La Joya Palmview and PSJA High put together deep playoff runs into the regional semifinal round of the postseason, which resulted in Lobos and Bears players and coaches earning all-area honors for the 2023 baseball season.
Leading the way is PSJA slugger Julius Ramirez, The Monitor’s All-Area Baseball Offensive Player of the Year.
Ramirez hit at a .545 clip during the regular season and finished his senior campaign with nine home runs and 50 RBIs, leading PSJA High to a share of the District 31-6A championship and into the regional semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Ramirez was named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 6A All-State Elite Team and played in the THSBCA All-Star game in June in Round Rock.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DIEGO DIAZ, SHARYLAND HIGH
Diego Diaz flashed the leather at shortstop, showed off his arm in center field and proved to be a clutch arm on the mound down the stretch for the Sharyland Rattlers.
The sure-handed Texas at San Antonio baseball signee posted a .962 fielding percentage and a 5-1 record as a starting pitcher with a 1.48 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings pitched.
While Diaz’s all-area honor recognizes his defensive play, he wasn’t too bad offensively either. He had 42 hits, 20 RBIs, 13 doubles, two triples and three home runs for a .442 batting average. He also stole 41 bases.
The THSBCA Elite All-State member and also played in the THSBCA All-Star game in June in Round Rock.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
MATEO GARCIA, LA JOYA PALMVIEW
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Mateo Garcia earned the nod as Palmview’s No. 1 starter and delivered each time he stepped onto the mound for the Lobos, helping them reach the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time in program history.
He finished the regular season 7-0 with a 1.14 ERA with five complete games, three shutouts and two no-hitters. He pitched a team-high 49.1 innings and struck out 47 batters while only walking four.
Garcia, who started at second base when not pitching, led Palmview with 41 hits, 22 RBIs, 12 doubles, four triples and a .423 batting average. He was also named to the THSBCA Class 5A All-State third team.
“As a young sophomore, as a young pitcher, we always felt he’s a kid we know is mentally tough. He knows on the mound, things are not going to faze him,” Palmview head coach Rick Garcia said about Garcia.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
SANTIAGO SOTO, SHARYLAND HIGH
Sharyland freshman Santiago Soto made an immediate impact and developed into one of the Rattlers’ top hitters in his first year playing varsity baseball.
The first baseman Soto led the Rattlers with a .567 batting average and added 20 runs, 38 hits, 24 RBIs, four doubles and two triples in 25 games. He also boasted a perfect fielding percentage and made eight appearances as a pitcher, finishing with 16 strikeouts in 17.1 innings.
He’ll be another dynamic weapon moving forward for the District 31-5A champion Rattlers.
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
RICK GARCIA, LA JOYA PALMVIEW AND MARCO GUAJARDO, PSJA HIGH
Palmview’s Rick Garcia and PSJA High’s Marco Guajardo each led their team into the regional semifinal round of the playoffs to split this year’s all-area coach of the year honor.
Garcia led the Lobos to a 28-10 record overall and into the fourth round of the postseason for the first time in program history. Palmview captured a share of the District 30-5A championship for the second straight season and proceeded to pick up playoff wins over Corpus Christi King, Sharyland Pioneer and Edinburg Vela before falling in Round 4 against Leander Rouse.
Garcia’s group repeatedly came through in the clutch to keep Palmview’s playoff run alive, including three one-run victories during the first three rounds.
Guajardo’s Bears went 28-10 on the year and split the District 31-6A championship with a 9-1 record in league play. He coached the Bears into the regional semifinal round of the playoffs against San Antonio Johnson, a place PSJA High hadn’t been since the 2004 season.
PSJA High earned postseason victories against San Benito, Laredo Alexander and Laredo United before dropping its three-game series against Johnson.
The Monitor All-Area
Superlative Winners
Player of the Year: Alex Solis, Weslaco East
Offensive Player of the Year: Julius Ramirez, PSJA High
Defensive Player of the Year: Diego Diaz, Sharyland High
Pitcher of the Year: Mateo Garcia, La Joya Palmview
Newcomer of the Year: Santiago Soto, Sharyland High
Co-Coach of the Year: Rick Garcia, La Joya Palmview & Marco Guajardo, PSJA High
The Monitor All-Area
First Team
C – Josiah Gonzalez, La Joya Palmview
1B – Diego Gomez, PSJA High
2B – Jayden Martinez, Edinburg Vela
SS – Paul Bazan, Rio Grande City
3B – Branden Leon, McAllen Rowe
IF – Cole Gerlach, Sharyland High
OF – Tony Villarreal, La Joya Palmview
OF – Alejandro Islas, Sharyland High
OF – Homer Garcia, Sharyland High
P – Vinny Cano, PSJA High
P – Javier Garcia, McAllen Rowe
UT – Antonio Balboa, Weslaco East
DH – Dannel Marrero, Sharyland Pioneer
The Monitor All-Area
Second Team
C – David Benitez, Sharyland Pioneer
1B – Quincy Handy, Mission Veterans
2B – Lucas Zambrano, La Joya High
SS – Andy Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer
3B – Brent Szczuroski, Hidalgo
IF – Nate Rivas, Weslaco East
IF – Andy Gamboa, PSJA High
IF – Darrian Garza, Hidalgo
OF – Ramiro Campos, McAllen Rowe
OF – Diego Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer
OF – Davian Clarke, Roma
OF – Renso Tamez, La Joya Palmview
P – Alejandro Castillo, Weslaco High
P – Jake Dufner, Edinburg Vela
P – Ruben Lopez, Sharyland Pioneer
P – Hunter Morales, La Joya High
Utility – Stone Gomez, Weslaco High
DH – Bobby Garcia, Edinburg Vela