When the UIL shrank District 26-6A from nine to seven teams in its latest round of redistricting, they moved out Buda Johnson and Anderson, both of whom are in this year’s playoffs from their new districts. Like a Red Giant star shrunk to a Brown Dwarf, the slimmed down district still maintained much of its power. That power was simply concentrated around perennial playoff contenders Westlake and Lake Travis, usually joined by Dripping Springs and Bowie.
In other words, not much changed.
Case in point is this year’s 26-6A baseball race – with a twist. For the first time in a while, someone not named “Westlake” or “Lake Travis” began the season with the biggest target on its back. Preseason favorite Dripping Springs will end the regular season trying to overtake Westlake and grab the district title when they clash in one of this week’s VYPE Series Spotlights.
Dripping Springs punched above its weight in 2024, apparently not realizing that a team loaded with juniors shouldn’t post a 26-11 record and reach the second round of the 6A playoffs. With virtually the entire starting lineup back, including a pitching staff anchored by Taylor Tracey (26-6A MVP, 1st Team All-State) and Cooper Rummel (26-6A Pitcher of the Year), along with seniors Connor Helms, Tristan Ciechanowicz, Traigh Perry, Dominic Hurley, Jack Tyndall, and Gavin Hoel, expectations were understandably soaring heading into this year’s campaign. Coach Chris Payne’s Tigers (18-8, 8-2) held their own at the prestigious Five Tool Tournament to start the season. Like Westlake, they split with Lake Travis in district play where their one unforced error was a loss to Austin High last month. That loss means they must sweep the Chaps to claim at least a piece of the district title.
Speaking of Westlake, it’s not as if the Chaps were awful last season. In fact, a lot of teams would love to go 19-11, as Coach J.T. Blair’s 2024 squad did. Unfortunately, seven of those losses were in district play, which was enough to keep Westlake out of last year’s playoffs. Like their rivals from the Hill Country, Westlake returned a healthy core of seasoned ballplayers, including All-District standouts Jack Casteel and Holland Page and seniors Luke Nogalski, Evan Lung and Hudson Byrd. An unheralded pitching staff has helped power Westlake to a 21-4-1 overall record, 9-1 in district play.
Both Westlake and Dripping Springs are locked into Division 2 for the playoffs, making this series important for seeding purposes – but both want that district title. Should Lake Travis sweep Austin High this week, Dripping Springs must sweep Westlake to keep pace and claim a share of the title; the Chaps can accomplish the same thing with a split – or win the title outright with a sweep.
Game 1 will be tomorrow (4/22) from Tigers Field at Dripping Springs High School before the series moves to the Westlake High School Baseball Diamond on Friday (4/25). VYPE Live will broadcast both games, courtesy of the Dripping Springs Baseball Booster Club and sponsors.
What: Dripping Springs vs. Westlake
When: Tuesday 4/22 and Friday 4/25 (7:15 Pregame, 7:30 First Pitch)
Where: Dripping Springs HS & Westlake HS
Who: Melvin Jones
Watch:https://www.vype.com/ AND http://vypelive.com/web/broadcast/index
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THE POWER RANKINGS: Johnson, Liberty Hill, Cedar Ridge finish on Austin area Softball podium
21 Apr, 2025
Considering that teams moved up and down the softball Power Rankings this season like an express elevator at a downtown high rise, there was remarkably little movement in this final poll of the season.
Buda Johnson took over the top spot mid-season and remained #1 the rest of the way, followed by Liberty Hill, Cedar Ridge, Dripping Springs and Bowie. Georgetown flipped spots with Stony Point after the Lady Tigers dropped one of their games against unranked Vista Ridge. The only other movement comes down in the bottom third of the Rankings with East View sliding above Round Rock for 12th after the Lady Dragons suffered a loss against 3rd-ranked Cedar Ridge.
And that was it. All the other teams in this final poll of 2025 remain in place.
Here is the final Power Rankings of the year. We’ve had a blast making educated guesses about how the best softball teams in the Austin area compare with each other this year. Thanks for reading, discussing and arguing about it amongst yourselves.
Now these teams get to decide it all on the field. Best of luck to all in the playoffs!
