The Wimberley High School Lady Texans went into a third game Monday, May 18, in the softball Regional Finals matchup against Ingleside High School, where they captured the title that is leading them to the State Semifinals later this week.

The Lady Texans initially won game one 2-0 Wednesday, May 13, but fell 4-0 in game two Saturday, May 16. They then were able to jump up to a 1-0 win in the third game of the series Monday night.

Now, they are headed to go up against Liberty High School, beginning Saturday, May 23, according to MaxPreps, with time and location to be determined.

Wimberley Texans make way for Regional Finals

The Wimberley High School Texans baseball team clinched the third game in the series against Sinton High School over the weekend and are now headed to the Regional Finals.

In the Regional Semifinals, the Texans secured a 3-2 win over the Pirates in the Thursday, May 14, game one matchup and then, fell 3-2 during game two. However, they came back with a strong fight in game three for a 5-3 victory Saturday, May 16.

The Texans are now headed to the finals later this week against Floresville High School at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, and Thursday, May 21, at Seguin High School. If a third game is needed, it will be played at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, at Northeast Sports Park in San Antonio.

DSHS baseball heads to finals

After securing two back-to-back wins against La Joya High School, the Dripping Springs High School baseball team is heading to the Regional Finals later this week.

The best-of-three game series found the Tigers with a 3-2 win Thursday, May 14, and then, again 9-7 Friday, May 15.

Now, the Tigers (27-13-1 overall) are heading to go up against the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Early College High School Bears (29-8 overall) at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, at Gregory Portland High School. If a third game is needed, it will be played at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 23.

Lady Tigers’ season comes to end with 4-2 loss

The Dripping Springs High School Lady Tigers softball team’s season came to an end over the weekend after a hard-fought two-game series against the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Early College High School Bears in the Regional Finals.

While the Lady Tigers fell 3-2 and 4-2, respectively, in the two games held Thursday, May 14, and Friday, May 15,, they leave this year’s program with a 32-8-1 overall record, as well as being 12-0 in district. They also had a 19-game win streak, are undefeated district champs eight times in a row and have had multiple back-to-back appearances in Regional Finals.

“These girls earned every bit of their success. The countless hours, hard work, toughness and commitment never went unnoticed,” read the team’s Facebook page, also adding that seniors Addy Knapp and Elianna Amato are leaving the program with leadership, passion and impact that will be felt long after this season.

Canyon entered the matchup with a 19-10 season record, while the Lady Tigers came in at 32-6-1.

Dripping Springs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the opening inning. Canyon answered quickly with a run of its own in the bottom half of the first to set the tone for a competitive playoff battle.

The game remained tight throughout the early innings and after four innings of play the Lady Tigers held a narrow 5-4 advantage. Dripping Springs created some separation in the sixth inning with two key insurance runs that helped secure momentum late in the contest.

The Lady Tigers were led by strong pitching performances from Sadie Bradford, while Tatum Green came in to provide relief and help close out the victory. Defensively, Dripping Springs was sharp throughout the night, holding Canyon scoreless over the final three innings.

At the plate, the Lady Tigers collected 11 hits and committed one error, while Canyon finished with four hits and one error. Two clutch home runs proved to be a major difference in the 7-4 Regional Semifinal victory.

“Canyon is always a tough team,” said head coach Wade Womack. “{Canyon's] coach [Kevin] Randle and I have been coaching against each other for 23 years and it’s always a battle. Fortunately, we came out on top tonight.”

Womack also credited the Lady Tigers’ timely hitting, including the two home runs that helped power Dripping Springs to the win.

With the victory, the Lady Tigers advanced to the UIL Region IV Championship and will travel to Calallen High School Thursday, May 14, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m., to take on Pharr San Juan Alamo Memorial High School, who enters the Regional Final with a 19-14 overall record.

The series opened Thursday, May 7, night at Northeast ISD Field No. 2 in San Antonio, where the Tigers and Broncos battled through an intense pitcher’s duel that stretched into 11 innings. Strong pitching and outstanding defensive play highlighted the contest, but the Broncos managed to escape with a narrow 1-0 victory.

