The Tigers improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in district play with their third consecutive victory.

Dripping Springs quarterback Chase Ames led the Tigers' offense, completing 75.8% of his passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns. It marked his third consecutive game with at least four touchdown passes.

Running back Frank Accetta added another strong performance, rushing 21 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Accetta also contributed 55 receiving yards.

Dripping Springs coach Galen Zimmerman said the familiarity between the neighboring programs contributed to the intensity of the matchup.

“It’s always a rivalry game with them,” Zimmerman said. “Kids know each other. It’s right down the road. A lot of kids grew up together and so, it’s always going to be a tough game.”

The victory came one week after Dripping Springs opened district play with a 75-0 win over Akins High School. The Tigers have scored 124 points in their first two district games.

The night also carried special significance for Dripping Springs senior offensive lineman Hudson Whitenight, who was crowned the 2026 Homecoming King, alongside Queen Paisley Eubank, after being nominated and selected by the student body.

Following the game, Whitenight credited the offensive line for its performance.

“You know, I feel like we had pretty good success,” Whitenight said.

The senior also expressed his appreciation after being selected homecoming king.

“I just want to thank everyone that voted for me — my teammates, my friends, everyone else that voted for me,” he said.

Whitenight, who has committed to Baylor University, still has the remainder of his senior season ahead as the Tigers continue district play.

Dripping Springs travels to face Austin High School at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at House Park.

The Jaguars won the teams’ first meeting earlier this year, giving the Tigers some added motivation heading into the rematch.

Dripping Springs coach Michael Kane called reclaiming the trophy a “good little feather” in the rivalry with his brother, Johnson coach Thomas Kane.

He said the matchup carried added importance with both teams near the top of the district standings.

“Johnson and we are at the top of the district right now and Thomas does a fantastic job,” Michael said. “He’s one of the best coaches in the area.”

The Tigers benefited from what they learned in the first meeting, he added.

“We came in with a game plan and I felt like we did a good job adjusting to what we learned the first time we played them,” Michael said.

The victory returned the Kane Kup to Dripping Springs, where it will remain until the teams meet again, likely next season.

Dripping Springs’ Emily Varnell said the Tigers responded well after losing to the Jaguars in their first meeting.

“We handled adversity well,” Varnell said. “We came back after losing to them at their place. We really wanted it back at our home. I’m really proud of my team coming back and winning.”

Dripping Springs is scheduled to host Del Valle High School at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The Tigers improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in district play with their second consecutive victory.

Dripping Springs finished with 376 yards of offense, including 190 passing and 186 rushing.

Quarterback Chase Ames led the passing attack, throwing for 161 yards and four touchdowns on 13 attempts. Frank Accetta was among his top targets, finishing with 57 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Dripping Springs controlled the game early and continued to find the end zone, while also giving several players an opportunity to see the field.

After the game, Dripping Springs coach Galen Zimmerman said the Tigers entered the district opener focused on maintaining the standard they have established for themselves.

“I told them I’m proud of them,” Zimmerman said. “Obviously, district games now, everything starts, and so, our job tonight was stay in the top half of district. So, that was our goal.”

Zimmerman said the Tigers still have areas to improve, despite the decisive victory.

“We want to make sure that we’re playing against our standard,” Zimmerman said. “There’s some things we can still work at, but you want to feel good about a good win.”

The lead also allowed Dripping Springs to get additional players into the game.

“We got a lot of guys in the game, a lot of guys making some plays,” Zimmerman said. “That was fun to watch some guys who may not have opportunities earlier in the season get a chance to contribute.”

Dripping Springs returns home at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, to face Buda’s Johnson High School in another District 26-6A matchup.

The Tigers improved to 2-1 and finished their nondistrict schedule by combining an efficient passing game with 221 rushing yards. Harker Heights fell to 2-2, despite gaining 467 yards.

Ames completed 25 of 30 passes without an interception. Accetta added another touchdown through the air, completing his only pass for 29 yards, as Dripping Springs finished 27 of 32 for 375 passing yards and six touchdowns.

