Editor's note: The Thurston Chronicle's All-Area selections do not include Tumwater, Black Hills, Rochester, Tenino or Rainier high schools. These schools will be included in The Chronicle's All-Area honors.
In years past, the Puget Sound League divided its Most Valuable Player awards into two: the best player in the Nisqually Division and the top player in the Narrows Division.
While those awards still exist, the league chose this spring to name an overall MVP for the entire league.
Some might say the league should have gone this route all along. Perhaps there was a special circumstance that required a shift in the league’s awards.
The season that Timberline junior pitcher Nevaeh Haagen had in 2026 certainly classifies as a special circumstance.
Haagen, a University of Central Arkansas commit, won the league’s MVP honors after an earth-shattering season that saw her smack 14 home runs, drive in 60 runs, bat a .630 average, and pile up 197 strikeouts in the circle. She also posted an eye-popping .730 on-base percentage, an on-base plus slugging percentage of 2.063, and a slugging percentage of 1.333. Oh, and she only struck out twice.
Haagen led the Blazers to a 21-win season and their deepest run in the state tournament since 2008, winning three elimination games to advance to the final day of the tournament.
Those numbers and her impact on a historic season are enough reason to select Haagen as the first ever Thurston Chronicle All-Area Softball MVP.
“It means a lot to me. I’m just happy that I get to be the first,” she said.
The secret to Haagen’s season was simple: a laid-back approach to the game she loves.
“I told myself to have fun. At the end of the day, it’s just a sport. If you put so much pressure on it, you’re not gonna do as good as you want to,” Haagen said. “That was my goal every game was to have fun.”
Her biggest improvement this season came in the circle. Aside from her nearly 200 strikeouts, she recorded a 2.90 earned run average, allowing 1.244 walks and hits per inning pitched and a .222 batting average to her opponents while only walking 34 batters. Haagen was relied upon in crucial moment after crucial moment, and she compiled 113.1 innings over the course of the season.
“I knew last year that I was a better pitcher than what I showed, and I was glad that I could show that this year,” she said.
At the plate, Haagen was unstoppable, and she only got better as the season progressed. In five state tournament games, she went 12 for 17 with four home runs, 13 runs batted in, two doubles, seven runs scored and four walks. She also pitched in every game, striking out 23 compared to just six walks.
At one point late in the regular season, opposing teams wanted nothing to do with her. In one game against Gig Harbor, Haagen was intentionally in all four of her plate appearances. So, head coach Lynsi Polanco moved her up from the cleanup spot in the lineup to the leadoff spot to force teams to pitch to her. More often than not, she made them pay.
“It’s definitely a sign of respect. But at the end of it, I was tired of it. I know it started a little riot between the fans of Timberline,” Haagen said with a laugh. “Honestly, I have no hard feelings for the people that did walk me.”
Next spring, the Blazers will be loaded again, as Haagen and all-league catcher Kayleese Dorfner will return as seniors. Reliable hitter and pitcher Porsha Miller will be a junior in 2027, and breakout freshman Brynnli Mayr will look to take a jump as a sophomore.
Haagen believes the best is yet to come for Timberline in 2027.
“I know this team is capable of more than what we did this year, so I’m excited to see where we can go,” she said.
The full Thurston Chronicle All-Area Softball Team is listed below:
Raylie Birklid, River Ridge
Birklid, a junior, shined wherever River Ridge needed her, and the Hawks needed her all over the field. Not only was she a standout hitter, but she played five positions: pitcher, third base, first base, second base and left field.
Birklid batted .509 with 28 hits, eight doubles, two triples and cranked five home runs while driving in 28 runs. In the circle, she struck out 66 batters over 51.2 innings pitched. She was named to the First Team All-Puget Sound League Nisqually Division.
Abby Crawford, Olympia
Crawford, a First Team All-South Puget Sound League South Division outfielder, led Olympia with a .452 batting average, 28 hits and 20 RBIs. She blasted two homers and posted an impressive 1.155 OPS and .677 slugging percentage in a tough SPSL.
