By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

Westlake’s next playoff foe comes accompanied by an impressive collection of numbers.

Start with 17 and 5, the rankings for San Antonio Reagan in the latest ESPN Rise magazine ratings for the nation and the state, respectively. 

How about 11, which is the average number of runs that the Rattlers have scored in their past six playoff wins.

End with 31, the amount of victories that the Rattlers have amassed this season while defending their status as the preseason regional favorites.

But for Chap coach Jim Darilek, no numeral holds more relevance than 2, which is the number of wins that the Chaps need in order to reach the Class 5A state tournament for the first time since 1999.

“They have a good lineup from one through nine, but we’ll play our game,” Darilek said. “You win games with pitching and defense. That’s how we got here.”

Reagan boasts a solid pitching staff headed by Carter Hahn (52 innings through the regular season, 1.35 ERA) and Matt Harrell (52 2/3 innings, 1.46 ERA, 83 strikeouts), but its identity comes at the plate. The Rattlers hit .361 as a team in the regular season, which led all 5A teams in the San Antonio area. They have scored at least 10 runs in 21 of their 36 games.

“There’s not a weak hitter in their lineup,” Darilek said.

Reagan advanced to the regional finals in typical fashion. In the third game of a best-of-three semifinal series against Mission Sharyland, the Rattlers entered the sixth inning trailing 7-2 before rallying for the win. They tied the game on a dramatic, two-out grand slam by third baseman Logan Nottebrok in the seventh inning.

Reagan’s potent attack might suffer if center fielder Vinny Postert doesn’t rejoin the lineup. The school’s all-time leader in home runs, Postert missed the third game against Sharyland with an injury.

Many Chap fans will also recognize Reagan shortstop Derrick Walls, another key cog in the Rattlers’ attack. Walls, who started at quarterback for Reagan in playoff football games against Westlake in 2006 and 2007, leads the team with a .518 batting average and 42 runs scored through the regular season.

Region IV final 

Who: vs. San Antonio Reagan

When/where: Game 1: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Wolfe Stadium, San Antonio; Game 2: Saturday, 2 p.m., Dell Diamond, Round Rock; Game 3: Saturday, after game 2, Dell Diamond, Round Rock (if necessary)