Fastballs, strikeouts and shutouts: South Sound pitchers you need to know this spring
We’re roughly at the midway point of the high school baseball regular season in the South Sound, hoping and waiting for the weather to turn for the better soon. Here are a handful of local pitchers who have gotten off to hot starts this spring.
Note: Stats are current as of 2 p.m. Friday, April 4.
Lincoln Berg, Olympia, sr.
Stats: Three starts, one relief appearance, 16 innings pitched, 0.44 earned run average, 24 strikeouts, five walks.
The skinny: A bulldog on the mound, Berg has kept hitters off balance with an arsenal of fastballs and breaking balls, pounding the strike zone for the Bears. Fastball sitting in the low-to-mid-80s.
What Olympia coach Derek Weldon says: “Velo jump this year and improved fastball command. Throwing two breaking balls this year, curveball and slider. Great competitor.”
Hunter Boul, Decatur, sr.
Stats: 4-0 record, 20 innings pitched, 0.00 earned run average, 20 strikeouts, nine walks.
Skinny: Three runs have crossed the plate against Boul this season, but none have been earned and his pitching is a major reason why Decatur is off to a 9-1 start this spring. Doesn’t have overpowering velocity, but throws his fastball, changeup and 12-6 curveball for strikes and mixes speeds, taking about 15 mph off his fastball compared to his offspeed pitches.
Decatur coach Chris Fox: “His ability to control the strike zone, off-speed command is exceptional, keeps batters uncomfortable at the plate. … His biggest key this year is his ability to keep his composure. He has matured greatly over the last year and it is paying huge dividends.”
Cooper Hordyk, Curtis, soph.
Stats: 2-1 record, 19 innings pitched, 0.74 earned run average, 25 strikeouts, no walks.
Skinny: Hordyk, who split starting reps at quarterback for the Vikings’ football team in the fall, has been locating his three pitches (fastball, changeup and slider) for strikes this spring. That cool demeanor and command has shown up in a stat every high school baseball coach loves to see: no walks.
Curtis coach Bryan Robinson: “He is throwing first-pitch strikes to almost every hitter, which immediately puts him in position to attack the zone. He works incredibly quick. (Curtis catcher) Joe Giles and (pitching coach) Jeff Martin have been on the same page all season.”
Cooper Markham, Enumclaw, sr.
Stats: 2-0 record in three starts, 15.2 innings pitched, 1.34 earned run average, 37 strikeouts, seven walks.
Skinny: Enumclaw’s lanky, long-haired right-hander has seen his fastball hit the mid-90s on the radar gun at times this spring. Oregon commit also mixes in a slider and splitter. The fastball/slider combo has been his bread and butter.
Enumclaw coach Eric Fiedler: “Improving command of his pitches allows his stuff to be overwhelming to very good high school hitters.”
Mason Pike, Puyallup, sr.
Stats: Four starts, 22 innings pitched, 0.32 earned run average, 42 strikeouts, four walks.
The skinny: Pike, last year’s TNT All-Area player of the year, has been unhittable once again this spring. The Oregon State commit and highly-touted MLB prospect mixes a high-90s fastball with a devastating slider, a nightmare combination for high school hitters. Also throws a changeup and curveball.
Puyallup coach Marc Wiese: “Mason is a strike thrower and has tremendous pitchability. Slider and curveball are plus as well. Last year at the Perfect Game national showcase, Mason had the highest spin rate on his four-seam fastball, which was nearly 2,900 rpm.”
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner, soph.
Stats: 3-1 record in four starts, 13 innings, 1.077 ERA, six hits, 26 strikeouts, 11 walks.
Skinny: Throws a two-seam fastball, four-seamer, slider, curveball and changeup. The changeup may be the best of the bunch, looking like a fastball out of the hand with a late break and good depth at the end.
Sumner coach Dylan McLauchlin: “He’s a guy where, the more guys on base, the more competitive he gets. He’s a super fiery competitor. He’ll bring it a little more than everybody else. He’s a good arm. He’s one of those guys where you want him in there in those situations. He’s gonna give you everything he’s got.”
MORE SPRING SLINGERS
Talan Robertson, Rogers, jr. — 1-0 in three starts, 19 innings pitched, 1.11 ERA, 17 strikeouts, five walks.
Orlando Young, Federal Way, sr. — UW commit has a 2-0 record in four appearances, 1.47 ERA, 36 strikeouts and seven walks.
Quentin Bockhorn, Gig Harbor, jr. — 1-0 record in two starts, 10 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 12 strikeouts, three walks.
Madden Pike, Puyallup, fr. — Look out, there’s another Pike at Puyallup. Mason’s younger brother owns a 1.02 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 13.2 innings pitched so far this spring.
Bradley Dinelt, Curtis, jr. — 1-0 record with 21 strikeouts, six walks and a 0.56 ERA in 12 innings pitched.
Christopher Moore, Kentlake, jr. — In 10 innings pitched, has a 2-0 record with two starts, 13 strikeouts, four walks and a 1.40 ERA.
This story was originally published April 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