Facing elimination, the Tigers responded in impressive fashion Friday, May 8, night in front of a large home crowd at Dripping Springs High School. The Tigers bounced back with a commanding 7-2 win to even the series and force a decisive game three. Dripping Springs collected seven hits while playing with intensity from the opening pitch.

The winner-take-all finale shifted to Seguin High School Saturday, May 9, and the Tigers wasted little time taking control. Dripping Springs exploded for five runs in the second inning and never looked back. The Tigers added five more runs later in the game to secure a dominant 10-0 victory and clinch the series.

Following the win, head coach Chris Payne praised his team’s determination and resilience throughout the series, including that of Tigers’ pitcher Nixon Padilla.

“It was going to take grit and a burning desire to be successful, whether we were up or down,” Payne said. “Nixon Padilla pitched a great game behind solid defense. It was a complete team effort and really nothing to complain about.”

Dripping Springs now advances to the UIL 6A Division II Region IV Semifinals, where the Tigers will face the La Joya High School Coyotes, who enter the series with an overall record of 30-6 and a district mark of 7-3.

The games will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 14, and Friday, May 15, at Calallen High School; if needed, a third game will be played Saturday, May 16.

Wimberley will head to Karnes City to take on Ingleside High School for Regional Finals. Game one will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, followed by game two at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16. If needed, game three will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18.

This follows the Tigers traveling to Cedar Park Thursday, April 30, for game one, where they secured a 9-1 victory.

The Tigers played game two on Friday on a cold and wet night. The rain had stopped earlier in the evening and the game went on as scheduled. The game was close with a 0-0 score going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Tiger Blake Cox pitched another outstanding game and the defense was stellar with only 1 error.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers rallied and put runners in scoring position and had five runs crossing the plate, ultimately winning 5-0 over the Rangers.

After the game, Tiger Jake Pardue said the batter before him was walked with four balls and he knew a fastball was coming and he was going to be ready for the pitch. He also credited his teammates for the support and game winning enthusiasm.

The Tigers will play Brandeis High School at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at Northside Field #2 in San Antonio and then, at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, at DSHS. If a third game is needed, it will be in Seguin Saturday, May 9.

The Lady Tigers took control early in game one, earning a 10-3 victory. The Panthers mounted a late push with three runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Tigers responded by turning to Tatum Green to close out the game. Sadie Bradford was credited with the win, while Green secured the save.

Game one, originally scheduled for Friday, May 1, was postponed due to inclement weather and resumed the morning of Saturday, May 2, in Seguin. The Lady Tigers struck first, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the opening inning. O’Connor answered with two runs in the second and the game remained tight throughout.

The Panthers tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning, setting the stage for late-game drama. After holding O’Connor scoreless in the top of the seventh, Lady Tiger’s Emma Phillips smacked a grounder and drove in Morgan Riley for the winning run to secure a 5-4 victory and complete the series sweep.

Green started in the circle for the Lady Tigers, with Bradford entering in relief in the fifth inning to help seal the win.

Following the game, head coach Wade Womack praised both teams’ efforts.

“We just beat a great team and it’s unfortunate we had to meet this early in the playoffs,” Womack said. “It was a close game and we executed when it mattered. We got a crucial bunt down late and Emma Phillips has been making great contact — she came through again and put the ball in play to bring in the winning run.”

With the victory, the Lady Tigers advance to the Regional Semifinals, where they will face the Canyon High School Cougars at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Hays High School.

Johnson will face the Economedes High School Jaguars from Edinburg in a best-of-three series, beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at Veterans Field in Laredo. Game two will be held at the same field at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8. Game three, if needed, will be played at noon Saturday, May 9.

The Chargers entered the series as District 26 champions with a 13-3 district record and a 29-5-1 overall mark. The Hawks, who finished second in District 25 with an 11-3 record, came in poised for a strong postseason run.

