Washington Scout Blog: 3A/4A WIAA Playoffs
May 30, 2024
This past weekend, Prep Baseball Staff attended the 2024 WIAA State Playoffs, hosted at Gesa Stadium in Pasco, Washington. Featuring top talent from all regions of Washington State, the matchups did not disappoint, with several standout performances from each of the eight participating teams. From clutch pitching performances to breakout offensive games, there was plenty of high quality baseball on display. Below are notes on some of these standout performers in the 3A/4A semifinals and finals matchups.
Standouts at State
Richland (4A State Champions)
'26 OF/RHP Michael Revell, uncommitted
The standout sophomore just kept seeming to come up with winning plays for the state champions over their two games in Pasco, making key contributions in all facets of the game. Revell finished with a hit in both the semifinal and final games, and made a crucial catch in extra innings against North Creek near the warning track in left field. However, his biggest contribution may have been his three innings of shutdown relief he pitched in the state championship. The right hander worked three innings of one hit baseball, not allowing an earned run while striking out two. For a Richland team a bit short on pitching due to the 12-inning marathon the previous day, Revell's performance was critical to capping off their undefeated season with a state title.
'24 3B/RHP Chris Daniels, New Mexico State commit was one of the most explosive bats on the weekend and also managed to step up in a huge way on the mound in the Bombers 1-0 semi-final win vs North Creek. There were multiple instances where the end of their season was only 90 feet away and for each time Richland was pushed to the brink, Daniels responded. When it was all said and done, he had logged 5 shutout relief innings
'24 RHP Alec Ammerman, Grand Canyon commit
The senior arm continued to be the workhorse that he had been for the Bombers all spring, delivering an impressive pitching performance in the semifinal. Offered two-pitch primary mix, with the FB sitting 84-86 and the SL 73-75. Was in total control throughout his outing, keeping the Bombers in it for as long as his pitch count would allow. Ammerman was a critical piece in Richland's push toward a state championship all season long. Final line: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 8 K's.
3 scoreless frames to this point for '24 RHP @AlecAmmerman (Richland)
— Prep Baseball Washington (@PrepBaseballWA) May 24, 2024
FB 84-86
SL 73-75
Racked up 5 strikeouts so far@bomberbball45 | @GCU_Baseball commit pic.twitter.com/QnZN1UtvfD
Despite a lot of key departures, the middle of the Richland defense will be strong next season '25 Carter Upmeyer at SS and '26 C Hayden Galloway behind the dish. Both underclassmen were key pieces throughout the 27-0 season. '24 MCC Conference POTY Dallas Bennett also put together a nice weekend and gave Richland the effort they needed on the bump in the State Championship game vs Puyallup. Overall, the 4A contests had very little offense throughout the weekend, but '24 Joshua Woodard stepped up for Richland when they needed it most with his 3 RBI double in the championship game. In a contest where runs were tough to come by, it was arguably the biggest hit of the weekend and really set up Richland to be in control throughout the rest of the game, even as Puyallup mounted a rally. Woodward also recorded the final out of the game as he was called into relief in the 7th with the bases loaded.
Puyallup (4A)
'25 RHP/INF Mason Pike, Oregon State commit
In perhaps the most dominant performance of the weekend, Pike spun a complete game gem in the semi's for Puyallup. The junior overpowered hitters with a FB 92-94 and a SL 78-84. Filled up the zone consistently and showed ability to manipulate shapes of both offerings. Super advanced athlete moves with high intent down the mound. Finished with 7 IP, H, 0 R, 12 K. Also put up solid at-bats all weekend, including several hard hit balls across both games. Pike was among the most valuable players in the state all season and is poised for a player of the year-level senior season next spring.
2 quick innings for ‘25 RHP Mason Pike (@VikingBaseball_/@BeaverBaseball)
— Prep Baseball Washington (@PrepBaseballWA) May 24, 2024
FB 92-94
SL 78-84, manipulates shape
6 up, 6 down with 3 K
Game is scoreless as we go T3 pic.twitter.com/cgGKPJXAwN
'25 OF Riley Sanoy, uncommitted
Perhaps overlooked in a deep and talented Puyallup lineup, Sanoy consistently put up quality at bats throughout the weekend while playing a steady centerfield defense. Smooth moving athlete glides to ball in center and running the bases. A simple, contact oriented approach at the plate. Hits to all fields and understands game situations. An uncommitted bat to keep an eye on, Sanoy did not look overmatched whatsoever against some quality arms. Finished 3-5 with a walk across two games.
