DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Progreso fell to No. 8-state ranked Robstown 15-0 in a run-rule Game 1 of their Class 4A bi-district playoff series on Friday at Sharyland Pioneer High. That wasn’t a surprise.
What is a surprise is that Progreso is still playing baseball. An irrelevant program of Rio Grande Valley baseball for decades, the Red Ants made significant and unexpected strides this season by going 13-11, 8-6 in an intense District 32-4A, and making the postseason for the first time in 25 years.
The Red Ants had not won at least 10 games in a season for 15 years before snapping that skid this season.
“Our goal was to make the playoffs,” coach Isaac Hernandez said. “We did that. We’re trying to change the mindset and this is the first step. Anything from here on was a reward.
“I think we were a little nervous. Robstown’s a great team and they can hit, obviously. But I will never be disappointed in what these kids do. No one expected us to be here, and as long as they play their hearts out that’s all I can ask for. No one wants to lose. It’s tough. But we have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Robstown (23-5) will likely win the series unless the Red Ants produce a considerable upset by sweeping Games 2 and 3 on Saturday at Tuloso-Midway. The Cotton Pickers are making their 16th consecutive playoff appearance and are regulars in big games. It showed Friday night. Robstown amassed 14 hits and Progreso had more than three times as many errors (7) as hits (2).
In the big picture, however, the Red Ants have established something much more than a postseason loss or two.
“We know Robstown is a great team,” senior shortstop Jose Meza Jr. said. “They’re one of the best baseball teams in the entire state. They’ve won state championships (1991 and 1992). We just came in and tried to play our best. We made some mistakes, but we’ve still got to pick our heads up and get ready for tomorrow.
“We’ve still got to play as a team. That’s what’s got us here, and this is no time to stop now.”
The difference this season for Progreso is team chemistry and experience. The Red Ants have a strong senior presence, and there is no longer the sour body language and apathetic nature that plagued teams of the past.
“Our attitudes last year were bad,” senior second baseman Jose San Roman said of last year’s 9-16 team. “We were pointing fingers and blaming everyone but ourselves. We cut that out. We’ve been playing as a team and we’re playing together.”
Hernandez, in his ninth season at the helm of the Red Ants, has had to deal with adversity off the field. Progreso’s baseball facilities are not up to par. It can be difficult getting kids to try out for the team. For instance, the Red Ants dressed out 14 players for Game 1. Robstown dressed out 20.
Hernandez’s initiative is to change the perspective of the program. He wants the loser’s mindset gone.
“I went to the third round of the playoffs as a junior at Lyford,” Hernandez said, “and that’s not as rewarding as this. I couldn’t be prouder of these kids.”