Next wave of playoffs begin

By CT McDonald

Some spring sports playoffs have completed, others are nearing the finals, and still others have just started this week.

The lacrosse state finals completed last week at Irmo High School after both the girls and boys Chapin teams advanced to the semifinals but fell one game short of the state championship games.

Nation Ford took the boys state title, and Wando won the girls championship.

The Dutch Fork varsity boys tennis team advanced to the 5A semifinal round against Summerville, and that game is set for today, Thursday. The winner will face either J.L. Mann or Spartanburg in the state finals at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center on Saturday.

Irmo ended its season in the second round of the 4A playoffs against James Island, and Chapin finished in the first round against St. James in the 5A games.

In the 4A boys soccer playoffs, Irmo won the first round at home on Monday against South Florence and advanced to the second round against James Island on the road on Wednesday.

In the 5A boys soccer playoffs, Chapin beat Cane Bay 6-0 Monday in the first round and advanced to play Stall in the second round Wednesday.

And the Dutch Fork boys took an 11-0 loss against J.L. Mann in Monday’s first round to end their season there.

On the girls side of the soccer playoffs, Chapin’s girls won 2-0 in the first round of the 5A soccer playoffs Tuesday against Woodmont. The Eagles will play the winner of the Blythewood/James F. Byrnes game in the second round today, Thursday.

Dutch Fork’s varsity girls soccer team ended its season in the first round against West Ashley on Tuesday with a 1-0 loss, and the Irmo girls completed their season Tuesday in a 5-0 loss to West Florence.

Softball and baseball playoffs also got started early this week, with local teams starting Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. These playoffs are in the double elimination format with the state finals tournaments later in May.