Dripping Springs High School senior Elianna Amato smiles following the 2026 Austin Area Softball All-Star Game Wednesday, June 3. Amato represented the Tigers in the annual North vs. South showcase featuring some of the top graduating softball players from Central Texas. The South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars 5-3.

Dripping Springs High School head baseball coach Chris Payne, left, poses for a photo with All-Star Game selections Bobby Wilkinson, Nixon Badilla and Blake Cox at Dell Diamond following the Austin Area Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game Sunday, June 7. The Tigers were represented by three players in the annual showcase recognizing some of the area's top graduating seniors. The final score was South All Star Team  5, North All Star Team 2.

Wimberley High School Texan pitcher Gentry McGinnis poses for a photo at Dell Diamond.

The Mustangs entered the series with a 32-6 record, while the Tigers arrived with a 30-15 mark after an impressive postseason run.

Memorial claimed game one Friday, May 29, by a score of 10-5. The Tigers responded in game two with a hard-fought 3-2 victory to force a decisive third game. Senior pitcher Blake Cox earned the win, while Nixon Padilla closed out the seventh inning to secure the victory and keep the Tigers' championship hopes alive.

The two teams returned Saturday, May 30, for the winner-take-all game three.

Dripping Springs struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Memorial answered in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1. From that point forward, the contest evolved into a classic pitchers' duel and defensive battle. Both teams made timely plays throughout the afternoon as the score remained deadlocked heading into the seventh inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Tigers put runners in scoring position and threatened to take the lead. However, Memorial's pitcher and defense rose to the challenge and escaped the inning without allowing a run.

With one final opportunity in the bottom of the seventh, Memorial's leadoff batter connected on a walk-off home run, ending the Tigers' season and sending the Mustangs to the UIL 6A Division II State Championship game at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

Although the season ended one game short of the state title series, the Tigers once again demonstrated the strength and consistency of their program. For the second consecutive season, Dripping Springs advanced to the UIL State Semifinals, finishing among the final four teams in Class 6A Division II.

Following the game, head coach Chris Payne congratulated Memorial High School and expressed his appreciation for his players.

"I cannot say enough good things about this group of players," Payne said. "It has been a pleasure coaching them. Back-to-back trips to the state semifinals do not happen every year. This is a very special group."

The Tigers' season may be complete, but three seniors will take the field one final time in the Austin Area Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game June 7 at Dell Diamond. Dripping Springs will be represented by Nixon Padilla, Blake Cox and Bobby Wilkinson.

The Tigers conclude another memorable season with a 31-16 record, a Region IV Championship and a second consecutive appearance in the UIL State Semifinals.

After a great 29-8-2 season, the Wimberley High School softball team faced a tough 37-6 Liberty High School team, led by ace pitcher Bayleigh Taylor, who was solid again from the circle during the University Interscholastic League Class 4A Softball Semifinal match up at Caldwell High School in Caldwell last Thursday night. Taylor threw a no-hitter to lead the Lady Panthers to a 4-0 win, advancing to the Class 4A Division II State Championship to face Brock High School.

At Thursday’s game in Caldwell, after two scoreless innings, Liberty scored a run in the bottom of the third for a 1-0 lead.

Liberty’s Kaylin Heuitt took a ball to open the frame, and then, ripped a line drive triple to left field.

Taylor then came up to bat and drove the first pitch down the third base line to single and score Heuitt from third.

The Wimberley defense then shut Liberty down in the inning, despite having bases loaded.

The fourth inning was scoreless for both teams.

Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Liberty’s Kylee Bishop opened up the frame with a single to center and advanced to second on a Wimberley error.

Lady Panther Kinley Brashier then hit a ground out to advance Bishop to third.

Liberty’s Abbie Key then hit a long fly ball over the center field fence to extend the Lady Panters’ lead to 3-0.

In the top of the sixth, Wimberley’s Emorie Gahan reached base with two outs after hitting a ground ball to third and the Liberty third baseman committing an error. However, Liberty’s Taylor struck out the next Wimberley batter with three pitches for the third out.

The Lady Panthers scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth.

Liberty’s Izzy Reyes started the inning with a single to short.

Then, Heuitt singled to short to advance Reyes to second.

With Liberty’s Taylor up to bat, both base runners advanced a base on a passed ball. Then, Taylor walked to load the bases.

Liberty’s Bishop then lined out to Wimberley left fielder Ansley Davis who made a spectacular catch -- keeping the runners on base.

Lady Panther Brashier then grounded into a fielder’s choice with Wimberley shortstop Ella Patek throwing home for the force out of Reyes.

Liberty then put Marley Mouton in the game as a courtesy runner for Taylor.

With two outs and the bases still loaded, Heuitt scored on a passed ball with the other base runners advancing to second and third. However, Wimberley was able to pick off Mouton in a hot box along the third base line for the third out.

In the top of the seventh with one out, Wimberley was able to get a baserunner on first when Reagan Kenley was hit by a pitch.

However, the Liberty defense held her at first with a fly ball out to center and Taylor striking out the final Wimberley batter of the game.

The community sent the Lady Jags off to College Station in style, escorted by the Buda Police Department, Buda Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services and the Hays County Sheriff's Office, along with appearances by Buda Mayor Lee Urbanovsky, teachers, parents and more.

In game two, held Friday, May 22, Johnson lost 9-1, forcing a game three in the best-of-three series. Despite their best efforts, the Jaguars fell 8-2 in game three Saturday, ending the team's post-season run.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.