All the big moments: Warren leads Spanish Fork to second straight baseball title
-
- Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren celebrates the final out during Saturday’s 8-4 championship win over Maple Mountain. May 23, 2026
-
- Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren celebrates with teammates after scoring a run during his team’s 8-4 championship win over Maple Mountain
-
- Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren takes a swing against West Field in a 5A baseball state playoff game at UCCU Ballpark on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
-
- Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren (8) is greeted by teammate Cody McClean after scoring a run against West Field in a 5A baseball playoff game at UCCU Ballpark on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
-
- Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren celebrates a double in a 5A baseball state playoff game against West Field at UCCU Ballpark on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
-
- Spanish Fork”s Nixon Warren runs to first base in a 5A baseball state playoff game against West Field at UCCU Ballpark on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
-
- Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren (right) starts his slide into second base against Springville in a 5A baseball playoff game on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Nixon Warren said he always wanted to be a Don.
Growing up in Spanish Fork, Warren was one of the scores of little leaguers who play their games at the city’s baseball complex along side the Dons varsity team, then scramble over to watch and meet their idols.
Warren, a junior centerfielder for Spanish Fork, is now one of those players the youngsters aspire to be. His performance during the 2026 season saw him rise to the top as the Daily Herald Player of the Year.
Warren believes his experience as a young ball player pushed him harder toward his goals.
“Honestly, Spanish Fork has the best baseball community, the best fans and the best coaches,” he said. “They have such a love for the team and the sport. Even guys who played 30 years ago are at our games. It’s been a tradition. Spanish Fork is a great baseball city.
“The little guys get to play next to us and watch us. I wanted to be a Don so bad when I was growing up. It was my dream.”
Warren put together a pretty dreamy season as Spanish Fork won the school’s 10th state title and its second straight. He led the team with a .417 batting average and tallied 43 runs, 48 hits, 38 RBI, 14 doubles, six triples, three home runs and 12 steals from his leadoff spot. As the team’s centerfielder, Warren didn’t commit a single error. He also earned the final out of the state final as a relief pitcher.
“Nixon is the ultimate team guy,” Dons head coach Hadley Thorpe said. “He’s a leader on the field and everything you’d want in a leadoff hitter and centerfielder. He gives you all of those things and he’s going to put in the work to lead by example.
“He sets the tempo for our everyday stuff and it’s how he goes about his business. He’s been the perfect guy to lead us from when he was a freshman until where we are now.”
Warren gave an early glimpse of his immense talent in another sport — football. As a speedy 150-pound freshman wide receiver in 2023 he caught a game-winning 29-yard touchdown pass in overtime in a stunning victory at Orem.
But it’s baseball that has captured his spirit and talent.
“Growing up it’s always been baseball,” he said. “It’s always been my first love and I’ve pursued that mostly.”
Warren is the oldest of three children of Nick and Trudi Warren. Nick Warren played college baseball at Snow and Trudi Warren was a college water polo athlete at Hawaii.
Spanish Fork won the 2025 5A baseball title as a No. 20 seed but with all but one starter returning this season was ranked No. 1. The Dons started 13-0 but lost two in a row against Pleasant Grove in Region 7 play. Nixon Warren went on a personal 15-game hitting streak after those two losses to right the ship.
“I love setting the tone as the leadoff hitter,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite things. Being a leader on this team is a role I’ve taken on and I love being the guy. The added pressure don’t effect me, it really helps me.
“It was definitely different this year since we were the underdog last year. It was fun winning a bunch of games. We had a lot of energy as a team. In the playoffs we just had the same mentality that any team could come in and win this. We had to play our best with a target on our backs. We came together as a team. It was us 38 against the world and we got it done.”
Spanish Fork will lose a couple of key contributors to graduation in Boston Duvall and Matai Johnson but return great talent in Warren, catcher Trigg Cloward, pitcher/first baseman Sammy Dart, pitcher Kayden Lambson, infielder Jason Pintar, infielder Cohen Nelson, pitcher/outfielder Pratt Morley and second baseman Cody McLean.
Is a three-peat on the table?
“Us guys that will be seniors next year, we’ve talked about it,” Warren said. “That’s definitely the goal.”
