PSJA powers its way into Elite 8 matchup vs. Dripping Springs

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Bryan Ramos | Staff Writer

SAN JUAN — A third-round playoff matchup between Austin Westlake and PSJA High might have seemed one-sided on paper.

Not to those inside the Bears’ baseball locker room, though.

PSJA (31-3-1) has been one of the state’s best teams and played like it all year. The Bears, who are ranked No. 7 in the latest THSBCA top 10 poll, now find themselves in the regional final round of the playoffs for the first time in program history.

“The kids believe they can beat anybody,” PSJA alumnus and 15th-year head coach Marco Guajardo said. “At this point, everybody’s well-matched, everybody is good, it’s just a matter of who comes to play on that particular day.”

The Bears will square off against a fellow state-ranked squad in No. 4 Drippings Springs (26-9) in a best-of-three Region IV-6A DII final.

The series starts with Game 1 at 7 p.m. today at Corpus Christi Calallen. Game 2 is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start Friday at Calallen. Game 3, if necessary, will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calallen.

“I’m expecting a dogfight out of this series. They’re ranked high up there in the state and we are, too,” junior catcher Zeke Garza said. “We got to show what the Valley is made of.”

PSJA has been tested throughout the postseason, but it has passed each time. The Bears stand a perfect 6-0 with three sweeps through three rounds.

This past weekend in the regional semifinals against Austin Westlake, the Bears got it done on their home turf at C.V. Cain Field in San Juan in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

“I think it’s just game by game, out by out, living in the present and not trying to do too much,” left fielder Jai Arenas said. “I think we’re a great team in that aspect where we just do our 1/9th. There’s nine players out on the field, and if you just do your part the team is going to come out victorious.”

One problem the Bears have run into during recent playoff runs is having their bats go cold.

This year, PSJA has stayed hot at the plate. The Bears scored 11 runs in their series-clinching Game 2 win over Westlake on Saturday.

“We said that’s one key thing that we’re going to have to do differently this year, hit the ball and not let it die when we get to the postseason,” Guajardo said. “They’ve picked it up and really started believing.”

PSJA’s pitching also has been on point with sophomore Jesse Garza going in Game 1, senior Jacob Delgadillo going in Game 2, and Nyles Alvarez operating as the closer and Game 3 starter. PSJA hasn’t played in a Game 3 yet this postseason, but Alvarez has come in and slammed the door shut.

They’ve only given up more than one run in two of their six playoff games and have combined for three shutouts.

“We’ve had great pitching. We’ve stayed in every game, we’ve never given up, had any doubt, so we’ve been able to stay rock solid throughout the playoffs,” Delgadillo said.

The District 26-6A co-champ Dripping Springs Tigers have been just as dominant this season.

While the Bears had to climb their way into the state ranks, the Tigers started as Class 6A’s second-ranked team in DiamondPro/Texas High School Baseball’s top 25.

The Tigers are led by a pair of SEC signees in left-handed pitcher Taylor Tracey (Tennessee) and right-handed pitcher Cooper Rummel (Texas).

“They’ve got two stud pitchers — one righty, one lefty — and we’re going to have to bear down,” Guajardo said. “Some of our kids have seen those guys in summer ball, but we’re really going to have to hit the ball against those guys. We can’t let them get into a rhythm. … Our pitchers have been doing well against really good hitters, so that’s going to be key. I know it’s going to be kind of a pitcher’s duel. Whoever gets those timely hits and doesn’t make the errors, that’s the team that is going to come out on top.”

Dripping Springs earned its way into the Elite Eight by sweeping Austin McNeil in bi-district, going three games against San Antonio Clark in area, and sweeping Laredo Alexander this past weekend in the regional semifinals.

Now, PSJA and Dripping Springs will collide with a spot in next week’s state semifinals up for grabs.

“They’re a great team. We’re not going to take anything away from them, but so are we,” Delgadillo said. “We’re going to come at them and give it everything we got.”