By Thomas Grant, Jr. S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA PRESEASON POLL CLASS 5A 1. Dutch Fork (16), 2. Summerville, 3. Gaffney, 4. Northwestern (1), 5. Irmo, 6. Spartanburg, 7. Greenwood, 8. Sumter, 9. T.L. Hanna, 10 (tied). J.F. Byrnes and Ridge View Others receiving votes: White Knoll; Hillcrest; JL Mann; River Bluff;Continue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The Battle for the Bell is one of the oldest rivalries in South Carolina High School League football. Since 1961, Chapin and Mid-Carolina have waged battle on the gridiron. In 2012, a bell symbolizing the one which was rung on the freight team traveling past ProsperityContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Year Two for Chapin football has an air of newness for second-year head coach Ryan Cole. The combination of transfers and improved returning players will look to help Chapin improve on last year’s 6-6 record after a 4-0 start. “Keeps you on your toes, for sure,”Continue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Even while coaching in college baseball at Newberry and at successful high school baseball programs like Lexington and Dutch Fork, Dell Lever always had “one dream job.” Monday evening in the Cecil Woolbright Field alumni room, he began to live that reality. Lever was formally introducedContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The Lexington County Blowfish earned a third consecutive post-season trip in the Coastal Plain League. Having won in 2023 and finished runner-up last season, this year’s quest began in a West Division single-elimination game at Lexington County Baseball Stadium. The opponent was the third-year CPL member,Continue Reading
Before the modern game of golf evolved into fairways, flags, and formal scoring, players simply hit balls toward targets across big grassy fields. The concept of a “hole” came later, giving us a way to keep score and shaping the layout of what we now call a course. When IContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. It’s an important final week of the regular season for the Lexington County Blowfish. With four games left, the Blowfish look to maintain their playoff position in the Coastal Plain League West Division. It trailed 3 ½ games to frontrunner Forest City, against whom they areContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Leisure time for Marion Reeves outside his Irmo residence puts him in a reflective mood. He remembers playing baseball not too far down Kennerly Road. He talks fondly about his days attending and playing sports at then-Rich Lex School, the all-black school where Dutch Fok ElementaryContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The University of South Carolina women’s basketball team will have to wait until 2026 for forward Ashlyn Watkin’s return. Last week, the Cardinal Newman graduate announced her plans to miss the upcoming season. She’s continuing her recovery from an ACL injury suffered on Jan. 5 againstContinue Reading
By Robin All, Life Member – PGA of America This week, I’m not going to tell you what you should do—but what you should stop doing! Take a look at that picture of the young golfer with great form. That kind of posture and balance only comes from hours andContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. With two weeks remaining, the Lexington County Blowfish finds itself in a close race for first place in the Coastal Plain League West Division. The Blowfish began a two-day, 3-game stretch Tuesday at home against front-runner Forest City. A doubleheader is scheduled the next day atContinue Reading
By Robin All, PGA Life Member When’s the last time you practiced a bunker shot—or tried that high, soft flop over the trap to a tight pin? Maybe never. But somehow, we still expect to post a low score! Let’s face it: bunkers are designed to penalize you for missingContinue Reading
A familiar face at Lake World is making waves — 13-year-old John McKissick Call recently landed a massive striped bass from the Saluda River, right behind the Saluda River Club. Standing just 4 feet 10 inches tall himself, John’s impressive catch was nearly his own height. The young angler, whoContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. For 20 years, the Lexington County Blowfish has not only served as a source of entertainment in the Midlands community. It’s also served as a gateway to reaching the next level of Major League Baseball. Several future professional players have donned the Blowfish colors before gettingContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Chapin High School graduate and University of South Carolina pitcher Matthew Becker is headed to the big leagues. The senior lefthander was selected in the 19th round by the Minnesota Twins on the second day of the 2025 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday.Continue Reading
By Robin All, PGA Life Member If you’re a left-handed golfer, you may have noticed there aren’t many pictures or swing tips in magazines geared specifically for you. But here’s a helpful trick: when right-handers look at photos of left-handed players, it’s like seeing themselves in a mirror! So whetherContinue Reading