GAMES
RANKINGS
THE POWER RANKINGS: Dripping Springs, Round Rock turn aside challenges to lock down top two spots
Huge matchups and rivalry series closed out the 2025 regular season last week. Even after all the fireworks – and several intense games – not all that much changed at the top of this final Power Rankings of the year.
Dripping Springs swept Westlake and Round Rock swept Vandegrift in our twin “Series Spotlight” matchups. Save for one bad inning for the Vipers, both series were evenly played, which bodes well for all four teams heading into the playoffs. As for the Power Rankings, the District 26-6A co-champion (with #4 Lake Travis) and District 25-6A champion Dragons finished 1-2. Westlake dropped a spot to #4, right behind the surging Lake Tavis Cavaliers – but don’t read too much into that as they split in the regular season. Hard-hitting Cedar Ridge moved up to round out the Top 5.
Liberty Hill split their rivalry series
with Cedar Park. While the Panthers have been amongst the elite contenders all year long, rebuilding and unranked Cedar Park gets a tip of the cap as possibly the most improved team in the area. Johnson slipped a spot after falling in their district finale to #11 San Marcos and to our poll-buster team of the year, Anderson. The Trojans climbed two more spots after knocking off yet another highly ranked team in Johnson. Vandegrift flushed a lousy series opener and played Round Rock tough in their rematch to remain inside the Top 10 at #9 with fellow Leander ISD squad Rouse nipping at their heels.
San Marcos and Weiss closed out their seasons strong to stay put. A late surge by previously unranked McNeil not only propelled the Mavericks into the Power Rankings, but also over Stony Point and into the playoffs. Georgetown and Hays round out our final poll of the season; a bittersweet result for Hays who dropped a play-in game to unranked Glenn to miss out on the postseason.
So, there you have it. There was probably more movement this past week than in the previous three weeks combined. That’s what happens when really good teams go head-to-head. Thanks for perusing our poll and we hope you enjoyed it.
Now, let’s play ball and settle it on the diamond!
VYPE's Austin Baseball Rankings
1. (1) Dripping Springs Tigers (6A) 20-8 (Swept #3 Westlake)
2. (2) Round Rock Dragons (6A) 24-5-1 (Swept #8 Vandegrift)
3. (4) Lake Travis Cavaliers (6A) 18-9-3 (Swept Austin High)
4. (3) Westlake Chaparrals (6A) 21-6-1 (Swept by #1 Dripping Springs)
5. (7) Cedar Ridge Raiders (6A) 20-8 (Swept Manor)
6. (5) Liberty Hill Panthers (5A) 21-7 (Split w/Cedar Park)
7. (6) Buda Johnson Jaguars (6A) 19-9 (Lost at #11 San Marcos; L vs. #10 Anderson)
8. (10) Anderson Trojans (5A) 22-6 (Swept Navarro; def. @ #6 Buda Johnson)
9. (8) Vandegrift Vipers (6A) 21-8 (Swept by #2 Round Rock)
10. (9) Rouse Raiders (5A) 21-8-2 (Swept Lockhart; L vs. Lake Belton)
11. (11) San Marcos Rattlers (6A) 21-8-1 (Def. #6 Buda Johnson; L vs. El Campo)
12. (12) Weiss Wolves (5A) 18-6-2 (Swept Pflugerville Connally)
13. (NR) McNeil Mavericks (6A) 14-10-2 (Swept Hutto)
14. (15) Georgetown (5A) 15-13-1 (L vs. #4 Lake Travis; swept Pflugerville; L vs. Waco Midway)
15. (13) Hays Hawks (5A) 17-11-1 (Split w/Lehman; L vs. Glenn)
VYPE Live Series Spotlight: Vandegrift vs. Round Rock
The histories of Round Rock and Vandegrift baseball couldn’t be much different. It’s a shocking development if Round Rock doesn’t win a district title or at least make the playoffs and advance at least a couple of rounds – if not further. When the UIL State Baseball Tournament is held just a couple of miles away at Round Rock’s Dell Diamond, it’s easy to see why baseball DNA infuses the Dragons.
Vandegrift’s baseball program has seen success on a smaller scale. The Vipers reached the playoffs for just the fifth time last week in this, the program’s 16th season, have never finished higher than fourth in district, and are still looking for their first district title and first post-season win.
Much like Dripping Springs and Westlake battling for the District 26-6A title with Lake Travis lurking in the shadows, Round Rock and Vandegrift will face off for the District 25-6A crown (with Cedar Ridge still in the mix) when they clash in this week’s other VYPE Series Spotlight.
Round Rock is still the team to beat until proven otherwise. Coach John Carter’s Dragons (22-6-1, 12-2) return a solid core from last year’s district co-champs, including seniors Chris Alsobrooks, Jacob Gayman, Trajan Godbee and Jake Staretz. Their two district losses came by a combined 4 runs in series splits with potential co-champ Cedar Ridge and probable playoff team McNeil. The Dragons can clinch the district title with a split. As an added incentive, a split would also be enough to lock in Round Rock as the #1 seed in 25-6A Division 1. That, in turn, would give them a first-round matchup with a Bowie club that’s hovering around the .500 mark, instead of facing the powerful Lake Travis Cavaliers.
Vandegrift finds itself in uncharted territory. Coach Jerod Hickle’s Vipers (21-6, 11-3) crossed the 20-win threshold for the first time in program history last week at Westwood and punched their ticket to the playoffs with a 7th inning comeback walk-off last Thursday night (4/17). (Ironically, Westwood eliminated Vandegrift with a late comeback in a play-in game last season.) With returning starters Evan Farrow and Brendan Kopp back, Vandegrift seemed set on the mound – until some injuries and inconsistencies cropped up. Fortunately, versatile seniors George Farley and Kanyon Millar have not only picked up the slack on the mound, they, along with seniors Tristan Oballo and Jack Huerkamp and juniors Miles Teodecki and Braylon Jones, have provided offensive firepower and a solid defense. Already guaranteed to finish higher than fourth for the first time in program history, a Viper sweep would give them their first district title.
Game 1 will be tomorrow (4/22) from Venom Field at Vandegrift High School before the series moves to Dragon Diamond at Round Rock High School on Friday (4/25). VYPE Live will broadcast both games, courtesy of the Vandegrift Baseball Booster Club and sponsors.What: Vandegrift vs. Round Rock
When: Tuesday 4/22 and Friday 4/25 (6:45 Pregame, 7:00 First Pitch)
Where: Vandegrift HS & Round Rock HS
Who: Merle Bertrand
Watch: https://www.vype.com/ AND http://vypelive.com/web/broadcast/index