Community Champions: Montwood baseball team continues to impress

The Montwood baseball team has cruised through the first two rounds of the 6A playoffs so far, but they’re looking for more.

According to MaxPreps, the Rams have outscored their first two opponents in the postseason by a combined score of 28-3 in four games.

They’ll next face Keller Fossil Ridge in a series beginning Friday with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.

“To say that we’re in the Round of 32, you know, the playoffs start with 128 teams, and to say that there’s only 32 teams left is something that we’re really proud of and truly humbled and honored to be a part of,” said head coach Willie Romo.

The Rams emerged as the regular season district champions, topping tough teams like Americas and Socorro in the standings to earn the title.

But they’ve simply continued their stellar play in the postseason.

“We have good team chemistry. We just all get along together well,” said Andrew Garcia, a junior shortstop and pitcher for the Rams. “This team has the potential to go to the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final 4, hopefully maybe even the state championship. That’s how far I think we can go.”

Montwood and Socorro are the only two baseball teams from El Paso still alive at any level in the UIL state playoffs. If the two teams continue to win, they could meet in the Elite 8 in early June.

The Rams have been able to rely on great pitching and sound defense to emerge unscathed through the early portions of the postseason. But they know they’ll have to continue their defensive dominance if they want to keep their run going.

“If you can defend well and you can pitch well, you certainly have a chance,” said Romo. “And it’s just about getting that timely hit and scoring people when runners get on in scoring position and taking advantage of those kinds of opportunities.”