York High baseball has finally won a game. Now the Bearcats want to keep building
Roberto Vazquez knew his players wanted to celebrate, but he wanted them to wait a little longer.
His York High baseball players had waited so long for this moment that the joy was nearly bursting out of them after the final out last Saturday. Vazquez told them to remember how they felt when other teams celebrated after beating them. He told them the bus ride home was the appropriate place to cheer.
But by the time the Bearcats loaded up their equipment, it was clear they were unsure exactly how to act.
"They were happy, but it got really quiet," Vazquez said. "They were just thinking about the win. Taking it in.
"I think they still just couldn't believe it."
The York High baseball team beat LaAcademia Partnership Charter, 15-4, on the road this past Saturday. It was the Bearcats' first win in nearly five years.
York High (1-3) entered the weekend carrying a 61-game losing streak since a 15-9 win over Fairfield on April 17, 2019. The entire 2020 season was canceled due to COVID, but the Bearcats suffered three consecutive winless campaigns from 2021 to 2023.
Vazquez said his team doesn't want to make Saturday's win more than it is. Located in Lancaster, LaAcademia Charter is a Class 1A school that started its baseball program in 2021 and became a part of District 3 last season. The Bearcats will face much tougher competition the remainder of the season in YAIAA Division I.
And baseball is a sport that doesn't allow anyone to rest on their laurels. When Vazquez answered questions about Saturday's win Monday afternoon, he was busy preparing for a JV game later that day.
But the Bearcats do believe this season can be the start of a turnaround they've been striving for.
"Some of them seem more confident. They believe in themselves more," Vazquez said. "But I've been believing in them since Day 1."
Bearcats' baseball story: York High baseball didn't win, but the season was a success. What's next for the team?
'Making a big turn' after a challenging three years
York High's varsity program has faced an uphill battle since it officially resumed competition in 2019 after a six-year absence.
There has been a language barrier between head coaches and players since the entire roster typically hails from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and primarily speaks Spanish. Many players have been new to the City of York School District and haven't developed bonds with their teammates or played organized baseball.
The facilities have been lacking at Small Athletic Field and proposed upgrades have yet to come to fruition for budgetary reasons.
And the Bearcats have stunningly spent the last four seasons playing against significantly more developed programs in the YAIAA's top division. While York High is rightfully a Division I school in most sports, its baseball team played in Division III in 2019 due to its need to develop. School officials haven't petitioned the league to remain in a smaller division since.
York High was outscored 228-26 last season.
But there were positive signs entering this season. Vazquez, a bilingual teachers' aide in the school district, took over as head coach after previously serving as an assistant to gym teacher Jim Bray. The program reached an agreement with the York Revolution to play all home games at WellSpan Park. The Bearcats spent the offseason training at football coach Russ Stoner's Accountability for Life facility every Saturday.
They entered the season with over 30 players in the program — enough for full varsity and JV rosters.
"Two years ago, all we had was freshmen and sophomores," said Vazquez, who moved from Puerto Rico to York when he was 14 and attended York County Tech. "Now we have guys who started as sophomores who are now seniors. We're building up from the ground, and it takes time. But I believe we're making a big turn."
Why York High 'can't wait' to play the YAIAA's best teams
The Bearcats lost by the 10-run mercy rule in nearly every game last season. They opened this season by losing by 11 runs to Hanover and New Oxford in their first two games.
Then they lost to Dover, 8-7, on March 25. Some teams might look at that as a moral victory, but Vazquez wouldn't accept that.
"That game was because of my mistake," Vazquez said. "I made a pitching switch I shouldn't have. I let the team down. It's a learning experience, and I apologized to the guys for it.
"That game should have been ours."
Vazquez has tried to get his players to adapt that mindset of accountability and determination. He thinks Saturday's win is a good sign its working.
The Bearcats had seven different players register hits against LaAcademia. Roberto Vazquez (son of the coach) went 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs. Jhomar Maldonado-Perez drove in three runs with a triple. Maldonado-Perez (two innings, one run, four strikeouts) and Eliel Vazquez (three innings, three runs, six strikeouts) split the pitching duties.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning and won in five innings.
But the season is about to start moving fast with a number of games already postponed due to inclement weather. The Bearcats are about to begin a difficult stretch with an away game against South Western Wednesday followed by a home game against Central York Thursday and another home game against Dallastown Monday.
It won't be easy, but the Bearcats are ready for the challenge. They don't won their first win to be their last.
"We can't wait to play those talented teams," Vazquez said. "They've always been the top seeds. I know we haven't been up there yet, we'll give them a challenge for their money. I believe that."
Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on X at @bad2theallibone.