The News Tribune’s 2022 All-Area baseball team
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.
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 this spring over 4A 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
Colton Anardi, Auburn, sr. — The MVP of the 3A NPSL was lights out on the mound for the Trojans this spring, posting a 0.80 earned run average in 52.2 innings pitched. He struck out 44 batters on the year, to just seven walks. At the plate, hit .358 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and 13 RBI.
Adam Brooks, Puyallup, sr. — The 6-foot-3 southpaw was dominant on the mound for the Class 4A state tournament runner-up Vikings, posting an 8-1 record with 64 innings pitched, striking out 70 and posting a 0.76 earned run average on the year. Northwest Nazarene (Nampa, Idaho) commit.
Jordan Hanson, Tumwater, sr. — It was the year of the pitcher in Thurston County. Hanson posted a 0.60 earned run average, compiling a 5-1 record in 46 innings pitched with 77 strikeouts. Along with teammate Ryan Orr, holds the school record for strikeouts in a game, with 17.
Nic Lewandowski, Bonney Lake, sr. — Four-year starter and this year’s MVP of the 3A PCL posted a 0.67 earned run average, striking out 82 batters and compiling a 5-2 record with 52 innings pitched. He didn’t allow an earned run in Pierce County League play for two consecutive seasons and owns three school records: season batting average (.514), season strikeouts (82) and career opponent’s batting average (.169). At the plate, he hit .514 with 28 singles, five doubles, two triples, a home run and 21 RBI.
Ryan Orr, Tumwater, sr. — Had the game-winning hit to lift Tumwater over Columbia River in the 2A state title game, putting an exclamation mark on a season which saw him named the MVP of the 2A EvCo. The WSU commit posted an 8-1 record, posting a 0.86 earned run average over 48 innings pitched, striking out 93 along the way. At the plate, hit .348 with three doubles, two home runs, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored. Along with teammate Jordan Hanson, holds the school record for strikeouts in a game, with 17.
Catcher
Carson Ohland, Tahoma, jr. — Earned first-team 4A NPSL honors this spring after hitting .431 with seven doubles, three triples, two home runs and 15 RBI. Bears’ leadoff hitter has a blend of speed and power that makes him a constant threat in the lineup. UW commit.
Infield
Gavin Brubaker, Curtis, jr. — 4A SPSL co-offensive player of the year played shortstop and pitched for the Vikings, hitting .377 with five doubles, six triples, a home run, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. On the mound, he posted a 2-1 record with three saves and a 0.61 earned run average, striking out 21 while walking just three walks.
Jeremiah Crain, Puyallup, sr. — Tacoma Community College commit and third baseman hit .395 with six doubles, four triples, three home runs, 29 RBI, 32 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Plus-defender at the hot corner, too.
Aden Dance, Sumner, sr. — Played in the outfield and spent some time at third base this spring, earning first-team honors in the 4A SPSL for the second straight year. Hit .348 with five doubles, two triples and a home run and lead the team in stolen bases with 12. As a pitcher, had an 1.40 earned run average, and a sub-1.00 ERA as a closer in 10 appearances with five saves. Committed to Tacoma Community College, where he’ll play in the outfield.
Payton Knowles, Peninsula, jr. — The MVP of the 3A SSC was electric all season for the Seahawks and led the league in most offensive categories, batting .527 with 39 hits, including five doubles, three triples, a home run, 26 runs scored, 22 RBI and 19 stolen bases. Led the Seahawks to the school’s first league title since 2012, reaching base safely in all 23 of Peninsula’s games this spring. Gonzaga commit.
Outfield
Donte Grant, Puyallup, jr. — The catalyst for everything Puyallup did offensively, the speedy center fielder hit .343 with five doubles, two triples, 20 RBI, 28 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. Plus-defender, first-team 4A SPSL selection. WSU commit.
Taber Fast, Olympia, sr. — There’s perhaps no player in the South Sound with higher baseball upside than Fast, whose missile from right field to record the final out at the plate in the 4A state championship game against Puyallup in Pasco made rounds on social media. Hit .425 for the Bears with 20 RBI. On the mound, the hard-throwing lefty posted a 3-1 record with a 2.1 earned run average and 77 strikeouts.
Justin Brennan, Lakes, sr. — Sported one of the top batting averages in the country, per MaxPreps, hitting .714 with nine doubles and four triples for the Lancers. He also stole 30 bases and pitched for Lakes. Brennan, who was the quarterback for Lakes’ 3A state tournament team in the fall, will play football at Central Washington.
Jay Mentink, Sumner, jr. — The Princeton commit and 4A SPSL first-team selection hit .348 with five doubles, two triples, two home runs and a team-high 21 RBI. A threat on the bases with power and a .456 on-base percentage.
Designated hitter
Kai Halstead, Puyallup, soph. — Had a monster game at the plate in the 4A state championship game against Olympia in Pasco, capping off a big season. The Stanford commit and Puyallup catcher posted a .387 batting average with six doubles, a triple, 22 RBI and 24 runs scored.
Utility
Micah Hagler, Kennedy Catholic, jr. — The MVP of the 4A NPSL did a little bit of everything for the Lancers. He was the team’s No. 1 pitcher, played catcher, first base and third base for Kennedy Catholic, hitting .413 with 10 RBI. On the mound, he posted a 1.90 earned run average with 56 strikeouts.
Dylan Watts, Enumclaw, sr. — Pitched and caught for the Hornets and was named the 2A SPSL MVP, hitting .493 with two home runs, six triples, 28 runs scored, 28 RBI and eight stolen bases. On the mound, posted a 1.40 earned run average with 21 strikeouts in 15 innings.
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers: Gavin Sheets, Peninsula, soph.; Gavin Yoder, Silas, soph; Brett Haggerty, North Thurston, jr. Drake Anderson, Enumclaw, sr.; Noah Deese, South Kitsap, sr.; Tyler Logan, Curtis, jr.; Jake Bresnahan, Sumner, soph.; Kaelan Nesel, Tahoma, sr.; Hunter Grasser, Puyallup, jr.; Elijah Higginbottom, Sumner, sr.; Michael LeJeune, Bellarmine Prep, soph.; Marcel Mercado, Stadium.
Catchers: Jaxen Mentink, Sumner, soph.; Kaleb McNeely, Timberline, jr..
Infielders: Evan Nicol, Olympia, soph.; Logan Shepherd, Olympia, jr.; Logan Pierce, Tahoma, jr.; Anthony Myers, Federal Way, sr.; Micah Bujacich, Steilacoom, soph.; Franco Segura, Timberline, sr.; Chase Cretti, Fife, sr.
Outfielders: Noah Fields, Puyallup, sr.; Amari Goodfellow, Auburn, jr.; Isaiah McFall, Rogers, sr.; Isaac Marchland, Kentwood, sr.; Chanz Doughty, River Ridge, sr.; Jay O’Neill, Federal Way, jr.
Designated hitter: Mason Pike, Puyallup, fr.
Utility: Andrew Moberly, Kentridge, sr.; Brady Altman, Gig Harbor, jr.; Reese Widman, Steilacoom, jr.; Isaiah Afework, Federal Way, jr.
This story was originally published June 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
