Regularly scheduled region action will take a break this week as local baseball and softball teams enjoy their spring break. 

Many teams will take this time off to test themselves against unfamiliar competition. These games are key in gauging a team’s preparedness for the postseason. 

Baseball teams like River Bluff, Gray Collegiate, Airport and Swansea are competing at a high level and have a shot at advancing deep in the postseason. On the softball field, Gray, Lexington and Batesburg-Leesville are dominating. 

These last few weeks will be about polishing the lineups and finding the best rotations. 

River Bluff’s baseball team has a slight advantage over region mates Lexington, White Knoll and Chapin in the standings. The Gators are (11-4) this season and (5-1) in region. Lexington and White Knoll are (4-2). Chapin is (3-3). 

To maintain its spot, River Bluff will have to continue playing good ball. The Gators split their season series with Chapin last week and won’t play Lexington until the last week of the season.

River Bluff has no region matches this week, but will participate in the Forest Acres Classic during spring break. When things resume, the team will play a two-game series against Dutch Fork. 

The 5A softball race is not as tight, with Lexington and River Bluff emerging as the two teams to watch. The teams are (10-0) against their region mates, with Lexington beating River Bluff in the first of two head-to-head contests this season. 

Lexington and River Bluff meet again in the region finale on April 23. That game could decide who finishes first. 

Gray, Gilbert and Airport are also all neck-and-neck with just a few games to go. 

The War Eagles have the current advantage, coming into the week two games ahead of their cross county rivals. Gray knocked off Airport in their head-to-head last week and will play their second game at the start of next week. 

A sweep for Gray would give the team massive momentum heading into its final two region series, one of which is against Gilbert. 

Gilbert could knock Gray off with a sweep in their series. Airport will need some help from other teams to defend its region championship. 

While Gray’s baseball team is engaged in a tight battle, Gray’s softball team is continuing to dominate everyone they play. 

The War Eagles are still undefeated for the year, starting this week (18-0). The team is outscoring opponents 178-25 this season, and that has carried over into region play. 

North Augusta is the only team within three games of Gray, sitting one game behind the War Eagles. The two played once already this season, and Gray easily disposed of the Yellow Jackets, 9-0. 

Elsewhere around the county, Swansea’s baseball team is playing well, picking up a pair of wins over Wagener-Salley and Bamberg-Ehrhardt. The Tigers came into this week (13-3). 

Both of Batesburg-Leesville’s teams are contending as well. The baseball team is defending 2A champions and is tied with Saluda for first in their region. 

The softball team is leading the region with a half-game advantage over Saluda. The Panthers have just one loss this season and are (10-1) overall. 

Upcoming games to watch

Gray Collegiate vs. Airport baseball - April 13

Brookland-Cayce vs. Gilbert baseball - April 13

Batesburg-Leesville at Ninety Six softball - April 14

Gray Collegiate vs. North Augusta softball - April 14

Dutch Fork vs. River Bluff baseball - April 14

Lexington vs. Catawba Ridge softball - April 15

Last week’s notable performances 

Mackenzie Sease struck out 17 of 23 batters faced, allowing just one hit as Gray Collegiate beat A.C. Flora 7-0.

Kitt McLauchlin pitched a complete game, giving up two hits and two walks with 15 strikeouts as Gilbert beat Midland Valley. 

Kate Shealy hit two home runs to lift Batesburg-Leesville over Saluda. 

Chase Ellis was 3-3 from the plate and had four RBIs for Dutch Fork in a win over Summerville. 

Jayden Osborne went 4-4 to score four RBIs in Airport’s win against Aiken. 

Noah Styron had a two-run homer to give Gray Collegiate an edge in its 5-4 win over Airport.