South Carolina high school softball playoff schedule

Lexington set to make another run in Class 5A

LEXINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - A year ago, the Lexington High School softball team came within a victory of claiming its second Class 5A title in four years.

The Lady Wildcats dropped the final two games to Fort Mill in the Best-of-Three final.

On Wednesday, a rejuvenated Lexington team opens its quest at home against J.L. Mann in the opening round of the District 2 playoffs.

“Our returners this year I feel gained valuable experience playing in the state championship series last year,” Lexington head coach Laurie Epps said. “Obviously, we did not get the result we wanted, but we gained a lot of experience.

“The returners have worked hard in the off-season and during the season with the goal of returning to state. Our focus at the plate is much improved and I'm happy with the progress we have made.”

While the Lady Wildcats graduated top players like Class 5A Player of the Year catcher Sarah Gordon, now at Louisville, this year’s team has not missed a beat with a 20-2-1 overall record and a perfect 10-0 record in Region 4-5A.

Senior centerfielder Kiley Shelton, a University of South Carolina commit, has stepped up to fill the offensive void left behind by Gordon. The Colgate University signee leads the Lady Wildcats with eight home runs and 38 RBI.

Younger sister Karley, who’s committed to the University of South Carolina, is second on the team with 31 RBI to go with three home runs. She’s also given the Lady Wildcats a boost in the circle with a team-high 34 strikeouts and 1.21 ERA.

Karley Shelton, a University of South Carolina commit has 34 strikeouts and a sparkling 1.21 ERA. She also has three home runs 31 RBIs at the plate / Photo courtesy of Lexingtonwildcats.com

“Karley Shelton has stepped up as a leader for us on and off the field,” Epps said. “She has proved versatile in being able to play several positions.”

Other returning players who’ve stepped up offensively are Livi Warren (20 RBI, 33 runs) and Gracie Scott (22 RBI). Rounding out Lexington’s rotation are Julie Nations (23 Ks) and Haley Manz (16 Ks, 2.31 ERA).

“The biggest improvement from last year's team to this year's is everyone contributing one through nine in the lineup,” he said. “The total team attitude and approach that each girl brings has been the key to our success thus far. As we enter the playoffs, the players know that we will focus on one pitch at a time and keep working together as a team.”

While the Lady Wildcats will open the post-season at home Wednesday against J.L. Mann, defending champion and fourth seed Fort Mill travels to Woodmont.

The S.C. High School League playoffs start Tuesday with Classes A, 2A, 3A and 4A. Last season saw first-time champions in each classification with Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Class A), Gray Collegiate (Class 2A), Broome (Class 3A), North Augusta (Class 4A) and Fort Mill (Class 5A)

SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

Tuesday’s Games

Class 4A

Upper State

Bracket 1

Airport at Westside

Indian Land at Riverside

Laurens at York

Easley at North Augusta

Bracket 2

Wade Hampton at Catawba Ridge

Pickens at Midland Valley

Lancaster at Greer

South Aiken at Greenwood

Lower State

Bracket 1

Greenville at Lugoff-Elgin

May River at Hartsville

Irmo at South Florence

Ridge View at James Island

Bracket 2

Bluffton at West Florence

Lucy Beckham at Westwood

Northwestern at Colleton County

North Myrtle Beach at AC Flora

Wednesday’s Games

CLASS 5A

Upper State

(District 1)

Dutch Fork at T.L. Hanna

Nation Ford at Dorman

(District 2)

J.L. Mann at Lexington 6:30 p.m.

Boiling Springs at Blythewood

(District 3)

Spring Valley at J.F. Byrnes

Fort Mill at Woodmont

(District 4)

Rock Hill at Clover

Gaffney at Hillcrest

Lower State

(District 5)

Socastee at St. James

Fort Dorchester at Wando

(District 6)

Carolina Forest at Ashley Ridge

Stratford at Chapin

(District 7)

West Ashley at Berkeley

White Knoll at Conway

(District 8)

River Bluff at Summerville

Cane Bay at Sumter

Class 3A

Upper State

(District 1)

Region 2 No. 4 at Crescent

Broome at Union County

(District 2)

Blue Ridge at Woodruff

*Daniel at Wren/BHP

(District 3)

Clinton at Chapman

Palmetto at Seneca

(District 4)

West-Oak at Wren

Chester at Travelers Rest

Lower State

(District 5)

Philip Simmons at Gilbert

Dillon at Darlington

(District 6)

Waccamaw at Marlboro County

Brookland-Cayce at Beaufort

(District 7)

Dreher at Hanahan

Camden at Loris

(District 8)

Crestwood at Aynor

Battery Creek at Swansea

Class 2A

Upper State

(District 1)

Saluda at Chesnee

Columbia at Fox Creek

(District 2)

Silver Bluff at Mid-Carolina

Liberty at Fairfield Central

(District 3)

W.J. Keenan at Strom Thurmond

Ninety-Six at Landrum

(District 4)

Blacksburg at Gray Collegiate

Pelion at Abbeville

Lower State

(District 5)

Wade Hampton at Buford

Kingstree at Timberland

(District 6)

Barnwell - Bye

Cheraw at Andrews

(District 7)

Lee Central at Oceanside Collegiate

Edisto at Chesterfield

(District 8)

Andrew Jackson at Marion

Lake Marion at Woodland

Class A

Upper State

(District 1)

Calhoun County at High Point Academy

Ware Shoals at McBee

(District 2)

C.A. Johnson at Dixie

Southside Christian at Ridge Spring-Monetta

(District 3)

Calhoun Falls Charter at Lewisville

Williston-Elko at Brashier MC

(District 4)

St. Joseph’s Catholic at Wagener-Salley

Great Falls at Whitmire

Lower State

(District 5)

Charleston Math & Science at Johnsonville

Lake View at Bamberg-Ehrhardt

(District 6)

Whale Branch at Latta

Carvers Bay at Palmetto Scholar’s Academy

(District 7)

Green Sea Floyds at Branchville

St. John’s at East Clarendon

(District 8)

Hemingway at Lowcountry Leadership

Bridges Prep at Hannah-Pamplico