The Latta Vikings were ranked as the number one team in Class A in the South Carolina Baseball Coaches preseason polls.
The Vikings are the two-time defending lower state champs in Class A, facing St. Joseph’s in the state championship series both years. Defending state champ St. Joseph’s is ranked sixth in the poll.
Latta will be a strong contender again this year, returning a strong team that includes John Kever Love, Colby Lee, and Jackson Williams.
Fox Creek and Lewisville took second and third place in the poll, and Lake View was ranked fourth. The Wild Gators were the District VI champs last season and battled Latta for the lower state title.
Christ Church was ranked fifth, and Southside Christian was seventh, followed by Bamberg-Ehrhardt, McBee, and East Clarendon.
In Class 2A, the Dillon Wildcats were ranked fourth in the state. Dillon should have some strong returning talent, including pitcher Duncan Callahan. Last season, the Wildcats earned the District VIII title but fell to Loris and Wade Hampton in the lower state bracket. Loris went on to claim the lower state title, but was not ranked in the preseason poll.
Defending Class 2A champ Ninety-Six made the top of the list, followed by Chesnee and Mid-Carolina. Bishop England was ranked fifth, with Woodruff, Central, Wade Hampton, Indian Land, and Newberry rounding out the top 10.
In Class 3A, AC Flora was ranked number one and Hartsville was ranked sixth. In 4A, Wando took the top spot.
