By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

With the top-ranked Bulldogs holding a commanding 8-0 lead in the fourth inning of their playoff win over Westlake last week in San Marcos, Bowie softball coach Cathy Johnson-Landers did a curious thing.

She sent Sam Beeson from second to third base with no one out. No surprise, Beeson stole third with ease against a demoralized Chap team just seeking to staunch the flow of Bowie runs. 

But even from the other side of the diamond, Beeson – and Johnson – must have felt the heat emanating from a seething Haley Gaddis.  

The Westlake coach didn’t say as much after the game, but that simple stolen base in the midst of a 16-0 romp proved just the latest log on the fire of Westlake’s fiercest rivalry. 

Forget Austin High, folks. The venerable West Austin turf war between Westlake and the Maroons has gone the way of Liberty Lunch and the Armadillo World Headquarters. Understandably, many Westlake folks still cherish the rivalry because of the historical links between the schools; Eanes students attended Austin High until the construction of Westlake High in 1969, and many folks in Westlake can still hum “cheer, cheer for ol’ Austin High.”

But that rivalry belongs to the past. Austin High’s baseball team claimed the district title and won a playoff series in 2005, and the Maroon girls captured a district title in basketball in 2008. 

And that’s it. That’s the extent of Austin High’s success since the baseball team reached the 2001 state championship game. 

By comparison, Bowie has finally begun fulfilling the school’s vast potential. Since opening in 1988, the campus has long been a sleeping giant in the realm of prep athletics. Bowie boast the highest enrollment in the Austin school district, and its varied student demographics span all socioeconomic classes. 

Some of Bowie’s self-realization in the latter half of this decade has come at the expense of Westlake’s athletic department.

The football team has won at least a share of the district title in each of the past two seasons, which is two more than the program claimed in its previous 19 years. The volleyball team provided the only smudge on Westlake’s sterling list of championships this decade with a district title in 2005, and the girls soccer team handed the Chaps a wrenching playoff loss just last month – and the Dawgs’ celebration afterward didn’t help ease Westlake’s annoyance at the setback.

Bowie has even infiltrated the Chaps’ dominance in country club sports such as swimming and golf in the past few years while maintaining strong programs such as boys basketball, baseball and track.

After 20 years, the Bulldogs have finally cultivated enough participation, parent support and booster club funds to help compete with Westlake.

And they’re not afraid to rub that reality in sometimes, like they did last week in San Marcos.

Dawg fight

Forget Austin High. Among Westlake’s district foes, Bowie has caused the most grief in recent seasons.

Sport               Why they’re a rival

Football          Won two consecutive district titles, split past two games with Westlake.

Volleyball       With their 2005 district title, the Dawgs became the only team besides Westlake to win the                            Chaps’ district this decade.

Boys basketball Ten consecutive playoff appearances testify to perennial district powerhouse status.

Girls soccer Always-tough foe knocked Chaps out of 2009 playoffs with regional quarterfinal win.

Softball District’s big dog rubbed it in during 16-0 win over Chaps in third round of playoffs.

Baseball Only team besides Westlake in past 4 years to claim a district title when they shared ‘08 25-5A crown.