Progress Times

Photos from the Sharyland Rattlers' 5A DII Baseball State Championship game versus Lucas Lovejoy are now available for viewing in our SmugMug gallery. There are plenty of action photos from the game as well as photos of the Rattlers' coaches and of fans in the stands. Be sure to check them out by clicking here:

https://progresstimes.smugmug.com/Sports/Sharyland/April-6-2026-Baseball-Sharyland-vs-LucasLovejoy-AG

Progress Times photos by Alex Garza.

April 6, 2026-Baseball-Sharyland-vs-LucasLovejoy-AG - Dee Rendon Your hometown newspaper serving Mission and Western Hidalgo County since 1972   The Progress Times is the hometown newspaper for the local communities of Mission, Sharyland, Alton, Palmview, La Joya and surrounding areas in Western Hidalgo County. We have a staff of veteran reporters who work dilig...

The Mission school board voted 4-2 to elect new officers on May 26 after an awkwardly contentious transition of power on the board.

FOR STORY: Message us, Link in Bio, or ⬇️

https://www.progresstimes.net/2026/06/05/mission-school-board-picks-new-officers-in-split-vote/

The Sharyland Rattlers came up short this morning from becoming the first baseball team from the Rio Grande Valley to claim a state title, losing the UIL Class 5A D2 title game 7 - 2 to Lucas Lovejoy at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

Lovejoy scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st, added two more in the 4th and one each in the 5th and 6th to earn their first state title. Lovejoy finished with nine hits on the day. Tyler Scarborough pitched a complete game for the winners.

Sharyland got on the board with single runs in the 2nd and the 6th thanks to run scoring hits from Diego Chapa and IJ Garza. Chapa had another hit in the 5th. Luis Balderas, Edgar Quintanilla and Omar Cantu also recorded hits.

Sergio Ibarra pitched 4 plus innings for the Rattlers before Milo Villarreal came on in the bottom of the 5th.

Despite the loss both Ibarra and Coach Austin Bickerton spoke on the experience of being the first Valley baseball team since 2007 to reach the title game.

“I’m thankful for the experience” , said Ibarra. “It was an amazing experience to be here.”

Bickerton had similar feelings and added how the support shown by both the Sharyland faithful and others from the Valley who came to watch affected him. “It was awesome . . . just the support from the Rio Grande Valley I couldn’t be more proud of where I’m from.”

The Rattlers finished the season with a record of 38 -6, taking the storied program to the state title game for the first time in school history.

Here are some photos from today's game.

Progress Times photos by Alex Garza

Play Ball! The Rattlers batting first. Keep following this post for updates.

The Rattlers have arrived! First pitch still on for 9 AM.

Latest game update with tomorrow’s schedule from the UIL:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EvLbGmQpA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Due to inclement weather, the 5A-D2 baseball championship game originally scheduled for 7pm Friday will be postponed to Saturday. The currently planned schedule for Saturday, June 6th is:
9am – 5A-D2 Lucas Lovejoy vs. Mission Sharyland
12pm – 1A Gordon vs Groveton Centerville
3pm – 6A-D1 Austin Lake Travis vs Keller
6pm – 6A-D2 Tomball vs Houston Memorial

All games will be played at Dell Diamond. Tickets and parking for the 5A-D2 game will be honored on Saturday but are non-refundable.

This plan is contingent on overnight weather patterns. Continue to monitor our social media for more information as it comes available.

UPDATE: Sharyland vs. Lovejoy state championship game rescheduled for tomorrow morning following a weather-filled day, pushing back tonight's highly anticipated matchup until tomorrow morning.

Here’s the latest update on the Rattlers’ game.

They’ve put it all together and by doing so they’re one win away from accomplishing what no other Valley baseball team has EVER accomplished.

FOR STORY: Message us, Link in Bio, or ⬇️

https://www.progresstimes.net/2026/06/05/high-praise-for-rattlers/

Baseball update: 5A division I championship game will begin shortly (originally scheduled for 4).
The Sharyland Rattlers will take on the field after that.