High school baseball and softball teams returned to the field this week to begin the season’s final sprint, with many Lexington County teams competing for top spots in their conferences.

Five local teams began this week in first place, five more are in second and three sit in third with about two weeks of games to go until the playoffs start. 

The field is wide open for local baseball teams as there is very little separation between the No. 1 teams and the teams in the middle of the pack.

River Bluff’s baseball team started the week with a one-game advantage over White Knoll and Lexington for the top spot in the county’s 5A conference. Chapin is two games back in fourth place, and even Dutch Fork, sitting three games back in fifth place, could win the region if the cards fall its way. 

The Gators have two region series left to go and can further solidify their spot with each win. River Bluff plays Dutch Fork this week and will cap its region run against Lexington next week. 

Lexington has to go through both White Knoll and River Bluff if it wants to win the region. After the Lexington series, White Knoll will play Chapin. 

In 4A Region 4, the race for first place has narrowed to three Lexington County teams. Gray Collegiate is a game up on Gilbert and Airport, with four region contests left apiece. 

Airport earned a clutch win over Gray on Monday to split their season series and lessen the War Eagles' lead in the standings. 

Gray has games against Brookland-Cayce this week and will end the region season against Gilbert, which could decide the region championship. 

The Indians have to make it through Airport before reaching Gray. 

Should Airport take down Gilbert, the Eagles would then need the Indians to turn around and beat Gray to clinch the region title. 

In the lower classifications, Swansea and Batesburg-Leesville also have a chance to win their region. 

The Tigers are two games behind Fox Creek with six region contests left, including one against the Predators. Fox Creek is still undefeated in the region and beat Swansea twice earlier in the year, so the Tigers will need some help from their region mates. 

Batesburg-Leesville started the week (5-1) in conference and tied for first-place with Saluda. The Panthers and Tigers each have one series left before closing region play against each other. 

Batesburg-Leesville plays Pelion this week and will participate in a handful of non-conference games before the postseason. 

While things are tight for local baseball teams, there is a bit more separation in the softball standings. 

Lexington’s (6-0) start has the team in first place, sitting a game ahead of River Bluff and three games up on White Knoll and Chapin. 

The Wildcats defeated the Gators in their first matchup 15-2, and will have a rematch on April 23. Lexington has four region games left on its schedule and needs to win just one to clinch a second-place finish. 

River Bluff is in a good spot regardless of how its game with Lexington goes. The team just needs to take care of business against its other competition to clinch a top-two finish. 

In 4A, Gray Collegiate also remains undefeated, coming into this week (6-0) in region play and (18-0) overall.

The War Eagles have been a juggernaut this year, and that has not changed in region games. Gray is outscoring its conference foes 85-7 this season and has beaten every team at least once already. 

With six region games left on the schedule, plenty of teams could catch Gray, but it would take a total collapse from the War Eagles. 

However, Gray does have to keep winning as North Augusta is just one game back. Holding off the Yellow Jackets will be key to getting the top seed in the playoffs. 

Upcoming games to watch

Swansea vs. Newberry baseball - April 17

Gray Collegiate at A.C. Flora softball - April 17

Airport vs. Gilbert baseball - April 17

Chapin vs. River Bluff softball - April 17

Batesburg-Leesville vs. Saluda baseball - April 21

Pelion vs. Batesburg-Leesville softball - April 21

Last week’s notable performances 

Blake Brown struck out 11 batters in 4.2 innings as Pelion shut out Richland Northeast. 

Allen Hegler hit two crucial home runs in Lexington’s 11-10 win against Indian Land. 

Ab Wilkerson hit a two-run homer to left field for River Bluff in a win over TC Roberson. 

Landon Jeffcoat went 2-3 from the plate, earning a home run and three RBIs as Airport beat River Bluff.