In game one, the Chargers secured a 6-2 victory. Following inclement weather Friday, game two was moved to Saturday afternoon at Hays High School. The Hawks responded with resilience, earning an 8-6 win to force a decisive game three.

In the final game of the series, Champion struck first, scoring two runs in the third inning. Both teams settled into a defensive battle, highlighted by strong pitching performances and clean fielding. The Hawks answered with a run in the fifth inning, keeping the game within reach heading into the final frame.

Trailing late, the Hawks mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. With a runner on first, head coach Frank Anzures called for a sacrifice bunt from catcher Ryder Pearson, who executed perfectly, advancing the runner into scoring position, despite being thrown out at first.

With the home crowd on its feet, the Hawks brought the tying run to second base, but the Chargers’ pitcher held firm, recording a strikeout to end the game and the series. The final score was Boerne Champion 2, Hays Hawks 1.

Despite the loss, the Hawks capped off a strong season, finishing 22-12-1 overall and improving from last year’s 18-10-1 record and fourth-place district finish.

Following the game, Anzures addressed his team, expressing both pride and appreciation: “I love you guys and I’m proud of you. What makes moments like this tough is that we built something special this season — something worth fighting for.”

Looking ahead, Anzures emphasized the program’s future, noting that the Hawks will continue building on this year’s success.

The Jaguars will take on Laredo’s United High School in a best-of-three series, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at UniTrade Stadium in Laredo. Game two will bring the series back to Buda at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1. Game three, if necessary, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2.

In game one, held Thursday, April 23, the Lady Tigers struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Cedar Ridge responded in the bottom of the second inning with three runs.

After the early setback, Lady Tigers pitcher Sadie Bradford settled in and delivered a strong complete-game performance. Bradford allowed six hits, three walks and recorded eight strikeouts, helping regain momentum for Dripping Springs.

The Lady Tigers offense responded in dominant fashion, producing 13 hits and pulling away for an 11–3 victory.

“We’re going to see everybody’s best now,” Tiger head coach Wade Womack said. “Cedar Ridge is a tough team with some strong hitters, especially after their regional finals run last year. I was very pleased with Sadie Bradford’s performance in the circle and our offense really stepped up tonight.”

The momentum carried into game two on Friday, April 24, back in Cedar Park. Pitcher Tatum Green led another strong effort in the circle, allowing eight hits and two strikeouts, while the Lady Tigers’ defense tightened and surrendered just one run. The offense remained explosive, powering Dripping Springs to an 11-1 win and a decisive two-game sweep of the series.

With the victory, the Lady Tigers advance to the Area round of the UIL playoffs, where they will face the O’Connor High School Panthers, with a 16–0 record.

For the Area round, game one will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Seguin High School and game two will be at 6 p.m. Friday, May 1, at New Braunfels High School. A third game at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Seguin High School, will be played, if necessary.

Tiger senior pitcher Blake Cox delivered a dominant performance, throwing a complete-game no-hitter and recording 11 strikeouts in a commanding 10-0 victory over the Chaparrals. Cox controlled the game from the start and set the tone for a strong finish to district play.

With the win, the Tigers wrapped up the district schedule in second place with a 10-3 district record.

“Blake dominated on the mound and was super efficient all game long,” Tiger head coach Chris Payne said. “The dugout responded well and the student body showed up in force for this rivalry matchup and final district game. That really gave us momentum heading into the playoffs next week.”

The Tigers now advance to the University Interscholastic League 6A Division II playoffs in a best-of-three game series against Vista Ridge High School. Game one will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Vista Ridge, and game two will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Dripping Springs High School. If needed, a third game will be played at DSHS at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2.

Both teams struck early, scoring one run apiece in the opening inning. Bowie added another run in the third to take a 2–1 lead, but strong pitching and solid defensive play from both squads kept the game close throughout regulation.

The Hawks answered in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning, pushing across the tying run to force extra innings and keep their hopes alive.

