THE POWER RANKINGS: Buda Johnson reclaims top spot in Austin area baseball rankings
Buda Johnson closed out Spring Break with a dominating Saturday afternoon win over Westlake. That win, coupled with a Rouse and Liberty Hill series split, propelled the Jags back to the top of this week’s Baseball Power Rankings. Dripping Springs continued to defy gravity – and the graduation of a massive senior class – to climb to second, ahead of both the Raiders and the Panthers. (Odds are the latter two will be separated into Division 1 and Division 2 should they make the playoffs; reason #1,023 that the UIL needs to get rid of the artificial divisions plaguing the regular season races and playoff matchups.) Lake Travis notched solid wins over Lake Belton and Vandegrift to surge into the Top 5.
Weiss dispatched Elgin to climb a spot just ahead of Georgetown, who split with crosstown rival East View. (Have we mentioned how treacherous district play can be?) Bowie bounced back from a tough series against Lake Travis to sweep Del Valle and move to #8 ahead of Round Rock, who salvaged a split with McNeil. (Have we mentioned how treacherous… yeah, we did.) Anderson continued to overmatch the rest of their district to move into the Top 10.
Hendrickson slipped to #11 just ahead of a pack of 6A clubs -- Cedar Ridge, Westwood, Vandegrift and Vista Ridge – who seem intent on bludgeoning each other in District 25-6A play.
With Spring Break behind them, teams have one “normal” week of games on tap before Good Friday in a couple of weeks adjusts the schedules for some squads. Here’s how they stand as we approach the end of March.
VYPE's Austin Baseball Rankings
(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
1. (2) Buda Johnson Jaguars (6A) 15-4-2 (Def. Westlake)
2. (3) Dripping Springs Tigers (6A) 16-4-1 (Swept Austin High)
3. (1) Rouse Raiders (5A) 15-3 (Split w/#4 Liberty Hill)
4. (4) Liberty Hill Panthers (5A) 13-4-1 (Split w/#1 Rouse)
5. (6) Lake Travis Cavaliers (6A) 11-8-1 (Def. Lake Belton; def. #15 Vandegrift)
6. (7) Weiss Wolves (5A) 16-3-1 (Swept Elgin)
7. (5) Georgetown Eagles (5A) 18-3 (Split w/East View)
8. (9) Bowie Bulldogs (6A) 14-5-1 (Swept Del Valle)
9. (8) Round Rock Dragons (6A) 12-8 (Lost G2 @ McNeil; won G1 @ #12 Cedar Ridge)
10. (11) Anderson Trojans (5A) 13-6 (Swept Crockett)
11. (10) Hendrickson Hawks (5A) 11-5-2 (Lost vs. McCallum)
12. (12) Cedar Ridge Raiders (6A) 12-6-2 (Won G2 vs. #13 Westwood; lost G1 vs. #8 Round Rock)
13. (13) Westwood Warriors (6A) 14-7-1 (Lost G2 @ #12 Cedar Ridge; won G1 @ Manor)
14. (15) Vandegrift Vipers (6A) 9-9 (Lost vs. #6 Lake Travis; won G1 vs. #14 Vista Ridge)
15. (14) Vista Ridge Rangers (6A) 11-8-1 (Won G2 vs. Stony Point; lost G1 vs. #15 Vandegrift)
On the radar: San Marcos Rattlers (12-9-1); Hays Hawks (5A) 10-7-1; McCallum Knights (9-5-4); Manor New Tech (12-3)
