Here is The News Tribune’s 2025 All-Area high school baseball team
First- and second-team selections for The News Tribune’s 2025 All-Area high school baseball team, as selected by TNT staff reporters with input from local coaches.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mason Pike, Puyallup, sr. — The News Tribune’s reigning Player of the Year repeated the honor with his best season yet, tallying 112 strikeouts and 0.84 ERA with a fastball in the high-90s. Pike’s two-way ability (.482 AVG, 28 RBI) could yield a seven-figure contract when selected in next month’s MLB Draft if the 4A SPSL’s Player of the Year decides against Oregon State University. “He’s going to give everything, and that’s just been a trademark of Puyallup baseball,” Vikings coach Marc Wiese said. “He internally has that.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ben Sleeter, Gig Harbor — In his first season coaching the Tides, aimed to bring some fun and looseness back to the harbor. The wins followed: Sleeter guided Gig Harbor to a 25-3 record, the 3A Puget Sound League title, a runner-up 3A District 3/4 finish and a state tournament semifinal appearance.
PITCHERS
Lincoln Berg, Olympia, sr. — The 4A SPSL’s Pitcher of the Year contributed everywhere on Olympia’s state-tournament team with a 0.54 ERA on the mound (77 K) and .310 batting average at the plate (13 RBI). Bears coach Derek Weldon: “Lincoln carried us on his back at times this year.”
Quentin Bockhorn, Gig Harbor, jr. — The foundation of Gig Harbor’s breakout season, Bockhorn posted a perfect, 7-0 record with 63 strikeouts and a miniscule 0.42 ERA that pushed the Tides into the 3A semifinals. 3A PSL Narrows Pitcher of the Year.
Rudy Larson, North Thurston, sr. — Larson silenced one 3A PSL Nisqually rival after another with an unblemished 0.00 regular season ERA. Lower Columbia commit went 7-1 with a 0.62 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched. 3A PSL Nisqually Pitcher of the Year.
Cooper Markham, Enumclaw, sr. — Enumclaw’s most-feared arm struck out more than half (54%) of the batters he faced this spring, the South Sound’s leader with 117 strikeouts across 57 innings. Oregon commit guided Enumclaw to the state quarterfinals with a fastball that touches the low-90s, posted a 6-2 record and 0.98 ERA. 3A NPSL first-team selection.
Orlando Young, Federal Way, sr. — The reigning TNT first-teamer notched career-highs in strikeouts (116) and innings pitched (63) with career-lows in walks (14) and earned runs issued (11). 3A NPSL first-team selection no-hit Todd Beamer with one walk and 18 strikeouts on March 24. UW commit.
CATCHER
Carter Christiansen, Fife, sr. — Fife coach Waylon Tulip hasn’t seen a more-talented player in Trojans pinstripes since A.J. Guerrero, UW’s new all-time home run leader. Christiansen has plenty of pop in his own right, launching three homers in an elimination game that punched Fife’s ticket to state on May 17. The 2A SPSL’s MVP posted a 1.404 OPS with 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Wenatchee Valley commit.
INFIELDERS
Kort Baker, Thomas Jefferson, sr. — Four-time all-league selection in the NPSL leaves as the school’s all-time hits leader. This spring, posted a .429 average with six doubles, three triples, a home run and 23 RBI. PLU commit.
Jayce Corley, Gig Harbor, sr. — As good a defensive shortstop as there was in the area, and perhaps the state, Corley corralled everything in his vicinity with ease. At the plate, Tides’ leadoff batter hit .359 with two doubles, a triple and 17 RBI. Stole 15 bases.
Christopher Moore, Kentlake, jr. — Wasn’t quite as dominant on the mound as in his sophomore campaign, but torched opposing pitchers at the plate, hitting .452 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and 25 RBI. On the mound, compiled a 5-1 record with a 2.47 ERA, 56 strikeouts and 16 walks in 34 innings. UW commit.
Derek Thompson, Tumwater, sr. — The 2A EvCo MVP led Tumwater back to the state tournament this spring, posting a 1.086 OPS with 21 RBI. Third baseman had a grand slam in the sixth inning of a district tournament quarterfinal game and the walk-off solo home run in the district championship win over rival W.F. West. Lower Columbia College commit also posted a 4-1 record with a 1.65 ERA and 43 strikeouts on the mound.
Gage Thompson, Puyallup, sr. — Has been a steady presence in the Puyallup lineup since stepping on campus as a freshman. Hit .313 this season with 29 RBI and blasted five home runs, including one in the 4A state semifinal game against Lake Washington. Oregon State commit.
OUTFIELDERS
Gavin Dolan, Capital, sr. — Led the team in hits and runs scored and was a threat to score every time he got on base, going a perfect 21-of-21 on stolen base attempts. Left fielder hit .413 with eight doubles and 16 RBI.
Eric Havili, Decatur, sr. — Center fielder and 3A NPSL MVP mashed the baseball all spring, batting .381 with six doubles, six triples, five home runs and 22 RBI.
Danny Porras, Gig Harbor, sr. — In a dangerous middle of the order, Porras was perhaps the most feared bat for the Tides, posting a .382 average with 10 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 22 RBI. 3A PSL first-team selection.
Riley Sanoy, Puyallup, sr. — 4A SPSL offensive player of the year was a hitting machine for the Vikings, hitting .409 with 12 multi-hit games. Had seven doubles, two home runs and drove in 26 runs.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Ethan Mar, Gig Harbor, sr. — Gig Harbor’s cleanup hitter delivered team-highs in RBI (28) and walks (24) with a .397 batting average and nine extra-base hits this spring. 3A PSL Narrows first-team selection.
UTILITY
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner, soph. — A first-team 4A SPSL selection as both a pitcher and outfielder this spring, the Sumner sophomore was one of the area’s premier dual-threats. Plyler hit .470 with 19 RBI and 10 stolen bases with a 2.14 ERA and 57 strikeouts on the mound.
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Tyler Buol, Decatur, soph.; Peyton Crass, Olympia, soph.; Jake Cuda, Gig Harbor, jr.; Easton Francis, Charles Wright/Life Christian, sr.; Cooper Hordyk, Curtis, soph.; Jaydyn Palacios, Emerald Ridge, sr.; Madden Pike, Puyallup, fr.; Talan Robertson, Rogers, jr.; Devin Tep, Kentlake, sr.
Catchers — Austin Gonia, Tenino, sr.; Jaylen Kennedy, North Thurston, sr.
Infielders — Kainoa Coit, Peninsula, soph.; Xavier Espindola, Bellarmine Prep, sr.; Kole French, North Thurston, jr.; Dylan Hoots, Fife, jr.; Brayden Landry, Puyallup, jr.; Jacob Muench, Capital, sr.; Andre Muneton, Auburn Riverside, sr.; Trace Pruitt, Olympia, sr.; Dolan Wynne, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
Outfielders — Noah Benedict, Puyallup, jr.; Thoma Holden, Federal Way, sr.; Lucas Larson, Franklin Pierce, sr.; Myles Myers, Thomas Jefferson, jr.; Dante Saladino, Kennedy Catholic, jr.; Wesley Thompson, Yelm, jr.
Designated hitters — Karsten Ingersoll, Bonney Lake, sr.; Seth Tchobanoff, Steilacoom, sr.
Utility — Xander Cypher, Sumner, jr.; Ethan Flavel, Decatur, soph.; Elijah Sledge, Franklin Pierce, sr.
This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
