A year ago, SC American Legion put a pause on its summer season.

The SC American Summer League was created to provide summer baseball for those players and coaches whose spring seasons in public and private school were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Taking full advantage of the opportunity was West Columbia Post 79 which finished with a 19-2 overall record in winning the summer league title.

This year, things are back to normal.

The SC American Legion is back with even more teams on the junior and senior levels and will hold an 8-team, double-elimination tournament July 26-Aug. 1 at Segra Park.

So far in the 6-team League 3, Lexington Post 7 has established itself as a top contender. Post 7 is 6-0 entering Tuesday’s contest versus West Columbia at Roscoe Frye Field.

“It’s the same,” Lexington head coach Drew Towery said. “Baseball’s baseball. Everything that we put together last year was based on what we do for Legion.”

Among the key contributors so far is Noah Davis. The Chapin High graduate opened the season with a walkoff RBI single in the season opener against Wayne County, then had 5 RBI and struck out 10 against Richland Post 215 on June 17.

The roster includes players from Lexington County schools such as Lexington (Wells Sykes, Ryan Toll), River Bluff (Ethan Lebron, Ethan Plyler, Bennett Robinson, Weston Lever), Northside Christian (Charlie Compton) and Batesburg-Leesville (Andy Chavez, Kolby Craps).

Given the shortened post-season for both public and private schools, Towery said players are “eager” and “hungry” to achieve championship success.

“We’re playing well for the most part and a lot of good times,” Towery said. “We’re still trying to find out who we are and we’re still trying to piece things together. I feel good about the guys and, obviously, anybody that sees success is going to have confidence when they go on the mound and defense and, obviously, at the plate.

“It’s important for them to keep that. It’s baseball. You don’t plan on to win them all, but it’s good so far to have that confidence day in and day out.”

Lexington has 6 League 3 games left with 2 games each against West Columbia, Chapin/ Newberry and Camden.

The American Legion playoffs start July 12.