Sports

Who’s No. 1? SC baseball coaches release 2026 preseason rankings

The South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association released its preseason rankings for the 2026 season on Friday.

Defending state champions James Island (5A Division I), Berkeley (5A Division II), Airport (4A), Southside Christian (3A), Batesburg Leesville (2A) are ranked No. 1, while Johnsonville is No. 1 in Class A.

Practice for SCHSL schools begin on Feb. 27, with first scrimmages set for Feb. 9 and games on Feb. 28.

Class 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. (tie) Stratford, JL Mann

Class 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. (tie) Hillcrest, West Florence

Class 4A

1. Airport; 2. AC Flora; 3. Seneca; 4. Fountain Inn; 5. Daniel; 6. North Augusta; 7. Gilbert; 8. Hartsville; 9. Wren; 10. Camden

Class 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

Class 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

Class A

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

This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 12:25 PM with the headline "Who’s No. 1? SC baseball coaches release 2026 preseason rankings."

Lou Bezjak
The State
Lou Bezjak is the High School Sports Prep Coordinator for The (Columbia) State and (Hilton Head) Island Packet. He previously worked at the Florence Morning News and had covered high school sports in South Carolina since 2002. Lou is a two-time South Carolina Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Support my work with a digital subscription
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