Kayleese Dorfner, Timberline
Dorfner was named the PSL Nisqually Division’s player of the year after a strong season at the plate and behind the dish. She recorded a .480 batting average and an .867 slugging percentage with five homers and 33 RBIs, and she led the team with 10 doubles and 48 runs scored.
Dorfner, a junior, was a clutch player for the Blazers during their state tournament run and was a vocal leader for the club.
Aliyah Eberle, Olympia
Eberle earned a selection to the All-SPSL South First Team for an all-around performance offensively. She paced the Bears with 10 doubles and 10 stolen bases, and she contributed 12 RBIs, a .417 batting average and one homer in 2026.
Paige Guyer, North Thurston
North Thurston’s lineup was packed with stout hitters, and Guyer was as steady as they come. She tied for the team lead with 36 hits, batted .462 and drove in 29 runs. Guyer, a junior, scored 42 times and struck out just seven times.
She complemented starting pitcher Syriahs Trolson well in the circle, pitching 25.1 innings and striking out 36 batters.
Isabella Haagen, North Thurston
Haagen paced North Thurston in most offensive categories and was a stalwart third baseman for the Rams. The First Team All-PSL Nisqually honoree logged a .514 batting average, .635 on-base percentage, .957 slugging percentage, and blasted three homers. Haagen, Nevaeh Haagen’s cousin and a sophomore for the Rams, scored a team-high 46 times and only struck out three times.
Sara Halterman, North Thurston
The Rams’ catcher provided another steady bat and a veteran presence for a young squad. She led the team with 36 hits and eight stolen bases, and she batted .456 with 27 RBIs. Halterman has picked up first-team honors in back-to-back seasons.
Brynnli Mayr, Timberline
Mayr was one of the most clutch players in the area, coming up huge for the Blazers in crucial moments throughout the postseason. After starting the season in and out of the lineup, the first baseman/catcher forced her coaches to entrench her into the batting order with eight home runs and 43 runs batted in. Four of her homers came in two games against PSL champion Central Kitsap.
Lola McKeone, Capital
McKeone, a senior, finished the season on fire at the plate after a slow start, finishing with a .452 batting average and .786 slugging percentage. She stole 12 bases and knocked in 13 runs, and the first team all-leaguer was a steady presence at catcher for a young Capital team.
Porsha Miller, Timberline
Miller was a spark plug for the Blazers wherever they needed her, and her base-running and consistent hitting produced countless big innings for Timberline. The sophomore logged 45 hits, including a team-high eight triples, and batted .437 with 25 RBIs and 47 runs scored. In the circle, Miller started seven games and came out of the bullpen for 10 more, striking out 60 batters and allowing just a .215 average against opposing hitters.
Bailey Mounts, Yelm
Mounts, a freshman, joined a Yelm team coming off of a state appearance and led the Tornados in most offensive categories, including batting average (.429), slugging (.727) and hits (33). The catcher posted 10 doubles, two home runs and 22 RBIs to establish a strong start to her prep career.
Sydney Potvin, Olympia
Potvin’s power at the plate stood out for Olympia as she hit a team-best five home runs and slugged .809. Her .547 on-base percentage and 1.355 OPS were also good enough to lead the team, and the First Team All-SPSL South first baseman drove in 19 runs.
Paityn Powell, Yelm
The First Team All-SPSL South sophomore led Yelm with 26 RBIs, four home runs and a .513 on-base percentage in 2026 while batting .373. She also hit three doubles and two doubles at the plate, and she scored 19 times.
Leticea Romo, Yelm
Romo was selected as the First Team All-SPSL South pitcher after striking out 101 batters compared to 34 walks over 72.1 innings pitched. She recorded a 3.48 ERA and held hitters to a combined .205 average. Romo is poised to be one of the top pitchers in a stacked SPSL next season as a senior.
Saihdee Trolson, North Thurston
Trolson provided non-stop energy and production for the Rams, pacing the team with 36 RBIs, 36 hits and 17 doubles. The outfielder/catcher batted .474 and scored a whopping 39 runs for the high-scoring North Thurston offense. Trolson was one of three Rams selected to the All-PSL Nisqually First Team in 2026.
