The News Tribune’s 2026 All-Area high school baseball team celebrates the elite talent that defined the South Sound season, recognizing the players who rose to the top of a competitive field and helped shape the region’s baseball narrative.
Wyatt Plyler: Player of the Year
Wyatt Plyler of Sumner was crowned Player of the Year, a testament to his dual-threat dominance on the mound and at the plate. He finished the year with a 9‑1 record, 100 strikeouts and a 1.43 earned‑run average over 53.2 innings, while batting .383 with eight doubles, three triples, a home run and 25 RBI.
Under the guidance of Coach Dylan Mclauchlin, the squad posted a 23‑4 record and secured the 4A state championship, underscoring the program’s resurgence and the community’s enthusiasm for the sport.
Two‑Way Excellence: Christopher Moore
Christopher Moore from Kentlake earned Two‑Way Player of the Year honors, hitting .571 with 14 doubles, four homers and 40 RBI while posting a 6‑1 record, a 0.66 ERA and 83 strikeouts, showcasing a rare blend of offensive and pitching prowess.
Other standouts included pitcher Neal Burtis of Tahoma, whose 0.30 ERA and 73 strikeouts helped anchor the rotation, and reliever Brody Santman of Sumner, who went 6‑2 with 65 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA, adding depth to a formidable pitching staff.
Catchers and infielders such as Pete Browand of Peninsula, who hit .425 with five doubles, three triples, three homers and 25 RBI, and Matthew Ledbetter of Kentlake, who batted .398 with 27 RBI and a 1.72 ERA, rounded out a deep lineup that proved difficult to silence.
The recognition also highlighted hitters like Bryce Carl of Sumner, who posted a .453 average with 31 RBI, and Luke Overbay of Tumwater, who combined a .418 average with six homers and a perfect 6‑0 record on the mound, illustrating the breadth of talent across the region.
Additional contributors included Jake Cuda of Gig Harbor, Nate Gilmore of Decatur, and Ethan Flavel of Decatur, each delivering strong offensive numbers and reliable pitching performances that helped shape the season’s story.