The News Tribune’s 2023 All-Area baseball team

Jon Manley, Lauren Smith
·7 min read

First- and second-team selections for The News Tribune’s 2023 All-Area baseball team.

Sumner starter Jacob Bresnahan throws a pitch in a Class 4A South Puget Sound League baseball game against Puyallup on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at Sumner High School in Sumner, Wash.
Sumner starter Jacob Bresnahan throws a pitch in a Class 4A South Puget Sound League baseball game against Puyallup on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at Sumner High School in Sumner, Wash.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jacob Bresnahan, Sumner, sr. — 4A SPSL player of the year was one of the state’s top two-way players this spring, leading the Spartans to a 4A state championship game appearance. Oregon commit hit .393 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 33 RBI. In 64 innings pitched, the left-hander posted a 9-1 record and 0.88 ERA, striking out 95. Highlight of the season was a complete-game, one-hit shutout against last spring’s 4A champion Olympia, in which he struck out 19 of 23 batters faced. Was also a 4A SPSL first-teamer last spring.

Former major leaguer Lyle Overbay has joined his son, Alex, as head coach of the Tumwater T-Birds baseball team, shown before practice at Tumwater High School on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
Former major leaguer Lyle Overbay has joined his son, Alex, as head coach of the Tumwater T-Birds baseball team, shown before practice at Tumwater High School on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Lyle Overbay, Tumwater — 2A EvCo coach of the year guided the league champion T-Birds to a 21-4 record and second consecutive 2A state title this spring. Tumwater defeated Grandview, Archbishop Murphy and 2A EvCo rival W.F. West to reach the title game, and topped Lynden in the final to lift the trophy again this spring.

FIRST TEAM

Stadium starter Marcel Mercado (5) throws a pitch in a game against Gig Harbor in the opening round of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at Heidelberg Sports Complex in Tacoma, Wash.
Stadium starter Marcel Mercado (5) throws a pitch in a game against Gig Harbor in the opening round of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at Heidelberg Sports Complex in Tacoma, Wash.

PITCHERS

Hunter Grasser, Puyallup, sr. — 4A SPSL co-pitcher of the year posted an 8-1 record, 1.85 ERA and 0.98 WHIP this spring, striking out 64 batters during the 4A SPSL champion Vikings’ run to the 4A state semifinals. TCC commit was also a 4A SPSL first-team pitcher last spring.

Cooper Markham, Enumclaw, soph. — 2A SPSL MVP paced the league champion Hornets to the 2A state quarterfinals, posting a 9-0 record and 0.14 ERA. Oregon commit struck out 89 batters across 48 2/3 innings.

Sax Matson, Olympia, sr. — 4A SPSL co-pitcher of the year posted a 7-0 record, 0.56 ERA and 0.93 WHIP, striking out 61 across 50 innings for a Bears team that won a second consecutive 4A West Central/Southwest district title and reached the 4A state quarterfinals. USC commit.

Marcel Mercado, Stadium, sr. — 3A PCL MVP paced Stadium to the state playoffs for the first time since 2007, posting an 8-1 record and 1.55 ERA and striking out 79 batters across 49 2/3 innings. Two-time TNT All-Area pick was also a 3A PCL first-team pitcher last spring, and the league’s most valuable pitcher in 2021.

Alex Overbay, Tumwater, sr. — 2A EvCo MVP posted a 10-0 record and 0.66 ERA, striking out 75 across 53 innings for a T-Birds team that won the 2A EvCo title and a second consecutive 2A state championship this spring. Also hit .388 with 20 runs scored, 10 doubles, five home runs, 25 RBI and eight stolen bases. UNLV commit was also a 2A EvCo first-team infielder last spring.

Orlando Young, Federal Way, soph. — Two-time 4A NPSL first-team pitcher posted a 4-1 record and 2.03 ERA this spring for an Eagles team that reached the 4A state first round. UW commit struck out 86 batters in 48 innings and limited opponents to a .156 batting average. Was also a 4A NPSL first-team selection at third base.