The Vikings will yet again have a stout left-side of the INF next season. '27 Brayden Landry and '25 Gage Thompson (Oregon State) were terrific all weekend as they adjusted to the natural surface at GESA. Both collected hits on the weekend as well, with Thompson being a part of the Puyallup rally vs Richland and Landry extended the game with 2 outs in the 7th. The OF will be huge strength next season as well with the aforementioned Sanoy coupled with emerging sophomore Noah Benedict and Tennessee commit Max Hemenway. Both produced RBIs over the weekend for Puyallup.
Bothell (4A)
'24 RHP Sawyer Wickstrom, Utah Valley commit
Wickstrom went toe to toe on the mound during Bothell's semifinal performance, dominating in a complete game effort. Looked the part of a true D1 arm with a FB 88-91 and a SL 79-82. Final line: 7 IP, 2 H, R, 3 K. Threw a ton of strikes and kept hitters off balance consistently. Also produced hard contact at the plate, a clear pillar of the Bothell side all year long. The righty's performance on the mound capped off a monster senior season in which he finished with a 1.12 ERA and 69 K's in 62.2 IP.
2 scoreless for @SawyerWickstrom (Bothell/@UVUbsb) so far
— Prep Baseball Washington (@PrepBaseballWA) May 24, 2024
Making some big pitches from then stretch and working around some early baserunners https://t.co/sgQTbewUBd pic.twitter.com/nchi0eyGSw
'26 RHP Brady Hallen, uncommitted
Strong-framed sophomore had a strong showing Saturday, working in 3 innings of scoreless relief. FB held 85-87 during the early innings with a CB 69-73. Very fluid mover down the mound with late intent. Repeatable actions with a controlled, simple leg lift in both the wind and the stretch. Real potential to be an impact arm was on full display in Pasco.
Look for juniors '25 Blake Skinner and '25 Teyton Hardeman to be key pieces next season for the Cougars. Both had flashes throughout the weekend. Skinner is a sure-handed SS with feel for the game and clean actions. Hits with a mature approach looking to use the middle of the field and has the traits to be a consistent contact threat. Hardeman has an athetic trim with present strength. His left-handed bat shows quickness through the zone with strong wrists and a balanced finish.
North Creek (4A)
'26 RHP Kody Moyer, uncommitted
Sophomore arm had a herculean effort on the mound in the state semi's, working into the 8th inning without giving up a run. Over-top arm action with a low, loose gloveside coming from a taller, strong frame. FB/SL/CH mix, with the FB sitting 83-86 and topping 87. Finished with 7.2 IP, H, 0 R, 7 K, and 100 total pitches. Put the exclamation mark on a stellar season in which he finished with a 0.73 ERA and 56 K's in 57 innings.
'26 C Ethan Swallom, uncommitted
Swallom finished 2-5 in the semifinal game, but went beyond the statline to impress on the weekend. Hit tool stood out, produced consistent hard contact and ran into some tough luck outs. Balanced, sound right handed swing with a firm front side at contact. Controlled the game behind the plate, showcased ability to block and frame well for age. Should be a key piece for a North Creek team poised to make another deep run next season.
#uncommitted ‘26 C @EthanSwallom (@northcreek_bsbl) swinging it very well today
— Prep Baseball Washington (@PrepBaseballWA) May 24, 2024
Doubled earlier and stings this one in his next AB but lines out straight to LF
We are still 0-0 as we go T5 pic.twitter.com/wLXGrEXmTP
The North Creek rotation should be a huge strength next season as they bring back Moyer, '25 Dominic Wilson and '26 Jack Cochran. Wilson had the Richland offense in check in their semi-final match-up and got big outs in relief. Cochran was outstanding down the final stretch of the season and put together long, effective outings leading to the semi-finals. '24 SS Kai Miller (Everett CC) will be tough to replace at SS and on offense. The senior had a huge defensive showing at GESA and was arguably one of the top defenders on display. Also lined out multiple times at the plate and had some tough luck ABs when he was making flush contact.
