High school baseball 2026 season preview: Silas Rams
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 Silas 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.
SILAS RAMS
Head coach: Barron Tanay
2025 results: 12-9, 3A District 3/4 tournament
OUTLOOK
Silas’ players felt they fell short of the team’s expectations last season, but the 2026 season offers a fresh start.
“I think we have a lot of expectations and a lot of drive this year from the worse results last year,” said senior Carter Lystra, a four-year varsity player who plays center field and pitches for the Rams.
Lystra is joined by his younger brother, sophomore Eli, who plays first base and outfield, and might pitch a little this spring, too. Silas coach Barron Tanay said the brothers are natural leaders.
“Eli is a little more jovial, bubbly, but an absolute beast, fearless competitor,” Tanay said. “And Carter is also a fearless competitor but a little more intense. They have high expectations. They’re just really good athletes. They can pretty much do it all in the field, and they feed off each other.”
Silas is off to a 3-0 start with wins over Sammamish, Lakes and Capital.
“We’ve been playing really good ballgames so far, team chemistry is incredible,” Carter Lystra said. “We’re hitting the ball really well, throwing a lot of strikes, just hoping to stay consistent.”
Tanay said Silas has been a good pitching and hitting team the past few years. The key for the Rams to take the next step and be a Class 3A state tournament team this season will be consistent hitting. Doing the little things to move runners along is an approach the players have bought into.
“I think situational baseball is huge,” Eli Lystra said. “In a tight game, the games that really matter, it’s gonna be a lot of one-run, two-run games. So being able to do the little things right and score a runner from second with nobody out, that’s gonna be huge.”
Tanay said this group feels more cohesive than last year’s group. Hopefully for the Rams, the team’s chemistry leads to more wins on the diamond this spring.
“We just have a more mature approach to this season,” Tanay said. “I think that’ll be what gets us over the top.”
KEY PLAYERS
CF/P Carter Lystra
2B/1B Cade Owen
1B/OF Eli Lystra
SS/P Landon Smith
C Max Yoder
SAVE THE DATE
March 28: vs. Camas, 3 p.m.
March 31 & April 1: at Gig Harbor, 4 p.m., vs. Gig Harbor 4:30 p.m.
April 14 & 15: vs. Bellarmine Prep, at Bellarmine Prep, 4 p.m.
