The varsity baseball team’s playoff run is still alive after back-to-back series wins pushed the team into regional semifinals. After securing both bi-district and area titles, the team now heads into round three.

After finishing district play with a 9-5 record and placing fourth overall, the team advanced to playoffs and defeated Boerne two games to one in the bi-district round before sweeping Southwest Legacy in area playoffs. The team will now face Harlingen South in the regional semifinals May 14-16. Last season, the Timberwolves were eliminated in the first round, making this year’s playoff run a major turnaround for the program.

As the team continues its playoff push, players and coaches credit the program’s chemistry, leadership and resilience for its postseason success.

“One of the biggest things is it’s a group of guys that show up every day and come to work really hard,” head coach Ben Huffman said. “They want to keep playing every week. They’re not letting any of the outside distractions or anything get in their way. And so they just keep battling hard every day.”

Along with strong leadership from the coaching staff, players say the team’s bond has helped fuel the postseason run. Most of the players have been playing together for more than three years.

“We’re all a lot closer,” senior pitcher Damian Alonzo said. “We’re all putting our full 100% into this because it means a lot to all of us. [It’s] meant everything so far. Knowing that it’s gonna be a lot of people’s last time playing baseball, [we] just try to put everything into it.”

Team chemistry remains an important part of their success. Junior shortstop Hudson Cuevas has been on varsity since freshman year and he emphasized that the players are motivated by one another.

“We all rely on each other and we’re all leaders towards each other,” Cuevas said. “Everybody is doing their best to not go home and ultimately keep going, especially for the seniors because it could be their last games, so [we’re] just giving it everything [we’ve] got, every single game.”

Apart from unity and team chemistry, players agree that performance is just as important. In the first game against Boerne, junior pitcher and third baseman Dominic Naylor hit a grand slam.

“I was honestly in pure shock that it actually went over the wall,” Naylor said. “It was a great moment. That was definitely one of the more clutch moments I had in my baseball career. And then that being the first time I was in the playoffs for Cedar Park.”

The team was down by three when Naylor hit a grand slam against Boerne in the bottom of the third inning, giving the team a one-run lead.

“[My favorite] big moment that wasn’t even part of my moment was Dom’s grand slam,” Cuevas said. “That was a big game changer that ultimately helped us win and even move on. It set the tone for the games after and just has really impacted and sparked this whole playoff run.”

The team won the first game against Boerne 6-4, lost the following game 2-1 and pulled through in the last game, winning 5-2.

“We’re never out of a fight,” junior catcher Brandon Washburn said. “No matter how much we’re down, we’re always gonna find a way to come back and win. There are no bad teams left. So no matter who you play, they’re gonna be good, you can’t take anyone lightly.”

Washburn also stressed how important the relationship is between him and the team. As catcher, he helps direct the defense and keep the team composed in high-pressure moments.

“Honestly, communication is the most important thing I do,” Washburn said. “Because I’m the only one on the field that can see everything. I’m in charge of just telling everyone where they need to go, mainly the infielders.”

Washburn’s role behind the plate has helped the team stay consistent throughout the playoffs. The Timberwolves continued that momentum in the area round against Southwest Legacy where they won Game 1 4-0 and Game 2 2-1.

“Whether it’s the first inning or the seventh inning, we’re gonna give it everything we got,” Cuevas said. “We’re gonna keep driving to do our best and keep our season going.”

Beyond chemistry and performance, the team now has an opportunity to accomplish something no previous Cedar Park baseball team has achieved.

“[Advancing even further] would mean we make history,” senior second baseman Owen Mansfield said. “[We’d] be doing stuff that not many people are able to do in their time at high school.”

With the regional semifinals underway, the team is making its first regional semifinal appearance since 2007-2008 and now sits one series away from advancing to the regional finals for the first time since 2001, which would mark the program’s deepest playoff run in over two decades.

“It’s really special,” Huffman said. “We haven’t been to the regional semifinals since 2008 as a school. So for this group to put this together and be in the position that they’re at, [it’s] really special for these guys. I just want to keep them playing together for as long as we possibly can.”