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2026 WA Scout Blog - Peninsula, North Thurston, West Valley, Eastmont

April 8, 2026
Dylan Grenz
Assistant Scouting Director

The 2026 Washington Scout Blog provides information and scouting notes from Prep Baseball staff during the WIAA season. The running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects and other notable performers. The Scout Blog is compiled of content and information gathered only from Prep Baseball staff. All featured games in the Scout Blog were attended by staff.

This week, Prep Baseball saw a pair of intriguing matchups. On Monday, then undefeated Peninsula faced off against a tough 3A opponent in North Thurston, with Peninsula eventually winning a close one by a final score of 5-4. On Tuesday, unbeaten West Valley faced 6-1 Eastmont, with WV winning 9-6. Below are scouting notes on standout performers from both contests.

Peninsula vs. North Thurston (4.6.26)

Peninsula

'27 INF Thomas Marzano (Uncommitted)
The junior is having a huge breakout spring offensively, hitting .571 with 7 XBH's in 45 plate apperances so far. Marzano continued his hot offense with a productive game on Monday, finishing 2-3 with 2 doubles, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. The stockier-framed righthander lifts and seperates with balance through his load into a flatter path with strong wrists at contact, maintaining a flatter approach with big time natural pop. Marzano showed the ability to lay off pitches on the edges and capitalize on what few pitches he saw in the zone. A 1B who can make the routine play defensively, Marzano is a name to circle during this breakout run.

'27 C Pete Browand (Fresno State Commit)
A longtime top-end prospect in the Washington 2027 class, Browand got the offense rolling with a hard-hit single back up the box in the first inning. The Future Games alum has been one of the more consistent in-game hitters we've seen in showcase gameplay and HS action, currently hitting .441 and getting base at over a .600 clip this spring so far. The natural strength and bat speed stand out at the HS level and look the part of a D-1 commit. Browand also showcased some quality, accurate throws from the catcher position defensively, and was a huge reason the Seahawks were able to hold on to the victory.

'28 OF Evan Fulghum (Uncommitted)
Fulghum impressed at the Narrows Scout Day event this winter, displaying impact arm talent and some pop from the right side. The arm strength popped in a big way in pregame INF/OF, airing out multiple great throws from RF. Though he was limited in action defensively in-game, the sophomore profiles well in the corner spot. Offensively, the righty does carry some swing and miss in his game but came through in the clutch to deliver a walk-off RBI single to secure the Peninsula victory.

'27 OF Jett Ortega (Uncommitted)
After a showcase look at the Seattle Preseason ID this winter, Ortega put together a nice in-game showing on Monday. The wiry, compact-framed athlete moved especially well in CF, with a smooth LH glove and enough arm strength for the HS level. The bat is more contact over power to this point, with a loose-wristed righty stroke staying through the ball well to the middle of the field. Ortega reached base twice and scored a run in his well-rounded performance.

North Thurston 

'26 OF/RHP Ethan Shaefer (Arizona Western Commit)
Despite some mixed results on the mound, Shaefer flashed exciting ability on the mound and will be a key arm for the Rams for the remainder of the spring. The lean-framed righty featured a whippy, loose arm action, sitting 84-86 MPH with his fastball early. He also featured two distinct breakers in a SL at 75-76 MPH and a CB at 70-73 MPH. The SPL really flashed with tumbling action in the low 70's with developing command. Shaefer also reached base three times at the plate, collecting a single and two walks. The senior is a key two-way piece for North Thurston and could be an immediate contributor at the college level.

'28 Jordan Dircks (Uncommitted)
The sophomore was right in the middle of the action offensively all afternoon long, and has been one of the better bats statistically for NT all spring. Dircks did well to pull his hands through on a fastball up and in to collect a single early in the game, eventually coming around to score later that inning. He would later reach twice via walk as well, with a final offensive stat line of 1-2, 2 BB, 2 R overall.

