‘Disgustingly good’: Gig Harbor sophomore Max Bergford dominates in PSL final

Gig Harbor’s Hudson Smith (21) slides in safe to third base against Peninsula during the 3A Puget Sound League baseball league championship game at Lincoln High School, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Tacoma, Wash.

(Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com)

Gig Harbor starting pitcher Quentin Bockhorn went out early with an injury in Wednesday night’s 3A Puget Sound League championship game against rival Peninsula, but Tides coach Ben Sleeter had an ace up his sleeve: a 6-foot-5 sophomore tank named Max Bergford.

Bergford was masterful in relief, entering the game in the third inning with the score tied and putting the lid on Peninsula at Lincoln High School in Tacoma. He tossed four innings, striking out seven, walking one, allowing just one hit and no runs in Gig Harbor’s 5-3 win.

“I was ready,” he said. “I knew (Bockhorn) was hurt, I wanted to back him up, help out my team as much as I can and just do my job, throw strikes and strike people out.”

Sleeter raved about Bergford, who he believes has the chance to be special by the time his high school career wraps up.

“His stuff is disgustingly good,” Sleeter said.

Sleeter said Bergford was battling a “tender arm” last season, so the coaching staff has been careful not to overuse him.

“He came in today and was dominant,” Sleeter said. “That’s almost unhittable. He’s got the potential to really be something special and he’s a sophomore.”

Gig Harbor got on the board first, scoring three runs in the top of the second inning on a double from Camden Bentley and a single from Greyson Riley. Peninsula answered in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly from Andy Merry and a single from Fresno State commit Pete Browand, which scored a pair of runs.

The breakthrough came in the top of the sixth, when Gig Harbor leadoff hitter Hunter Payne blasted a double off the left field wall to drive in the go-ahead run.

“I was just trying to stay simple,” Payne said. “My last at-bat, I felt like I was pulling off a little bit, so just tried to shorten up, let the ball come to me and do damage with it.”

Jake Cuda collected the save, pitching the final inning for the Tides.

It all added up to the 3A PSL title for the Tides. And against the crosstown rival? Sweet as candy.

It started off shaky for the Tides this spring, a year after reaching the Class 3A state tournament semifinals. Gig Harbor got off to a 1-3 start and needed to do some soul searching. It seems things are coming together at an opportune moment.