All Dripping Springs sports seasons concluded on May 13th as the Lady Tigers softball team was eliminated from the playoffs. On the same day, two track athletes competed at the state track and field meet in Austin. A week earlier, the lone Tiger golfer at the state tournament was playing his final 36 holes. This week was the last hurrah in UIL Class 5A for Dripping Springs before moving on to 6A next year.
The Lady Tigers took on SA McCollom for the regional quarterfinal game in San Marcos. The match was a one-game series. Usually teams like to play best of three, but sometimes coaches feel their best chance to advance is put all their eggs in one basket. When the two coaches do not agree, it is decided by a coin toss. Coach Womack said he “lost the toss for best of three and won the toss for choice of field”.
DS's playoff appearances were all tight outcomes and meant the team had to play almost faultless games. The McCollom game was no different, but the team was having to play without their starting shortstop, Taylor Anderson, who was injured prior to the end of the regular season.
McCollom got on board first with a single run in the second, coming back for two more in the third. In the fourth, Ashtyn Owens got one of the Lady Tigers three hits to drive in Kate Young, who was a pinchrunner. That would be it for the score, and the 3-1 loss sent DS home to stay.
DS finished the season with a record of 27-11 and the district champi onship. Dripping Springs will enter 6A with all but two players returning from this squad.
Dripping Springs had a rough outing at the state track meet. Ava Williamson competed in the high jump and placed ninth, clearing the bar at 5'2. A couple of weeks ago, she had tied the school record at 5'6. If she could have duplicated that feat, she would have been in line for a silver medal.
The same could be said for Brant Melton. He placed ninth with a time of 1.58.97 in the 800. His best time of 1.54+ would have also put him in silver medal territory.