'26 INF David Perez (Lower Columbia Commit)
Perez has been a varsity regular for some time now and delivered a clutch knock late in Monday's game. The stocky-framed righty works short-to-long at the plate, with some loft present and a longer one-handed finish through his swing. Perez stayed on a pitch down and away to find a hole to the opposite field, driving in a run with his lone hit of the afternoon. The senior profiles well at a corner INF spot, and despite one hiccup defensively he looked comfortable with the glove and the longer throw across the diamond.

West Valley vs. Eastmont (4.7.26)

West Valley

'27 RHP Rhyse Elder (Uncommitted)
Elder has been flat out dominant on the mound in both 2025 and 2026, and it was easy to see why in this look. The physical junior sat 84-87 with his fastball, holding his velocity deep into his start. Elder relied heavily on his slider, thrown at 75-77 MPH as a higher-spin, heavy horizontal break pitch. The slider in particular generated several off-balance swings and whiffs throughout. He also mixed in a 70-73 MPH curveball and a 77 MPH changeup, thrown mostly to LHH. A starter-type with the durability and a true four pitch mix, Elder should continue to be among the best arms in the area and is a name to circle for college coaches. Final line on Tuesday: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K.

'26 INF Colby Graham (Whitworth Commit)
One of two senior lefty bats that have been instrumental to West Valley's success, Graham got it done all afternoon in this look. The lefty sets with lower, wide hands, with some bat lag through the zone and an ability to hit to all fields. Graham doubled twice, pulling one into the corner and dropping one in the other way on the opposite foul line. The senior went 3-4 with 3 runs scored in his great offensive day. He also looked extremely strong at 3B, with longer-limbs that moved well laterally and more than enough arm strength across the diamond. The senior plays with a cool confidence and is a key piece moving forward.

'26 OF Alex Morales (Central Washington Commit)
Seen at last winter's Central Washington Preseason ID, Morales is having a big time senior campaign on both sides of the baseball. The tall, sturdily-built lefty displayed quickness and a quality arm in CF, throwing out a runner at third with a laser of a throw as his defensive highlight. He also went 2-3 with 2 singles, 2 runs, an RBI and a walk at the plate. Morales stayed back well on some slower offspeed offerings for both of his knocks, getting it done early as a part of West Valley's offensive barrage. 

'27 C Drayden Birley (Uncommitted)
Few players have found the barrel more in recent weeks than what we saw from the junior backstop in this one, lacing line drive after line drive on Tuesday. Birley's stockier RH frame moves through a simple load and swing operation, with a subtle weight transfer and whippier barrel through. The uncommitted junior drove in two runs, collecting a pair of singles while scoring a run as well. Birley also showed well at the catcher position, sinking low in his stance and working upward to stick frames and steal pitches on the edges.

Eastmont

'28 C/INF Izik Ontiveros (Uncommitted)
The sophomore had a great offensive showing as one of the better power bats in the state class. Ontiveros bounced back after a tough first AB, finding the barrel in each of his next three plate appearances. The righty stays tightly coiled with big time bat speed, displaying power to the pull side and middle of the field. Ontiveros roped a single up the middle for his first hit and nearly left the yard to LCF for his second hit, settling for an easy double. The sophomore was at 3B in this look, where he showed some rawness but made every play that came his way, and has shown ability at the catcher position as well. Name to know heading into the summer.

'28 C Manny Barrios (Uncommitted)
A relative unknown heading in to this game, Barrios really impressed as an underclassman on both sides of the baseball. The compact-framed sophomore sets with a wider base at the plate with his weight stacked over his rear side, with high hands quick to fire through the zone. Barrios drove a single later in the game and was robbed with a lineout, as well. At the catcher position, he displayed some twitch and quickness with quality blocking and framing mechanics shown. Intriguing follow.

'26 OF Bodie Yale (Wenatchee Valley Commit)
Yale broke out with exciting two-way potential shown at last summer's PNW State Games before securing a commitment to Wenatchee Valley. In this one, he displayed a plus arm from the outfield with enough quickness to man CF at the high school level. He also added an RBI single and scored a run at the plate, getting to a high fastball and lining a pitch the other way. Yale brings some much-needed physicality and tools to an Eastmont team off to a nice start this season.

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