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THE TIER LIST: VYPE DFW Preseason Baseball Rankings; Grapevine, FMHS among early favorites
Despite what the weather might suggest, the spring edition of the UIL calendar has officially arrived, marking the midpoint of February.
With fans heading back to the ballpark, a new season of intrigue begins, and the race to Dell Diamond is underway.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, our early predictions favor the Grapevine Mustangs. Coming off a historic season in which they secured their second UIL-5A State Championship (the first since 2016), Grapevine enters 2025 with high expectations.
Just behind them are the Lucas Lovejoy Leopards, who made program history last spring by reaching the 5A Final for the first time in their 18-year existence. With a roster loaded with returning talent, Lovejoy is poised to make another deep postseason run.
Flower Mound, aiming for a third consecutive State Tournament appearance, is another contender to watch. Meanwhile, Rockwall-Heath (2021 State Champions) and Southlake Carroll (2022) are eager to reclaim their respective titles.
In addition, programs like Argyle, Boswell, and Rockwall round out the list of preseason heavyweights.
As we look ahead to another thrilling season on the diamond, here are VYPE’s top teams to watch as the 2025 season begins.
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*Parentheses indicates current district
*Last section indicates 2024 result
VYPE DALLAS-FORT WORTH BASEBALL TOP-10 (Class 6A-4A)
1. Grapevine Mustangs (6-5A) -- 40-5; 13-1 in District (UIL-5A State Champions)
2. Lucas Lovejoy Leopards (9-5A) -- 30-8-2; 12-0 (UIL-5A State Runner-Up)
3. Flower Mound Jaguars (5-6A) -- 40-6; 14-0 (State Semifinalists)
4. Rockwall-Heath Hawks (10-6A) -- 34-9; 12-0 (Regional Semifinalists)
5. Southlake Carroll Dragons (4-6A) -- 26-13; 8-4 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
6. Argyle Eagles (6-5A) -- 29-9; 11-3 (Regional Finalists)
7. Boswell Pioneers (3-6A) -- 32-8; 14-0 (Regional Semifinalists)
8. Rockwall Yellowjackets (10-6A) -- 27-12-2; 7-5 (Regional Semifinalists)
9. Pearce Mustangs (7-6A) -- 30-19; 15-1 (Regional Finalists)
10. Forney Jackrabbits (10-6A) -- 31-13-1; 9-3 (Regional Finalists)
Honorable Mentions: Prosper (6-6A), Frisco (11-5A), Keller (4-6A), Lone Star (12-5A), Mansfield Legacy (3-6A), Benbrook (8-4A), Aledo (5-5A), Allen (6-6A), Walnut Grove (9-5A)
TOP OF THE LINE: Boswell might just be the most elite program in Texas Girls Hoops
Led by Coach John Reese, the Boswell Pioneers have picked up right where they left off last year, when they reached the UIL-6A Region I Finals.
As the No. 1-ranked team in Texas (according to MaxPreps) and in our DFW rankings, Boswell enters the second half of this season with a pristine record of 24-2.
Their only losses so far have come at the hands of fellow state power Denton Guyer earlier in December, and more recently, they narrowly fell 44-40 to the top team in Arkansas, the Conway Wampus Cats, in the championship game of last week’s Sandra Meadows Tournament in Duncanville.
Both games were decided by four points or less, demonstrating that Boswell is more than capable of competing with the best.
In terms of star power, look no further than Camille Williams, the Offensive MVP of the Meadows Tournament. The University of Miami signee is currently averaging over 17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game, making her the total package at the point guard position.
Williams, a two-time District MVP and a member of last year’s TABC All-Region team, is complemented by the remarkable talents of fellow senior Haleigh Jackson, who is also making waves in the college recruiting scene.
Standing at 6 feet tall, Jackson contributes roughly 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game, forming a dynamic duo that opposing teams struggle to contend with.
Additionally, sophomores Sydney Durrah (13 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg) and Seleste Massey (11 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 spg) further strengthen this formidable Pioneers squad, while junior Salena Carrasco (8 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg) is always ready to step up when needed.
Boswell will now turn its attention to the remaining district schedule, having already started off 3-0 against their counterparts.
They’ll face competition from Crowley and North Crowley for 3-6A supremacy, but it’s a likelihood that Coach Reese and his team will secure their first district title since the 2021-22 campaign.
However, their ultimate goal extends far beyond just a district championship.
Historically, the Pioneers have reached the State Tournament only once, back in 1977, when they fell to Waco Midway (74-59) in the UIL-3A State Semifinals.
Given the exceptional momentum this team has built in 2024, it’s entirely possible that Boswell could make a historic run to the Alamodome once the playoffs begin in February.