High school baseball 2026 season preview: Gig Harbor Tides
The high school baseball season is underway in Washington, and The News Tribune has been making stops across the South Sound, visiting local programs at practices as games begin. Up next, we’re previewing a handful of teams individually as they begin league play.
Here’s how things are shaping up for the Gig Harbor Tides this spring.
Editor’s note: The “outlook” section for each program is pulled from the TNT’s practice tour. Find the full practice tour story here, complete with insight on several teams in the area, quotes, photos, videos and more.
GIG HARBOR TIDES
Head coach: Ben Sleeter, second year
2025 results: 27-3, Class 3A state tournament semifinals
OUTLOOK
Gig Harbor was three outs away from playing in the 3A state tournament championship game last spring, but Kennewick rallied in the seventh inning in Yakima and stunned the Tides. To add insult to injury, Gig Harbor was informed its third-place consolation game the next day was canceled — but hey, let’s leave the past in the past.
This year’s group is eager to show last year’s 27-3 record and deep state tournament run wasn’t a fluke. Reasons for optimism start with elite starting pitching, a rotation that returns Quentin Bockhorn and Jake Cuda.
“I’m pretty confident with the pitching staff this year,” Bockhorn said during an early-March practice at Sehmel Homestead Park, a 98-acre PenMet Parks facility with turf fields. “I think we’ll be just right with pitching. We were all working pretty hard in the offseason, and I think our bats will surprise people.”
While the middle of Gig Harbor’s lineup had some thump last year, pitching and defense were the biggest ingredients of the winning recipe for coach Ben Sleeter.
“If you pitch well and play defense, you’re always gonna be in every single game,” Sleeter said. “And I think the same can happen this year, but you’ve gotta figure out how to get them run support.”
It might take a little time to replace the bats of graduated Danny Porras (now the starting right fielder at UW), Ethan Mar and Cole Krilich, as well as the speed on the base paths and the rangy defensive play of shortstop Jayce Corley. Hunter Payne will slide in at shortstop this year and said he’s up for the challenge.
“I’ve been playing with Jayce since my freshman year,” Payne said. “He’s the kid I looked up to for playing baseball. Now that he’s gone, I feel like I have to fill his shoes.”
It might take some time for all the bats in the lineup. Then again, it might not. Bockhorn said there’s a quiet confidence the Tides will be able to fill the holes in the lineup left by last year’s graduating class.
“I think our bats will surprise a lot of people,” he said.
Other players to watch: lefty pitcher Max Bergford, outfielder Greyson Riley and pitcher Logan Pedersen.
KEY PLAYERS
P Quentin Bockhorn
P Jake Cuda
SS Hunter Payne
P Max Bergford
OF Greyson Riley
P Logan Pedersen
SAVE THE DATE
April 11: vs. Curtis, 3 p.m.
April 28: vs. Peninsula, 4 p.m.
May 4: at Timberline, 4:30 p.m.
