By Thomas Grant Jr.
The end of the high school sports season came last week with the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Games.
A total of six games were played May 29-30 over two days at River Bluff, Gilbert and Lexington high schools. Gray Collegiate head coach Charlie Assey served as co-coach for the North Select team which included Airport’s Corbin Wright and his pitcher Brett Stukes, who earned team MVP honors.
The South Select team included Dutch Fork’s Kevin Samonsky, River Bluff’s Thomas Powell and Watker Mitchell and Brookland-Cayce’s Hayden Thomas
The team roster for the North (5A/2A/A) included Mid-Carolina’s Hayden Lake and Jace Martin. River Bluff head coach Mark Bonnette led the South (5A/2A/A) team with the Gators’ Wyatt Mcpherson and Andrew Vaughn and Chapin’s Victor Santosefeno and Lucas Highberger.
Lexington’s Landon Knight was named the South MVP for his performance on the second day. Brookland-Cayce’s Ty Marshall was the lone local selection for the South (4A/3A) team.
The SCBCA also released its final poll for the 2023 season. Newly crowned Class 5A champion River Bluff finished atop its classification with state runner-up Gray Collegiate ranked number two for the second year in a row in Class 2A ahead of Mid-Carolina.
Brookland-Cayce also placed third in the final Class 3A poll.
Final Baseball Coaches Association Rankings:
Class 5A
1. River Bluff
2. Blythewood
3. Summerville
4. Boiling Springs
5. Berkeley
6. TL Hanna
7. Lexington
8. Wando
9. Clover
10. Carolina Forest
Class 3A
1. Clinton
2. Hanahan
3. Brookland-Cayce
4. Seneca
5. Beaufort
6. Belton-Honea Path
7. Dreher
8. Union
9. Blue Ridge
10. Georgetown
Class 2A
1. Oceanside Collegiate
2. Gray Collegiate
3. Mid Carolina
4. Andrew Jackson
5. Pelion
6. North Central
7. Strom Thurmond
8. Cheraw
9. Wade Hampton
10. Abbeville
(Photo courtesy of Charles Assey Sr.) Gray Collegiate pitcher Brent Stukes and head coach Charles Assey Sr.
