Metea Valley High School coach Steve Colombe expected big things from freshman catcher Diego Bastidas. Bastidas follows in the footsteps of his older brother Daniel, who played for the Mustangs and moved to Middle Tennessee State. ‘We’ve known about Diego for some time,’ Colombe stated.
The wider high school baseball community is quickly recognizing Bastidas’ talent. ‘He started with our frosh/soph team, handling multiple positions, including catcher and pitcher,’ Colombe explained. ‘We needed more depth on varsity, and he was the first we considered. His initial opportunity came against Waubonsie, where he hit an RBI triple.’
On May 25, 2026, during the Class 4A Plainfield North Regional quarterfinal in Naperville, Bastidas continued to impress. Positioned ninth in the lineup, he excelled with two hits in four at-bats, driving in two runs and scoring one himself. The 17th-seeded Mustangs upset 16th-seeded Neuqua Valley with a score of 9-5, advancing to face the top-seeded Lockport in the next round.
Colombe emphasized the importance of the win. ‘It’s among the best performances we’ve had in a crucial moment,’ he remarked. Bastidas contributed significantly. The Wildcats initially led 1-0 with runners at first and second. Bastidas skillfully picked off Malachi Sherman at second and later caught Kaden Kraemer stealing.
Bastidas noted, ‘I’m always attentive to my surroundings and strategies. (Glover) missed a bunt, and I saw (Sherman) take a lead, so I threw as hard as possible.’ Colombe considered these defensive plays pivotal, saying, ‘It potentially changed the game.’
Offensively, Bastidas shined as well. After Carter Behrns walked to open the fourth inning, Bastidas singled and reached third on Diego Gutierrez’s RBI double. The Wildcats chose to pitch to the powerful Tyler Gluting, who homered to extend the Mustangs’ lead to 5-1. Gluting, eyeing his eighth home run of the season, praised Bastidas. ‘He’s fearless, facing juniors and seniors as a freshman,’ Gluting said.
Both teams scored twice in the fifth inning, with Christian Lott of Neuqua Valley hitting a home run. Bastidas quickly restored the Mustangs’ lead with a two-out double, bringing home Michael Willhite and Owen Goeb.
Bastidas believes his current strength is his defense. ‘I’ve prioritized it, but my hitting is improving as well,’ he shared. Emulating his brother, along with MLB catchers Salvador Perez and Yadier Molina, Bastidas strives to lead despite his youth. He said, ‘The seniors help guide me. I focus on leadership and doing what I can for the team.’
Bastidas’ early promise evokes comparisons to Waubonsie Valley’s Shane Torres, another standout catcher. Coach Colombe acknowledges this, saying, ‘That’s an admirable goal. With continued hard work, he can achieve great things.’ Focused on the future, Bastidas looks forward to more playoff experiences. Despite being underdogs against Lockport, the Mustangs remain optimistic. ‘We’re energized after beating Neuqua Valley,’ Bastidas commented. ‘We’ll bring that energy into the next game.’
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.