History Makers: Bears sweep Chaps, earn first ever regional final appearance

Ivan Palacios | Staff Writer

SAN JUAN — The last time PSJA High held a 1-0 series lead in the regional semifinals was in 2023, with the season ending in heartbreak after back-to-back wins by San Antonio Johnson erased the Bears advantage and ended their season. 

This year would be different. 

With a raucous home crowd behind them, PSJA High took care of business at home Saturday, completing the sweep of Austin Westlake with a 11-5 win during Game 2 of a best-of-three Region IV-6A DII semifinal series at C.V. Cain Field in San Juan. 

The sweep sends PSJA High to the regional finals for the first time in program history. They’ll take on the Dripping Springs Tigers for a spot in the Class 6A DII Final Four at a date, time and location to be determined. 

PSJA High players celebrate a run scored by Matt Gamez (20) during a Class 6A DII regional semifinal game against Austin Westlake on Saturday at C.V. Cain Field in San Juan. (Andrew Cordero | Special to RGVSports)

“Oh man it is outstanding,” PSJA High head coach Marco Guajardo said. “Its a feeling that is hard to explain. We’ve always hit road blocks in the playoffs, but these kids were not going to be denied today. Then to do it against (Austin) Westlake here at home, we’re making history. This is the first time as a program to make it to the Elite Eight and it’s just an awesome feeling. These kids deserve it. They’ve worked their butts off all year long. I’m just super proud of these guys.”

A shaky start on the plate for both teams led to a pair of runs on both sides. The Chaparrals opened the scoring during the top of the first, with Lane Johnson and Evan Lung each bringing in a run to make it 2-0.

The Bears tied the game on a pair of forced runs by Westlake pitcher Hayes Brodhead. Nyles Alvarez and Matt Gamez scored the runs for PSJA High on the bases-loaded walks.

After the rough start, PSJA High pitcher Jacob Delgadillo settled in on the mound, with the senior standout retiring Westlake in order in back-to-back innings.

PSJA High pitcher Jacob Delgadillo gets ready to throw a pitch during a Region IV-6A DII semifinal game against Austin Westlake on Saturday at C.V. Cain Field in San Juan. (Andrew Cordero | Special to RGVSports)

“They got to me early,” Delgadillo said. “Some questionable calls in my opinion, but you have to move past it. I think we all just had faith in each other. I had faith in myself and I believe in my teammates to give me runs and they did.”

PSJA High’s offense roared to life not long after the defense began to find its grove, with the Bears pouring on seven runs during the bottom of the third to take a commanding seven run lead.

Senior Sebastian Plascencia sparked the big inning for the Bears, delivering a shot to left field to bring in three runners. Back-to-back RBI singles by Ryan Vallejo and Zeke Garza added to PSJA High’s lead, with junior TJ Ayala capping the inning with a two-run single to make it 9-2.

Plascencia finished 1-of-3 on the day with three RBIs, also scoring one run of his own. Ayala went 2-of-3 at the plate, with three RBIs and two runs scored.

PSJA High’s Sebastian Plascencia (21) and James Cansino celebrate at the plate during a Region IV-6A DII semifinal game against Austin Westlake on Saturday at C.V. Cain Field in San Juan. (Andrew Cordero | Special to RGVSports)

“What really got us was the zone of the umpire early,” Guajardo said. “It kind of shook us up in the beginning. We were afraid of that. Good thing it didn’t phase Jacob after that first inning. He basically just had to throw the ball down the middle and that’s what he did. There guy couldn’t do that and got himself in trouble with those walks. That hurt him. Then we got to him with a few hits and pulled ahead. Our kids just kept fighting.”

The Chaps chipped away at the lead during the top of the fourth, with Hudson Byrd and Augustin Collard each bringing in a run to make it a five run game.

The Bears came right back and pushed their lead back to seven in the bottom of the fifth, with James Cansino delivering a deep shot to center field to bring in Jai Arenas and TJ Ayala to make it 11-4.

PSJA High’s James Cansino swings at a ptich during a Region IV-6A DII semifinal game against Austin Westlake on Saturday at C.V. Cain Field in San Juan. (Andrew Cordero | Special to RGVSports)

A sacrifice fly by Lung gave pulled Westlake within six in the top of the seventh, but that’s as close as they’d get, with senior Nyles Alvarez striking out Quinten Moran for the final out of the game and the series.

PSJA High’s win moves them to 6-0 in the postseason this year, sweeping each of their opponents this playoff run.

“Bringing them back home was the idea,” Guajardo said. “We knew if we could win in Austin that there was no way they’d be able to beat us twice at home. That was the plan all along. Coming from a program like Westlake and them agreeing to come down to play us, we’re grateful. It’s just great for the community. I’m just ecstatic right now about everything.”

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