Midlands softball teams eye end to championship drought

The South Carolina High School League softball playoffs get under way Wednesday, and here are five things to watch for Midlands teams:

1. Midlands’ state title drought

It’s been more than a decade since a team from The State’s coverage area has won a state championship.

Last season, only Gilbert and Mid-Carolina made it out of the district round.

Brookland-Cayce was the last Midlands team to claim a title, winning the 2002 Class 3A championship. Lexington was the last area team to win a Class 4A title back in 2001, when it defeated Spring Valley.

No Midlands team has made it to the championship series since 2009 when B-C lost to J.L. Mann.

2. Lugoff-Elgin one to watch

One of the teams hoping to make to a deep playoff run is Region 4-4A champion Lugoff-Elgin, which hasn’t played for a state title since 1990.

The Demons are 24-2 and led by 20-game winner Baleigh Lunsford, who leads the Midlands in strikeouts and victories. Delaney Guerrero and Savannah Grigsby lead the team in batting average and Sophie Holland leads in home runs.

3. Others to watch in Class 4A

In addition to L-E, Blythewood and Lexington also begin the Class 4A playoffs at home. Blythewood was runner-up in Region 4-4A and Lexington was runner-up in Region 5-4A.

Other Class 4A teams in the playoffs will open up on the road and include Spring Valley, Dutch Fork, White Knoll and River Bluff

4. Chapin looks for deep run

In Class 3A, Chapin won the Region 4-3A championship and has three college signees in Brooke Burns (North Carolina), Lindsay Harris (Presbyterian) and Olivia Chapman (Presbyterian).

In addition to Chapin, Camden and Gilbert hope to make a deep runs. The Indians are looking for their second straight district title, but will have a tough challenge to make it out with two-time defending lower state champion Hartsville in the bracket.

5. Mid-Carolina’s offensive surge

Mid-Carolina has one of the best offenses in the Midlands and is looking for its second straight district championship in Class 2A.

Alex Fulmer leads the Midlands in homers, RBI and triples, and six players are hitting .400 or better on the season.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Midlands softball teams eye end to championship drought."