For the first time since 1998, the Dripping Springs High School Tiger Baseball team is heading to the state semifinals after a 4-2 win over Pharr-San Juan-Alamo in a decisive game 3 of the regional finals on Saturday, May 24, at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi.
After dropping the series opener 6-4 on Thursday, the Tigers needed back-to-back wins to keep their season alive. On Friday, senior Taylor Tracey delivered a standout performance, striking out 12 batters, allowing just two hits, and going 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Dripping Springs to a 4–1 win and even the series. On Saturday, the Tigers held off a late rally by the Bears, keeping them scoreless in the final two innings and adding an insurance run in the seventh to secure the win.
Dripping Springs will meet Humble Kingwood in the 6A Division 2 state semifinals. The best-of-three series begins Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Riverside Stadium in Victoria. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m. and game 3, if necessary, is set for Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
The Tigers are making their fourth state appearance (1984, 1996, 1998) with their last trip coming in their final year as a 3A program. Dripping Springs is 28-10 on the season, currently tied for the second-most wins in program history. Kingwood enters with a 36-3 record, having won 15 consecutive games dating back to April 4.
The series winner will advance to face either Flower Mound Marcus or Tomball in the state championship on Saturday, June 7 at 12:00 p.m. at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
Tickets for the state semifinal series are available online for $10 (plus processing fee). Tickets purchased on gameday will be $15.