Mustang magic is back: Grapevine baseball advances to state championship
Grapevine baseball has a reputation for getting the job done when it matters most.
The 2024 season saw several walk-off plays, nail-biting victories and more en route to a state championship victory. In 2025, that “Mustang magic” is alive and well. And when it seems like the ‘Stangs can’t one-up themselves, they find a way.
Grapevine (35-3) conceded four unanswered runs to Lucas Lovejoy (31-8), which sent a Class 5A Division II state semifinal at Riders Field to extra innings. But in the end, a clutch go-ahead double from Zack Goldstein was the difference maker, and the Mustangs seized a 6-5 victory to advance to the state championship game.
“I feel like it just keeps getting better and better,” Goldstein said. “Last year, when we did it, it was a great feeling. But being able to do it myself for the first time felt even better.”
Grapevine’s success has been rapid and abundant. Even after losing a high-quality pitching staff to graduation, the Mustangs were able to develop and thrive with new faces.
Grapevine head coach Jimmy Webster credited the 2023 team for turning the program around. Many of those players, and also members of the 2024 championship team, were in the stands at Riders field.
“They took so much pride in what they did in ‘23,” Webster said. “And then the ‘24 guys just knocked the door down. ... So, these guys are continuing on that. And it’s what we expect now.”
Grapevine will face Kingwood Park or Liberty Hill in the Class 5A Division II state championship on Friday, June 6, at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. The Mustangs will seek back-to-back state titles and their third overall.
Grapevine freshman Luke Esquivel, an LSU commit, said advancing to the state championship was the “best feeling in the world.”
“To come out here with my guys and represent our city and represent God while putting it all out on the field every game,” Esquivel said. “It’s amazing.”
Grapevine set the tone in the first inning, seizing a lead with a two-run single from catcher Gianni Corral. The Mustangs got right back on the offensive attack in the second inning, when Goldstein collected his first RBI with a single.
Goldstein continued his strong play in the fourth inning with a well-placed bunt on the left side of the infield — the throw to first was errant, which allowed another run to score.
The Leopards tallied two hits off Grapevine starting pitcher Benjamin Chen in the fourth inning, which got them on the scoreboard.
The Mustangs added to their lead in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Luke Esquivel. But in the bottom half, Lovejoy responded with three runs to vault into striking distance. Reese Ogden started the spree with an RBI double, and Parker McGrael added a two-run single.
Relief pitcher Sam Durard entered the game and got out of the jam. He conceded the tying run in the seventh inning, but after Goldstein’s go-ahead double, ended the game with consecutive strikeouts with the bases loaded.
“Really gutsy,” Weber said of Durard. “He showed a lot of courage. I thought the eighth was his best inning, even though there were a couple of guys on. He made some quality pitches in some really dicey situations.”
In UIL Class 5A Texas high school baseball, 259 programs compete for one goal: A state championship.
Ultimately, the elite of the elite earn a chance to compete in the state championship game in their respective divisions, and in consecutive seasons, the Grapevine Mustangs made it to the end. Now, they have a chance to establish a Texas high school baseball dynasty.
“That’s who they are,” Webster said of the clutch win. “They’re not going to back down, and we’re not going to back down.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 11:13 PM.
.jpg)