Tahoma catcher Carson Ohland (right) high-fives a teammate following a scoreless inning in a baseball game against Olympia in the Class 4A state quarterfinals on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey, Wash.
Tahoma catcher Carson Ohland (right) high-fives a teammate following a scoreless inning in a baseball game against Olympia in the Class 4A state quarterfinals on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey, Wash.

CATCHER

Carson Ohland, Tahoma, sr. — The state’s top-ranked recruit in the 2023 class capped off a stellar career by leading the Bears to an undefeated 4A NPSL title and third-place finish in the 4A state tournament. 4A NPSL MVP hit .402 with 15 extra-base hits, including three home runs, 27 RBI and nine stolen bases. Five-tool player and switch-hitting catcher held opponents to 21 stolen bases in 28 games. Two-time TNT All-Area pick was also a 4A NPSL first-team catcher in 2021 and 2022. UW commit.

Timberline’s Gage Reeser celebrates after his game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning helped the Blazers to a 7-6 come-from-behind win in the 3A West Central/Southwest district baseball championship game at Auburn High School on Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Auburn, Wash.
Timberline’s Gage Reeser celebrates after his game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning helped the Blazers to a 7-6 come-from-behind win in the 3A West Central/Southwest district baseball championship game at Auburn High School on Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Auburn, Wash.

INFIELDERS

Micah Bujacich, Steilacoom, jr. — Three-time 2A SPSL first-team selection played both shortstop and pitcher for a Sentinels team that reached the 2A state first round. Hit .474 with 30 runs scored, six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 22 RBI and 19 stolen bases. In 62 2/3 innings pitched on the mound, posted a 3-3 record with a 2.79 ERA and 97 strikeouts.

Martyn Hernandez, Rogers, soph. — Two-time 4A SPSL first-team infielder hit .365 with 24 runs scored, three doubles, five triples, a home run, 22 RBI and 10 stolen bases for a Rams team that reached the 4A state first round this spring.

Payton Knowles, Peninsula, sr. — Gonzaga commit, hit .500 with a 1.289 OPS, nine doubles, three triples, 15 RBI and eight stolen bases on the way to 3A SSC first-team honors this spring. Two-time TNT All-Area pick was also the 3A SSC MVP in 2022.

Gage Reeser, Timberline, jr. — Blazers’ shortstop hit .490 with 13 extra-base hits and 10 RBI for a Timberline team that reached the 3A state quarterfinals. 3A SSC MVP also lifted the league champion Blazers to a walk-off win in the 3A West Central/Southwest district championship game.

Logan Shepherd, Olympia, sr. — 4A SPSL co-offensive player of the year hit .500 with a 1.252 OPS, 27 runs scored, 10 doubles and 20 RBI for an Olympia team that won a second consecutive 4A West Central/Southwest district title and reached the 4A state quarterfinals. TCC commit was also a 4A SPSL first-team infielder last spring.

Tahoma’s Conrad Henkel (left) and Jack Dodge celebrate after scoring the game-trying runs in the sixth inning of Tuesday afternoon’s baseball game against the Federal Way Eagles at Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Tahoma scored two more runs to win the game, 4-2.
Tahoma’s Conrad Henkel (left) and Jack Dodge celebrate after scoring the game-trying runs in the sixth inning of Tuesday afternoon’s baseball game against the Federal Way Eagles at Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Tahoma scored two more runs to win the game, 4-2.

OUTFIELDERS

Bradley Carl, Sumner, jr. — 4A SPSL first-team selection showed up in the biggest moments for a Spartans team that reached the 4A state championship game, hitting .382 with 24 runs scored, six doubles, a triple, three home runs and 16 RBI.

Amari Goodfellow, Auburn, sr. — 3A NPSL co-MVP hit .508 with 24 runs scored, 23 RBI and 10 stolen bases, while also posting a 5-2 record and 1.92 ERA on the mound, striking out 54 in 43 innings pitched. TCC commit was also a 3A NPSL first-team outfielder in both 2021 and 2022.

Donte Grant, Puyallup, sr. — Three-time TNT All-Area selection and three-time 4A SPSL first-team outfielder hit .349 with 30 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple, home run and 12 stolen bases this spring for the league champion Vikings, who reached the 4A state semifinals. Central Arizona commit.

