Midlands baseball Top 10 rankings and final look at playoff picture for local teams
The high school baseball season across South Carolina is winding down. To help you keep up with everything, The State is offering its weekly Midlands Top 10 power rankings. Records are as of April 23.
1. Blythewood (23-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Bengals swept Ridge View in a three-game series and finish off regular season with a region game against Spring Valley and non-region matchup with A.C. Flora.
2. Lexington (16-4-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
The Wildcats swept Dutch Fork last week and can win the Region 5-5A championship by winning two of three against Chapin this week.
3. River Bluff (18-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Gators swept Chapin in a three-game series and finish the regular season with a three-game set with White Knoll.
4. A.C. Flora (17-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Falcons went 4-0 last week and can wrap up the region title by taking one of two games against Dreher.
5. Brookland-Cayce (14-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
The Bearcats went 2-0 last week and won their first region title since 2008.
6. Gray Collegiate (20-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
War Eagles wrapped up Region 3-2A championship last week and close out the regular season with games against Newberry and Cardinal Newman this week.
7. Airport (16-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
The Eagles’ region schedule is complete and went 2-1 in non-region games last week.
8. Hammond (14-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
The Skyhawks swept Augusta Christian last week.
9. Dreher (17-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: NR
Blue Devils crack rankings for first time this season and have big two-game series with rival A.C. Flora this week.
10. Mid-Carolina (16-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: NR
The Region 4-3A champions have four non-region games this week to close out regular season.
Dropped Out: Cardinal Newman, Lugoff-Elgin
Others to consider: Gilbert, Cardinal Newman, Lugoff-Elgin
Games to Watch this Week
Gilbert vs. Strom Thurmond
Teams plays twice this week and will determine the second spot in Region 5-3A.
Lexington vs. Chapin
Wildcats can lock up the region championship by winning two of three games.
Hammond at Cardinal Newman
Tuesday’s game might decide the region championship. Cardinal Newman won earlier matchup this season.
AC Flora at Blythewood
Wednesday non-region matchup featuring No. 1 ranked team in 5A against No. 1 team in 4A.
Playoff picture for Midlands teams
A look at the playoff picture for area teams. Top 4 teams makes the playoffs in SCHSL playoffs. Region record in parentheses:
——Class 5A——
Region 4: Blythewood (12-0) has clinched the region championship and Spring Valley (7-5) has wrapped up the second spot. Northwestern is third and Rock Hill fourth.
Region 5: Lexington (9-1), River Bluff (8-2), Dutch Fork (5-7) and Chapin (4-6) have clinched playoff spots. Lexington wins region title with one win in final two games against Chapin this week. River Bluff needs to win twice over White Knoll and have Lexington lose final two games to win region. Dutch Fork has No. 3 seed and Chapin fourth.
——Class 4A——
Region 4: A.C. Flora (8-0) wins region by taking one of two against Dreher (6-2). The Blue Devils can win region by sweeping A.C. Flora and Lugoff-Elgin (6-2) losing one of two to Irmo (1-7). L-E gets second with a win and Dreher loss this week. Westwood (2-6) would get fourth seed by winning one of two against Richland Northeast (1-7).
Region 5: Airport has clinched the region and will be No. 1 seed from Region 5-4A.
——Class 3A——
Region 4: Mid-Carolina (8-0) has clinched the region. Chester (6-2) is second and Fairfield Central (4-4) third. The final playoff spot is between Lower Richland (1-7) and Keenan (1-7).
Region 5: Brookland-Cayce (8-0) has won the region championship and has a pair of makeup games this week with Fox Creek and Swansea. Gilbert (6-2) and Strom Thurmond (6-2) are tied for second and play each other twice this week. Fox Creek (2-6), which had to forfeit a couple of games, will likely finish fourth.
Region 6: Lakewood (7-2) Lake City (7-3), Marlboro County (6-2) and Camden (6-3) have locked up playoff spots. It is just a matter of seeding. Marlboro has Lakewood on Tuesday and Camden on Thursday.
——Class 2A——
Region 3: Gray Collegiate (10-0) won the region and is done with region games. Batesburg-Leesville is second, Newberry (6-4) third and Saluda (5-5) is the fourth seed.
Region 5: Barnwell (5-2) leads the region and has one game left with Wade Hampton (1-5). Silver Bluff (5-3) is second with Pelion (3-3) third and Edisto (3-4) fourth going into final week. Pelion plays Edisto and Wade Hampton this week.
——SCISA——
Class 3A: Winner of Tuesday’s Hammond (6-1) and Cardinal Newman (6-1) wins the region title. Ben Lippen (5-3) will finish third in region and qualify for playoffs.
Class 2A: Northside Christian is in the mix for a postseason spot and can clinch one on Tuesday against Thomas Sumter.
Class A: Richard Winn won the region with an 8-0 record.
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 1:00 PM.
