The high school softball season begins in just a few weeks. To mark the occasion, the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women's Sports released its preseason rankings. 

Four local teams were featured in the poll, all from different classifications. These teams are all coming off solid 2025 campaigns but are looking to be even better this season. 

Gray Collegiate is the highest-ranked team in the area, coming in at No. 1 in 4A. The War Eagles are defending state champions and going for their fourth title in the past five seasons. 

The War Eagles went (32-3) last season and (13-1) in region play. The team entered the playoffs as the top seed and went on to win every game but one during its run to the trophy. 

Gray lost game one of the state title series to York before bouncing back and winning the final two games on its home field. 

The team is set to return many players from last year’s team, including Aspen Boulware. She was the No. 1-ranked player in the country for the class of 2027 before she reclassified and committed to play for the Gamecocks following this upcoming season. 

Boulware is one of the most decorated softball players Lexington County has seen, earning top honors in the state and national recognition. She has represented her country twice as part of Team USA and has her eyes set on an Olympic appearance in 2028.

While Boulware gets a lot of attention, she is not the only talented player on Gray’s roster. 

Makenzie Sease will be back for her sophomore season after pitching for the team in the title series as a freshman last year. She has emerged as one of the top players in the 2028 class. 

Peyton Hendrix is a junior who gained a lot of experience over the past few seasons. She is a Charleston Southern commit and another one of the team’s top pitchers. 

While Gray will be a favorite to go deep in the playoffs this season, there are other Lexington County teams to watch for. 

Lexington, Chapin and Pelion were also ranked in their respective polls. 

Lexington is fourth in the 5A Division I rankings. Chapin is eighth in the 5A Division II poll, and Pelion is seventh in 2A. 

The Wildcats and Eagles finished first and second in their region last season. Lexington finished the year (22-6) and went undefeated in conference games. Chapin was (14-11) overall and (7-3) in region. 

While both teams will be favored to finish near the top again, don’t count out the other four teams before the season even starts. Only two games separated second-place Chapin and fourth-place White Knoll. 

Pelion is the only local 2A team ranked. The Panthers finished 2025 with a (16-8) record and went (5-6) in region games. 

The team plays in a very competitive conference, with Saluda and Ninety Six sitting ahead of Pelion, at No. 2 and No. 5. 

While preseason rankings are usually a good indicator of where teams are ahead of the season, none of it matters until games are played.

The high school softball season is set to begin in Lexington County on Feb. 27. Some teams will play unofficial scrimmages before that. 

Full state softball rankings

5A Division I

1. Byrnes 

2. Summerville 

3. Sumter 

4. Lexington

5. Clover

6. Dorman

7. Ashley Ridge

8. West Ashley

9. Boiling Springs 

5A Division II

1. Catawba Ridge

2. St. James

3. West Florence

4. Woodmont

5. Berkeley

6. North Myrtle Beach

7. Indian Land

8. Chapin

9. Nation Ford

10. Gaffney 

4A

1. Gray Collegiate

2. York

3. AC Flora

4. North Augusta

5. Midland Valley

6. Hartsville

7. South Florence

8. Westside

9. Fountain Inn

10. Darlington

3A

1. Aynor

2. Belton-Honea Path

3. Oceanside Collegiate

4. West-Oak

5. Hanahan

6. Crescent

7. Loris

8. Palmetto

9. Dillon

10. Chapman 

2A

1. East Clarendon

2. Saluda

3. Chesnee

4. Buford

5. Ninety-Six

6. Woodland

7. Pelion

8. Chesterfield

9. Marion

10. Mid-Carolina 

A

1. Latta

2. Lewisville

3. Hannah-Pamplico

4. Whitmire

5. Branchville

6. Dixie

7. Lamar

8. Lake View

9. McBee

10. Ware Shoals