West Seattle (3A State Champions)
'24 SS Caden Fahy, Pennsylvania commit
To secure a state championship, teams need their best players to play their best. That's exactly what Fahy provided for West Seattle, as throughout state playoffs he looked the part of a senior D-1 bat. Fahy finished 3-8, BB, R, 4 RBI across two games in Pasco, slugging his way to a state title. The bat had easy juice and consistently flashed gap power. The senior also played solid defense at SS, making every play needed. Prep Baseball Future Games alum capped off an outstanding high school career on the weekend.
‘24 Caden Fahy (@_WSHSbaseball_) with arguably the best hitting performance at state semi’s this weekend in Pasco
— Dan Jurik (@PBR_DanJurik) May 27, 2024
The box score doesn’t do him justice. Went 3-8, 3B, 2B, 4 RBI, R, BB, 0 K
The @PennBaseball commit was all over the barrel across 2 games while handling SS with… pic.twitter.com/gI1FDDq8Z3
'25 OF Lukas Cheha, uncommitted
Cheha came up big when it mattered most, finishing 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the 3A state championship game. Simple, contact oriented approach allowed him to take advantage of some mistakes and reach base consistently. Played sound defense at 1B as well. Tall frame has room for more added strength. Cheha has the potential to be a breakout talent and will be an uncommitted bat to watch.
'24 RHP Miles Chandler (Washington State) pushed the Wildcats to the title game with a strong outing vs Eastside Catholic. Chandler had a steady rise throughout his career as the top of the rotation was always littered with high end talent (Felix Schlede, Miles Gosztola) and he was ready to answer the call by the time senior year arrived. '24 Matthew Henning (Washington) also emerged as a top flight arm in addition to his offensive ability. A fiery competitor on the bump, he navigated multiple jams in the title game and kept putting up zeroes in big spots as West Seattle steadily increased their lead.
Mount Vernon (3A 2nd Place)
'25 SS/RHP Xavier Neyens, Oregon State commit
The number one ranked junior in Washington State and one of the top ranked prospects nationally looked the part throughout the weekend. Battled through some adversity on the mound and flashed impressive stuff, FB 88-92 T 93.6 and a SL 77-82. At the plate, showed a very advanced approach from the LH side. Flashed ability to create leverage at contact with a loud triple in the state championship. Neyens continues to be one of the top talents in the area and is a legit state player of the year candidate.
'25 SS Xavier Neyens (Mount Vernon/@BeaverBaseball) shows off the tools with this monster triple in the gap B7@XNeyens | @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/4PbBpKH82G
— Prep Baseball Washington (@PrepBaseballWA) May 26, 2024
'26 OF Brady Collins, uncommitted
Collins had a massive offensive showing, finishing 4-5 with 4 RBI and 2 R over two games. Tall, athletic sophomore has a smooth swing in an upright posture from the LH side. Quick first step with direct routes in limited outfield action. Should be a key piece on both sides of the ball for a Mount Vernon team looking to get deep into state yet again next year.
'25 3B/RHP Dylan Jacobs was one of the most productive players over the weekend and is definitely a junior bat to watch this summer. Strong, physical athlete with emerging power. Jacobs is one of several underclass bats who gained a ton of experience this season and will be back next year to build on what they accomplished. '26 Baird Brewer, '25 Brody Olmsted, '27 Reece Roberts, '26 Bode Webb & '25 Moises Lucatero are all names to watch next season.
Edmonds-Woodway (3A)
'26 SS Cruz Escandon, uncommitted
A solid all around game earned Escandon a spot on the most recent 2026 WA Prospects rankings list, aided by his performance in Pasco. Had a highlight defensive play with a diving stop at SS and throwing a runner out at the plate. Also finished 4-8 at the dish with a run and 2 RBI across both games. Young, athletic prospect should continue to improve through the summer.
