Rare Air: Sharyland Rattlers go down in Valley baseball history
Sharyland High's baseball teams gathers in prayer prior to the state of the Class 5A DII state championship game against Lucas Lovejoy on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. (Roman Madrigal - Special to RGVSports)
MISSION - Each year leading up to the Texas high school baseball state championship games at Dell Diamond, the UIL releases a graphic with the outline of Texas that uses stars to highlight the location of each state qualifying team making the trip to Round Rock.
This year, for the first time since 2007, Rio Grande Valley baseball was on the map.
"Baseball is a big deal here in the Valley," Sharyland head coach Austin Bickerton said. "You go to any field on a Sunday and see the type of guys that are playing, you see some really good competition, because it is a really big deal for us down here in the Valley. Being able to prove to the whole state that these guys down here in the Valley, we can play and we are contenders, it's been a very special feeling."
The 2026 Sharyland High Rattlers accomplished a feat done by only four teams in the history of Rio Grande Valley high school baseball, becoming the fifth Valley team ever to reach the state title game.
The Sharyland Rattlers fell 7-2 in the Class 5A Division II state championship game against Lucas Lovejoy last weekend at Dell Diamond to finish as state runners-up.
The 2026 Rattlers join Brownsville High (1965), Mercedes (1974 and 1986) and Harlingen South (2007) as the only teams to reach the biggest stage in Texas high school baseball.
"The experience was crazy," Sharyland senior center fielder Nic Valdez said. "Obviously, we made history and we got to the last game, but we didn't finish the job. It sucks right now but I'm grateful for it all. ... This is one of the teams that will be remembered in the Valley. Hopefully in years to come, we'll make it back here and represent the Valley well."
The Rattlers won't be remembered as the biggest, strongest, fastest or most talented team, but as a team who played for each other, refused to die, and took the entire Rio Grande Valley on a playoff run as far as it could possibly go for the first time in nearly two decades.
Sharyland High senior Nic Valdez (5) is embraced by junior Edgar Quintanilla after falling in the Class 5A DII state championship to Lucas Lovejoy on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. (Roman Madrigal - Special to RGVSports)
"For me, I feel like the success we had was because of the chemistry," senior catcher Bicho Cienfuegos said. "We might not have the best talent, we might not have the best team, but the chemistry that we had was amazing and that's what helped us get this far."
Sharyland's road to the state title game didn't come without adversity. The Rattlers had their backs against the wall multiple times in the regional semifinals against Liberty Hill and in the regional final against Cedar Park.
Despite trailing late in series and in games, the Rattlers never pointed fingers or placed blame. Instead, they lifted each other up with a never-say-die attitude that resulted in several rallies en route to the state title game.
"Fearless, never giving up" is how junior third baseman Edgar Quintanilla described the 2026 Rattlers. "They call us 'The Comeback Kids' for one reason - we never give up. We don't know when to quit. Until the final out, we're never out of it."
Sharyland's senior core of eight played a major role in the Rattlers' success over the last four years, which ultimately took them to Round Rock in their final go-round.
They captured three district championships with eight playoff series wins in four postseason appearances across their four years.
"All the credit goes to the kids and everything that they've done, especially the seniors the past four years," Bickerton said. "I'm really going to miss those guys, and everything they've done for this program, I couldn't be more proud of them."
While the road has come to an end for the 2026 Sharyland Rattlers, they'll go down in history as one of the best the Valley has ever seen. From the thrill of victory on the road to Round Rock, to the agony of defeat at Dell Diamond, the Rattlers took the RGV on a ride they'll never forget.
Sharyland High junior Edgar Quintanilla (8) is met at the dugout by his teammates to celebrate after scoring a run during the Class 5A DII state championship game against Lucas Lovejoy on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. (Roman Madrigal - Special to RGVSports)
"It was just an amazing experience. The best part wasn't being here, the best part was the journey," senior pitcher Checo Ibarra said. "It was a hard journey for us. We knew we had a chance since the fall. We worked for it, we made it here, unfortunately it wasn't the outcome we wanted, but man, just being here was an amazing experience. I get to finish my career on the biggest stage of high school baseball. It just means the world to be here with these guys."
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