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 getting the call to the big leagues.
The latest Blowfish alumnus to get the call is infielder Ethan Perry of the University of South Carolina. On Monday, he became the team’s highest draft selection in the team’s history when he was picked 49th overall in the second round by the Washington Nationals.
A member of the 2023 Coastal Plain League champions, Petry played and started in 44 games for the Gamecocks in 2025, hitting .321 with 10 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 34 RBI.
He scored 30 runs, had a .437 on-base percentage and a .590 slugging percentage. Petry had a 23-game reached-base streak from the end of 2024 to the first 16 games of the 2025 season.
In his three-year career, Petry had 54 home runs, which is second on South Carolina’s all-time home run list. He was an All-SEC First Team selection and consensus Freshman All-American in 2023, when he hit 23 home runs and had 75 RBI on a Super Regional team.
Ironically, the Blowfish will hold their alumni game at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Among those scheduled to appear and face the current team are former Columbia Blowfish players Timmy Martin, Tony Graham, Hunter Privette, and Derrick Smith.
Other past Lexington County players include:
Connor Lewis (2013 – Lander University)
Jared Kirven (2020-21 – College of Charleston)
Seth Lancaster (2017 – Coastal Carolina)
Cody Smith (2013-14 Spartanburg Methodist)
Trevor Bradley (2015 – USC Sumter)
Carson Starnes (2022-24 Wingate University)
Matt Dooley (2023 – Francis Marion University)
Josh Senter (19-20 – North Greenville)
Jarrett Whitley (2024 – Southern Wesleyan
Wells Sykes (2024 – Coastal Carolina)
Ashley Vining (2023-24 – St. Peter’s)
Ryan Brash (2024 – Anderson) The head coaches in the game will be Jonathan Johnson, the franchise’s winningest head coach; Tim Medlin, who coached the Columbia team from 2006 to 2011; and K.C. Brown, who led the Blowfish to the 2023 Coastal Plain League title and the West Division title last year.
The alumni game will also be a celebration of team mascot Blowie. The team will celebrate his 20th birthday with fellow mascots at the ballpark including Cocky from South Carolina and the Clemson Tiger in attendance.
As of Wednesday, the Blowfish were ½ game behind Forest City in the West Division standings. The two teams had their Tuesday matchup rained out and will play a doubleheader on July 23 at McNair Field, with Lexington County seeking its first win in the series.
LEXINGTON COUNTY BLOWFISH
THURSDAY – FLORENCE FLAMINGOS (DH) 5:05 p.m.
FRIDAY – at Macon Bacon 7 p.m.
SATURDAY – BLOWFISH ALUMNI GAME 7:05 p.m.
MONDAY – at Florence Flamingos 7 p.m.
TUESDAY – FOREST CITY OWLS 7:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY – at Florence City Owls 7 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Lexington County Blowfish
