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ON DECK – Austin area baseball teams target Dell Diamond
Under threat of stormy skies, the 2025 UIL State Baseball playoffs get underway this week across the state of Texas. While Mother Nature’s thunderstorms won’t be the only one thing watering down the playoffs, thanks to the new Division 1 and Division 2 format implemented at the start of the school year, tournament time always means high drama at the ballpark.
Here’s VYPE’s look at the first-round matchups and playoff picture as teams from the Austin area begin their journey to Dell Diamond.
6A Division 1
25-6A #1 Round Rock (24-5-1) vs. 26-6A #2 Bowie (12-12)
25-6A #2 Cedar Ridge (20-8) vs. 26-6A #1 Lake Travis (18-9-3)
29-6A #1 Buda Johnson (19-9) vs. 30-6A #2 Laredo United (18-12)
6A Division 2
25-6A #1 Vandegrift (21-8) vs. 26-6A #2 Westlake (21-6-1)
25-6A #2 McNeil (14-10-2) vs. 26-6A #1 Dripping Springs (20-8)
29-6A #2 San Marcos (21-8-1) vs. 30-6A #1 Laredo Alexander (19-8)
The District 25-6A and District 26-6A races have been fun to watch all season long. Everybody beat up on everybody, especially in 25-6A where even non-playoff teams were an even bet to affect the playoff race. Round Rock held off Vandegrift to claim the 25-6A title and will face a Bowie squad that returned to the postseason after losing a ton of players from last year’s squad. The Vipers locked down the top seed in 25-6A Division 2 and will face a tough Westlake squad.
Heavy-hitting Cedar Ridge will battle perennial power Lake Travis in the other Division 1 matchup while Dripping Springs, picked by many to reach the State Tournament, faces McNeil after a thrilling sweep against Westlake to close out the regular season.
Buda Johnson and San Marcos battled each other in District 29-6A and, stuck in a southern-facing district, will turn their attention towards Laredo.
5A Division 1
23-5A #1 Hendrickson (12-16) vs. 24-5A #2 McCallum (13-15-1)
23-5A #2 East View (13-13-2) vs. 24-5A #1 Anderson (22-6)
25-5A #1 Rouse (21-8-2) 26-5A #2 vs. Smithson Valley (18-9)
25-5A #2 Glenn (10-14) vs. 26-5A #1 New Braunfels (23-6)
5A Division 2
23-5A #1 Georgetown (15-13-1) vs. 24-5A #2 Austin LASA (11-15)
23-5A #2 Weiss (18-6-2) vs. 24-5A #1 Bastrop (13-16)
25-5A #1 Liberty Hill (21-7) vs. 26-5A #2 SA Pieper (14-10-1)
25-5A #2 Cedar Park (11-15) vs. 26-5A #1 Boerne Champion (23-7)
Normally a hotbed of powerful Central Texas teams, Conference 5A was a little down in the Austin area this year, with a couple of notable exceptions.
District 24-5A champion Anderson dominated their district in their first season back as a 5A program and hope to stay hot against East View in a Division 1 matchup. The Rouse Raiders from 25-5A had another tremendous season but drew a tough first-round matchup against Smithson Valley. Lastly, Liberty Hill enjoyed another solid season from District 25-5A but can’t look past Pieper in their first round.
A number of 5A teams that usually run up big regular season numbers, such as Cedar Park, Hendrickson and McCallum, hovered around the .500 mark this year. But they made the dance and hope to do some damage while they’re there.
4A Division 1
23-4A #1 China Spring (27-4) vs. 24-4A #2 Marble Falls (13-13)
23-4A #2 Gatesville (17-11-1) vs. 24-4A #1 Lampasas (19-5-2)
25-4A #1 Austin Eastside (10-9) vs. 26-4A #2 Canyon Lake (17-11-1)
25-4A #2 Travis (9-7) vs. 26-4A #1 Davenport (20-5-2)
4A Division 2
23-4A #1 Lorena (20-7-1) vs. 24-4A #2 Burnet (17-7)
23-4A #2 Robinson (19-7) vs. 24-4A #1 Salado (17-9-1)
25-4A #1 Lago Vista (17-8) vs. 26-4A #2 Wimberley (16-5-1)
25-4A #2 Manor New Tech (14-9) vs. 26-4A #1 Geronimo Navarro (20-3)
Much like the Dripping Springs/Westlake and Round Rock/Vandegrift matchups in 6A, Lago Vista and Manor New Tech went at it to close out the regular season in District 25-4A. While the Vikings got the better end of it, the Titans might get another chance – if both teams can survive a few rounds.
Further out, Lampasas, Marble Falls, Burnet and Salado are still going at it in a district that used to be dominated by Liberty Hill. On paper, only Lampasas might be a (slight) favorite – but all four of those teams have a fighting chance.
Eastside and especially Travis face uphill battles in their respective first round series.
Hopefully Mother Nature will back off and let all these teams take those first steps to Dell Diamond. Play ball!
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)