2025 baseball preview: Austin-area preseason rankings

By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

The 2025 Texas high school baseball regular season is a week into the season, which means it’s time for the Austin Sports Journal’s preseason rankings for Class 6A, 5A and 4A-below.

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Here are the top teams to watch in the upcoming season:

Class 6A

1. Dripping Springs (25-11): The Tigers return probably the best pitching duo in Class 6A in last year’s district MVP Taylor Tracey, a University of Tennessee signee, and Cooper Rummel.

2. Lake Travis (25-8-1): The Cavaliers were the District 26-6A champion last year and return six starters. Lake Travis will look from redemption from last season’s early playoff exit.

3. Vista Ridge (18-11-1): The Rangers will be young but will be able to ride the arm of Rice signee Ethan Sanders early as the newcomers settle into their roles.

4. Buda Johnson (18-16-1): The Jaguars move to a new district (29-5A) with seven returning starters from a team that placed third in 26-6A. Look for Johnson to challenge San Marcos and New Braunfels Canyon for the district title.

5. Round Rock (24-13): With six returning starters that reach the second round of the playoffs, the Dragons will contend for a district title in 2025.

Others: Westwood, Westlake, New Braunfels Canyon

Class 5A

1. Rouse (34-10-1): The Raiders return four starters from a team that reached the Class 5A semifinals, including first baseman/designated hitter Andrew Sanchez.

2. New Braunfels (30-9-1): The Unicorns were a Class 6A regional quarterfinalists in 2024. Pitcher Nathan Moore (90 strikeouts, 0.65 ERA) is one of the top pitchers in the metro area.

3. Cedar Park (28-8-2): Ben Huffman takes over as head coach for a team that lost to Rouse in the regional quarterfinals and returns four starters.

4. Elgin (17-17): The Wildcats are loaded with seven returning starters from a team that reach the area round of the playoffs in 2024. Jack Grames and Jalen Owens make for a formidable duo on the mound.

5. Hendrickson (17-15): The Hawks return eight starters, including five all-district selections, from last year’s team that reached the area round of the playoffs. Shortstop Kevin Haslam is a game-changer at the plate and in the infield.

Others:, Liberty Hill, Hays, Georgetown

Class 4A-Below

Thorndale’s Jaxson Eschberger (3) gets a hit uring a Class 2A regional semifinal on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at the Bastrop High School baseball field in Bastrop, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

1. Thorndale (32-3-1): A Class 2A state contender, the Bulldogs return two all-state selections (SS/P Gunner Ferguson and U Jaxson Eschberger) from a team that reached the regional semifinals in 2024.

2. Johnson City (22-10): The Eagles are another Class 2A state contender with 10 returning starters, including P/OF Johnny Slawinski III (.445 batting average).

3. Salado (23-12-1: The Eagles return nine starters from last year’s team that reached the Class 4A regional semifinals. Senior SS/P Brody Cole, a Temple College signee, was a first-team all-district selection last year.

4. Blanco (20-8-1): The Panthers were an area finalists in 2024 and returns seven starters from last year’s team, including first-team all-district selections Jacob Johnson (.370 BA, 29 Rs) and Matthew Rodriguez (.389 BA, 20 RBIs).

5. Thrall (22-11): The Tigers were a powerhouse in Class 2A and finished second behind a good Thorndale team in 27-2A last year. Thrall returns seven starters, including last year’s district co-defensive MVP Maverick McAllister.

Others: Davenport, Rockdale, Lago Vista