By Thomas Grant Jr.
Year 20 of the Lexington County Blowfish has the team off to a winning streak.
They sported a 2-1 record through Monday, both wins coming at home against the Macon Bacon.
Friday’s home opener also served as the 2025 debut for Lexington County. The Blowfish came away with a 11-9 victory in a contest which featured a combined 21 hits.
“It was fun. We were able to come out here,” said Michael Menhart in his first game as head coach. “The bats came out and hit.”
Lexington County jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Newcomer Brandon Gibbs of Spring Valley reached base for the first of three times with an RBI walk to put the Blowfish on the board.
Lexington County Blowfish infielder Blake Martin of Dutch Fork
Following an RBI fielder’s choice by another newcomer Nick DiCarlo, the Blowfish added the third run off a wild pitch. They ended up scoring three times off wild pitches by the Bacon.
An infield error in the Top 3rd enabled Macon to rally for three runs to tie the game. A 2-run double extended the lead to 5-3 and ended the evening for Gray Collegiate graduate Brent Stukes.
Pitcher Cade Bouknight of Batesburg-Leesville relieved him and stopped the rally. He held the Bacon scoreless over the next three innings during which Lexington County reclaimed the lead.
A 4-run rally which included RBI singles by Zach Cowart of River Bluff and Zander Buchan in the Bottom 5th put the Blowfish ahead 7-5.
Macon tied the game again in the Top 6th, only for Lexington County to answer back in the bottom half of the inning. An RBI double by Blake Martin of Dutch Fork was followed by two straight runners scoring off wild pitches to make it 10-7.
Bouknight left the game after 3 1/3 innings. He was first relieved by Chapin native Lucas Highberger who pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Dutch Fork graduate Hunter Phipps pitched the final two innings. He gave up an RBI single in the Top 8th, only for Ortiz to answer with an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the inning.
Macon picked up a final run in the ninth on a one-out solo home run by Levi Ham. Phillips managed to record the final two outs for the win.
“It’s a mixture of everything,” said Menhart about his team. “They’re going to hit, they’re going to pitch, they’re going to field. It’ll be a mixture of it every night.”
The Blowfish’s first Coastal Plain League road game was a 13-6 loss at Forest City. It was tied at 6-6 through six innings which the Owls scored seven unanswered runs to end the game.
Cowart went 3-5 with two RBI and Gray Wells of Chapin was 2-5 with two RBI.
“Battle of the Badges”
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott with the USO trophy won after the 6-3 victory over Lexington County in the annual softball game.
Back at the stadium, the Blowfish held an exhibition game against the Catawba Valley Stars that ended in a 2-2 tie.
Prior to the exhibition, the second annual USO softball game took place between the Richland and Lexington County Sheriff’s Departments.
The Lott-led Richland County defeated Lexington County 6-3 for its second straight victory. The real winner was the Columbia branch of the USO as it will receive proceeds from the contest as part of their mission to serve active service members.
Lexington County Blowfish co-owner Bill Shanahan will present the USO a check June 28 as part of Fort Jackson Night. Basic training soldiers from the Columbia base will have an opportunity to attend the Lexington County contest.
On Monday, the Blowfish rebounded in dominant fashion with a 16-2 rout of Macon in seven innings. Martin set the tone in the Bottom 1st with a towering 3-run home run over the centerfield scoreboard.
The blast ignite the first of three 5-run innings for the Blowfish. In the fourth, Buchan had a 2-run single and Martin followed with his fourth RBI of the game.
A 2-run double in the sixth by Garrett Fulmer ignited the third 5-run inning in the sixth. After Austin Williamson held the Bacon to two runs, reliever Gayvn Seitz struck out the final three batters in to end game on the mercy rule.
NASCAR NIGHT
This Saturday has another promotional event taking place at the stadium.
It’s NASCAR Night and Dale Earnhardt Mustache Appreciation Night. Fans sporting a mustache resembling the late racing legend will get to march on the field during a parade.
As part of the festivities, Earnhardt’s 1996 Z28 Camero now owned by Karl Horner Jr., distributor for Justice Brothers Car Care Products will be displayed in front of the stadium.
Kenneth Blevins of Pelion, the newly crowned 11-year-old K1 Speed Junior Division United States and E-World champion, will make an appearance. The Blowfish will also hold a raffle at the game with proceeds going to the Blevins family to support his racing aspirations.
In addition, the Blowfish will honor the Lexington County Farm Bureau. The team will wear “American Farmer” jerseys that will be auctioned off online at 9 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit the Young Farmers Association within Lexington County Farm Bureau.
BLOWFISH SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
THURSDAY – MACON BACON 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY – at Macon Bacon 7 p.m.
CATAWBA VALLEY STARS 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY – FLORENCE FLAMINGOS 7:05 p.m.
JUNE 9 – FOREST CITY OWLS 7:05 p.m.
JUNE 10 – at Florence Flamingos 7 p.m.
JUNE 11 – PENINSULA PILOTS 7:05 p.m.
(Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.) Middle school students who participated in the Lexington County Blowfish reading program.
