Some people hadn’t even put away all their Christmas decorations yet when the high school softball season got underway. Yet here we are with graduation in sight and the playoffs set to begin.
For those who’ve somehow managed to tune out all the other sports and have dialed in on softball – and as a reminder for everyone else – the playoffs are operating under a different format this year. Gone is the familiar seeding format where the winner of District A plays the 4th place team from District B; District A’s runner-up faces the #3 seed from District B, and so on.
Instead, the UIL has adopted the same Division 1/Division 2 format used in football for all other sports (to decidedly mixed reviews.) As we’ve seen in those other sprots, that inevitably creates some first round matchups between powerhouses that eliminate deserving teams early, while allowing, say, a 4th place team to advance by defeating a 3rd place team.
But we’re stuck with it for this year at least. So, with that in mind, here’s an Austin area primer for the 2025 UIL softball playoffs which get underway tomorrow night (4/23).
6A Division 1
25-6A #1 Hutto (12-10) vs. 26-6A #2 Del Valle (16-5-1)
25-6A #2 Round Rock (13-10) vs. 26-6A #1 Lake Travis (17-10-1)
29-6A #1 Buda Johnson (22-4-1) vs. 30-6A #2 Laredo LBJ (17-12)
6A Division 2
25-6A #1 Cedar Ridge (18-4) vs. 26-6A #2 Bowie (17-7)
25-6A #2 Stony Point (18-5-1) vs. 26-6A #1 Dripping Springs (23-8-2)
While Buda Johnson has topped our softball Power Rankings since mid-season, the Lady Jaguars were moved into District 29-6A and haven’t had much of an opportunity to compete against other Austin area teams. That continues in the playoffs as Johnson faces a first round matchup against Laredo LBJ.
Closer to home, perennial power Dripping Springs headlines the 25/26-6A series quartet. The Lady Tigers face a tough opening round against Stony Point in Division 2 while 25-6A champion Cedar Ridge faces another solid Bowie squad. Division 1 sees Lake Travis and Del Valle drawing favorable-on-paper first round matchups with Round Rock and Hutto respectively, two teams that have hovered around the .500 mark throughout the season. Last we checked, however, no playoff series are played on paper.
5A Division 1
23-5A #1 East View (16-7) vs. 24-5A #2 McCallum (10-10)
23-5A #2 Hendrickson (13-10-1) vs. 24-5A #1 Bastrop (17-7-1)
25-5A #1 Leander (19-9) 26-5A #2 vs. New Braunfels (19-6)
25-5A #2 Hays (14-11) vs. 26-5A #1 Smithson Valley (18-1)
5A Division 2
23-5A #1 Georgetown (20-9-1) vs. 24-5A #2 Austin LASA (13-5)
23-5A #2 Weiss (18-11) vs. 24-5A #1 Crockett (13-7)
25-5A #1 Rouse (16-9-2) vs. 26-5A #2 Tivy (13-11)
25-5A #2 Liberty Hill (21-4-1) vs. 26-5A #1 SA Veterans Memorial (17-3)
Conference 5A features several of the top softball teams in the area. East View should be favored over McCallum while Bastrop and Hendrickson have an interesting matchup in Division 1. Leander has a tough first round draw with New Braunfels in their Division 1 matchup while Hays has an uphill climb against a one-loss Smithson Valley club.
Georgetown usually goes several rounds deep and, like newer power Weiss, will be the favorites in their Division 2 first round matchups with LASA and Crockett. In the other local Division 2 bracket, Rouse appears to have an easier matchup than Liberty Hill, despite the Lady Panthers having the best overall record amongst 5A squads.
4A Division 1
24-4A #1 Burnet (9-13-1) vs. 23-4A #2 Gatesville (20-12-1)
25-4A #1 Austin Eastside (8-6) vs. 26-4A #2 Davenport (17-8-1)
25-4A #2 Travis (4-8) vs. 26-4A #1 Fredericksburg (19-9)
4A Division 2
24-4A #2 Gateway Prep (19-2) vs. 23-4A #1 Robinson (25-2)
25-4A #1 Lago Vista (16-9) vs. 26-4A #2 Canyon Lake (11-12)
25-4A #2 Manor New Tech (11-5) vs. 26-4A #1 Wimberley (11-16)
While all three local 4A Division 1 squads enter postseason play as serious underdogs, Lago Vista and Manor New Tech appear to be slight favorites in Division 2. One caveat; their strength-of-schedule – or the lack thereof – might be inflating their records. Gateway Prep out of Georgetown has the best record of all the Austin-area 4A teams but drew a brutal first round matchup in 25-win Robinson.
Good luck to all the Capital City representatives!