'26 RHP Lukas Wanke, uncommitted
In a deep and talented young Warrior rotation, Wanke turned in the best performance of the weekend, going CG and allowing just 4 hits and a run while striking out 7. The righty was extremely efficient, throwing just 97 pitches in 7 innings of work. Primarily FB/CB with velocity sitting in the low 80's. The performance was par for the course for Wanke this year, as he finished with a remarkable 1.04 ERA in 67 innings pitched on the season.
'26 RHP Lukas Wanke (Edmonds-Woodway) is through three shutout innings
— Prep Baseball Washington (@PrepBaseballWA) May 25, 2024
FB 80-83
CB 70-73
Intriguing underclassman arm to watch@1ukas_wanke pic.twitter.com/N8dECuX9iP
The Freshman pitching duo of '27 Grafton Marshall-Inman and '27 Declan Crawford essentially had their coming out party this season and the future looks extremely bright for both of them. With natural development, these 2 arms coupled with Wanke have the makings of an elite HS pitching staff for years to come. Seniors Kohl Gruender, Diego Escandon and Thomas Shults will be tough to replace on offense and they produced big ABs down the stretch but there's enough youth on the roster to handle the key departures.
Eastside Catholic (3A)
'26 C Ryan Long, uncommitted
In what was a quiet weekend offensively for the Crusaders, Long continued his strong spring with a 3-6 offensive showing. Open stance loads into flatter swing with strong hands at point of contact. Had a solid showing behind the plate as well. Long was another sophomore that rose in the most recent rankings release, in part thanks to his strong showing in Pasco.
Eastside Catholic threatened in B4
— Prep Baseball Washington (@PrepBaseballWA) May 25, 2024
After a 2B from ‘25 @BartleMicah (@ECBaseball_Cru) then ‘26 @RyanLong2797 (@ECBaseball_Cru) lined an oppo single to put runners on the corners
West Seattle would escape the jam though and maintain a 6-0 advantage pic.twitter.com/xcrxwroeTI
'25 RHP Will Crain, Washington commit
Crain battled in his start against the eventual state champions, continuing his solid junior season for Eastside Catholic. FB sat mostly 84-87, also mixed in a SL and CH that both sat in the mid 70's. Long, swinging arm action from a lower 3/4 slot release provided a unique look for hitters. Went CG in a gutsy effort in the state semifinal game.
'25 Micah Bartle had some of the best ABs we saw throughout the weekend. Impacts the ball easily with a tight, compact stroke and a mature approach. Had zero issues handling velocity while still staying adjustable to spin. Gritty, polished hitter. '24 Rowin O'Connor (Gonzaga) put his smooth game on display all weekend and the future looks very bright as he continues his path at Gonzaga. The frame is still developing and it feels like his athleticism has the chance to elevate his ceiliing considerably higher in the next few years. '25 Zack Sieger was great at SS throughout the event and has shown a lot of growth/development over the years. Quick, instinctive player with a confident glove hand and feel for the play. Offensively he always gives you a QAB and possesses the overall hitting acumen to be a tough out against more advanced arms.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Reign Baseball Scout Day | WA | 05/31 | The Sandlot - Pasco, WA |
Idaho Rising Stars ID | WA | 06/04 | College of Southern Idaho - Twin Falls, ID |
Portland Summer ID | WA | 06/05 | Milwaukie High School |
Washington Rush Scout Day | WA | 06/11 | Edmonds Woodway HS |
Ridgefield Summer ID | WA | 06/20 | Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex |
Seattle Summer ID | WA | 06/25 | Island Crest Park - Mercer Island, WA |
Spokane Summer ID | WA | 06/26 | Whitworth University - Spokane, WA |
Seattle Summer ID - Session II | WA | 07/02 | Island Crest Park - Mercer Island, WA |
Portland Summer ID - Session II | WA | 07/02 | Wilsonville High School |
Future Games (Class of 2026/27) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
Junior Future Games (Class of 2028/29) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
Senior Future Games (Class of 2025) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
Pacific Northwest State Games (Invite-Only) | WA | 07/30 | Heritage High School |