Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season. Team previews touch on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Washington Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Team Previews are generated through a mixture of coaches' responses gathered through our perennial coaches questionnaires, as well as insight from Prep Baseball Staff. Stay tuned the next several weeks for the unveiling of Team Previews and the complete Power 25.

Today, we preview the #3 ranked Sumner Spartans. 

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High School: Sumner Spartans    
Head Coach: Dylan McLauchlin
Division: 4A
League/Conference: SPSL
2025 Record (Finish): 18-6
2025 Playoff Finish: 4A state round of 16

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Key Players Lost: Ryder Petersen, Preston Coleman, Garrett Levenhagen, Cole Miller, Greyson Meier

TEAM OUTLOOK

Starting Pitching: Wyatt Plyler, Xander Cypher, Brody Santman

Bullpen: Lucas Tromp, Kasey Turnbull, Austin Gailushas, Jake Miller

Top Seniors: Drew Wicklander, Xander Cypher, Evan Hellner, Hudson Borg,  Kasey Turnbull, Evan Kaylor, Landon Meyer, Lucas Tromp

Top Juniors: Wyatt Plyler, Jake Miller, Bryce Carl, Trevor Barthelmes, Austin Gailushas, Elijah Prunty

Underclassmen to watch: '28 Cameron Westerdahl, '28 Brody Santman, '28 Liam Ferguson, '29 Brody Gillaspy

Areas to watch: Bullpen depth

Team Strengths: Offensive depth, starting pitching

Coaches Outlook: “A team that felt what state is about and a very hungry team is ready to make a deep run." - Dylan McLauchlin, Head Coach

Overall Summary

Perhaps no team boasts a bigger wealth of talent than the Spartans, who look poised to take a big leap in 2026. The Spartans are led at the top by two-way phenom OF/RHP Wyatt Plyler. The junior oozes tools, with a low 90's fastball on the mound and triple digit exit velocities at the plate, alongside 6.5 speed. Plyler was able to balance the tools with in-game production last spring, pitching to an ERA just over 2 while hitting over .450. The talented righthander will be a POTY frontrunner. The talent is present all over the diamond as well, including a D-1 middle infield duo in senior University of Portland commit Drew Wicklander and junior University of Washington commit Jake Miller. Both players feature well-rounded games with impact offensive ability at times. Sumner welcomes another D-1 talent behind the plate with the arrival of transfer University of New Mexico commit Evan Hellner. The outfield outside of Plyler consists of intriguing options, including Trevor Barthelmes, Bryce Carl, and Hudson Borg. On the pitching side, senior RHP Xander Cypher is an experienced arm who can run a fastball into the upper 80's at his best, while young LHP Brody Santman is an exciting underclassman arm to circle. Head coach Dylan McLauchlin is circling games against Puyallup, Curtis and West Seattle as key matchups heading into the spring. Expect Sumner to be one of the best teams in Washington this season.

Find more information on the 2026 Sumner program below:

+ Follow them on IG: @sumner_hs_baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Washington Preseason Power 25 homepage

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