19-05-2025
Vote now for The News Tribune's Boys Athlete of the Week (May 12 to 17)
Vote now for The News Tribune's Boys Athlete of the Week for contests played between May 12-17. Voting will remain open until noon Wednesday.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
Note: If you are not seeing the poll at the bottom of the story, try opening the story in a different browser, such as Chrome or Safari. Votes emailed will not be counted.
Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley ( or Tyler Wicke (twicke@ or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete's first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Lincoln Berg, Olympia baseball — Leadoff hitter went 2-for-4, including a three-run home run in Olympia's 4-2 win over Emerald Ridge on Saturday, clinching a 4A state tournament berth for the Bears. On the mound, tossed a complete game, going seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs (none earned) and striking out four.
Quentin Bockhorn, Gig Harbor baseball — Junior right-hander threw 4.2 shutout innings (2 H, 4 BB, 10 K) in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Kelso that clinched a 3A state berth.
Tyler Buol, Decatur baseball — Sophomore right-hander threw two shutout relief innings and went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI in Decatur's 8-1 district playoff win over Kelso, clinching a 3A state berth.
Carter Christiansen, Fife baseball — Want power? This catcher delivered in a loser-out, winner-to-state game over Franklin Pierce on Saturday, hitting three home runs and driving in four runs in a 4-2 win, clinching a 2A state tournament berth for the Trojans.
Diego Flores, Tahoma soccer — The hero in Tahoma's 1-0 win over Union in the 4A District 3/4 championship game, Flores scored the lone goal in the first half from 35 yards out.
Easton Francis, Charles Wright/Life Christian baseball — Threw a complete-game gem in 5-1 win over Klahowya in 1A District 3 title game, going seven innings, allowing four hits, one run, walking none and striking out seven. At the plate, drove in a pair of runs.
Joe Giles, Curtis baseball — The catcher's two-run single sparked a four-run third inning in Saturday's winner-to-state, loser-out playoff win over Tahoma, 7-2. Giles finished 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Luke Houk, Tumwater baseball — Senior threw five excellent innings (3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) and retired his first nine batters in order to clinch a 2A state berth in Wednesday's 11-1 district playoff win over Hockinson.
Kevin Kershaw, Tahoma soccer — Scored four goals in 6-0 win over Olympia in a 4A District 3/4 semifinal game.
Rudy Larson, North Thurston baseball — The senior right-hander's complete-game shutout silenced Enumclaw in Tuesday's 4-0 playoff win, securing a 3A state-tournament berth. Larson threw a four-hitter (0 ER) with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Harvey Lieberman, Kennedy Catholic baseball — Lancers starter threw a complete game (7 IP, 2 ER) and retired Emerald Ridge's final six batters in order to clinch a 4A state berth, 6-2, on Tuesday.
Hunter Payne, Gig Harbor baseball — Went 2-for-3 with two RBI in 3-2 win over Capital in 3A District 3/4 semifinal game on Saturday.
Madden Pike, Puyallup baseball — Freshman threw 4.2 shutout relief innings (3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K) to preserve the lead in Saturday's district championship win over Sumner, 7-6. The Vikings (26-0) roll into the 4A state tournament as the No. 1 seed.
Mason Pike, Puyallup baseball — Senior right-hander threw a complete-game shutout to clinch a 4A state berth in Tuesday's 6-0 playoff win over Olympia, permitting three hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts over seven strong innings.
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner baseball — Right-hander threw 6.2 stellar innings in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Tahoma that clinched a 4A state berth, allowing four hits and one run (0 ER) with two walks and 11 strikeouts. In Plyler's last three starts, the sophomore is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA and 24 strikeouts.
Lucas Redman, Capital baseball — Senior right-hander threw five strong frames (1 R, 0 ER, 7 K) in Tuesday's 9-3 playoff win over Prairie, clinching a 3A state berth.
Isaac Schultz-Tait, Peninsula baseball — Went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk in 4-2 win over crosstown rival Gig Harbor in the 3A District 3/4 championship game on Saturday.
Matthew Sleeter, Peninsula baseball — Senior 1B went 4-for-4 and delivered a pair of RBI singles in Peninsula's 6-5 playoff win over Decatur that clinched a 3A state berth.
Chase Waters, Capital baseball — Cougars senior went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 playoff win over Prairie, clinching a 3A state berth.
Micah Yanos, Curtis baseball — Right fielder went 2-for-3 with two RBI in 7-2 win over Tahoma on Saturday, clinching a 4A state tournament berth for the Vikings.
