The 2026 NWAC Baseball Championship features eight teams battling for the title May 21-25 at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington. The field includes the four region champions — Everett (North), Spokane Falls (East), Lower Columbia (West), and Linn-Benton (South) — along with four Super Regional qualifiers: Pierce, Wenatchee Valley, Lane, and Edmonds. Below are previews of each team heading into the tournament with graphics and stats courtesy of nwbaseballstats.com. Click on player names for much more info on that player.
Lower Columbia, the tournament host, enters with a 22-2 conference record and 40-10 overall. They lead all playoff teams in ERA at 2.35 and rank third in AVG at .282. Elite pitching and on-base skills have carried one of the best records in the NWAC under West Region Coach of the Year Kurt Lupinski.
Top Hitters
Karsten Hansen (.395 AVG, 1.009 OPS, 14 SB) — West Region Position Player of the Year, First Team
Jaylen Kennedy (.331 AVG, .825 OPS, 1 SB) — West Region First Team, Gold Glove
Sam Davidson (.295 AVG, .767 OPS, 3 HR, 9 SB) — West Region First Team, Gold Glove
James Cote (.287 AVG, .790 OPS, 3 HR, 11 SB) — West Region Second Team
Rudy Larson (26.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 34.2% K, 0.75 WHIP) — West Region Second Team Relief Pitcher
Matthew Kosderka (17.1 IP, 1.04 ERA, 29.3% K, 0.75 WHIP) — West Region First Team Relief Pitcher
The Linn-Benton Roadrunners come in with a 27-9 conference record and 35-9 overall. They sit sixth among playoff teams in AVG at .267 and fifth in ERA at 3.67. Extra-base power and a balanced approach at the plate have carried the offense, led by South Region Coach of the Year Andy Peterson.
Top Hitters
Noah Scharer (.279 AVG, .768 OPS, 6 SB) — South Region Gold Glove
Bryant Starr (.262 AVG, .738 OPS, 16 SB) — South Region First Team
Kellen Segel (.313 AVG, .825 OPS, 20 SB) — South Region First Team & Second Team Utility
Nick Biagi (.330 AVG, .884 OPS, 7 SB) — South Region Second Team
Mark Carpenter (.350 AVG, .886 OPS, 6 SB) — South Region Freshman of the Year, Gold Glove
Cooper Yudhishthu (45.1 IP, 2.58 ERA, 25.3% K, 1.10 WHIP) — South Region First Team
Top Relievers
Dayne Castillo (40.1 IP, 1.79 ERA, 18.5% K, 0.99 WHIP) — South Region Second Team Relief Pitcher
Jake Johnson (26.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 21.9% K, 0.84 WHIP)
The Everett Trojans arrive with the best record in the field at 25-5 in conference play and 41-9 overall. They post the second-highest team AVG among playoff teams at .293 and the second-lowest ERA at 2.46. Multiple major award winners and a loaded First Team highlight their dominance in the North Region.
Top Hitters
Talan Zenk (.305 AVG, .862 OPS, 44 SB) — North Region First Team
Davis Downer (.332 AVG, .939 OPS, 6 HR, 20 SB) — North Region Position Player of the Year, First Team, Gold Glove
Julian Unay (.314 AVG, .852 OPS, 23 SB) — North Region First Team, Gold Glove
Lukas Cheha (.331 AVG, .856 OPS, 11 SB) — North Region First Team, Gold Glove
Blake Skinner (.331 AVG, .884 OPS, 4 HR, 18 SB) — North Region Freshman of the Year, First Team
Top Starting Pitchers
Basil Hendrix (71.0 IP, 1.90 ERA, 31.3% K, 1.10 WHIP) — North Region Pitcher of the Year, First Team
Sawyer Wickstrom (62.1 IP, 1.16 ERA, 28.9% K, 0.88 WHIP) — North Region First Team
Chase Halvorson (52.1 IP, 2.58 ERA, 24.9% K, 1.05 WHIP) — North Region Second Team
Top Relievers
Dylan Hicks (31.2 IP, 0.85 ERA, 42.0% K, 0.66 WHIP) — North Region First Team Relief Pitcher
Dylan Dyer (21.2 IP, 2.49 ERA, 40.5% K, 0.88 WHIP) — North Region Second Team Relief Pitcher
Spokane enters at 21-7 in conference play and 33-12 overall. They rank tied for fourth in team AVG among playoff teams at .278 and fourth in ERA at 3.10. Low team strikeouts and plus team speed have been hallmarks of their season under East Region Coach of the Year Ryne Webb.
