The King's Academy Knights

Greg Mugg is no dummy. He knows his Knights are going to be young. The Knights were gutted by graduation, but that doesn't mean the cupboard is bare in Sunnyvale, where they still have one of the Peninsula's best catchers in Nate Plata.

Plata, the UC-Davis signee, spent the fall working out and looks to finish his high school career strong by becoming the school's all-time leader in hits.

"Obviously, having a player like Nate helps a lot," Mugg said.

Plata, the PAL Bay Division's player of the year as a sophomore, hit .423 as a junior with 30 hits, 22 runs scored, 14 RBI and nine doubles. He is six hits shy of 100 hits and, as a four-year starter, will be career hit leader at The King's Academy when this season is complete.

"That will be a great record to have," Plata said.

The King's Academy will have a handful of others who contributed last year and will be counted on to step up again in 2026. Justin Cho and Dominic Myung, who manned second and third bases, along with the top two spots in the batting order, will be back.

Myung, a junior, hit .307 and found his stroke late in the season by homering in three straight games, figures to be the leadoff man. Cho, who hit .329 with 26 hits, will make the move to shortstop.

Brandon Kinoshita made a splash in his freshman year and will be counted on to play outfield and pitch a few innings. He'll look to improve on a .167 batting average with eight hits in limited playing time.

At this point, it appears, Taiyo Peterson is The King's Academy's top pitcher. Plata, who has been catching the junior's bullpen sessions, said the Peterson, who was 3-0 with a 3.00 earned-run average in 18.2 innings of work, is much better this year.

"He's up to 87 mph now," Plata said. "He's a pitcher now. He can put it where he wants to."

2026 Schedule

Feb. 23 Sobrato, 3:30 p.m.

March 3 at Scotts Valley, 3:30 p.m.

March 5 Soquel, 4 p.m.

March 7 Half Moon Bay, 11 a.m.

March 10 at Mitty, 4 p.m.

March 14 Christopher, 11 a.m.

March 18 Sequoia, 4 p.m.

March 20 at Sequoia, 4 p.m.

April 8 Capuchino, 4 p.m.

April 10 at Capuchino, 4 p.m.

April 11 Santa Cruz, noon

April 15 Hillsdale, 4 p.m.

April 17 at Hillsdale, 4 p.m.

April 18 Homestead, noon

April 22 Menlo-Atherton, 4 p.m.

April 23 at Menlo-Atherton, 4 p.m.

April 25 Cupertino, 11 a.m.

April 29 at Carlmont, 4 p.m.

May 1 Carlmont, 4 p.m.

May 2 Pioneer, 11 a.m.

May 6 Menlo School, 4 p.m.

May 8 at Menlo School, 4 p.m.

May 13 Burlingame, 4 p.m.

May 15 at Burlingame, 4 p.m.