High school softball 2026 season preview: Murray guides Rogers Rams
The high school softball 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 Rogers Rams 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.
ROGERS RAMS
Head coach: Mike Hawkins, 4th season
2025 results: 25-5, Class 4A state tournament runner-up
OUTLOOK
Mike Hawkins lost count of how many coaches approached him in awe of Rogers’ star pitcher after games last season — usually after Sierra Murray had shut them down.
“Wow, did she transfer in?” they’d ask. “Is that a senior?”
Rogers’ head coach smiled. “No, that kid’s 14. She’s a freshman.
“And they were like, ‘What?’”
Murray won’t catch teams by surprise this spring. The reigning freshman TNT All-Area Player of the Year announced herself as one of the state’s top arms in 2025, striking out 252 batters with a 1.35 ERA. Rogers’ ace took them all the way to the 4A championship game, a 3-1 loss to Skyview.
But Murray doesn’t want to dwell on last season, the good or bad.
“I’ve just got to focus on the future,” she said Wednesday. “It’ll be fun this year.”
Murray mixes a rise ball, changeup, and brand-new drop ball. Last year, she slashed .413/.477/.653 at the plate and drove in 18 runs, all while playing in a 4A SPSL considered one of the state’s most-competitive.
“We feel like she’s obviously one of the better pitchers in the state, and can carry us through some tough times when maybe we’re not scoring a lot of runs,” Hawkins said. “We had a lot of tight games last year, so the kids got used to playing in the close games and didn’t seem to get flustered or intimidated or scared by the situation.
“They just kept playing. I think that’s gonna serve us well in the future.”
Rogers returns TNT All-Area outfielder Payton Walling (.459 AVG, 13 HR) alongside first-team SPSL infielder Madison Adair (.303 AVG), but Hawkins lost a total of eight varsity players from last year’s state runner-up team. Despite a “whole-new look,” he thinks this team can be even stronger.
They’ll start Cascade Christian transfer Addison Fredericks at shortstop, a multi-tool Nevada commit. Rogers arm Emma Mitchell was a 4A SPSL first-team utility pick last spring and freshman Zyra Ruiz adds pitching depth, both slated to lessen Murray’s heavy workload.
But Hawkins knows that when push comes to shove, Rogers will turn to their ace.
“We always get along,” Murray said. “All of the girls are funny. We always have fun during everything. Practices, games, anything like that.”
KEY PLAYERS
P Sierra Murray
OF Payton Walling
INF Madison Adair
SAVE THE DATE
March 27: at Puyallup, 4 p.m.
April 2: at Graham-Kapowsin, 4 p.m.
April 28: at Sumner, 4 p.m.
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
