Conway's baseball team, which was swept by Boiling Springs in last year's Class AAAA state championship series, will begin the 2009 season ranked third in the classification.
The Tigers were slotted behind No. 1 Dorman and Boiling Springs in the S.C. Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll when it was released on Monday. Conway returns all-state pitchers Colby Holmes, a South Carolina signee, and Bobby Watford, a Coastal Carolina signee. Conway finished 28-4 last season, winning 26 consecutive games - the fifth-longest winning streak in state history - at one point.
No other area team was ranked, but Lake City, which joined Region VII-AAA this season, is sixth in Class AAA behind perennial powers Brookland-Cayce (first), A.C. Flora (second) and Riverside (third). Gilbert is No. 1 in Class AA, and Bamberg-Ehrhardt starts season ranked first in Class A.
For all the polls, click below:
Class AAAA
1. Dorman
2. Boiling Springs
3. Conway
4. Wando
5. Laurens
6. Lexington
7. Mauldin
8. Stratford
9. Gaffney
10. Hillcrest
Class AAA
1. Brookland-Cayce
2. A.C. Flora
3. Riverside
4. Belton-Honea Path
5. JL Mann
6. Lake City
7. Hilton Head
8. South Aiken
9. Greer
10. Midland Valley
Class AA
1. Gilbert
2. Dillon
3. Bishop England
4. Mid-Carolina
5. Chesnee
6. Barnwell
7. Batesburg-Leesville
8. Wade Hampton
9. Pelion
10. Cheraw
Class A
1. Bamberg-Ehrhardt
2. Chesterfield
3. Christ Church
4. Southside Christian
5. Landrum
6. Lake View
7. Johnsonville
8. Dixie
9. Lamar
10. Great Falls
