For most of the season, 3 of the top 5 boys soccer teams in Class 5A have resided in Region 5-5A.

Both Chapin and River Bluff have taken turns at the top spot, while Lexington has remained in the Top 5 rankings. The trio have also waged highly competitive contests while staying close in the standings.

As the regular season comes to an end this week, the Eagles, Gators and Wildcats are getting hit hard by a sobering reality. Because of the SC High School League’s shortened playoff field, only 2 teams per region will get an opportunity at the state title.

Such a hard fate will befall 1 team following Thursday’s rematch between Chapin and River Bluff in The Swamp. Needless to say, 2 of the coaches are not happy with that proposition.

“As soon as they cut the playoffs in half, which I personally do not think is a good idea at all,” River Bluff head coach Phil Savitz said. “It doesn’t add any extra time to the schedule to play 1 more round and have our normal 4 teams per regions in.

“I know people from all over the state are complaining about it and it’s just a shame. It’s a lot of good teams who won’t get to play playoff soccer who normally would have. Every region match is important, but this year it’s critical.”

“I think you can look at our region every year and there’s never a reason why 4 teams in our region shouldn’t make the playoffs,” Chapin head coach Bob Taylor said. “It’s a tough region and I really feel bad for Lexington or River Bluff, whoever does not make the playoffs because all 3 of us can make a dent in the playoffs.”

The Eagles are already assured a playoff berth. This past Monday’s 3-1 win over Lexington clinched the season series for the Eagles (13-1, 6-1).

A win over River Bluff (11-2, 5-2) clinches the region title for Chapin. It would also give Lexington the 2nd playoff berth over the Gators based on a points tiebreaker.

Conversely, River Bluff can clinch the region having beaten Chapin twice (it won in overtime 3-1 this past Friday) and the Eagles would fall to 2nd place.

“You’ve got 3 of the top teams in the state in this region,” Savitz said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt it’s the toughest region in (Class) 5A soccer and any given day as we’ve proven and (Chapin) proven and Lexington has proven, anybody can beat anybody.”

Region 5-5A girls soccer

A similar battle is taking place on the girls’ side of the region.

Top-ranked River Bluff (11-1, 6-1) traveled to White Knoll Tuesday. A win would give the Lady Gators the region title outright.

However, a victory by the Lady Timberwolves (8-4-1, 5-2) and a win by Lexington (12-5, 5-2) over Chapin on Tuesday would create a 3-way tie for 1st place. Since all the teams would have gone 2-2 against each other, the 3rd tiebreaker based on least amount of goals allowed in the games would be used to determine playoff teams.

Region champions

Meanwhile, several Chronicle Country teams have claimed region titles. Both Northside Christian Academy and WW King Academy opened the SCISA baseball playoffs Tuesday as number 1 seeds.

It’s the 1st ever region title in any sport claimed by the Crusaders.

The Pelion baseball team claimed the Region 5-2A title and head coach Barry Fogle joined the 500 career win club. The Lady Panthers’ softball team are also region champions, joining Lexington which claimed its 1st region title since 2003.

Still very much in contention for a region title is the Gilbert baseball team. The Indians could all but claim the Region 5-3A title by sweeping its 2 games Tuesday and Friday against Strom Thurmond.

As for top-ranked Brookland-Cayce, which entered Tuesday riding a 5-game losing streak, it needs to win its final 4 region games and move ahead of the Rebels to have a chance at a playoff berth.

Back to Region 5-5A, Dutch Fork held a 1-game lead over Lexington for 1st place as of Tuesday.. The 2 teams are slated to play their rubber match on May 6 in Irmo.

Lacrosse season ends

State championship dreams of Lexington boys and Chapin girls’ lacrosse were ended Monday night by visiting Wando.

The undefeated Wando boys defeated the Wildcats 26-3, while the Lady Warriors edged the Lady Eagles 9-8. Both contests took place in the Class 5A Lower State finals.

In the boys’ contest, the Warriors (13-0) jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Lexington’s Ellis Barger put his team on the board with 4:44 left in the 1st quarter.

Tino Cartes scored the Wildcats’ 2nd goal with the Warriors up 20- 2 with 3:35 left in the 2nd quarter. Lexington did not score again until late in the 4th quarter.

“They are definitely the benchmark for high school lacrosse in this state,” Lexington head coach Mark Piepoli said. “They have had an established youth program in their area for a long time. When kids pick up a stick in 3rd and 4th grade and then play and grow together, that is the result. We’re trying to get the youth program here in Lexington on track and to that level.”

Lexington finished its best season in the program’s 9-year history.

“I’m unbelievably proud of my boys and how hard they played all season,” Piepoli said. “To have it taken away last year, then to come back this season with all of the new protocols and to not have one game moved or cancelled due to (covid-19) is a great feat. They finished with the best record in school history at 13-3 and as District (4) & Region (5-5A) champs. They certainly set a new standard for our program and one for all future teams to reach for.”

Over at Cecil Woolbright Field, the Lady Eagles fell behind 7-4 in the 2nd half when they scored 3 unanswered goals from Riley Floyd and Grace McClure to tie the match.

The 2 teams exchanged goals before Kelsey Bennett’s goal put Wando (10-1) ahead to stay.

Chapin (14-2) was seeking to regain the Class 5A title it won in 2019, but could not defend last year due to the covid-19 shutdown.

SC HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE NEWS

The SC High School League announced plans to hold the “Weekend of Champions” for football over 3 days at 1 site.

The Class 4A title game will be held on Thursday, the Class 2A and 3A games held on Friday and Class A and 5A on Saturday.

The location for this year’s finals have yet to be determined.

The executive committee also approved having 2 scrimmages and a jamboree for all sports in the 2021-22 school year.