Baseball and softball competition is heating up in Lexington County as the area’s local teams make a final push towards the finish line and the playoffs. 

The baseball and softball postseason is set to begin on May 6 and 7. Many teams around the county could earn the chance to host a regional, depending on how the final few conference games go. 

Both of the county’s 5A and 4A baseball regions began this week with a tie for first between two Lexington County teams. In 5A, Lexington and River Bluff have identical region records. In 4A, Airport and Gilbert are tied for the top spot. 

The Wildcats and Gators will be very familiar with each other over the next week. The two will have played each other four games in a row from April 17-29, but only two will count towards the region standings. 

Lexington won the first meeting between the two on April 17 as part of the Forest Acres Classic. The Wildcats defeated the Gators 8-4 to win third place in the tournament, but that result did not count towards the region standings. 

Their first region meeting took place on April 22 , which resulted in a  6-3 Lexington win. The two will play again on April 24 for the second game counted on their region records. 

Dutch Fork, despite not being tied with Lexington and River Bluff, is another team to keep an eye on down the stretch. The Silver Foxes are one game behind the Gators and Wildcats, and depending on how the season ends, a three-way tie could put Dutch Fork in first. 

In the county’s 4A conference, Airport and Gilbert continue to sit above the rest of their competition, tied with one loss apiece. Each team’s only loss came against the other. 

Gilbert and Airport are locked in the top-two spots thanks to a four-game edge over third-place Brookland-Cayce and a five-game advantage over Gray Collegiate. 

All four teams have one region series left, and the results will determine how the final standings shape up. Gilbert plays Gray Collegiate, and Airport plays Brookland-Cayce. Some of the non-Lexington County teams in the region could jump Gray or Brookland-Cayce, depending on the outcome of those final games. 

Should Gilbert and Airport end the season tied, the pair will play a tie-breaker game where the winner is crowned region champion. 

Lexington and Gilbert's softball teams have some breathing room over their competition in the standings for the softball regions. 

The Wildcats have clinched the title thanks to a sweep and two-game advantage over second-place Chapin. The Indians have a one-game advantage over Gray Collegiate after beating the War Eagles in their first meeting on Monday. 

Gray and Gilbert will play their second game this season on Thursday. If Gilbert wins, the Indians will clinch the region championship. Should Gray win, the War Eagles would force a tie-breaker game where the winner takes all. 

Big performances 

Avery Ingram was 2-2 from the plate with two home runs, five RBIs and four runs in Airport's win against Brookland-Cayce.

Zeb Taylor went 3-3 from the play, scoring four RBIs and three runs in Gray Collegiate’s win over Canisius.

Mac Raines hit a home run for River Bluff in the team's win over Hammond. 

Chloe Prien drove in four runs on two hits as Gilbert beat Midlakes 15-1. 

Brandon Cromer hit a home run to center field that scored three runs in Lexington’s win versus Cardinal Newman. 

Upcoming games to watch 

Baseball 

Lexington vs. River Bluff - April 24

Irmo vs. Dutch Fork - April 24

Brookland-Cayce vs. Airport - April 24

Swansea at Fox Creek - April 28

Softball

Gray Collegiate vs. Gilbert - April 24

Chapin vs. White Knoll - April 25

Dutch Fork vs. Irmo - April 25

Lexington vs. Catawba Ridge - April 30