In the top of the eighth, the Bulldogs regained the lead with a go-ahead run to make it 3-2. Hays mounted a late rally in the bottom half of the inning with runners on first and second and an opportunity to even the score again. However, the Bulldogs pitcher made a standout defensive play, snagging a line drive and quickly firing to second base to complete a game-ending double play.

Despite the loss, the Hawks remain in strong position with a 9-3 district record and currently sit in second place in one of the most competitive districts in Central Texas.

Following the game, Hawks head coach Frank Anzures said his team continues to play competitive baseball as the postseason approaches.

“We’re playing solid baseball right now,” Anzures said. “We haven’t lost a game by more than three runs and this is one of the toughest districts in Central Texas. There were a few minor issues, but those are fixable. We treat every game the same, and we’ll be ready for Lehman and ready for the playoffs.”

The Hawks will close out the regular season Friday, April 24, on the road against Lehman High School, before turning their attention to postseason play.

First up, the Tigers traveled to Georgetown to take on the Eagles Tuesday, April 14, and lost 6-7.

Back at home for Senior Night, held Friday, April 17, the Tigers baseball team hosted the McCallum Knights in a tightly contested matchup that featured strong pitching and disciplined defense from both teams.

The game developed into a classic pitchers’ duel, with scoring at a premium throughout the evening. McCallum pushed across the game’s only run in the top of the fourth inning and relied on steady pitching and solid defensive play to hold the narrow lead the rest of the way.

Despite the losses, the Tigers remain in strong position in district play. Dripping Springs currently sits in second place with an 8-2 district record, as the regular season enters its final stretch.

Following a press time game against the Westlake High School Chaparrals, which enter the matchup in third place with a 7–3 district record, Tuesday, April 21, the Tigers will return home at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, to host the Chaparrals, setting up an important late-season district showdown.

The Lady Tigers set the tone early, scoring three runs in the opening inning and maintaining control throughout the contest. They added runs in every inning except the third, never allowing Westlake an opportunity to gain momentum.

With the victory, the Lady Tigers secured their eighth consecutive district championship, continuing one of the area’s most impressive runs of postseason consistency. Dripping Springs will now await the announcement of its bi-district playoff opponent, with the date, time and location still pending at the time of publication.

Following the game, head coach Wade Womack praised both the opponent and his team’s effort.

“Westlake has been playing really well,” Womack said. “They came in with some strong wins over Lake Travis and played us close in the first meeting. Our girls played tough defensively tonight against a top rival.”

The Lady Tigers now shift their focus to the postseason as they prepare for the opening round of the University Interscholastic League playoffs later this week.

On April 10, the Lady Tigers traveled to Del Valle High School for a district matchup against the Cardinals. Dripping Springs scored early and often, building momentum at the plate, while the Cardinals kept the contest competitive throughout. The Lady Tigers ultimately secured the win with a final score of 11-6.

In the circle, Sadie Bradford and Tatum Green turned in strong performances, combining to hold the Cardinals to just seven hits.

The following day, the Lady Tigers traveled to Weiss High School for a nondistrict matchup and earned another victory of 5–3.

The Lady Tigers have now clinched their eighth consecutive district title and will return home for their final district game at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, against top rival Westlake High School.

The program began after a local flag football league connected Hays CISD to the Dallas Cowboys, who have been donating items to school districts across Texas to grow the sport.

“They provided everything financially: they pay for the officials that come officiate the game; they gave uniforms; they gave us packages with game balls, pylons — the things you set up in the end zone — cones to use, flags to use; they gave everything to us,” said Hays CISD assistant athletic director Dusty Gibbs.

So, after receiving the donation from the National Football League team, the district communication team sent out interest surveys to all girls at Hays, Johnson and Lehman high schools to gauge whether there was any intrigue.

Flag football, according to Gibbs, is a wide-open, fast-paced version of football, where instead of tackling an opponent, their flag is pulled instead to make the ball “dead at that spot.”

He noted that the sport has gained traction over the years, with nearby districts, such as Austin ISD, adding the sport and it recently being recognized in the Olympics, which made district leadership discuss the opportunity for students. Flag football has also been discussed at the University Interscholastic League to determine whether to sanction it as a sport for schools.

