Dillon and Latta were ranked first place and Lake View placed in the top 10 in the South Carolina preseason Softball Coaches poll.
The Lady Wildcats were ranked first in the state in Class 2A softball after finishing as state runner-up last year. The 2012 champ, Palmetto, moved p to 3A for 2013.
Andrew Jackson was ranked second in Class 2A in the poll, with Buford and Crescent tied for third. Abbeville was ranked fifth, followed by Chesterfield, Central, Aynor, and Silver Bluff. Barnwell and Ninety Six tied for tenth.
Andrew Jackson finished as District IV runner up to Palmetto in 2012 and Buford was District I runner up to Crescent, who fell to Gilbert and Palmetto in the upper state bracket. Gilbert also moved up to 3A for 2013.
Both Abbeville and Chesterfield are new to 2A after moving up from Class A. Abbeville fell to Chesterfield for the Class A upper state title in 2012. Chesterfield went on to claim the Class A state title.
Central was eliminated in district playoffs last season, while Aynor made it to the lower state bracket by defeating Silver Bluff in the District V championship. But Aynor fell to Hanahan and and was eliminated by Andrews. Barnwell fell to Andrews and was eliminated by Loris in the District VII playoffs.
Ninety Six also moved up from Class A after finishing 2012 as runner up in District IV.
In the Class A poll, Latta and East Clarendon were tied for first place. The Lady Vikings finished as the Class A state runner up, falling to Chesterfield 7-0 and 15-1 in the championship series.
East Clarendon competed in the lower state bracket in 2012 but fell to Green Sea-Floyds twice. The Lady Trojans were ranked third in the preseason poll.
Fox Creek was ranked fourth, with McBee and Johnsonville in fifth and sixth place. Fox Creek fell to Chesterfield in the upper state bracket in 2012 and was eliminated by Landrum while McBee fell to Landrum in the District II finale. Both Chesterfield and Landrum moved up to Class 2A for 2013. Johnsonville advanced to the lower state bracket but fell to Latta and East Clarendon.
Lake View’s Lady Wild Gators were ranked seventh in the poll. The Lady Gators finished as state runner-up to Abbeville in 2011, but lost several key players and gained a new coach in 2012. After falling to East Clarendon in the first round of the District VII playoffs, the Lady Gators battled their way back from the loser bracket, shutting out both Baptist Hill and Allendale-Fairfax before falling 5-3 to East Clarendon in the district championship game.
Dixie and St. Joseph tied for eighth place and Hannah-Pamplico was ranked tenth in the poll. Both Dixie and St. Joseph were eliminated in district tournaments, while Hannah-Pamplico fought back from the District VI loser bracket to face Johnsonville in the district championship game.
Defending champ Hartsville was at the top of the Class 3A poll, and Hillcrest topped the Class 4A poll.
The 2013 softball season begins on Monday, March 4, with scrimmages beginning on February 27.
