By Thomas Grant Jr.
A year after finishing state runner-up, the Mid-Carolina baseball team sits atop Class 2A to open the season.
The Rebels are number one in the preseason S.C. Baseball Coaches Association poll. They are coming off a 24-7-1 season in which it won the Upper State title before losing to Oceanside Collegiate in the final.
The Landsharks have moved up to Class 3A this season.
Batesburg-Leesville is ranked seventh in the Class 2A poll.
Meanwhile, defending Class 5A champion Lexington is ranked second in Division I. The Wildcats went undefeated in the post-season in claiming their seventh state title.
They are joined in the rankings by Dutch Fork at ninth. Division II has fellow Lexington/Richland District Five school Chapin at number four.
The latest realignment in Class 4A has four Midlands teams – A.C Flora, Gilbert, Camden, and Airport – in the preseason poll. The Indians are moving up from Class 3A this season.
S.C. BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION PRESEASON POLL
Class 5A
Division I
1. James Island; 2. Lexington; 3. Dorman; 4. Ashley Ridge; 5. Summerville; 6. Byrnes; 7. Stratford; 8. Blythewood; 9. Dutch Fork; 10. (tie) Boiling Springs, JL Mann
Division II
1. TL Hanna; 2. Catawba Ridge; 3. Fort Mill; 4. Chapin; 5. North Myrtle Beach; 6. Berkeley; 7. Lugoff-Elgin; 8. Lucy Beckham; 9. Nation Ford; 10. (tie) St. James, Indian Land
Class 4A
1. Laurens; 2. AC Flora; 3. Daniel; 4. Gilbert; 5. Fountain Inn; 6. Bishop England; 7. Camden; 8. Seneca; 9. Airport; 10. (tie) Hartsville, Blue Ridge
Class 2A
1. Mid-Carolina; 2. Cheraw; 3. Clinton; 4. Strom Thurmond; 5. Andrew Jackson; 6. Central; 7. Batesburg-Leesville; 8. Philip Simmons; 9. Barnwell; 10. Landrum
Feature photo courtesy of Mid-Carolina High School
