It has been a record-breaking season for the Gregory-Portland baseball team.
The Wildcats have won 29 games – the most in school history – and those wins just keep piling up in the playoffs.
They will play Rio Grande City in the area round starting Friday.
The Wildcats have not lost a game since early March when they fell to Calallen in extra innings.
Since then, they have won 16 in a row and mowed over their opponents in the playoffs.
The pitching staff has been remarkable, throwing four consecutive shutouts.
It’s just an incredible turnaround from just a couple of years ago when the Cats won just a handful of games.
Coach Lance Standley took over the program three years ago and they have now evolved into a dominant force.
“I came in and got my philosophy going and I knew I had a bunch of kids that wanted to win,” Standley said. “I came in with Coach Rhoades and he did his philosophy in football and you know I came in and fought hard.
“We struggled the first year, only got seven wins and I had my mind set that we were going to be a certain way and we were going to build a team. It’s the third year and that is usually the magic year.”
Shortstop Ryan Stark has been pleased with the Wildcats’ development.
“This team is amazing,” Stark said. “We all help each other. We all encourage each other and hope for the best and play as a team which is the best thing you can do, especially in high school.”
Pitcher/first baseman Alex Aguirre marvels at the tight bond his team has developed.
“It’s a real brotherhood around here,” Aguirre said. “We all grew up together, played summer ball together. Everybody loves everybody so when you have that on the team you are going to have some good stuff coming on.”
And coming up later this week on KRIS 6 Sports will another Gregory-Portland story.
Circle Friday on your calendar because Jeff Dubrof will have a special report about the Wildcats’ ace pitcher Isaac Ponce, who has overcome a serious health issue to go undefeated this year.
So be sure and tune in Friday night to catch Isaac’s remarkable story.
