The Herald’s 2022 All-Area high school baseball teams

Editor’s note: The Player of the Year and All-Area teams were chosen by The Herald sports staff based on coach recommendations, season statistics and first-hand observations.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dominic Hellman, sr., SS, Jackson

Click here for The Herald’s player of the year story on Hellman.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Matt Brennan, Stanwood

Brennan, who took over as the Spartans’ head coach prior to the 2019 campaign, guided Stanwood to a massive turnaround that resulted in its best season in nearly a quarter-century. The Spartans claimed the Wesco 3A/2A North title, which was their first league championship since 1998. They advanced to the Class 3A state tournament, which marked their first state berth since 1998 and just their third in program history. They beat Kelso in the 3A state play-in round for their first-ever state victory. And they finished 16-9, compiling their first winning season since 2014 and just their second since 2008.

Stanwood coach Matt Brennan (right) claps as his team celebrates its program’s first state berth since 1998. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

FIRST TEAM

Kale Hammer, jr., P, Snohomish

The Gonzaga University commit and hard-throwing lefty ace allowed just two earned runs all season, finishing with a 0.28 earned-run average in 50.1 innings pitched. Hammer totaled a school-record 94 strikeouts and averaged 1.9 punchouts per inning, while yielding 22 walks and logging a 0.79 walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP). He led the Panthers to a 15-7 record.

Jacob Gabler (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Jacob Gabler, sr., P, Edmonds-Woodway

Gabler allowed just three earned runs all season and posted a 0.40 ERA in 52 innings pitched, closing the year on a streak of 37 consecutive innings without an earned run. The hard-throwing righty ace totaled 103 strikeouts and 17 walks, while averaging 2.0 punchouts per inning and fanning an absurd 52.6% of the batters he faced. He logged a 0.73 WHIP and limited opponents to a mere .120 batting average. He tossed a no-hitter against Cascade and had a dazzling postseason, including a three-hit shutout against Shorewood in a district play-in game and a 14-strikeout gem against Gig Harbor in the 3A state play-in round. Gabler also batted .365 with three triples, nine doubles, a .472 on-base percentage and a .567 slugging percentage. He helped lead the Warriors to the 3A state regionals.

Gibby Marshall-Inman, sr., P, Edmonds-Woodway

The Oregon State University signee and right-handed ace posted a 0.88 ERA in 56 innings pitched, while totaling 77 strikeouts and 29 walks. Marshall-Inman allowed just 13 hits all season, limited opponents to a mere .073 batting average and logged a 0.75 WHIP. He tossed a no-hitter against Shorewood and a one-hit shutout against Stanwood in the 3A District 1 Tournament quarterfinals. He also batted .400 with two triples, eight doubles, a .468 on-base percentage, a .571 slugging percentage and nine stolen bases. He helped lead the Warriors to the 3A state regionals.

Gibby Marshall-Inman (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Jeren Eldridge, sr., C, Arlington

Eldridge batted .312 with five doubles and a .397 on-base percentage. The senior catcher committed zero errors and threw out 13 of 33 runners on steal attempts.

Dominic Hellman, sr., INF, Jackson

The University of Oregon signee and potential MLB draft pick repeated as The Herald’s All-Area player of the year after another spectacular season at the plate. Hellman batted a scorching .562 and blasted eight home runs, two triples and 11 doubles. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound power-hitting shortstop reached base safely in every game, while posting a .670 on-base percentage and a whopping 1.096 slugging percentage. He also stole 11 bases and either drove in or scored 38% of the Timberwolves’ runs. Hellman led Jackson to a 17-8 record, the Wesco 4A title and within one game of the 4A state tournament.

Dominic Hellman (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Jace Hampson, soph., INF, Lynnwood

The University of Oregon commit batted .426 with one triple and three doubles, while posting a .557 on-base percentage and a .532 slugging percentage. Hampson also stole 15 bases, provided strong defense at shortstop with a .960 fielding percentage and was a key relief pitcher for the Royals. He helped lead Lynnwood to a 15-8 record, a share of the Wesco 3A/2A South crown, the 3A District 1 Tournament title and a 3A state regional appearance.

Jace Hampson (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Cole Linder, sr., INF, Cedarcrest

Linder batted .414 with one home run, one triple and six doubles. He posted a .486 on-base percentage and a .603 slugging percentage.

Cole Becker, jr., INF, Lake Stevens

Becker batted .411 with one triple and one double, while posting a .500 on-base percentage and a .464 slugging percentage. He also stole 15 bases in 17 attempts.

Keegan Agen, jr., OF, Marysville Getchell

Agen batted .396 with one home run and seven doubles, while posting a .515 on-base percentage and a .584 slugging percentage. He also stole 11 bases and logged a .980 fielding percentage.

Jack Fenton, sr., OF, Kamiak

Fenton batted .397 with one home run, one triple and two doubles, while posting a .493 on-base percentage and a .517 slugging percentage. He helped lead the Knights to a 12-7 record.

