Under the bright lights at Dell Diamond, the Smithson Valley baseball team squared off against the Aledo Bearcats in the UIL Class 5A-DI baseball state championship on Friday.

San Antonio’s baseball scene has captured the nation by storm as the University of Texas at San Antonio and Smithson Valley High School find themselves on magical postseason runs.

The Panthers beat the Reagan Rattlers in the regional semifinals two games to one, setting up the showdown with the Jaguars.

Making the program's first appearance in the state baseball tournament since 2005, Smithson Valley fell behind early and was unable to mount a late comeback in a loss to Rockwall Heath in the Class 6A semifinals on Friday night.

After defeating Los Fresnos in a one-game, winner-take-all Regional Final on Friday, the Smithson Valley baseball hit the practice field on Monday to prepare for the program's first berth in the UIL Class 6A State tournament since 2005.