For over 30 years, coach Larry Hill has made Smithson Valley a household name across the state of Texas as it relates to high school football.
He is the face of San Antonio's most elite pigskin program. The Rangers are coming off a State Final appearance and are looking for that coveted State Ring in 2024.
VYPE's Matt Malatesta caught up with the living legend on the eve of the upcoming season.
The new campaign is here, and numerous ballclubs carry the weight of last year’s success, while others enter with the chance to redefine themselves in a competitive landscape.
Smithson Valley stands out, having reached the UIL 5A title game for the first time. Though its bid for an inaugural championship fell to Aledo, the Rangers return much of last year’s frontline talent and enter 2026 poised to turn that milestone into sustained momentum.
Close behind, Boerne Champion carries confidence from a four-round postseason run, while New Braunfels and Davenport made regional semifinal appearances, underscoring the strength at the upper end of Class 5A and 4A. Each team combines experienced lineups with the potential for a deep March-to-May push.
In 6A, a cluster of programs shapes a competitive landscape. Reagan, Johnson, Clemens, Brandeis, San Marcos, and Sotomayor all reached the postseason a year ago, and will look to capitalize on the valuable familiarity they each possess.
If 2025 offered any lessons, it’s that experience and cohesion matter, but the race for district and state honors is far from predictable.
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*Last section indicates 2025 result
VYPE San Antonio Combined (6A-4A) Top-10 Baseball Rankings -- February 2026 (Preseason)
1. Smithson Valley Rangers (5A) -- 28-13 // 11-5 in District 26-5A // UIL 5A Division I State Finalists
2. Boerne Champion Chargers (5A) -- 29-10 // 12-4 in 26-5A // Region IV Finalists
3. SA Reagan Rattlers (6A) -- 25-10-2 // 13-1 in 27-6A // Area Finalists
4. Davenport Wolves (4A) -- 26-7 // 8-2 in 26-4A // Regional Semifinalists
5. New Braunfels Unicorns (5A) -- 28-8 // 12-4 in 26-5A // Regional Semifinalists
6. SA Johnson Jaguars (6A) -- 22-12 // 10-4 in 27-6A // Area Finalists
7. Clemens Buffaloes (6A) -- 25-9 // 10-2 in 29-6A // Area Finalists
8. Brandeis Broncos (6A) -- 19-8-1 // 11-3 in 27-6A // Area Finalists
9. San Marcos Rattlers (6A) -- 23-10-1 // 9-3 in 29-6A // Bi-District Finalists
10. Sotomayor Wildcats (6A) -- 19-9-1 // 11-5 in 28-6A // Bi-District Finalists
Others to Watch: Pieper Warriors (26-5A), O'Connor Panthers (28-6A), Southwest Dragons (28-5A), Clark Cougars (27-6A), Boerne Greyhounds (26-5A), Warren Warriors (28-6A), Brennan Bears (28-6A), Churchill Chargers (27-6A)
As the spring season gets underway, fans and players are invited to weigh in on who they believe deserves the title of VYPE San Antonio 2026 Preseason Baseball Player of the Year. Cast your vote and help set the tone for the season ahead.
Vote until 11:59 pm on Monday, February 23rd!
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Please note that the use of voting software or bots will result in a deletion of votes and a potential DQ from the contest. PLEASE try to keep this fair and fun for all involved!
All athlete polls and their content are only associated and created by VYPE Media and its staff. The content is not created or voted on by any corporate sponsor or marketing partner. Please contact VYPE Media directly if you have any questions, comments, or concerns around our Fan Polls.
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Momentum from last spring carries into 2026, beginning with East Central. The Hornets are coming off a breakthrough postseason run that culminated in a 6A Division I state semifinal appearance — the first UIL State Tournament berth in school history. That experience, paired with a return to the state’s largest classification, sets the tone entering the new campaign.
Close behind is Smithson Valley, which surged to a 26-4 record and dominated district play before advancing to the 5A Division I state semifinals — its deepest playoff push since the program’s 2012 championship season. The Rangers headline a strong 5A presence that also includes Veterans Memorial, a steady contender looking to build on last year’s postseason appearance.
The 6A ranks remain crowded with challengers. O’Connor, Reagan and Steele each reached the area round a year ago, while Johnson, Clemens and Taft add further depth to a classification defined by balance and familiarity. Several of those programs posted double-digit district win totals in 2025, underscoring just how narrow the margins should be this spring.
Meanwhile, 4A is once again anchored by Davenport, which advanced three rounds deep in the Division I bracket last season. With postseason pedigree spread across multiple classifications, the preseason hierarchy is established — but the climb back to May promises to be anything but predictable.
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*Last section indicates 2025 result
VYPE San Antonio Combined (6A-4A) Top-10 Softball Rankings -- February 2026 (Preseason)
1. East Central Hornets (6A) -- 23-13-1 // 8-4 in District 29-6A // UIL 6A Division I State Semifinalists
2. Smithson Valley Rangers (5A) -- 26-4 // 16-0 in 26-5A // 5A Division I State Semifinalists
3. O'Connor Panthers (6A) -- 21-4 // 16-0 in 28-6A // Area Finalists
4. SA Reagan Rattlers (6A) -- 20-10 // 8-6 in 27-6A // Area Finalists
5. Steele Knights (6A) -- 19-11 // 9-3 in 29-6A // Area Finalists
6. SA Johnson Jaguars (6A) -- 18-8 // 13-1 in 27-6A // Bi-District Finalists
7. Clemens Buffaloes (6A) -- 18-11 // 7-5 in 29-6A // Bi-District Finalists
8. Davenport Wolves (4A) -- 22-8-1 // 8-2 in 26-4A // Regional Semifinalists
9. SA Veterans Memorial Patriots (5A) -- 19-5 // 12-3 in 26-5A // Bi-District Finalists
10. Taft Raiders (6A) -- 21-10 // 11-5 in 28-6A // Regional Semifinalists
Others to Watch: South San Antonio Bobcats (28-5A), Brennan Bears (28-6A), Churchill Chargers (27-6A), Pieper Warriors (26-5A), Harlan Hawks (28-6A), Comal Canyon Cougars (29-6A), New Braunfels Unicorns (26-5A)
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