York High's players didn't stop celebrating until the postgame huddle broke out.
The Bearcats did little to hide their excitement as they hurried down the first base line at Springettsbury Park back to the dugout. They'd been riding high all through their 14-5 win over Antietam. All afternoon, music sounded from the dugout between innings while players shouted encouragement to one another as the Bearcats piled on hit after hit.
To some, the win might not have drawn much attention. York High picked up a quick, dominant win over a nonconference opponent. For senior Eliel Vazquez, who pitched a complete game and struck out nine, it was proof the Bearcats are shunting old trends.
"The experience is great," Vazquez said after the win. "I've been here since freshman year, and we've lost. It feels good to win. We want to just carry it on to the next game and continue winning."
Vazquez is part of a three-man senior class that has seen York High's baseball program through previous seasons of struggle. It suffered three winless seasons between 2021 to 2023, and the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID. It broke that winless streak last year with a 15-4 win over LaAcademia Partnership Carter, but ended the year on a 14-game skid. It hasn't had a two-win season since 2019.
Until Saturday.
The Bearcats, under first-year coach Xavier Bonilla, are seeing their hard work pay off. Their win over Antietam on Saturday was another step in the process Bonilla has cultivated since assuming command.
Eight of the Bearcats notched at least one hit Saturday. Five picked up two or more. Freshman Angel Vargas notched a double, as well as the first home run of his career, to put up two RBIs and score three runs. Roosvert Ramos batted in three off two hits, including a double. 10 players, including two pinch runners, crossed home plate.
York High trailed, briefly, at the start. Antietam took a one-run lead in the first inning before York High scored six runs through the second and third innings, a lead it held for the rest of the day.
"Staying focused and playing competitively is what the key is," Bonilla said. "We're young out there. We only have three seniors ... we were able to compete and do things the way we needed to. Once we do things right, and we play the way we practice, you see what we can do."
Despite the youth on the roster, the Bearcats' are making steady gains. Both of their wins have come by nine runs or more − they defeated Steelton-Highspire 18-5 two weeks ago. They've been able to run up the score even during losses, like in their 20-10 loss to Central York.
Part of it comes down to Bonilla convincing his players to buy in to the program both on and off the field. The Bearcats have bumped up the team's grade ...
