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)
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It’s not unusual to see the Cedar Park Timberwolves in playoff contention around Easter time. The T’wolves, after all, are a perennial playoff contender prone to making deep post-season runs much like last year’s 28-8 squad that reached the third round. While the Glenn Grizzlies haven’t had the same success as Cedar Park in recent years, this year’s team finds itself in playoff contention.
With both teams tied for the final playoff spot, Cedar Park and Glenn will collide in an Easter Week showdown in this week’s VYPE Series Spotlight.
Senior pitchers Kyle McClure and Brice Schneider have provided a measure of stability for new Head Coach Ben Huffman’s Timberwolves (8-14 overall; 5-5 in District 25-5A). However, most of the other key players from last year’s club have graduated, leaving a host of underclassmen – such as sophomores Hudson Cuevas and Mack Galindo – to learn on the job. After a rugged tournament season, Cedar Park has stabilized since the start of district play.
Coach Zac Darling’s Grizzles (7-12, 5-5) have reached this point from the opposite direction. Glenn has multiple returning players back from last year’s team which struggled through a 9-23 campaign, including 1st Team All-district shortstop Chase Roberts and seniors Dominic Tanyag, Blake Rickmers, Aaron Wagner, Joe Brennan and Chance Newton.
Even as they battle each other, both teams know they’re just a game back of third-place Hays and – perhaps more important – maintain just a one-game edge over Lehman with four games remaining.
Game 1 will be tomorrow (4/15) from Cedar Park HS’s Matt Arellano Field at Jay Sevier Park before the series moves to the Glenn High School Baseball Field on Thursday (4/17). VYPE Live will broadcast both games, courtesy of the Cedar Park Baseball Booster Club and sponsors.What: Cedar Park vs. Glenn
When: Tuesday 4/15 and Thursday 4/17 (6:45 Pregame, 7:00 First Pitch)
Where: Cedar Park HS & Glenn HS
Who: Brad Cone and J.C. DeLeon/Holden Hudson
Watch:https://www.vype.com/ AND http://vypelive.com/web/broadcast/index
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Klein Forest assistant Darius Gatson named Klein High's head coach
There’s a new leader of the Bearkats.
Darius Gatson has been named the head coach of the Klein High School boys basketball program, stepping in for longtime head coach Glenn Arnold. And while the title may be new, Gatson’s roots in Klein ISD run deep.
“Being here in Klein means everything,” Gatson said. “I’ve been in the district since elementary school and so many people have poured into me. I feel like this is a way I can repay the district for what it has done for me in my life.”
A former Klein Forest star, Gatson played under legendary coach Cary Black, leading the Eagles to the 2008 State Final Four. His playing career continued at Trinity Valley CC and later at Sam Houston State, where he suited up for two seasons.
Now, the former rival returns to lead Klein High, ready to put his own stamp on the program.
“I’ve been working on this for 10 years,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to having my own program and putting my own imprint on it. I’m big on relationships… not so much commands. If that makes me a players’ coach, I guess I am.”
His vision? Fast, fun, and fearless.
“We’re going to play an exciting brand of basketball,” Gatson said. “We’ll get up and down the court on offense and fly around on defense. We want to compete at a high level and make it fun to watch.”
Gatson’s hiring adds another strong branch to the ever-growing Cary Black coaching tree, which includes Brandon Black (Klein ISD Athletic Director), Lance Alexander (Klein Forest Principal), Joshua Ervin (Klein Oak Head Coach), Jonathan Cook (Klein Cain Head Coach), and now Gatson himself.
With deep roots, a fresh perspective, and a passion for the game, Darius Gatson is ready to lead the Bearkats into a new chapter.
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