Rominic Quiban, jr., OF, Mountlake Terrace

Quiban batted .329 with one home run, three triples and seven doubles, while posting a .478 on-base percentage and a .575 slugging percentage. He also stole 11 bases and played error-free defense in center field, while totaling six outfield assists. He helped lead the Hawks to the 3A state tournament.

Gage Keene, sr., DH, Snohomish

Keene batted .431 with two home runs and eight doubles, while posting a .508 on-base percentage and a .706 slugging percentage. He helped lead the Panthers to a 15-7 record.

Mason Goodson, jr., Utility, Stanwood

Goodson posted a 1.95 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched, highlighted by a no-hitter against Oak Harbor in the 3A District 1 Tournament. He also batted .362 with one triple, six doubles, a .438 on-base percentage and a .478 slugging percentage. The junior right-handed pitcher and shortstop helped lead the Spartans to a breakthrough season that included a 16-9 record, the Wesco 3A/2A North title, the program’s first-ever state playoff win and a 3A state regional appearance.

Mason Goodson (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

SECOND TEAM

Carson Burns, sr., P, Jackson

Burns posted a 1.86 ERA in 49 innings pitched, highlighted by a perfect game against Lynnwood. The senior right-hander totaled 41 strikeouts and just three walks, while logging a 0.90 WHIP. He also batted .325 with seven doubles and a .423 on-base percentage. He helped lead the Timberwolves to a 17-8 record, the Wesco 4A title and within one game of the 4A state tournament.

Carson Burns (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Leyon Camantigue, sr., P, Lynnwood

Camantigue posted a 1.07 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched. The senior right-hander tossed a three-hit shutout against Meadowdale and threw six scoreless innings in the Royals’ win over Edmonds-Woodway in the 3A District 1 Tournament championship game. He helped lead Lynnwood to a 15-8 record, a share of the Wesco 3A/2A South title, a district championship and a 3A state regional appearance.

Leyon Camantigue (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sheldon Egger, sr., P, Cedarcrest

Egger posted a 2.05 ERA in 44.1 innings pitched, while totaling 86 strikeouts and 20 walks. The senior left-hander struck out 46.2% of the batters he faced, averaged 1.9 punchouts per inning and limited opponents to a .178 batting average. He also hit .228 with two doubles.

Tyler Brummitt, sr., C, Meadowdale

Brummitt batted .265 with one home run, two triples and a .380 on-base percentage. The senior catcher provided strong defense behind the plate and also posted a 0.94 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched. He helped lead the Mavericks to a share of the Wesco 3A/2A South title and within one win of the 3A state tournament.

Colin Hightower, sr., INF, Archbishop Murphy

Hightower batted .320 with one home run and eight doubles, while posting a .357 on-base percentage and a .540 slugging percentage. The senior third baseman helped lead the Wildcats to the 2A District 1 Tournament title and the 2A state quarterfinals.

Dylan Schwartzmiller, sr., INF, Snohomish

Schwartzmiller batted .347 with five doubles and one triple, while posting a .402 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage. He helped lead the Panthers to a 15-7 record.

Tyler Hogan, sr., INF, Monroe

Hogan batted .325 with six doubles and a .402 on-base percentage. The senior shortstop also stole 14 bases and logged a .918 fielding percentage.

Will Kunz, sr., INF, Kamiak

Kunz batted .295 with five doubles and a .419 on-base percentage, while splitting time between shortstop and pitcher. He posted a 1.09 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched, along with a 0.94 WHIP and a .174 opponents’ batting average. The versatile senior helped lead the Knights to a 12-7 record.

Will Kunz (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Jens Simonsen, jr., OF, Edmonds-Woodway

Simonsen batted .318 with four triples and eight doubles, while posting a .397 on-base percentage and a .560 slugging percentage. He also logged a .962 fielding percentage while splitting time between outfield and first base. He helped lead the Warriors to the 3A state regionals.

Justice Taylor, sr., OF, Lakewood

After earning All-Area honors in football and basketball, the three-sport standout capped his senior year with a big season on the baseball diamond. Taylor batted .387 with six triples, three doubles and seven stolen bases. He posted a .457 on-base percentage and a .629 slugging percentage.

Collin Beazizo, jr., OF, Lake Stevens

Beazizo batted .340, while posting a .432 on-base percentage and a .556 slugging percentage. He also was a perfect 12-for-12 on stolen-base attempts.

Ashton Olson, sr., DH, Glacier Peak

Olson batted .385 with one home run and one triple. He was a versatile player for the Grizzlies who split time between shortstop, third base and left field.

Broderick Bluhm, jr., Utility, Meadowdale

Bluhm posted a 1.80 ERA in 44 innings pitched, while limiting opponents to a .181 batting average. In the regular-season finale, the junior left-hander tossed a two-hit shutout against Lynnwood to give the Mavericks a share of the Wesco 3A/2A South crown. Bluhm, who also played outfield, batted .292 with a .438 on-base percentage and 17 stolen bases. He helped lead Meadowdale to a shared league title and within one win of the 3A state tournament.