South Carolina Schools Gear Up with New Baseball Rankings

News Summary

Columbia, SC is abuzz as the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association unveils its 2025 preseason rankings, featuring a significant shakeup due to realignment. With six state champions now instead of five, schools like James Island and Lexington are at the forefront of the Class AAAAA rankings. Anticipation builds as teams adapt to new classifications and prepare for an exciting season ahead, especially with new NCAA regulations allowing extended practice times for future seasons.

Excitement in Columbia as Preseason Baseball Rankings Hit the Scene

Columbia, SC – Baseball fans are buzzing with excitement as the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association has officially released its 2025 preseason rankings. If you thought the baseball scene was predictable, think again! This year’s lineup has experienced quite the shakeup thanks to realignment by the South Carolina High School League, leading to a fresh competitive vibe among the state’s top teams.

A New League of Champions

This season brings with it not just a new ranking, but also a significant twist—there are now six state champions instead of the usual five! With schools moving between classifications, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. For instance, fans might remember last year’s Class AAAA state champion, James Island, which has now soared to the No. 1 spot in the Class AAAAA Division I poll. What a leap!

Following closely behind are last year’s Class AAAAA state champions, Lexington, now snagging the second spot. It’s clear that the competition is fierce, with teams ready to prove just how powerful they can be this season.

Top Teams Across the Classes

Let’s break down the top 10 teams across various classes, shall we? Starting with Class 5A, Division 1, the rankings are as follows:

1. James Island
2. Lexington
3. Dorman
4. Ashley Ridge
5. Summerville
6. Byrnes
7. Stratford
8. Blythewood
9. Dutch Fork
10. Boiling Springs
11. J.L. Mann

Moving on to Class 5A, Division 2:

1. T.L. Hanna
2. Catawba Ridge
3. Fort Mill
4. Chapin
5. North Myrtle Beach
6. Berkeley
7. Lugoff-Elgin
8. Lucy Beckham
9. Nation Ford
10. St. James
11. Indian Land

And don’t forget about Class 4A:

1. Laurens
2. A.C. Flora
3. Daniel
4. Gilbert
5. Fountain Inn
6. Bishop England
7. Camden
8. Seneca
9. Airport
10. Hartsville
11. Blue Ridge

Let’s take a glance at Class 3A, which has a host of strong contenders:

1. Powdersville
2. Hanahan
3. Oceanside Collegiate
4. Southside Christian
5. Fox Creek
6. Loris
7. Woodruff
8. Aynor
9. Pendleton
10. Waccamaw

In Class 2A, the rankings look like this:

1. Mid-Carolina
2. Cheraw
3. Clinton
4. Strom Thurmond
5. Andrew Jackson
6. Central
7. Batesburg-Leesville
8. Philip Simmons
9. Barnwell
10. Landrum

Finally, in Class 1A we have:

1. Latta
2. Abbeville
3. Lake View
4. McBee
5. Green Sea Floyds
6. Lewisville
7. Dixie
8. Johnsonville
9. Bamberg-Ehrhardt
10. Hannah-Pamplico

Looking Ahead

As we gear up for the season, coaches are particularly excited about how the new NCAA rule starting in the 2026–2027 season will allow teams to kick off practices a whole 35 days before opening day. Talk about preparation! Prior to this shift, teams only had 21 days. Mark your calendars because the new practice start date is set for January 9, 2026, leading up to opening day on February 13. Coaches are hopeful this extended time will be a game changer, especially for pitchers.

As we can see, there’s a lot to look forward to in South Carolina baseball this year. With the rankings shaking things up and new regulations aiming to enhance player safety, this season promises to be one for the books! Are you ready for the action?

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Additional Resources

• On3: Spring Practices Start Earlier for Gamecock Baseball
• Post and Courier: Preseason Rankings Released
• Sports Illustrated: 2025 Preseason Polls
• Gamecocks Online: Paul Mainieri Named Head Coach
• WBTW: SC Baseball Coaches Association Preseason Poll Released