BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
SAN JUAN — One might have seen the 1970s movie “Bad News Bears,” or perhaps the 2005 remake of the baseball comedy in which a coach takes over a team of misfits.
The Bears from PSJA High bring a different type of bad news.
If one sees the Bears as an opponent on their schedule, it usually means bad news for them as PSJA High just wrapped up a 22-6-1 regular season as winners of the District 30-6A championship with a record of 12-2.
“We knew it was going to be a tough district. We said it since the beginning of the year, but we were excited for it. We always talk about how good we are, so we just wanted to show it,” senior shortstop Ariben Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez is one of a core group of Bears who have played varsity ball since their freshmen seasons. That group has gone on to win its first round playoff matchup in each of the past three years.
Now, as seniors, PSJA High coach Marco Guajardo said this group feels like they can lead the Bears on a playoff run.
“It’s really big that they have that experience, because they’ve played in so many big games. Some we’ve lost, some we’ve won, but they’ve learned from those,” Guajardo said. “It plays a big role. They’re not going to get fazed in a big game. We can play in a big playoff game and they’re not going to get scared; they’re going to be ready to play.”
PSJA High’s ace, senior Cheke Marroquin, is one of those players who have tasted that big-game experience. He said this group is just making the best of their time on the field together.
“We’re just coming stronger every year. This is our last year and we’ve got to make the best of it and go all out,” Marroquin said.
Awaiting the Bears in the bi-district round is a familiar foe in Laredo United. The Longhorns ended PSJA High’s season when Gutierrez was a sophomore in 2017 by winning a three-game series 2-1.
“I’m expecting a war. They know exactly who they’re up against and we know exactly who we’re up against. It should be a fun series,” he said. “We want to beat them more than anything. They want to beat us more than anything. Nobody wants their season to end. We’re just excited to get on the field and see who’s going to win.”
Game 1 of the Bears’ first-round playoff series against Laredo United is set to begin 7 p.m. Thursday at C.V. Cain Baseball Field at PSJA High School. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo. And, if necessary, Game 3 will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at Roma High School.