Winner of The News Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Week (April 7 to 12)
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Week for contests played between April 7-12. Thanks to everyone who voted and supported local student-athletes.
This week’s winner is:
Grady Wright, North Thurston baseball
The junior right-hander threw a complete-game shutout in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Port Angeles, surrendering six hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
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Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley (jon.manley@thenewstribune.com) or Tyler Wicke (twicke@thenewstribune.com) or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete’s first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Bradley Carl, Sumner baseball — Collected a hit and drove in a pair of runs in loss to Puyallup on Wednesday.
Coltyn Clark, Rogers baseball — Went 3-for-5 with two RBI in 13-7 win over Bethel on Friday.
Kainoa Coit, Peninsula baseball — Second baseman went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in Thursday’s 7-1 win over Timberline.
Jack Coleman, Kentwood baseball — Earned the win in 5-3 win over Stadium on Wednesday, throwing five innings, allowing six hits, a run (none earned), a walk and striking out three.
Jalon Fulton, River Ridge baseball — Junior shortstop went 1-for-3 with a run and RBI, then threw three shutout relief innings allowing no hits and one walk with six strikeouts in Friday’s 6-1 win over Sequim.
Ivan Gonzalez, Lakes baseball — Freshman left-hander powered the Lancers to their first win of the season, finishing 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs at the plate. On the mound, surrendered five hits and four earned runs with four walks and three strikeouts over four frames.
Rylan Holmberg, Olympia baseball — Went 1-for-3 with a walk and three RBI in 5-2 win over Bonney Lake on Saturday.
Micah Houston, Curtis baseball — Went 3-for-6 with an RBI in 6-5 win over Graham-Kapowsin on Friday.
Bryson Leach, Tahoma baseball — Tossed four innings of shutout ball in 2-0 win over Mount Rainier on Wednesday, allowing one hit, walking two and striking out two.
Busby Low, Graham-Kapowsin baseball — Went 3-for-3 with two RBI in 14-3 win over Spanaway Lake on Thursday.
Eli Lystra, Silas baseball — With two outs, Silas’ freshman first baseman delivered the go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s 7-6 win over Central Kitsap, part of a five-run frame. Went 1-for-3 at the plate with two walks, two RBI, and a run.
Kyler Malnar, Puyallup baseball — Hit a double to center field and drove in three runs in 12-2 win over Sumner on Wednesday.
Cooper Markham, Enumclaw baseball — Tossed 6 2/3 innings in 6-1 win over rival White River, allowing just three hits, one run, walking two and striking out 14.
Conner Maxwell, Clover Park baseball — Threw six shutout innings in Friday’s 15-0 win over Evergreen Lutheran, allowing three hits (no runs) with one walk and seven strikeouts. Walked twice at the plate with a run and RBI.
Makhai Merton, Stadium baseball — Went 2-for-3 with three RBI in 8-5 win over Kentwood on Tuesday.
Kaeden Morgan, Auburn Riverside baseball — Ravens lefty went the distance and then some, throwing an eight-inning complete game as Auburn Riverside won in extras on Monday, 4-1. Morgan allowed seven hits (zero earned runs) with no walks and 12 strikeouts. He threw 85 pitches.
Luke Overbay, Tumwater baseball — Sophomore outfielder went 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs, and three RBI in Wednesday’s 23-1 win over rival Black Hills, then went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Thursday’s win over the Wolves, adding three strong innings (1 ER, 6 K) on the mound.
Jaydyn Palacios, Emerald Ridge baseball — Earned the win in 10-0 win over Curtis on Tuesday, throwing a seven-inning complete game shutout, giving up four hits, walking two and striking out three.
Mason Pike, Puyallup baseball — Threw five innings in 12-2 win over Sumner on Wednesday, allowing three hits, two runs (none earned), walked one and struck out four. At the plate, went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner baseball — Collected three hits in three at bats with two RBI in 8-2 win over Yelm on Friday.
Trace Pruitt, Olympia baseball — Pitched four strong innings in 1-0 win over South Kitsap on Friday, allowing two hits, no runs and striking out five.
Daniel Porras, Gig Harbor baseball — Center fielder launched a three-run home run and doubled in Tuesday’s 10-1 win over Lincoln, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs, and three RBI.
Ben Rambo, Emerald Ridge baseball — Drove in four runs on four hits in 10-0 win over Curtis on Tuesday.
Evan Reece, Fife baseball — Senior right-hander threw three strong frames and homered at the plate in Tuesday’s 12-1 win over Eatonville. Reece surrendered two hits and one unearned run with one walk and five strikeouts, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk, run, and RBI.
Nery Ruiz, Enumclaw soccer — Sophomore forward scored and tallied five assists in Tuesday’s 9-2 win over Thomas Jefferson.
Riley Sanoy, Puyallup baseball — Drove in four runs on two hits in 21-0 win over Spanaway Lake on Friday.
Dante Saladino, Kennedy Catholic baseball — Collected three hits in four at bats in 10-0 win over Kentridge on Wednesday. On the mound, tossed four innings, allowing a hit, walking three and striking out three.
Nate Soto, Auburn Riverside baseball — Went 2-for-4 with three RBI in 8-2 win over Auburn on Tuesday.
Spencer Truebenbach, Bellarmine Prep baseball — Senior leadoff hitter went 2-for-3 with a double, walk, two runs, and an RBI in Wednesday’s 11-1 win over Mount Tahoma.
Grady Wright, North Thurston baseball — Junior right-hander threw a complete-game shutout in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Port Angeles, surrendering six hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Orlando Young, Federal Way baseball — Threw seven dominant innings in 3-1 win over Auburn Mountainview on Tuesday, allowing three hits, a run (not earned), no walks and striking out 14 batters.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