Top Hitters
Trent Woodhouse (.358 AVG, .824 OPS, 24 SB) — East Region Second Team
Thomas Malcolm (.354 AVG, .865 OPS, 15 SB) — East Region First Team
Max Workman (.321 AVG, .936 OPS, 4 HR, 19 SB) — East Region First Team DH
Logan Spradling (.315 AVG, .937 OPS, 3 HR, 9 SB) — East Region Second Team DH
The Edmonds Tritons come in with a 25-5 conference record and 38-12 overall. They sit seventh in AVG among playoff teams at .261 and sixth in ERA at 3.12. Power and the ability to work counts have been key offensive traits, with multiple North Region major award winners and First Team selections.
Top Hitters
Noah Figuered (.317 AVG, .854 OPS, 2 HR, 70 SB) — North Region First Team, Gold Glove
Kaden Ecklund (.280 AVG, 1.014 OPS, 9 HR, 10 SB) — North Region Big Stick Award, First Team DH
Lucas Christensen (.268 AVG, .926 OPS, 4 HR, 17 SB) — North Region First Team
Carsen Mann (.283 AVG, .693 OPS, 16 SB) — North Region First Team, Gold Glove
Bryce Moser (.267 AVG, .805 OPS, 27 SB) — North Region First Team, Gold Glove
Top Starting Pitchers
Aidan O’Neil (75.1 IP, 3.11 ERA, 20.8% K, 1.18 WHIP) — North Region Second Team
Levi Arnold (70.0 IP, 1.93 ERA, 20.2% K, 0.97 WHIP) — North Region First Team
Luke Moisant (20.1 IP, 1.33 ERA, 13.8% K, 0.98 WHIP)
Lane arrives with a 24-12 conference record and 36-16 overall. The Titans lead all playoff teams in AVG at .296 and rank third in ERA at 2.87. Strong on-base skills and one of the better pitching staffs in the South Division define their makeup, anchored by South Region Position Player of the Year Quinton Olson.
Top Hitters
Quinton Olson (.353 AVG, .942 OPS, 2 HR, 7 SB) — South Region Position Player of the Year, First Team Utility
Cody Roletto (.372 AVG, .916 OPS, 2 HR, 6 SB) — South Region First Team DH
Donnie Morgan (.323 AVG, .925 OPS, 3 HR, 25 SB) — South Region First Team
Jalen Riddle (.336 AVG, .879 OPS, 5 SB) — South Region First Team
Nolan Donivan (.280 AVG, .778 OPS, 16 SB) — South Region Second Team
Top Starting Pitchers
Griffin Scott (67.1 IP, 2.14 ERA, 24.9% K, 1.10 WHIP) — South Region First Team
Lucas Geren (66.0 IP, 2.45 ERA, 25.5% K, 1.06 WHIP) — South Region Second Team
Wenatchee Valley enters at 19-9 in conference and 31-19 overall under head coach Aaron Vaughn. The Knights rank third in team AVG among the playoff field at .278 and seventh in ERA at 4.27. Power production and the ability to draw walks have been consistent strengths, with several East Region honorees.
The Pierce Raiders enter the NWAC Championship with a 16-8 conference record and 28-20 overall mark. Their offense ranks fifth among the eight playoff teams with a .274 AVG, while the pitching staff sits eighth with a 4.52 ERA. The group has shown strong plate discipline and first-pitch strike ability in recent weeks.
Top Hitters
Kai Halstead (.333 AVG, .947 OPS, 5 SB – West Region Freshman of the Year, First Team
Tristan Ringrose (.343 AVG, .945 OPS, 9 SB) — West Region First Team
Bradley Carl (.345 AVG, 1.011 OPS, 3 HR, 12 SB) — West Region First Team
Jackson Copeland (.316 AVG, .840 OPS, 2 HR, 4 SB) — West Region First Team
Christian Dominno (.285 AVG, .748 OPS, 30 SB) — West Region First Team
Top Starting Pitchers
Michael LeJeune (41.0 IP, 1.76 ERA, 33.1% K, 0.80 WHIP) — West Region First Team