District 26-6A experienced “shrinkage.” What had been an imposing 9-team district the past few years shrunk to just seven after the UIL’s most recent round of redistricting, with Anderson reclassified as a 5A program and Buda Johnson moved to the more southern-facing District 29-6A. Baseball powerhouses Westlake, Lake Travis and Dripping Springs remain, however, making the district more condensed; the battle for the playoffs even more highly concentrated before.

With Bowie in rebuilding mode but still dangerous, the district-opening series between Austin High and Del Valle takes on added significance. We join the series in progress, if you will, as Del Valle captured the district-opener 3-0 on Tuesday night (3/12) at Burger Field in Austin.