Dillon, Lake View, and Latta were all ranked in the top in the South Carolina Baseball Coaches preseason poll on January 23, 2013.
The Wildcats were ranked second in the state in Class 2A baseball, with Bishop England taking the top spot. Rounding out the top five were Andrew Jackson, Mid-Carolina, and Chesterfield.
Last season ,the Wildcats breezed through the District VIII bracket but fell to Bishop England in round one of the Lower State tournament and were eliminated by Hanahan. Hanahan defeated Bishop England for the lower state title, but finished as state runner-up to Gilbert. Both Gilbert and Hanahan moved up to Class 3A this season.
In Class A, Lake View was ranked third, with St. Joseph’s in first and Lamar in second. Johnsonville was ranked fourth with Lewisville and Christ Church following in fifth and sixth.
The Latta Vikings were ranked seventh in the Class A poll, and Dixie, McBee, and Fox Creek rounded out the top 10.
In 2012, Lake View squeezed by East Clarendon in the District VI bracket and Johnsonville swept District VIII, while Latta fell to Bamberg-Ehrhardt in the District V championship. Lake View fell to Bamberg-Ehrhardt in the first round of the Lower State tournament and was eliminated by Lamar, who also eliminated Johnsonville as they battled their way back from the loser bracket to claim the lower state title. St. Joseph’s then swept the championship series to claim the state title.
In softball, the Class 2A state runner-up, Dillon, will be returning almost every player from last spring. The Wildcats swept District VIII in 2012 but fell to Hanahan in the lower state bracket and battled their way back to earn the lower state title. But in the state title series, they fell 1-0 and 1-0 to Palmetto. Palmetto, Hanahan, and upper state runner-up Gilbert have all since moved up to Class 3A.
Latta and Lake View are also expected to have strong softball teams this spring. The Lady Vikings finished 2012 as state runner-up to Chesterfield, who moved up to Class 2A this season. Lake View finished as the runner-up in District VII, falling to East Clarendon.
Monday was the first official spring practice for teams around the state and scrimmages will begin on February 4.
