There’s a lot of parity in AA softball
Chesnee head coach Tripp Fogle says he has "a solid group of players that have worked hard in the offseason to improve."
There’s a lot of parity in AA softball
By Dennis Brunson
hssr.com Associate Editor
Sumter – East Clarendon High School had always been a power in Class A softball, winning a couple of state championships along the way.
Last season the Wolverines turned themselves into a AA power. After being in the state’s lowest classification for the overwhelming majority of the school’s existence, the softball team gave the Turbeville school its first ever state tittle in any sport last season.
East Clarendon won the lower state title and beat upper state champion Saluda in the best-of-3 title series.
The Wolverines are having to replace their pitcher, Laiklyn Gaskins, from last season, but they have everyone else back.
Saluda has a lot of talent back, including AA All-State pitcher Miller Martin. The Tigers are ranked first in the High School Sports Report AA Top 10 poll. EC is ranked seventh.
Are they on a course to meet for the title again? That remains to be seen, but let’s take a look at how each of the seven regions are shaping up.
REGION 1
Chesnee is in the driver’s seat to win the region title. The Eagles are 10-6 overall and 5-0 in the region with the second half awaiting it.
Blacksburg and Landrum are Chesnee’s top challengers. The Eagles beat Blacksburg 4-1 and beat Landrum 13-0. However, Landrum is 5-2 in region play.
REGION 2
This has to be the most competitive AA region in the state. Saluda may be ranked first in the poll, but it is in a 3-way tie for first place with Ninety Six and Batesburg-Leesville.
Each team has one loss with unranked and 11-1 B-L at 5-1 and Saluda and third-ranked Ninety Six at 4-1. The Panthers lost to Ninety Six 11-5 but rebounded with a 6-0 victory over Saluda. The Tigers rolled over Saluda 15-0.
B-L was to visit Ninety Six on April 14 Saluda plays host to Ninety Six on April 17 and visits Batesburg-Leesville on April 24.
REGION 3
Year in and year out, Mid-Carolina is one of the top AA teams in the state. This year is no different. The Rebels are 10-6 overall, but 4-0 in region play and ranked 10th.
Clinton is a solid second at 10-4 overall and 4-2 in region play. The Red Devils lost to Mid-Carolina by one run twice, 2-1 and 10-9.
REGION 4
OK. Maybe Region 2 isn’t the toughest AA region in the state. Maybe it’s Region 4. Buford is ranked fourth, Chesterfield fifth, Andrew Jackson sixth and North Central eighth.
Buford is undefeated in region play at 5-0 with a 6-7 overall record. Andrew Jackson is second at 4-1 with a 7-4 record, Chesterfield is third at 3-2 and is 6-6 overall, and North Central is 12-3 overall but with a 2-3 region record.
The teams all face each other again as they all have five region contests remaining.
The other region teams are Cheraw and Central. The Eagles are 1-4 and Cheraw is winless.
REGION 5
Second-ranked Barnwell is in full control of Region 5.The Warhorses are 11-2 overall and 7-0 in region play.
The real battle in this region will be for second place. Bridges Prep is 5-3 in the region while Hampton County is 3-3.
REGION 6
Andrews has walked away with this region. The Yellow Jackets are undefeated in six region contests and are 11-1 overall
Andrews won one of its region contests by forfeit but it has outscored the opposition 74-12 in the five games that were played.
REGION 7
East Clarendon is undefeated in region play at 6-0 with an 11-5 overall record. Atlantic Collegiate Academy is also 6-0 in the region but with a 6-11 overall mark.
It is more than likely the region title will be decided when the teams face off on April 21 and April 24.
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