Dripping Springs starting pitcher Blake Cox has seen it all over the last three seasons as a varsity pitcher. From coming out of the bullpen during his sophomore season, to starting in the third and decisive game in the State Semifinals, Cox has been the epitome of Dripping Springs Baseball. Now, with two Division I starters off to Texas and Tennessee respectively, it is now Cox’s team, something that he doesn’t take for granted.
“One of the main things I’ve learned is failure is inevitable,” said Cox, about his game three lost versus Kingwood in last season’s state semifinals. “To succeed, you have to fail. (Baseball) is a team game, and you have to learned that not everything is your fault.”
The start of the 2026 season has been spectacular for Cox. So far, Cox has struck out 19 batters, while only giving up two hits in eight and two-thirds innings. He, along with the rest of Dripping Springs team, has won eight in a row as of this writing, including winning the vaunted Comal ISD Invitational preseason tournament, a tournament that has some of Texas best teams playing in it.
Cox also had a hand in Coach Chris Payne getting his 400th career victory in his 20th season, a milestone reached with the victory against Sterling on February 26th. “I love Coach Payne. Coach Payne’s been there for me since freshman year. I’ve known him for longer than that going to baseball camps. Being that 400th win means a lot to me. He has our back everyday, he goes to bat for us, so just love to go to bat for him and get that win.”
While Cox is garnering the headlines for Dripping Springs this season, there are others that are making a mark on the early part of this season. Transfer Oscar Johnson and freshman Cruz McBride are giving the Tigers depth at starting pitching…something that the Tigers hasn’t had in ages. Meanwhile, Nixon Badilla has positioned himself as possibly the Tigers closer, already with two saves in this season, and Jason Steele, last season’s District 26 Newcomer of the Year, provides more depth out of the pen, while also being the everyday shortstop for a Dripping Springs team with it’s eye on Round Rock, Texas and the State Championship game on the first Saturday in June.
But for Cox, it’s not about showing what he’s about since last May’s defeat, it’s about what this team is about as we head towards district play. “People are going to write us off until we play more teams, so far, I think we’re in a good spot. I don’t mind being under-looked. It’s been my story since sophomore year.”
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