VYPE's Austin Softball Rankings
1. (1) Buda Johnson Lady Jaguars (6A) 21-4-1 (Def. Steele)
2. (2) Liberty Hill (5A) 21-4-1 (Def. Cedar Park)
3. (3) Cedar Ridge Lady Raiders (6A) 18-3 (Def. #12 Round Rock)
4. (4) Dripping Springs (6A) 23-7-1 (L @ #7 Georgetown; Def. Westlake)
5. (5) Bowie (6A) 16-7 (Def. Austin High)
6. (7) Georgetown Lady Eagles (5A) 20-9-1 (Def. #4 Dripping Springs; Def. Pflugerville)
7. (6) Stony Point Lady Tigers (6A) 19-6-1 (L @ Vista Ridge; Def. Westwood)
8. (8) Del Valle (6A) 16-5-1 (Def. Westlake; Def. Akins)
9. (9) Lake Travis Lady Cavaliers (6A) 18-9-1 (Def. Akins; Def. Austin High)
10. (10) Leander Lady Lions (5A) 20-9 (Def. Glenn; Def. Hays)
11. (11) Bastrop Lady Bears (5A) 17-7-1 (Def. McCallum)
12. (13) East View Lady Patriots (5A) 17-7 (Def. Elgin; Def. Hendrickson)
13. (12) Round Rock Lady Dragons (6A) 13-9 (Def. Manor; L vs. #3 Cedar Ridge)
14. (14) Rouse Lady Raiders (5A) 17-9-2 (Def. Lockhart)
15. (15) Weiss Lady Wolves (5A) 18-10 (Def. Pflugerville; Def. Pflugerville Connally)
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DOUBLE TROUBLE: College-commits Wilcox, Smith enter final year as faces of Sterling Softball
21 Apr, 2025
Baytown Sterling's Kendell Wilcox & Simyah Smith
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
For seniors Kendell Wilcox and Simyah Smith, softball has been more than just a sport -- it's been the foundation of their friendship, their leadership, and their future.
As key figures for Baytown Sterling’s softball program, both players have spent years developing their skills together, pushing each other to new heights.
“I’ve just always been in softball for as long as I can remember,” Wilcox said. “The social aspect of it all has really resonated with me, since I get to play all over the country with my club team. The impact that has on you is irreplaceable.”
Sterling's Kendell WilcoxJamey Wright (VYPE)
Smith’s journey to softball took a slightly different path.
“I actually started off in baseball before making the switch over to softball,” she said. “Eventually, I got onto the same team that Kendell did, and we’ve been together for most of our lives.”
That long-standing chemistry has carried over to the field at Sterling, where Wilcox and Smith play off each other’s strengths.
“Since we’ve played together for so long, we can stay in tune just by giving a look,” Wilcox said. “At this point, we can read each other on the field, and I feel that gives us a subtle connection.”
Smith echoed that sentiment, emphasizing their leadership role on the team.
Sterling's Simyah SmithJamey Wright (VYPE)
“We’ve known each other for so long, so it’s really about posing that demeanor to the other girls,” she said. “I also go by this Bible verse—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: ‘Two people are better than one. For if one person falls, the other can reach out and help.’ I feel that sums us up best.”
As much as they’ve grown together at Sterling, Wilcox and Smith are also preparing for the next step.
Both have signed to play at the collegiate level—Wilcox with Kansas Wesleyan University and Smith with the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
“Playing in college has always been a dream of mine,” Wilcox said. “It’s so exciting to think about how things will be next year and what it could potentially bring for me. I was initially drawn to Kansas Wesleyan because it offered the ability to study nursing while getting to play the sport that I love.”
Smith had similar priorities when choosing her college.
“Just like Kendell, I’m also intending to become a nurse,” she said. “We both had opportunities to go D1, but we put an emphasis on our future, in addition to our playing careers, which is why I chose St. Thomas.”
Before they move on to the next level, their focus remains on helping Sterling make a push for the postseason.
The stars of 2024-25 Baytown Sterling SoftballJamey Wright (VYPE)
“We’re a very young team, so there’s a lot of bonding that comes with that in order to get from the 5-hole to the 4-hole,” Wilcox said.
Smith added that this year’s squad has embraced a key mindset.
“A word that we came up with this year is ‘diligence,’” she said. “We need to be willing to work hard and show up if we’re going to pursue our goal of surprising people.”
With their leadership, experience, and determination, Wilcox and Smith are hoping to leave a lasting impact on the program before they take the next step in their careers.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE 2024-25 GOOSE CREEK CISD SPRING MAGAZINE
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