’s top recruits in the 2027 class.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dylan Mclauchlin, Sumner — In his second season, Mclauchlin led Sumner to a 23-4 record, the Class 4A District 3/4 title and the 4A state championship. Sumner beat Gonzaga Prep in the title game in Everett, 7-0.
TWO-WAY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Christopher Moore, Kentlake, sr. — UW commit posted video game numbers all spring, leading Kentlake to the Class 3A state championship. Hit .571 with 14 doubles, four home runs and 40 RBI and on the mound, posted a 6-1 record with a 0.66 earned run average and 83 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched.
PITCHERS
Neal Burtis, Tahoma, sr. — Lefty was lights-out all season for Tahoma, even tossing a 10-strikeout no-hitter in the opening round of the 4A District 3/4 tournament against Union. Posted a 0.30 earned run average with 73 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings this spring. Oregon State commit.
Cooper Hordyk, Curtis, jr. — The strike thrower built on his strong sophomore campaign this spring, posting an 8-0 record with a 1.25 earned run average and 44 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched, leading the Vikings to the 4A state tournament quarterfinals.
Travis Kunkel, Olympia, sr. — Senior righty was the top arm on one of the state’s top rotations, posting a 6-1 record, 1.70 earned run average and 49 strikeouts in 47 innings of work. Spokane Falls commit.
Brody Santman, Sumner, soph. — No one in the South Sound could simultaneously pound the strike zone while keeping opposing hitters guessing as well as Santman, who threw a gem in Sumner’s 4A state championship win over Gonzaga Prep. On the year, posted a 6-2 record with 65 strikeouts and a 1.23 earned run average over 57 innings. At the plate, hit .375 with two doubles, 10 RBI and 24 runs scored.
Quentin Bockhorn, Gig Harbor, sr. — Tides’ coach Ben Sleeter had plenty of shutdown arms at his disposal this spring. Bockhorn was perhaps the most electric of the group, posting a 5-0 record with 49 strikeouts and a 1.27 earned run average over 38 2/3 innings.
CATCHER
Pete Browand, Peninsula, jr. — The 3A PSL Nisqually MVP hit both for average and power, batting .425 with five doubles, three triples, three home runs and 25 RBI. Fresno State commit posted a 1.241 OPS, leading the Seahawks to the 3A state tournament.
INFIELDERS
Riley Angelo, Curtis, sr. — In the field and at the plate, Curtis’ shortstop set the tone for the Vikings with aggressiveness and a high baseball IQ. Hit .435 with six doubles, a home run, 19 stolen bases and 28 runs scored. Biola (California) commit.
Dylan Hoots, Fife, sr. — The 2A SPSL MVP came through with clutch hits all season, batting .420 with a home run, 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases, posting a 1.143 OPS. At shortstop, had a smooth glove and a strong arm. Columbia Basin commit.
Jake Miller, Sumner, jr. — When the 4A state champion Spartans needed a clutch hit, Sumner’s second baseman delivered more often than not, thriving with runners on base. On the season, hit .438 with 11 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 31 RBI.
Brayden Landry, Puyallup, jr. — The lockdown shortstop corralled everything in his vicinity in the infield and was a model of consistent hitting at the plate, striking out just five times all season. Hit .438 with 11 doubles, two home runs and four triples. UW commit.
Matthew Ledbetter, Kentlake, jr. — The hero. Ledbetter came through with a clutch hit in the 3A state tournament semifinals in Everett, then delivered the game-winning hit in extra innings in the state championship game the following day in a wild, comeback win over Eastside Catholic. On the season, hit .398 with four extra-base hits and 27 RBI. On the mound, posted an 8-1 record with a 1.72 earned run average over 56 2/3 innings.
OUTFIELDERS
Preston Bolam, Emerald Ridge, jr. — The speedy Bolam tore the cover off the baseball this spring, hitting .417 with four doubles, seven triples and five home runs, posting a 1.352 OPS.
Bryce Carl, Sumner, jr. — Carl’s monster game in the state championship was an exclamation point on a productive season, in which the left fielder hit .453 with eight doubles, a home run and 31 RBI.
Brayden Cheeka, Olympia, sr. — Hit for average and was active on the base paths, batting .360 with 20 RBI, 23 runs scored and 15 stolen bases, leading Olympia to the 4A state tournament quarterfinals.
Luke Overbay, Tumwater, jr. — Overbay, the son of Tumwater coach and former big leaguer Lyle Overbay, was a force in the outfield and on the mound for the T-Birds, leading Tumwater to the Class 2A state championship game and a runner-up finish. Hit .418 with six home runs and 31 RBI and on the mound, compiled a 6-0 record with a 0.79 earned run average and 63 strikeouts. Michigan commit.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Jake Cuda, Gig Harbor, sr. — Cuda was a bulldog on the mound and a constant threat in the batter’s box, hitting .348 with seven doubles, a triple, a home run with 18 RBI. On the mound, posted a 5-0 record with a 0.55 earned run average and 49 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings.
Nate Gilmore, Decatur, sr. — The middle of Decatur’s order mashed all spring, and the first baseman barrelled up plenty of balls, hitting .415 with 10 doubles, three home run and 29 RBI.
UTILITY
Ethan Flavel, Decatur, jr. — After returning from a back injury that sidelined him most of his sophomore year, Flavel pitched, played in the infield and played catcher for Decatur this season. At the plate, he was a power hitting machine, batting .408 with four doubles, a triple, six home runs and 28 RBI.
SECOND TEAM
PITCHERS: Talon Coker, Tahoma, jr.; Peyton Crass, Olympia, jr.; Jackson Dion, Emerald Ridge, jr.; Jonathan Garcia, Life Christian/Charles Wright, jr.; Jaxon Harpel, Franklin Pierce; Jayden Mayfield, Orting, jr.; Quinncey Ratteray, Graham-Kapowsin, sr.; Brayden Seiber, Kennedy Catholic, soph.; Jimmy Womach, Tumwater, sr.; Carter Woods, Fife, sr.
CATCHER: Joe Giles, Curtis, sr.; Evan Hellner, Sumner, sr.; Trey Smith, Franklin Pierce, sr.
INFIELDERS: Xander Cypher, Sumner, sr.; Greyson Garza, Steilacoom, fr.; Jacob Lawrence, Kentlake, jr.; Thomas Marzano, Peninsula, jr.; Lincoln Moore, Kentlake, soph.; Parker Myers, Yelm, sr.; Cade Owen, Silas, sr.; Hunter Payne, Gig Harbor, sr.; Craig Sale, Curtis, fr.
OUTFIELDERS: Coleton Brown, Graham-Kapowsin, sr.; Ryan Cannady, Bonney Lake, jr.; Hudson Smith, Gig Harbor, sr.
DESIGNATED HITTER: Jalon Fulton, River Ridge, sr.; Keagan Soliza, Puyallup, sr.
UTILITY: Ikaika Frank, Thomas Jefferson, soph.; Ethan Shaefer, North Thurston, sr.
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "The News Tribune’s 2026 All-Area high school baseball team."
