Quiet leader, fiery competitor: Puyallup’s Pike brothers look to win 4A state title
Puyallup High School star baseball player Mason Pike will have to decide soon whether to turn professional straight out of high school or play college baseball at Oregon State.
Before that decision, though, he had another to make last offseason: whether to return to Puyallup for his senior year or accept a full-ride scholarship to play baseball at national sports powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida. He decided to return to Puyallup.
“He goes, ‘No, I want to win a state championship and have an opportunity to play with my brother, and we have some unfinished business this year,’” Puyallup coach Marc Wiese said.
The draw of playing with his younger brother, Madden, was too difficult to pass up. Madden, a freshman, has already been a key contributor on this year’s team.
“It’s super fun to see him succeed in everything he’s done so far,” Mason Pike said.
In terms of personalities, the two couldn’t be more different. Mason is more introverted — a quiet, humble leader. Madden’s a bit more fiery and in-your-face.
“He’s gonna kind of show you how he feels,” Wiese said, laughing.
But they’re both intense competitors.
“Both of them, it’s the same,” Wiese said. “They both have the internal drive, bellies just burning. Just as competitive as it can get.”
Mason Pike has been one of the state’s best players the past two seasons. He was last year’s TNT All-Area player of the year and was named the 4A SPSL MVP this spring. In last weekend’s Class 4A state tournament opening-round win over Moses Lake, he tossed a 17-strikeout no-hitter.
Mason Pike is batting .480 this year with 12 doubles and three triples. On the mound, he has a 5-0 record with a 0.22 earned run average, 110 strikeouts and 18 walks. Younger brother Madden has taken on a large pitching role, too, posting a 1.44 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.
“He kind of sets the bar,” Madden said of his older brother. “But I’ve just always wanted to be better than him. Just kind of watch how he does things, just learning from him.”
It’s always been competitive in the Pike household. Growing up, the two were star wrestlers in Orting’s youth wrestling program. They compete in everything, from basketball to spikeball.
The brothers are two wins away from winning a state championship in their lone high school season together.
“It’d be fun to get one finally after three years,” Mason Pike said. “This is a fun group and we get along well. We hang out a lot. This will be fun to get one with this group.”
