Lobos Send off to the Sweet 16

The La Joya Palmview High School and the members of the surrounding community came together to send off the Lobos baseball team as they head to their first game in the Regional Semifinals against the Leander Rouse Raiders. While the Lobos and the local community are hoping to win, the event also served as a bit of an acknowledgment of the great season the Lobos team has already had.

Coach Ricky Garcia displaying the Palmview Lobos flag. (Progress Times photo by Tony Villarreal.)

By reaching the first round of Regional Semi-Finals the Lobos have made La Joya Palmview history. No other team has made it to this round of the state tournament in the 15-year history of La Joya Palmview High School. While the team is nervous about this upcoming game, they are also excited to face the possibility that they could win this series and keep the historic season going.

“We feel great,” Head Coach Ricky Garcia said. “I think our kids are ready. Once our kids are on the bus (we) are (going) to start concentrating on what we got to do…which is for them to focus on the game.”

The Lobos have reason to have confidence going into this game. They are the only 5A team from the entire Rio Grande Valley region to make it to the Sweet 16, the team themselves took down both the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks and the Edinburg Vela Sabercats. In their third game against the Diamondbacks, and their first game against the Sabercats they came from behind in the final inning to win the game. That might explain the shirts they were sporting that had the words “The Comeback Kids” on the back.

This is a team that will fight until the very end. The Leander Rouse Raiders and the La Joya Palmview Lobos have never faced each other, it is impossible to tell what will happen at this game, but there’s one thing you can count on. The Lobos are going to battle.

Palmview Lobos baseball team ready for take off. (Progress Times photo by Tony Villarreal.)

The Lobos and Raiders will face each other in the first game of their 3 game series. This game will start at 6 pm at Jourdanton High School in Jourdanton. The second game is scheduled for

Friday at 4 pm at Coastal Bend College in Beeville. The third game will be thirty minutes after game two if it is necessary.