By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

District 26-6A has been a six-team race all season, with three teams vying for the district championship and three others battling for the final playoff spot.

On Tuesday, Westlake (14-11-1, 9-6 district) stunned Bowie 6-4 in extra innings thanks to a two-run home run by Mia Rincon in the top of the eighth.

The loss puts Bowie (21-8, 11-4) a game behind Dripping Springs (23-11, 12-3) and Lake Travis (21-11, 12-3) in the district championship race.

For the Chaps, the win saved Westlake’s season and kept playoff hopes alive. Westlake is tied with Buda Johnson (17-13, 9-6) and Del Valle (25-12, 9-6) for fourth place heading into Friday’s season finales.

The playoff scenario

Friday’s slate of games in 26-6A features two games with playoff implications: Bowie at Lake Travis and Buda Johnson at Westlake.

If the Cavaliers defeat the Bulldogs, Lake Travis will share the district title with Dripping Springs, should the Tigers defeat Anderson on Friday. The teams split the regular season series so there will be a tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed.

If Bowie defeats Lake Travis, and Dripping Springs beats Anderson, the Tigers will win the district championship and Bulldogs will enter into a tie with Lake Travis for the No. 2 seed.

A Lake Travis victory will complete the season sweep of Bowie and put the Cavaliers into a tie with Dripping Springs for the district championship and forcing a tie for the No. 1 seed.

As for the final playoff spot, the winner of Friday’s Westlake-Johnson game could avoid a tiebreaker if Austin High (8-20, 2-13) upsets Del Valle on Friday. However, that’s unlikely. Since Westlake and Johnson both split the regular season series with the Cardinals, a tiebreaker would be needed to determine who will face nationally ranked Cedar Ridge in next week’s bi-district playoff series.

Top 10 performances

Mia Rincon, Westlake: The senior blasted a two-run home run to give the Chaps a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning. Westlake added another run and held on to upset Bowie 6-4 and save the Chaps playoff hopes.

Payton Filla, Granger: The senior went 3 for 3 at the plate with four RBIs, a double and two runs scored in the Lions’ 18-0 win over Chilton on Monday.

Kate Schroeder, Wimberley: The senior went 3 for 5 with a home run, double, three RBIs and two runs scored in the Texans’ 16-15 win over Boerne on Tuesday.

Taylor Porter, Leander: The senior went 2 for 3 with a home run, double, three RBIs and two runs scored in the Lions’ 11-1 win over Cedar Park on Tuesday.

Deanna Dailey, Glenn: The sophomore hit a game-winning home run in the top of the sixth inning in Tuesday’s 1-0 upset over Rouse.

Trinity Martinez, Elgin: The sophomore went 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and three RBIs in the Wildcats’ 10-0 win over Pflugerville.  

Julie Rodriguez, Lake Travis: The freshman hurler tossed a complete game, giving up one run and five hits while striking out nine batters in the Cavaliers 3-1 win over Austin High on Tuesday.

Chloe Ellis, Gateway: The junior went 2 for 4 at the plate with a home run, three RBIs and a double in the Gators’ 10-0 win over Lago Vista. Pulling double duty in the circle, Ellis tossed a no-hitter and struck out 12 Vikings’ batters.

Mikayla Velasquez, Thrall: The junior went 2 for 3 with a home run and two runs scored in the Tigerettes 5-2 win over Bartlett on Tuesday.

Alyssa Licconi, La Grange: The senior pitcher struck out eight batters in the circle and went 2 for 4 with an RBI at the plate in the Leopards 15-0 win over Giddings on Tuesday.

Scores from around the area

Class 6A

Hutto 6, Bryan 4

Waco Midway 8, Weiss 3

Westlake 6, Bowie 4

Dripping Springs 2, Del Valle 1

Buda Johnson 11, Akins 0

Lake Travis 3, Austin 1

Class 5A

Glenn 1, Rouse 0

Leander 11, Cedar Park 1

Georgetown 5, East View 0

Bastrop 13, Cedar Creek 0

Lockhart 7, Lehman 3

Liberty Hill 12, Hays 4

Elgin 10, Pflugerville 0

Navarro 24, Northeast 7

Hendrickson 14, Connally 0

Class 4A-below

La Grange 15, Giddings 0

Wimberley 14, Boerne 13

Thrall 5, Bartlett 2

Gateway 10, Lago Vista 0

Thrall 6, Rosebud-Lott 5 (Monday)