THE POWER RANKINGS: Chaparrals charge to top of Austin area baseball poll
For those who love parity in sports, there is no game better than baseball. A hot pitcher here, a tricky bounce there and enough good players who can make enough of the routine plays gives any decent team a chance to knock off a favorite. All of which explains why polling in baseball – and particularly high school baseball – is nothing more than intriguing thought exercise.
But we like to do it anyway. Especially since teams moved up and down this week’s Power Rankings as if they were joy riding the Frost Bank Building elevator. And at the end of a wild week, it was Westlake – the safest choice after two shutouts over Akins – that climbed atop the poll.
The Chaps replaced Round Rock, who dropped their second game to an improved McNeil club, then fell again to sleeper-no-more Cedar Ridge. The Dragons slipped to #2 and all eyes will be on their Tuesday (3/25) rematch. Dripping Springs would have replaced their district rival, were it not for a dramatic walk-off loss in game two of their series against Austin High. Liberty swept a good Rouse team to climb into the Top 5.
It’s a mess everywhere else, with nearly every team below the Top 5 moving up or down a spot or two as mentioned. Add to the mix McNeil and Bowie, who are new to the Rankings. While neither has stellar overall records, they’re both holding their own in tough 6A districts.
Strength of schedule matters a lot when parity rules.
VYPE's Austin Baseball Rankings
1. (3) Westlake Chaparrals (6A) 13-2-1 (Swept Akins)
2. (1) Round Rock Dragons (6A) 14-3-1 (L vs. McNeil; L vs. #9 Cedar Ridge)
3. (2) Dripping Springs Tigers (6A) 10-7 (Split w/Austin High)
4. (8) Liberty Hill Panthers (5A) 12-4 (Swept #5 Rouse)
5. (9) Cedar Ridge Raiders (6A) 11-4 (Def. Westwood; Def. #1 Round Rock)
6. (4) Lake Travis Cavaliers (6A) 7-7-3 (Def. #6 Vandegrift; L vs. Steele; Def. Bowie)
7. (7) Buda Johnson Jaguars (6A) 13-4 (Def. SA Taft)
8. (6) Vandegrift Vipers (6A) 12-4 (L @ #4 Lake Travis; Def. Vista Ridge)
9. (5) Rouse Raiders (5A) 11-5-2 (Swept by #8 Liberty Hill)
10. (10) Anderson Trojans (5A) 11-5 (swept Crockett)
11. (12) Hays Hawks (5A) 11-4-1 (Swept Leader; def. Bastrop)
12. (13) San Marcos Rattlers (6A) 11-5-1 (Swept SA East Central; Def. SA Churchill)
13. (NR) McNeil Mavericks (6A) 7-6-2 (Def. #1 Round Rock; Def. Stony Point)
14. (NR) Bowie Bulldogs (6A) 8-8 (Swept Del Valle; L vs. #4 Lake Travis)
15. (11) Weiss Wolves (5A) 9-5-2 (swept by Elgin)