Freshman Catcher Diego Bastidas Shines for Metea Valley

Metea Valley coach Steve Colombe was not surprised by the talent of freshman catcher Diego Bastidas. His older brother, Daniel, played for the Mustangs and now attends Middle Tennessee State. Colombe remarked, “We’ve known about Diego for a while now.”

Bastidas’ skills are becoming known in high school baseball. “He started with our frosh/soph team, caught, played infield, and pitched,” said Colombe. The team needed more depth at the varsity level, and Bastidas was given an opportunity. He debuted against Waubonsie with an impressive RBI triple.

During the Class 4A Plainfield North Regional quarterfinal, Bastidas excelled. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, helping the 17th-seeded Mustangs upset 16th-seeded Neuqua Valley 9-5. Metea Valley advanced to face top-seeded Lockport in the semifinals. Colombe commented on the victory, “It’s huge. It’s one of the best games we’ve had at a clutch time.”

Bastidas’ defensive play was crucial. With runners at first and second in the second inning, he executed key plays. “I’m always trying to be aware of my surroundings,” Bastidas stated. He noticed a lead-off and aimed hard, resulting in critical outs that became a turning point.

Offensively, Bastidas contributed significantly. He singled in the fourth inning, setting the stage for a home run by Tyler Gluting, which widened the lead to 5-1. Gluting praised Bastidas, saying, “He’s been great. His hitting is just as impressive as his defensive skills.”

Despite a rally from Neuqua Valley, Bastidas responded with a clutch double in the sixth, scoring two runs. He emphasized his defensive prioritization but acknowledged his progress in hitting. His focus on leadership, influenced by his brother and role models like Salvador Perez and Yadier Molina, defines his on-field presence.

Some see parallels between Bastidas and Shane Torres, a notable catcher from Waubonsie Valley. Coach Colombe stated, “That’s a great target for him. With continued effort, he has immense potential.”

Looking ahead, Bastidas is eager for the next playoff game. Despite being underdogs, his optimism remains strong. “We’re on a high after beating Neuqua Valley. We’ll bring the energy into the next game,” Bastidas mentioned.

Matt Le Cren is the author of this report.