By Robert Smith

For The Newberry Observer

Preston Farmer catching the ball at third base.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_pict-one.jpgPreston Farmer catching the ball at third base. Courtesy photos

Alex Ellison is pitching.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_pict-two.jpgAlex Ellison is pitching. Courtesy photos

NEWBERRY — Both Chapin/Newberry Senior American Legion and Newberry Junior American Legion begin their first round of playoffs with a hometown advantage.

The American Legion teams will play June 5 at the Newberry College Baseball Complex on Smith Road in a double-header.

The Junior Newberry Team (8-3) will play Union Post 22 at 5 p.m. Inman will host Lexington. The series will be the “Best of Three.”

The winner of Inman versus Lexington will play the winner of Newberry versus Union for the second round.

Aiken will host Union Independent and Rock Hill will host Gaffney. The winner of Aiken versus Union Independent will faces winner of Rock Hill versus Gaffney in the second round.

Other action will have Rock Hill hosting Spartanburg and Williamston hosting Greer. The winner of Rock Hill versus Spartanburg will face the winner of Williamston versus Greer in the second round.

The three losers in the second round will play a single elimination series to determine the fourth team for the state tournament to be played in Socastee July 16 through July 20.

Chapin-Newberry (13-4) will play Hartsville at 7:30 p.m. in a “Best of Five” series. Other action will have Camden and Aiken going head to head while Florence will take on Manning and West Columbia will take on Horry.

The winner of Chapin-Newberry versus Hartsville will take on the winner of Camden versus Aiken while the winner of Florence versus Manning will take on the winner of West Columbia versus Horry in Round 2.

Other play-off action will have Sumter playing Lexington and Murrells Inlet playing Orangeburg. The winner of Sumter versus Lexington will play the winner of Murrells Inlet versus Orangeburg in Round 2.

If Sumter wins both first and second rounds earning a play-off spot in Sumter, there will be a play-in between the three second round losing teams for the fourth and final spot. If Sumter does not win their way in, they will be automatically awarded the fourth and final play-off spot in Sumter State Tournament.

The American Legion Senior’s State Tournament will be held in Sumter and the Junior’s State Tournament will be held at Socastee High School in Horry County.

The Junior team is coached by head coach Alex Bedenbaugh and assistant coaches Ronnie Bannister, Joey Smith and Cory Robinson. The Senior team is coached by head coach Daniel Gregory and assistant coaches David Coats, Anthony “Amp” Robertson, and Marion Baker.