From a small rural school in the Cascade foothills to a state-contending powerhouse — the story of Tahoma Bears Baseball
97+
Years
5
Coaching Eras
2
Hall of Famers
Through the Decades
Four coaching eras have shaped Tahoma baseball into one of Washington state's most storied programs.
1927–1960s
1927
School Founded
1929
Earliest Baseball Record
Tahoma High School — originally styled TaHoMa — opened in 1927 as a consolidated secondary school serving the Taylor, Hobart, and Maple Valley communities in southeast King County. Baseball was among the school’s earliest athletic programs, with documented team photos dating to at least 1929. In a rural community where farming and logging shaped daily life, the diamond became a gathering point for families and neighbors. The 1933 team featured players like Colin McDonald, Rome Bowman, Chuck Mattini, and Woody Gautcher, competing in the early days of organized Washington high school sports.
Late 1960s–1991
Coach Chuck Wood
1
State Championship
3+
Runner-Up Finishes
1988
Hall of Fame
Chuck Wood took the helm of Tahoma baseball in the late 1960s and built a dynasty over his roughly 24-year tenure. Under his leadership the Bears captured the 1972 state championship and made multiple runner-up appearances, establishing Tahoma as a perennial contender. Wood’s disciplined approach to fundamentals and relentless competitive spirit set the standard for every Bears team that followed. His contributions to Washington high school baseball were recognized with induction into the Washington State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988.
1993–Late 2010s
Coach Russ Hayden
200+
Career Victories
4
Final Four Trips
3
League Titles
Russ Hayden took the reins in 1993 and guided the Bears for more than 25 years, compiling over 200 career victories and cementing Tahoma as a consistent SPSL and NPSL powerhouse. The program reached the state Final Four in 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2009 — with the 2006 squad posting a 22-5 record, earning co-league championship honors, and finishing 4th at the 4A state tournament. Hayden became the second Tahoma baseball coach inducted into the Washington State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, a testament to the sustained culture of excellence in Maple Valley.
2017–2024
Coach Brett Jaime
26-3
Best Season (2023)
4
League Titles
2017
Coach of the Year
Brett Jaime took over as head coach in 2017 and immediately made his mark, earning WA State Coach of the Year and NPSL Coach of the Year honors in his first season. Under his leadership the Bears continued their winning tradition with league titles in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. The 2022-23 season stands as one of the finest in program history — a 26-3 record, an undefeated district run, and a 3rd-place finish at the 4A state tournament.
2025–Present
Coach Jayke Chavez
2025
First Season
Jayke Chavez stepped into the head coaching role in 2025, inheriting a program with a nearly century-long tradition of excellence. With a deep commitment to player development and a passion for the game, Coach Chavez is leading the next generation of Bears as the program continues its legacy of producing collegiate and professional talent.
From the Archives
Rare photographs from the University of Washington Digital Collections documenting the earliest years of Tahoma athletics.
Archived Photo
Team photo from the early days of Bears baseball, featuring Colin McDonald, Rome Bowman, Chuck Mattini, and Woody Gautcher.
Archived Photo
Exterior view of the original Tahoma High School building, one year before the school officially opened in 1927.
By the Numbers
The cumulative impact of nearly a century of Bears baseball in Maple Valley.
97+
Years of Baseball
1
State Championship
2
Hall of Fame Coaches
123+
College Athletes
5
MLB Draft Picks
101+
College Programs
Nearly 100 years of Bears baseball — and counting. Help us write the next chapter.