There is just under a month until the high school baseball season begins in Lexington County. 

The 2025 season was one of the best for the area in recent memory, with three teams competing for state championships and two winning it all. 

In the lead-up to the season, the state’s baseball coaches released their preseason rankings for all six different classifications. At least one Lexington County team appeared in four of the polls. 

All three state finalists are featured. State champions Airport and Batesburg-Leesville top the 4A and 2A polls. Lexington, which finished runner-up last season, is third in the 5A Division I poll. 

Lexington County’s other two 5A Division I teams joined the Wildcats in the rankings. 

River Bluff ranks sixth. The Gators finished fourth in the region last season and lost in a three-game play-in against Dorman in the postseason. 

Dutch Fork is ranked ninth after a second-place region finish in 2025. The Silver Foxes hosted a first-round playoff game before losing and being eliminated in the loser’s bracket. 

In 5A Division II, Chapin is fifth. The Eagles had a solid 2025 season, finishing third in the region and advancing to the second round of their postseason district bracket. 

While Airport is at the top of 4A, its region rival will look to dethrone the champs. Gilbert and Airport had some serious battles last season and are expected to both be contenders again. 

Gilbert finished second in the region to the Eagles in 2025 and earned a spot in the 4A playoffs. The Indians made a deep run and came a few games short of making the championship series, losing in the Upper State semifinal to none other than Airport.

In 2A, Batesburg-Leesville sits alone as the only local team represented in the rankings.

Swansea, the area’s only 3A team, missed the cut in that poll. Fox Creek is the only team from the Tigers’ region, listed at No. 10 in the state.

Lexington County has no schools that play in Class A. 

These rankings are just the preseason poll. As the year goes on and the games are played, teams will move. Some not listed could appear later, just as easily as others could fall off. 

Right now, teams are finalizing their rosters and getting to work with the preseason approaching. The first pitches of the 2026 SCHSL baseball regular season are set for Feb. 27. 

Preseason baseball coaches’ rankings

5A Division I 

1. James Island

2. Dorman

3. Lexington

4. Blythewood

5. Boiling Springs

6. River Bluff

7. Fort Dorchester

8. Mauldin

9. Dutch Fork

10. Stratford (tie)

10. JL Mann (tie)

5A Division II 

1. Berkeley

2. Indian Land

3. Eastside

4. Catawba Ridge

5. Chapin

6. North Myrtle Beach

7. St. James

8. Fort Mill

9. Lugoff-Elgin

10. Hillcrest (tie)

10. West Florence (tie)

4A 

1. Airport

2. AC Flora

3. Seneca

4. Fountain Inn

5. Daniel

6. North Augusta

7. Gilbert

8. Hartsville

9. Wren

10. Camden 

3A 

1. Southside Christian

2. Oceanside Collegiate

3. Hanahan

4. Chapman

5. St. Joseph’s

6. Waccamaw

7. Christ Church

8. Aynor

9. Crescent

10. Fox Creek 

2A 

1. Batesburg-Leesville

2. Atlantic Collegiate

3. Clinton

4. Philip Simmons

5. Cheraw

6. East Clarendon

7. Andrew Jackson

8. Buford

9. Mid-Carolina

10. Landrum