BLYTHEWOOD (March 30, 2016) – For the sixth consecutive spring, Blythewood High School and the Bengal baseball program will host the S.C. Diamond Invitational tournament March 31 – April 3, with the championship game slated for Sunday at 3 p.m.
The four-day tournament will welcome some of the top teams in the state, including Carolina Forest High School (Myrtle Beach), which is the top-ranked 4A team in the latest S.C. Baseball Coaches Association Poll. The Panthers earned that ranking after winning the International Paper Classic championship in Georgia earlier this month.
Belton-Honea Path, the top-ranked team in 3A baseball and reigning 3A state champion, also returns to the tournament, along with J.L. Mann (#2 in 4A), Summerville (#3 in 4A), White Knoll (#4 in 4A) and Dorman High School (#6 in 4A). Blythewood High School and Lexington High round out the eight-team field.
Summerville won the SCDI last year, defeating Lexington in the title game.
The games get under way Thursday at noon with Dorman taking on BHP, followed by Summerville vs. White Knoll; Carolina Forest vs. Lexington; and J.L. Mann vs. Blythewood in the 7:30 p.m. nightcap.
Friday, White Knoll and Dorman kick things off at noon, with BHP vs. Summerville slated for 2:30 p.m.; Blythewood vs. Carolina Forest at 5; and Lexington vs. J.L. Mann at 7:30.
Games begin early Saturday with an 8:30 a.m. first pitch for J.L. Mann and Carolina Forest, followed by Dorman vs. Summerville at 11 a.m.; and BHP vs. White Knoll at 1:30 p.m. Games take a break at 4 p.m. for the Home Run Derby and Base-Running Competition, before Lexington and Blythewood square off at 5:30. At 8 p.m., the game for fourth place gets under way.
The third-place game begins at 10 a.m. Sunday, with the consolation game at 12:30 and the championship game at 3 p.m.