“The scoreboard is the scoreboard, but I’m more proud of how we played, how we practiced throughout the week, our preparation and how we executed in the game,” Dripping Springs coach Galen Zimmerman said. “If we do those things, the scoreboard will take care of itself.”

Judah Satterfield led the Tigers’ receivers with 10 catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Dodge Reid caught five passes for 110 yards, while Harrison Rohrer finished with seven receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Jake Bremer added a 15-yard touchdown reception. Senior defensive end Major Bettridge also entered on offense in the third quarter and caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Ames out of the Tigers’ short-yardage package.

“We have a short-yardage package that allows some of our defensive players to show off their skills,” Zimmerman said.

Accetta averaged 8.8 yards on 18 carries and had a long run of 39 yards. Ryder Frost added 44 yards on seven attempts, as the Tigers averaged 6.5 yards per carry.

Dripping Springs opens District 26-6A play Friday, Sept. 25, against Akins High School at Burger Stadium in Austin. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

“District is the second season. Everybody is 0-0 and now the games count,” Zimmerman said. “Hopefully, we can go 1-0 and keep ourselves in the top half of the district.”
 

Round Rock established a 21-13 halftime lead behind three long touchdown passes. The Dragons opened the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dov Stickler to Simon Sylvain. Stickler later connected with Sylvain and Dylan Jaeger on touchdown passes covering 67 and 58 yards.

Dripping Springs kicker Jack Miller made two field goals during the first half. Shortly before halftime, quarterback Chase Ames completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Judah Satterfield to pull the Tigers within eight points.

In the second half, Round Rock extended its lead on Ryan Sirwaitis’ 55-yard touchdown run. The Dragons’ fifth touchdown came on Stickler’s 15-yard pass to Garrett Creech.

Dripping Springs continued to fight back. Ames connected with Satterfield for a 64-yard touchdown and later found Solomon Rand for a 22-yard score. The Tigers were unsuccessful on both two-point conversion attempts.

According to the latest statistics entered on MaxPreps, Dripping Springs finished with 312 passing yards and 119 rushing yards. The Tigers generated 431 total offensive yards.

Costly errors during critical possessions and several dropped passes prevented Dripping Springs from completing the comeback.

“The guys never quit,” Dripping Springs head coach Galen Zimmerman said. “We’ve got a lot more football. We’re going to learn from this.”

The loss dropped Dripping Springs to 1-1. The Tigers return home Friday, Sept. 18, to face Killeen’s Harker Heights High School in their final non-district game. Harker Heights is 2-1 after defeating Hays 42-35.

The large Central Texas meet featured six 5-kilometer races across varsity and junior varsity divisions, with 1,289 athletes recording finishes.

The Dripping Springs varsity boys placed fifth in the team standings. Freshman Adam Ahmed led the Tigers, finishing 26th overall with a time of 16:28. Freshman Caleb Ray followed in 27th place at 16:29, while junior Steven Allen finished 32nd in 16:39.

The Dripping Springs varsity girls finished sixth. Junior Emery Wilson paced the Tigers with a fourth-place finish in 18:43. Senior Quinn Hendrickson placed 24th with a time of 19:41, followed by junior Reece Langle in 27th at 19:43.

Dripping Springs will compete Friday, Sept. 11, at the Austin ISD Cross Country Invitational at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park in Austin.

The Tigers controlled the game, while delivering a strong all-around performance in their long-awaited season debut. Dripping Springs’ original opener against Lake Travis was canceled, making the matchup against Harlan the Tigers’ first game of the season.

Dripping Springs head coach Galen Zimmerman said he was pleased with the effort, but acknowledged that the Tigers still have areas to improve.

“We talked to our kids about how we play and I was really proud of how we competed tonight,” Zimmerman said. “It was our first game, so there were some things we were a little sloppy at. We have some room for improvement, but our guys came out, competed and got after it.”

