AUSTIN, Texas — Colby Diaz established himself in 2020 as one of the best pitchers on the Leander Rouse baseball team. Although that season got shut down early because of COVID-19, Diaz was only a sophomore and eager to come back stronger this season. However, lingering arm trouble led him to get Tommy John surgery in September.

“I was super down, but I knew God had a plan and I knew once it happened, I had to work hard,” said Diaz. 

That’s exactly what Diaz did after surgery. He hit his rehab hard.

“Lot of throwing, lot of hurting, lot of icing and ibuprofen,” said Diaz.

When the high school season returned, Diaz was not ready to pitch. He could play in the field, so he started most games at third base and became a key hitter for the Raiders.

“I was happy I could contribute hitting,” said Diaz.

Rouse head coach Chad Krempin said Diaz was a huge part of the team offensively during the year.

Diaz led the team with seven home runs and helped Rouse reach the playoffs. Although the team finished fourth in district, it started to get hot in the postseason.

“You see a bunch of young men come together for a common goal,” said Krempin.

Rouse had a playoff run that included taking out district rival Cedar Park, a team they had lost to in the regular season. After that, they swept two games from Gregory-Portland, one of the top ranked teams in class 5A. It set up their showdown in the regional finals against Dripping Springs. Rouse won game one of that series and last Friday, found themselves one win away from reaching the state tournament.

That second game against Dripping Springs was a wild one. It featured two lightning delays and was tied 1-1 going into extra innings. Rouse starting pitcher Andrew Kithil reached his pitch limit in the eighth inning. Needing to go to his bullpen, Krempin gave the ball to Colby Diaz.

Because the season had lasted this long, Diaz’s arm had healed enough where he was cleared to pitch again. This was his first time on the mound all season and in the biggest game.

“I was a little shaky in the beginning and then I settled in and started getting in a groove,” said Diaz.

He proceeded to go six and 1/3 innings on the mound. He did not give up a run and only gave up one hit and struck out 10.

“He was ready to go,” said Krempin. “He gave us that and more. We tried to take him out a couple of times and he wasn’t having it. He wanted the ball and it was fun to watch.”

Diaz kept his team in the game and finally, in the bottom of the 14th inning, Keagan Solomon hit a walk-off double that sent Rouse to the state tournament for the first time in program history.

“It’s been a crazy few weeks. Nobody expected us to go this far and it’s been awesome,” said Diaz.

Rouse made their appearance in the state semifinals Thursday night. They would lose that game 4-2 to Hallsville, bringing an end to a memorable run.