BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
ROMA — The PSJA High Bears found themselves down 6-0 and on the brink of elimination in Game 3 of their playoff series against Laredo United on Saturday.
With their backs to the wall, the Bears fought back, but it wasn’t enough as the District 30-6A champions saw their season come to an end following a 6-5 loss at Roma High School.
PSJA High climbed back into the game by scoring five straight runs, three of which came off the bat of first baseman Jacob Sanchez. The Bears entered the bottom of the seventh trailing by one run and had two runners on base with one out, but a grounder into a 6-4-3 double play ended the Bears’ last chance at a comeback and their year.
“6-0, you could easily hang your head and they didn’t. They fought back and we were right there, one hit away,” PSJA High coach Marco Guajardo said. “We execute that bunt (for the first out), we tied the game. I can’t say enough about how proud I am of how they fought hard.”
Laredo United pounced on PSJA High starter Diego Villescas early as he surrendered five runs in the opening frame. Sanchez took over during the second inning and came up big for the Bears as he pitched the final six innings, striking out five and allowing just one run on a passed ball during the top of the third.
PSJA High’s senior class had advanced to the area round in each of the past three seasons, but this year they came up one game short, losing Game 1 and the decisive Game 3 by a single run.
“It leaves a sour taste in your mouth, losing like that in the first round to a fourth-seed, but it was a deceiving fourth seed. We knew coming in that anybody could have been first over there, all four teams were tough,” Guajardo said. “I’m real proud of our guys. They just played hard all series long; they never gave up being behind in the first game and being behind today. I feel bad for the seniors. I think we had a little bit better team, but we didn’t come through in certain situations.”
Sanchez finished 2 for 3 at the plate with three RBIs and one run. Cesar Cantu and Noah Herrera drove two more runs for the Bears, while Trey Guajardo went 1 for 3 with two runs scored and one walk.
Laredo United advances to the area round where they’ll face the Los Fresnos Falcons, who won a one-game playoff series over Weslaco High, 3-1, on Friday.