High school baseball 2026 season preview: Peninsula Seahawks
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 teams begin league play.
Here’s how things are shaping up for the Peninsula Seahawks 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.
PENINSULA SEAHAWKS
Head coach: Matt Thomas, third year
2025 results: 16-8, 3A District 3/4 title, 3A state tournament first round
OUTLOOK
Winning the 3A District 3/4 baseball title last spring was sweet, but what made it even sweeter? The win came against crosstown rival Gig Harbor, which was the No. 1 team in the WIAA’s RPI rankings at the time.
“No one really expected it coming,” said now-junior catcher Pete Browand, who recently committed to Fresno State. “As the year went on, we bonded as a team. … We were all ready for it, but I don’t think anyone else was. We just proved everyone wrong. We did our thing and it showed.”
Browand, a second-team all-league catcher last spring, returns, along with first-team all-league 2B Kainoa Coit and 1B Thomas Marzano. Seahawks coach Matt Thomas foresees a lot of Seahawks on the base paths this spring. Pitcher/shortstop Kaleb Copeland also returns.
“I think we’re really gonna hit the ball well this year,” he said. “My four best hitters from last year are all back. Three of them for another year after this. Knowing what they can do, their stepping into leadership roles will help all these young guys I’ve got.”
Peninsula has advanced to the 3A state tournament each of the past two years but has run into elite pitchers in the first round. It’s a long season, but Thomas said this year’s group is eager to make a deeper run.
“Everyone is wanting to get it,” Copeland said. “Everyone wanted it last year, but we want it more. We want it more than the next guy. Getting up there playing, whoever it might be, we want it more, for sure. 100 percent buy-in from everyone, just doing the little things right.”
One thing’s for sure: expect a seven-inning fight from the Seahawks in every game.
“We will hit the ball, and I think we’re gonna be sneaky on the base paths,” Browand said. “We have a lot of team speed and I think we showed in the jamboree (last) Saturday, our ability to go through our lineup pretty well, get it to every single guy and just pass the torch.”
KEY PLAYERS
C Pete Browand
2B Kainoa Coit
1B Thomas Marzano
P/SS Kaleb Copeland
SAVE THE DATE
April 10: vs. Decatur, 4 p.m.
April 28: at Gig Harbor, 4 p.m.
May 1: at Curtis, 4 p.m.
May 4: at Kelso, 4:30 p.m.
