Metea Valley’s Diego Bastidas Shines in Playoff Debut

Metea Valley High School’s freshman catcher, Diego Bastidas, has made a strong impression on the baseball community. Known for his skills, Bastidas is already a familiar name to coach Steve Colombe, who previously coached Diego’s brother, Daniel Bastidas, now at Middle Tennessee State.

Bastidas joined Metea Valley’s frosh/soph team, demonstrating his versatility by catching, playing infield, and pitching. Given the varsity team’s need for depth, Colombe quickly provided Bastidas an opportunity to contribute. Colombe noted Bastidas’s performance against Waubonsie, where the freshman impressed with an RBI triple early in his career.

“We’ve known about Diego for a while now,” Colombe said.

During the Class 4A Plainfield North Regional quarterfinal game in Naperville, Bastidas excelled, significantly contributing to the Mustangs’ 9-5 victory against Neuqua Valley. Bastidas, hitting ninth, went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a scored run. Metea Valley, seeded 17th, surprised its 16th-seeded rival, Neuqua Valley.

This win was particularly meaningful, coming off a regular season where Metea Valley (8-20) lost two of three games to Neuqua Valley (12-22). Following this victory, the team advanced to face top-seeded Lockport in a regional semifinal.

“It’s huge,” Colombe remarked. “It’s one of the best games we’ve had at a clutch time.”

A pivotal moment occurred in the second inning. With Neuqua Valley leading 1-0 and on the brink of further scoring, Bastidas eliminated threats with two remarkable defensive plays. Bastidas picked off a runner at second and later thwarted a stealing attempt at second base, actions Colombe praised as potential game-changers.

“It might have been the difference in the game,” Colombe observed.

At bat, Bastidas continued to shine. After a teammate reached base on a walk, Bastidas singled and advanced ahead of a crucial RBI double by teammate Diego Gutierrez. Gluting, an Oklahoma commit, then hit a three-run home run, increasing the Mustangs’ lead to 5-1. This game marked Gluting’s eighth home run of the season.

“He’s been great,” Gluting said about Bastidas. “He’s not scared of any pitching as a freshman facing juniors and seniors.”

The game’s intensity persisted with both teams adding two more runs in the fifth inning. Southern recruit Christian Lott hit a two-run homer for Neuqua Valley, narrowing their deficit to 7-4. Bastidas later extended the Mustangs’ lead with a crucial two-out double in the sixth inning, securing the team’s victory.

Bastidas acknowledges his strengths lie in his defense. Emulating family and role models like Salvador Perez and Yadier Molina, Bastidas aims to be a team leader. His aspirations include physical growth and improved gameplay, with comparisons drawn to Shane Torres, a notable Waubonsie Valley catcher.

“The sky is the limit if he keeps working on his game,” Colombe said.

As they prepare to face Lockport, the Mustangs’ confidence remains high. Bastidas looks forward to continuing his postseason journey and contributing with energy and effort.