“There was a lot of interest in this [from students] and what was real appealing to this is we always look at the data before we do these things and the Dallas Cowboys actually provided [information] that about 50% to 60% of the girls that participate in flag football don’t play other sports. So, that was important to us. It’s another way to get more kids involved [in an activity],” Gibbs said.

Then, coaches from each high school eagerly volunteered to work with the girls and facilitated the tryouts that led to the now three established teams. Although there is currently one team of seven students, Gibbs stated that there are additional students to fill in gaps when other commitments come up, as some students are in other sports, as well.

The first tournament was hosted March 28, said Gibbs, but each team has played four games, with the records as follows:

• Hays High School: 3-1

• Lehman High School: 4-0

• Johnson High School: 2-1-1

“You don’t really know what to expect when it’s something new and when we hosted at the end of March, I was there for the whole tournament that morning and … [the games] may have been one of the most awesome experiences I’ve ever had in coaching and I’ve been doing this for 20 years,” explained Gibbs. “I went and talked to some of the girls that were playing and a couple of the girls were like, ‘This is the coolest thing I’ve ever done.’ The gameplay was wonderful; we have tremendous athletes out here.”

Not only has the program brought the ability to encourage students who were previously uninvolved in sports to join a new activity, but it allows athletes to continue training throughout the offseason. Gibbs stated that when students are involved in sports, their grades, attendance, mental health, social lives and more improve.

As the season continues, the director shared that Hays CISD is hoping to continue its partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and grow the program, as long as the interest is there, including a potential junior varsity team.

He did state that, currently, the district isn’t looking into a male league because many of the traditional football students participate in a sport called 7-on-7. Although it isn’t an official district sport, nearly every player participates outside of school in the off season, so there isn’t a need currently.

Hays CISD will host a second flag football tournament from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25, at Bob Shelton Stadium. The event is ticketed at $5 per adult and $3 per child.

“It is an awesome experience and those girls do a great job. The sportsmanship is great [and] the competitive play is great. You’ll see some very good athletes on the 25th for those people who want to come out,” concluded Gibbs.

The Lady Texans traveled to Birkelbach Stadium in Georgetown last week for another opportunity to capture the state title. After falling to Amarillo's Canyon High School in the 2025 state final, Wimberley returned this season with a clear purpose and determination to bring the championship trophy home.

Standing in their way was another formidable opponent, the Sunnyvale Lady Raiders, who entered the championship match with a 24-3-1 record.

After a hard-fought defensive battle in the opening half, Wimberley’s Emma Durkin found the back of the net to give the Lady Texans a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

Following the break, Wimberley head coach Eric Nichols made key adjustments and the Lady Texans responded. Abby Durkin extended the lead with a goal at the 25-minute mark of the second half, putting Wimberley ahead 2-0.

Sunnyvale answered with renewed energy and cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 15-minute mark, but Wimberley refused to let momentum shift. The Lady Texans continued to apply offensive pressure and Lili Sandoval added another goal at the 11-minute mark to give Wimberley a 3-1 advantage.

From there, the Lady Texans’ defensive backline stood firm, limiting the Lady Raiders’ chances and preserving the lead until the final whistle.

When the match ended, Wimberley secured a 3-1 victory and the UIL 4A Division II State Championship, bringing a historic title for the team and school.

After the game, Nichols said he was incredibly proud of his team. He noted that this group had been motivated by last year’s state final loss and was determined not to let the opportunity slip away this time. He added that many of these players began their journey together four years ago and to finish it with a state championship made the moment even more meaningful.

The Jaguars went on to beat Steele High School 12-9 Thursday, April 2, bringing the team’s record to 17-11 overall and 7-3 district. 

The Jaguars were in third place in their district going into the press time game, and final home game of the season, against San Marcos High School Tuesday, April 7. The last two games of the regular season will be at 7 p.m. April 10 and April 14, against Canyon High School and Cedar Ridge High School, respectively.