THE POWER RANKINGS: Dripping Springs assumes top spot in Austin area baseball poll
It’s unwise to draw too many conclusions when teams play late-season Saturday afternoon non-district games. This usually happens when a team with a Bye week in district play schedules a game or two during the week against other teams with a similar gap to fill. They’re great opportunities to throw some other pitchers, get some reserves some at-bats, etc., so results from these non-district games come with a huge grain of salt.
All that said, top-ranked Round Rock took it on the chin twice last week against two very good 5A programs in Anderson and Georgetown. (By the way, this marks the second consecutive week Anderson has knocked off our top-ranked team). The Dragons will be just fine – but these two losses-with-asterisks have to count for something. Because #2 Westlake split with #4 Lake Travis, that’s a wash. So, we’re elevating Dripping Springs to the top spot -- why not? –- and can’t wait for their showdown with Westlake after Easter.
Round Rock only slipped back one spot since the Battle of the Lakes was a draw, while Liberty Hill remained in the Top 5 after a perfect week, (including another one of those Saturday afternoon wins over Anderson).
In fact, there was a lot of that Saturday afternoon stuff going on last week. Buda Johnson dropped a game to Reagan after two lopsided wins over Judson; Rouse fell to Lake Belton after sweeping Leander; along with Georgetown’s win over Round Rock that kept them in the Rankings after two tough district losses to Weiss. Surging Stony Point entered the poll after sweeping Hutto, even after a loss to a Westwood squad battling for its playoff life.
With two weeks left in the regular season and several rivalry series left on the schedule, things will likely change again. Here’s how they stand heading into Easter Week.
VYPE's Austin Baseball Rankings
1. (3) Dripping Springs Tigers (6A) 16-8 (Swept Del Valle)
2. (1) Round Rock Dragons (6A) 19-5-1 (L vs. #10 Anderson; L vs. #14 Georgetown)
3. (2) Westlake Chaparrals (6A) 19-4-1 (Split w/#4 Lake Travis)
4. (4) Lake Travis Cavaliers (6A) 14-8-3 (Split w/#2 Westlake)
5. (5) Liberty Hill Panthers (5A) 18-6 (Swept Lehman; def. #10 Anderson)
6. (6) Buda Johnson Jaguars (6A) 17-7 (Swept Converse Judson; L vs. Reagan)
7. (7) Cedar Ridge Raiders (6A) 16-8 (Def. Vista Ridge; swept #14 McNeil)
8. (8) Vandegrift Vipers (6A) 19-6 (Def. Manor; swept Hutto)
9. (9) Rouse Raiders (5A) 15-6-2 (Swept Leander; L vs. Lake Belton)
10. (10) Anderson Trojans (5A) 17-6 (Def. #1 Round Rock; L @ #4 Liberty Hill)
11. (11) San Marcos Rattlers (6A) 18-7-1 (Def. Salado; def. Austin High; L vs. SA Harlan)
12. (12) Hays Hawks (5A) 16-7-1 (Split w/Glenn; def. Seguin)
13. (15) Weiss Wolves (5A) 14-6-2 (Swept #13 Georgetown)
xx. (NR) Stony Point Tigers (6A) 14-12-1 (Def. Hutto; split w/Westwood)
15. (13) Georgetown (5A) 13-9-1 (Swept by #15 Weiss; def. #1 Round Rock)