Despite the decisive victory, Zimmerman said the Tigers will focus on correcting their mistakes before their next game.

“There’s still some meat on the bone that we get to work on this weekend,” Zimmerman said. “We’ll get better and then go do it again next week.”

The coach said the program emphasizes how the Tigers approach each play, rather than focusing solely on the final score.

“We tell our kids that it’s how we do things, not what we do,” he said. “If we’re focused on that, then the scoreboard is going to take care of itself.”

Dripping Springs will travel to face Round Rock High School Friday, Sept. 11. Zimmerman expects the Dragons to provide a strong early-season test.

“Round Rock is always tough,” Zimmerman said. “They’re a good program and have a good team every year. They’re solid from top to bottom and they do things the right way. They’ve played some tough games early, as well, so they’re seasoned a little bit.”

After an extended wait to begin the season, Zimmerman said he was happy to see the Tigers finally return to competition.

“I’m just glad we’re playing football,” Zimmerman said. “It felt like camp lasted forever. I’m glad to be out here on the field with the boys and watch them play. It was fun tonight.”

The Texans will travel to Davenport High School Wednesday, Sept. 2, before returning home to take on Kerrville Tivy at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The Tigers will host Austin High School Wednesday, Sept. 2, and then, Bowie High School Tuesday, Sept. 8.

A 2005 graduate of DSHS, Szkotak has served as the assistant coach for Tiger baseball for five years. During his tenure, he has helped lead the Tigers to four state playoff appearances and guided more than 30 players to collegiate baseball careers, stated a news release.

As the program’s pitching coach, Szkotak was named the 2025 Region 8 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches Association. That season, he helped lead the Tigers to their first district title as a 6A program, a then-school-record 29 wins and a berth in the state semifinals. The Tigers continued that success in 2026 with a second straight state semifinal appearance, while setting school records for wins at 32 and shutouts at 13.

During his playing career at DSHS, Szkotak was a First Team All-Centex and All-State selection as a pitcher and third baseman. He continued his playing career for McLennan Community College in Waco, before finishing at Concordia University in Austin. In 2006, he earned American Southwest Conference (ASC) Freshman of the Year accolades and went on to earn ASC All-Conference honors four times.

Following college, Szkotak played professionally for three years with the Big Bend Cowboys in Texas and the Florence Freedom in Kentucky, before transitioning to private and collegiate coaching.

Szkotak began his career in public education in 2020 as an assistant coach at Manor High School, where he helped the Mustangs record their most wins in more than 20 seasons.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Concordia University and a Master of Education from Sul Ross State University.

He replaces former head coach Chris Payne, who was promoted to assistant athletic director in July.

The two teams battled back and forth throughout the evening, eventually finding themselves tied at two sets apiece and forcing a decisive fifth set.

Backed by an energetic hometown crowd, the Lady Tigers responded when it mattered most and made the plays they needed down the stretch and closed out Stony Point 15-11 in the fifth set to secure the 3-2 victory.

The five-set win provided another early-season test for Dripping Springs High School, as the Lady Tigers continued to build momentum during their non-district schedule. They went on to have a strong showing at the Fraulein Volleyfest last weekend, finishing the tournament with a 6-3 record.

Senior outside hitter Madison Sestak earned all-tournament honors for her performance during the three-day tournament.

The Lady Tigers return home Sept. 1 to host Westlake High School at 6:30 p.m. at DSHS.

“Our entire athletic department, coaching staff, administration and student-athletes extend our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the student’s family, friends, the team and the entire Lake Travis community during this unimaginably difficult time,” Dripping Springs ISD officials said in a statement.

The Tigers will open the 2026 season Friday, Sept. 4, at Tiger Stadium against Harlan High School.

The victory marked Kane’s 600th win as head coach at Dripping Springs.

Following the match, Tiger players presented Kane with flowers in recognition of the milestone.

“It’s a special night,” Kane said. “I love this community. I’ve been here for, I think, going on 16 years. I’ve enjoyed my time here. I don’t ever want to leave. This is what I consider home.”

