The UIL baseball playoffs are heating up, and Central Texas is making some serious noise. A dozen high school teams from the Austin area have punched their tickets to the area round after dominating their bi-district matchups. It's the kind of deep playoff run that gets players, coaches, and fans dreaming of a state title.
Following impressive series wins by Hendrickson and Weiss on Thursday, ten more squads joined the party over the weekend. That brings the total to 12 teams advancing, proving that Central Texas baseball is in top form this postseason.
Let's break down the standout performances that made it all happen.
Lake Travis 19, Westwood 1
Yanuell Molina was unstoppable at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and five RBIs. CJ Hansford added a two-run homer and also tossed three solid innings on the mound. Ethan Schlotterback (2-for-2, two RBIs) and Elliott Proppe (2-for-3, RBI) rounded out the Cavs' offensive explosion as they swept the series.
Johnson 10, Laredo United 0 (5 innings)
Kason Hullum was nearly untouchable, firing a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and zero walks. Brenly Oaks (2-for-4, three RBIs) and Selvin Garrett (2-for-4, two RBIs) led the charge at the plate, while Luke Levassar smashed a two-run double. Johnson rolled to a clean sweep.
Cedar Ridge 5, Bowie 0 (Game 3)
Reed Cox and Bryson Batton teamed up for a two-hit shutout, with Cox allowing no hits over 3.2 innings and Batton striking out seven in relief. Jake Shoemaker drove in three runs on a 2-for-3 night, and Kasen Langerhans and Matthew Mabry each added RBIs to seal the series win.
Cedar Ridge 7, Bowie 0 (Game 2)
Luke Irwin struck out seven and allowed just three hits over five innings. Riggs Gordon (2-for-4, two RBIs) and Paul Hernandez Jr. (three RBIs) powered the offense, while Langerhans chipped in with an RBI. The Raiders swept their way to the next round.
Dripping Springs 5, Vista Ridge 0
Blake Cox was dominant, tossing a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts. Jake Pardue went 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, and two RBIs. Cade Sanders added a run-scoring single, Cash Nelson had a sacrifice fly, and Bobby Wilkinson reached base twice with a walk and a hit. The Tigers swept and looked sharp doing it.
With 12 teams moving on, the area round promises even more excitement. Whether you're a player or a fan, this is the time of year when every pitch matters—and every win brings you one step closer to glory.