AUSTIN, TX - As the regular season has come to an end, the playoff buzz has begun around the state. Could this be the year an Austin or San Antonio team brings home the title for the first time since 1997 when Round Rock won it all? Could Rouse make another deep run into the postseason? Can Smithson Valley build off their state tournament appearance in 2021? Is this the year Lake Travis puts it all together and makes it back to Dell Diamond? There are so many different storylines heading into the postseason, let's take a quick look at some of the teams from the Central Texas area.

 

San Antonio Clark - 2 Seed

Clark is a scrappy team that is tough up the middle of the field. Lead by Anthony Silva at SS, the Clark Cougars will look to build off their regular season finish and make a run in the playoffs. With an experienced arm in Cody Edwards, and a big young arm in Jake Neely, the pitching staff can beat any lineup when they are right. Don't be shocked if Clark surprises some people and carries momentum into the postseason

*2022 Anthony Silva

*2024 Jake Neely

San Antonio Johnson - 3 Seed

Johnson happened to be my "dark horse" pick for class 6A and it wont be an easy route for them. They have the talent, toughness, and are a well coached ball club. That tends to be a recipe for late season success. Johnson dropped their last game of the season to Clark, which pushed them into a 3 seed, but not too many 3 seeds have the firepower Johnson has. The Jaguars can mix or match a lefthander in Seve Martinez or a power righty in Mason Bixby and follow them up with solid bullpen arms. Johnson plays the game with a youthful toughness to them. Their lineup scraps and fights you each at bat. Its not everyday you see an undersized freshman hitting in the 3-hole of a talented 6A lineup but there is no doubt Kayson Cunningham belongs there and is one of the best natural hitters in the state.

 

*2025 Kayson Cunningham

*2023 Mason Bixby

*2023 Seve Martinez

San Antonio Reagan - 1 Seed

The Reagan Rattlers have once again won their district and seem poised to make a run at a state title. In the games we have seen this year, Reagan plays with a disciplined toughness to them. They are fundamentally sound on defense, their at bats have a purpose, they throw strikes, and they will compete until the final out. Reagan has plenty of experience on the mound with Aidan Coleman and Brennan Greer, as well as a scrappy tandem up the middle with Teegan Peoples and Cole Tabor at SS and 2B. Look for the Rattlers to make some noise in the postseason.

*2023 Aidan Coleman

Smithson Valley - 1 Seed

Smithson Valley looks to build off their deep run in 2021 to hopefully bring it all home in 2022. The roster is strong up the middle of the field with CF Kasen Wells, SS David Ray De Hoyos, Pitchers Tim Arguello and Jackson Elizondo and Catchers Bryce Wells and Ethan Gonzalez. The arms are experienced with playoff baseball and playoff atmospheres and so is the majority of their lineup outside of Wells behind the plate. Smithson Valley is another well coached that has built their schedule to be ready for this time of year.

*2025 Bryce Wells

 

Lake Travis - 1 Seed

Lake Travis has steadily been in the top 10 and mostly the top 5 of our Power 30 all year long. Well known for the firepower they have on the mound, they were thrown a late curveball with staff ace Luke Jackson getting dinged up at the end of the year. That being said, if there is one school that can lose their ace and still be fine, its Lake Travis. Loaded with experience as talent still they can mix and match a plethora of talented arms. OJ Gonzalez has been lights out for the Cavs recently, Kaeden Kent is the jack of all trades swing man, Jackson Baker can be dominant when he is right, and Ethan Calder came in a tough spot two weeks ago to eventually shut down a tough Westlake group. Offensively, Kent is the guy that gets them going on offense but Cole Johnson is the guy that can change a game with one swing at any moment. Defensively they are steady as a rock and you can tell they don't miss too many days of team defense in practice.

*2023 Jackson Baker

 

Vandegrift - 4 Seed

Don't sleep on the Vipers of Vandergrift. The roster is loaded with athletes and they don't back down from anyone. In the 3 games seen of the Vipers, they won two of them against playoff teams. Vandergrift is lead by catcher Brayden Buchanan. Buchanan can single handedly shut down the running game of an opponent as well as do damage with every swing of the bat. Look for the Vipers to give Lake Travis everything they can handle in round 1.

*2023 Brayden Buchanan

Westlake - 2 Seed

Westlake looks to build off their second place District finish and carry their momentum into the postseason. The Chaparrals are a scrappy group that will compete until the end. Lead by Blake Peterson with the bat, Aidan Bennett at SS, and Chance Covert on the mound, they have just enough to beat anyone on any given day. With a tough matchup in round one against Vista Ridge, lets see if they make it through to possibly face off with Smithson Valley in round 2.

*2023 Blake Peterson

Austin Bowie - 3 Seed

Bowie is another Austin area team that is just tough enough and talented enough to make a run. With multiple arms that can dominate a game, and a lineup that can handle both left and right handed arms, the Bulldogs are well tested heading into this weekend. Patrick Collopy offers some power from the left side to get swings and misses if they need in any given situation. Their lineup is a quality mixture of left and right handed hitters up and down that can do a little bit of everything from small ball to drive the ball in the gaps and run for days. 

 

*2022 Patrick Collopy

San Marcos - 4 Seed

We got a glimpse of San Marcos one time this spring but they were quite impressive on that day. On the mound they are able to run out a couple strike throwers with enough stuff to beat you. Gavin Gomez proved to be more than adequate at beating a playoff team and their lineup is more than capable of beating tough arms. San Marcos is another 4 seed you cant sleep on early in the playoffs.

*2023 Gavin Gomez

*2024 Kutter Gage Webb

 

Georgetown - 1 Seed

Georgetown has long been known as one of the best baseball programs in the state. Coach Vierra has the Eagles rolling once again. Georgetown got a late season gift when senior leader and SS, Zack Zavala returned from a nasty injury earlier this season. Once again, Georgetown is tough up the middle with a steady senior catcher in Zach Mazoch and Zack Zavala. Lets see if the Eagles can make a deep run and get some home field advantages come state tourney time.

*2022 Zach Mazoch

 

Rouse - 4 Seed

Rouse joins the long list of Central Texas teams that are extremely well coached. Chad Krempin has a roster that has plenty of experience and a whole lot of toughness up and down it. The Rouse Raiders are lead by Senior Colby Diaz on the mound and in the middle of the batting order. However you have you worry about much more than just one guy in this lineup. Don't sleep on Oscar Salazar, Colin Carrejo, Rayner Heinrich, and Carter Heinrich. Rouse happens to be my "dark horse" pick for class 5A, lets see if they can make their way to Dell Diamond as a 4 seed.

 

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