From the Lexington County Blowfish
For the third time in four years, the Lexington County Blowfish will have new leadership in the dugout.
The team announced the hiring of Ted Falkner as the team’s new head coach for the 2026 Coastal Plain League season.
Falkner is a veteran collegiate coach with five years of coaching experience in the collegiate summer ball ranks. He succeeds Michael Menhart, who led the Blowfish to the playoffs in his one season as head coach and resigned earlier this month to pursue other career opportunities.
Menhart was an assistant coach during the 2024 campaign under former head coach KC Brown. He then was promoted to head coach after Brown left for a full-time coaching position. He guided the Blowfish to the No. 2 seed in the West Division during the 2025 season before passing the reigns over to Falkner.
“I want to thank Michael for his two years of dedication to the organization,” General Manager Tony Baldwin said. “He stepped up from assistant coach to head coach last season and guided us back to the playoffs. We are thankful for his service and wish him well in future endeavors.”
Falkner’s background includes head coaching stints at USC-Beaufort, Madonna and Viterbo. He’s also spent three seasons coaching in the Northwoods League with the LaCrosse Loggers and Thunder Bay Border Cats, and one season with the Michigan Monarchs in the Great Lakes Collegiate League.
“My family and I are really blessed and excited for this opportunity,” Falkner said. “After meeting with Bill Shanahan and talking with Tony Baldwin, I felt that this organization is special. Lexington County and its love and history for baseball is something I can’t wait to be a part of for the 2026 season.”
“Ted and I were college teammates at Concordia-Ann Arbor,” Baldwin said. “He was a leader on the field in college and I know exactly what type of person he is and how he will lead this team. We are beyond thrilled to have him as part of our organization and excited for the continued success of the Blowfish both on and off the field.”
Falkner will begin recruiting immediately to fill the 2026 roster.
“I’m looking for a player that is committed–committed to the process, committed to what it takes to play this game at the next level, committed to dominating the details and committed to personal growth and development,” Falkner added. “I really want guys that love the game and want to take advantage of every opportunity they can to play it to the best of their ability. I want guys to embrace the Lexington County area and represent this wonderful organization.”
While Falkner’s recruiting base is nationwide, he is also dedicated to continuing the long line of Lexington County area standouts to suit up in the Blowfish uniform.
“On the field, I’m expecting our players to play hard, play with passion and respect the 27 outs it takes to finish a ballgame,” Falkner said. “Off the field, we are going to walk alongside them and help them to be the best versions of themselves. It’s going to be a fun summer.”
Falkner holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University-Ann Arbor and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Ashford University. He is married to his wife, Katie, and the couple has three sons – Jackson (13), Miles (10) and Bo (3).
The Blowfish have made three consecutive trips to the Coastal Plain League postseason, including capturing the 2023 Petitt Cup. Last season, Lexington County secured the No. 2 seed in the West Division and posted a 27-18 record in league play.
The 2026 Blowfish schedule is expected to be released next month. For information on tickets, please call the Blowfish Front Office at (803) 254-3474.
Blowfish earn ‘Promotion Of the Year’ from CPL
The Coastal Plain League (CPL) recognized the Blowfish for earning its 2025 Promotion of the Year Award.
The Promotion of the Year Award recognizes the most creative, impactful, and well-executed marketing or community engagement initiative of the season.
“Each year, teams across the Coastal Plain League raise the bar with creative promotions that bring our communities together,” said Lexington County General Manager Tony Baldwin. “We are truly honored to have our ‘One Night Only: The Hooties’ promotion recognized by both our peers and the league.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because the promotion not only resonated with our organization, but also made a real impact on so many people in our community.”
The Blowfish team, which began in Columbia in 2006, are named after the band Hootie and the Blowfish, which also hails from the Palmetto State capital. In 2015, the club moved to Lexington County, but maintained their nickname and their relationship with the band.
This season, Lexington County partnered with the band for the third consecutive year, with a special promotion that saw the Blowfish become the “Hooties” for a game against the Florence Flamingos on June 20. This year, however, the promotion included “turn back the clock” jerseys with a 1990s theme, which included neon colors and a full 90s vibe. In collaboration with the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation, the Blowfish raised a total of $10,400 in the jersey auction, which was then donated to Lexington Medical Center Foundation for its Partners Program, which assists students seeking to become healthcare workers.
Furthermore, two lucky fans in the auction were able to walk away with jerseys signed by the entire Hootie and the Blowfish band.
“This promotion is a rewarding one for us because it raised funds for Lexington Medical Center Foundation’s Partners Program, supporting students pursuing careers in healthcare,” continued Baldwin. “We went all in on the 1990s theme, complete with neon, one-of-a-kind jerseys that were auctioned off that night. Partnering with Hootie and the Blowfish and their foundation, who generously matched every dollar raised, made the event more impactful. Together, we were able to raise more than $10,000.
In the three seasons that the “Hooties” jersey promotion has taken place, the Blowfish have raised nearly $48,000 for the Lexington Medical Center Foundation.
