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MISSION — A lot has changed since Sharyland Pioneer’s 2019 postseason run that ended at the UIL Class 5A state tournament in Round Rock.
A pandemic hit the following year, and with it arose real-life issues still lingering to this day. In 2021, the Diamondbacks were left stunned after an upset loss in the opening round of the playoffs against Brownsville Porter.
This season, former Pioneer head coach Casey Smith was placed on administrative leave in April due to a personnel matter, leading to assistant Shawn Moes taking over as head coach at the start of district play.
Eight seniors, who were freshmen on the 2019 state qualifying team, went through it all. They kept their heads down throughout this season, won a share of the District 31-5A championship and earned the district’s No. 1 seed entering the 2022 playoffs.
“We faced some adversity this year, but if anything, I think it’s brought them all closer together. They just put their heads down; we could have easily folded, but they didn’t,” Moes said. “They took this as a challenge and it’s a speed bump in life and they understand we’re going to hit speed bumps, but it’s going to smooth itself out. They understand they can only control the controllables.”
The Diamondbacks now have an opportunity to make up for last season’s first-round playoff exit with a best-of-three Region IV-5A bi-district series against the Brownsville Porter Cowboys. Game 1 is set for 6 p.m. today at Brownsville Porter High School. Game 2 is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Sharyland Pioneer High School, with Game 3, if necessary, to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.
“It’s a whole new season for us. We had good play in district, now it’s time for the real season,” senior third baseman and four-year starter Oscar Serna said. “If you lose, you’re out, and we’re not planning on doing that. We’re planning on going all the way and it’s not just me, it’s the whole team and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
The Diamondbacks have put together a 26-5 overall record while going 13-1 in district, splitting the 31-5A title with McAllen Rowe. Pioneer defeated Rowe 10-0 on Monday to claim the district’s No. 1 seed, setting up a playoff rematch against Porter.
Pioneer enters the postseason as the No. 7-ranked team in Class 5A, according to the latest Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association top 10 poll.
“We knew we were in good hands with Coach Moes. He’s been around this program more than anyone has in the dugout and knows what he’s doing,” senior shortstop and four-year starter Juan Rivera said. “We put our trust in him and have a lot of guys out here that are leaders. As long as you play as a whole and compete together, good things will happen.”
Rivera and Serna, both UTRGV signees, rank No. 1 and 2 on the team in batting average, hitting .506 and .484, respectively. More importantly, the entire squad knows what it takes to win in May after experiencing a playoff run six rounds deep during their freshman campaign.
“This is the time you see the dogs come out — who wants to grind, the fighters — and I feel like we’re a team that will come out there and battle 100%,” Rivera said.
