After a loss in the first game of the second playoff round, Varsity Baseball will play again tonight at 6 p.m., in Grand Prairie’s Quick Trip Park.

“They have a different mentality than the past, where if they fell behind they would quit,” Coach Robert Johnson said. “These guys have more fight in them than the year’s past.”

Sophomore Zeke Kuyawa said he knew the team was going to make it past the regular season.

“I expected us to make (playoffs),” Kuyawa said. “We worked really hard, and I feel good that we accomplished a goal that we’ve had for years.”

Coach Brian Burkeen said he encouraged the boys to focus on the mental aspect of the game.

“They were good enough; they just had to know it,” he said. “Once they started to believe it, they started playing on a higher level.”

Advancing to playoffs helps the team’s reputation, senior Jacob Salas said.

“It’s been emotional,” he said. “We’re not known as a baseball school, so I feel good about it.”

The group has been working on skills.

“Batting average and pitching has gotten better,” Johnson said. “(Also, the) defense has improved as the years have gone on.”

Teamwork and ambition have played a big factor in the team’s success, Kuyawa said.

“We play more as a team,” he said. “We had more competitiveness, and we’ve really just gone out there wanting to win every game.”

Burkeen said this has been an enjoyable season for the team.

“It’s been a really fun year,” he said. “This year’s team is the first to outright earn it and make (playoffs) on their own.”