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MISSION — Sharyland Pioneer’s run to the Sweet 16 bears a striking resemblance to the 2019 Diamondbacks squad that qualified for the UIL Baseball Class 5A State Tournament.
It opened with a dominant win in the bi-district round with a sweep of Brownsville Porter, then won its area and regional quarterfinal playoff matchups in decisive Game 3s against Corpus Christi Moody and Corpus Christi Veterans, respectively, to earn their way back to the Region IV-5A semifinals for the second time in four years.
It’s a nearly identical path the Diamondbacks have taken and a similarly same fight they’ve shown when their backs have been against the wall during two elimination games this postseason.
“What I found out about this team is we don’t give up,” senior shortstop Juan Rivera said. “We were down 3-0 in Game 3 (against Corpus Christi Veterans) and nobody hung their heads. We all just kept fighting and kept playing for one another. We knew if we kept playing as a whole, we can be unstoppable.”
Now, the Diamondbacks are set for a Region IV-5A semifinal best-of-three playoff series against Buda Johnson. Game 1 is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday. Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. Friday, with Game 3, if necessary, scheduled for noon Saturday. All three games will be at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi.
“We’re going to go out there with our heads up, ready to fight and compete. We’re hoping just to go out there with our sticks, play flawless defense, and hopefully we end up on top,” senior third baseman Oscar Serna said.
“We got to be fundamentally sound, we can’t make a lot of mistakes. They’re obviously a good team in the Sweet 16 for a good reason,” Pioneer head coach Shawn Moes said. “They got some pitching, I know they can hit a little bit. My understanding is they don’t make a lot of mistakes and they don’t walk hitters, so they’re going to come right us and we’re going to do our best to go right at them and play Pioneer baseball — that’s all we can do.”
1-2 PUNCH
The top of the Pioneer lineup features the leadoff Rivera and Serna as the team’s No. 2 hitter. The duo, who happen to both be UTRGV baseball signees, have proven to be as dangerous a combination as they come.
Rivera leads Texas in all classifications with 56 runs scored this season, according to Max Preps. His 40 stolen bases rank fifth in the state. He also holds a .457 batting average with 48 hits, 23 RBIs and two home runs.
Serna has posted a .467 average with 43 hits, 25 runs scored and four home runs. His 41 RBIs rank sixth in Texas among all classifications.
“They’re the two oldest guys, they’re the veterans, they got more at-bats than anybody else, they’re both Division I commits — they’re that for a reason,” Moes said. “They know how to play the game, and we trust Oscar to get Juan over or get him in. They set the table for us, those two. They’re the spark plugs and when they’re on, we’re having big innings.”
ON THE MOUND
Senior pitcher Angel Larrañaga has been a force as the Diamondbacks’ No. 1 pitcher. He opened the playoffs by pitching a one-hit complete-game shutout against Brownsville Porter with 11 strikeouts. In Round 3, Larrañaga pitched 6.2 innings and allowed four hits, one walk, no earned runs while striking out four against Corpus Christi Veterans.
“I’m thankful I have the support of my coaches and teammates, the people around us. That mentality, the chemistry on the team, it all helps me to be strong,” Larrañaga said. “Our hitting has been solid 1-9, and our pitching has been really good. I feel confident with my teammates.”
“He keeps the ball down, spins the ball well and keeps them off balance, but more importantly, even in tough times on the mound, he finds a way to get back in the groove and keep us where we need to be. We’re very blessed to have him,” Moes said.
BIGGER THAN BASEBALL
When Sharyland Pioneer senior Ryan Garza isn’t holding down second base for the Diamondbacks, he can be found helping others.
Garza has partnered with the Greater Gold Foundation, which assists families facing childhood cancer in the Rio Grande Valley, to help raise awareness and funds during the past two Septembers, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Two summers ago, it was a one-mile challenge to raise awareness. This past September, the Go The Distance challenge was 50 miles in 50 days.
“I think everybody should be involved with something outside, especially with children, because we’re all kids at the end of the day, and we get the opportunity to play the sports we love and do the things we want to do,” Garza said. “These kids, they struggle day-in, day-out inside hospitals, so we just need to come together and make them feel special, and like they’re not alone in their fight.”
“It’s a selfless act, and that’s one of our core values here at Pioneer. He’s not doing it for the glory, he sees a number of children in need and he has the means and the community behind him,” Moes said. “It’s a blessing to have student-athletes like that that go and do things like that because this isn’t just about baseball, this is about life. It’s going to set him up for success, but he’s showing those young kids that there are people that are here for you. He’s pulled some other teammates into that, and it’s just one of those things where you wish more people were like that.”