Conrad Henkel, Tahoma, sr. — Had one of the top offensive seasons in program history for a Bears team that placed third in the 4A state bracket. Launched two clutch grand slams in close games, one which clinched the 4A NPSL title and the other delivering a win over Skyline in the state tournament. Two-time 4A NPSL first-team outfielder hit .448 with two home runs, and school-records 36 RBI and 29 stolen bases. Wenatchee Valley commit.

Puyallup Kai Halstead connects for his second home run of the game - a three-run homer in the fifth inning to put the Vikings up 4-2 during Wednesday afternoon’s baseball game against the Olympia Bears at Olympia High School in Olympia, Washington, on April 12, 2023. Halstead went 3-3 with two home runs and four RBIs in Puyallup’s 6-2 victory.
Puyallup Kai Halstead connects for his second home run of the game - a three-run homer in the fifth inning to put the Vikings up 4-2 during Wednesday afternoon’s baseball game against the Olympia Bears at Olympia High School in Olympia, Washington, on April 12, 2023. Halstead went 3-3 with two home runs and four RBIs in Puyallup’s 6-2 victory.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Kai Halstead, Puyallup, jr. — 4A SPSL co-offensive player of the year hit .402 with seven doubles, two home runs and 25 RBI for the league champion Vikings, who reached the 4A state semifinals. Behind the dish, gave up only four stolen bases this season. Was also a 4A SPSL first-team catcher last spring. Two-time TNT All-Area selection. Stanford commit.

UTILITY

Gavin Brubaker, Curtis, sr. — 4A SPSL first-team infielder hit .370 with 13 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, 14 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Was 6-for-6 in save opportunities, posting a 1.91 ERA and striking out 17 in 14 1/3 innings. Two-time TNT All-Area pick was also the 4A SPSL co-offensive player of the year in 2022. Northwest Nazarene commit.

Mason Pike, Puyallup, soph. — Vikings’ infielder hit .358 with six doubles, two triples, three home runs, 22 RBI and 15 stolen bases for a Puyallup team that won a 4A SPSL title and reached the 4A state semifinals. As a relief pitcher, posted a 3-0 record with a 1.15 ERA and six saves. 4A SPSL first-team selection as a utility player this spring, and a first-team DH in 2022. Oregon State commit.

SECOND TEAM

Pitchers — Lincoln Berg, Olympia, soph.; Brett Ellingson, Puyallup, sr.; Trenton Gaither, Tumwater, sr.; Micah Hagler, Kennedy Catholic, sr.; Marcus Olson, Timberline, jr.; Logan Pierce, Tahoma, sr.; Cade Sando, Cascade Christian, sr.; Drew Welk, Bellarmine Prep, sr.

Catchers — Kaleb McNeely, Timberline, sr.; Jaxen Mentink, Sumner, jr.

Infielders — Jackson Copeland, Puyallup, jr.; Ian Draper, Rogers, soph.; Peter Hollabaugh, Kennedy Catholic, sr.; Davis Jaquez, Sumner, sr.; Eddie Marson, Tumwater, jr.; Jay O’Neill, Federal Way, sr.; Brayden Oram, Tumwater, sr.; Jesse Winkler, Stadium, jr.

Outfielders — Isaiah Afework, Federal Way, sr.; Josh Dunham, Gig Harbor, jr.; Aidan Graham, Fife, sr.; Jay Mentink, Sumner, sr.; Jackson Noonan, Stadium, jr.; Emmett Weichbrodt, Auburn Mountainview, sr.; Caleb Wenz, Silas, sr.; Gavin Yoder, Silas, jr.

Designated hitters — Cole Foster, Auburn Riverside, sr.; Nic Gibson, Emerald Ridge, sr.; Mason Wright, Bonney Lake, sr.

Utility — Garrett Chavis, Enumclaw, jr.; Jack Dodge, Tahoma, sr.; Karson Holt, Enumclaw, jr.; David Pardey Jr., Kentlake, sr.; Trace Pruitt, Olympia, soph.; Tristan Ringrose, Puyallup, jr.; Easton Snider, Tenino, sr.; Finn Still, White River, sr.