Kane was quick to give credit to the players and coaches who have been part of the program throughout the years.

“I’ve been super blessed with a lot of great players throughout the course of the years,” Kane said. “It’s a special place, so to hold that record here is something that is dear to me, for sure.”

The Tigers faced a strong Hendrickson team in their first home match of the season.

Kane said playing strong competition early in the season is important as the Tigers prepare for another run through a tough schedule.

“We try to strengthen our schedule,” Kane said. “Most of our schedule is going to be teams that have competed in the playoffs.”

Kane was pleased with the Tigers’ serving and passing and how they were able to put Hendrickson out of their rhythm. With the first home match came a large crowd and plenty of expectations for this year’s Tiger team.

“Lots of expectations, a lot of eyes on us to see what’s going to happen with this group,” Kane said. “I think these kids are going to do some good stuff and make a name for themselves.”

Kane also thanked the Dripping Springs community for continuing to support the volleyball program.

“We’ve got a great tradition in Dripping Springs with family and friends and former players and former parents, and the community’s really getting behind us,” Kane said.

After 600 victories at DSHS and approximately 950 career wins, Kane said he still enjoys coming to work each day.

“I don’t foresee myself wanting to stop anytime soon,” Kane said. “I enjoy what I do every day. I show up and love what I’m doing and so, we’ll see what happens.”

The team competed at the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) National Championship in July in Columbus, Ohio, taking part in 11 disciplines over six days, including pistol, revolver, rifle and pistol caliber carbine (PCC) events.

The team — which included the following students from DSISD — brought home 49 topthree finishes, highlighted by 13 individual national titles and four team national championships.

Dripping Springs Middle School

• Addison Gray

Sycamore Springs Middle School • Riley Cook

Dripping Springs High School • Westley Alison

• Shawn Aylstock

• Colin Beckley

• Andrew Cerna

• Thomas Cook

• Niklas Egli

• Brenden Filler

• Brayden Gray

• Quin Hollingshead

• Maddie Johanningsmeier

• Ashton Johnsey

• Trevor LeBas

• Collin McAfee

• Reid McAfee

• Paisley Rosas

• Xavier Sanchez

• Jacob Steffen

• Landon Treague

• Vaughn Vincent

During his 20 years leading the Tiger baseball program, Payne compiled 427 career victories — the third most wins by a coach in any sport in school history, according to a DSISD news release. He guided the Tigers to 17 playoff appearances, five district championships and two state tournament appearances. Under his leadership, 88 student-athletes also committed to continue their careers at the collegiate level.

He was a four-time district coach of the year and earned Texas High School Coaches Association Region 8 Coach of the Year honors in 2025.

Payne led one of the most successful stretches in program history during his final two seasons as head coach, the release continued. In 2025, he led the team to its first state semifinal appearance in 27 years and its first district championship as a Class 6A program. The Tigers followed that success with another state semifinal appearance in 2026, setting school records for wins at 32, hits at 356 and shutouts at 13.

Before becoming head baseball coach at DSHS, Payne served for five years as athletic coordinator at Dripping Springs Middle School. In that role, he was the head football coach, an assistant high school baseball coach and taught special education and physical education.

He is a graduate of then-Southwest Texas State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science.

Payne and his wife, Kristin, have three children, Colton, Coy and Janessa, a daughter-in-law, Macy, and two grandchildren, Callie and Carter.

He will begin his new role immediately.

Annen joins Dripping Springs ISD after serving five years as the head swimming and water polo coach for Lehman High School (LHS) in Kyle. During his tenure, he doubled the size of the Lobos' swim program, while leading athletes to set eight new school records and qualify for the regional meet in each of his five seasons, according to a DSISD news release. His success earned him District Coach of the Year honors in 2023.

In 2022, Annen launched the LHS water polo program and guided the Lobos to a bi-district championship in the team’s inaugural season.

In addition to coaching, Annen will teach social studies at DSHS.

Annen is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.