(Photo by Lexington County Blowfish) Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon and Lexington County Blowfish co-owner Bill Shanahan
By Thomas Grant Jr.
This weekend will see the Lexington County Blowfish take up another team moniker for a worthy cause.
Add the Cowfish to the latest jersey promotion for the franchise.
In partnership with Lexington County Farm Bureau, the Blowfish will don cow-print jerseys for home games this Friday and Saturday. The jerseys feature a bold black-and-white cow print with a stars-and-stripes accent, COWFISH scripted across the chest, and a nameplate on the back celebrating South Carolina’s finest agricultural exports such as peaches, watermelon, timber, collards and more.
An online jersey auction is currently taking place at www.blowfishbaseball.com. Proceeds from the sales will go to the Lexington County Farm Bureau and its support of local farmers and agriculture.
Blowfish end losing streak to Owls
A new season has already produced different results for the Lexington County Blowfish in the form of a 3-1 start.
After going winless in seven games against West Division champion Forest City, the Blowfish snapped the skid Monday with a 9-2 win at McNair Field.
Lexington County had a season-high 15 hits, with Alex LaCoste providing the bulk of the offense going 5-5 with six RBI. Jack Pereira went 4-4 and Carter Blakenship drove in two runs.
Lexington County scored first in the Top 2nd on an RBI fielder’s choice by Cooper Noble. In the Top 3rd and runners on first and second, LaCoste set a 1-0 pitch over the centerfield wall for a 3-run homer.
Lacoste had another RBI opportunity in the Top 4th and delivered with a single to make it 5-0.
On the mound, Hayden Thomas held the Owls to two hits and struck out six batters. He was relieved by Ryan Egan who was unable to complete the fifth inning as he allowed two runs, two walks and hit a batsman.
The Blowfish loaded the bases in the Top 6th. Blakenship made it 6-2 with an RBI walk, followed by a 2-run single by Lacoste and RBI fielder’s choice by Mason Holton to extend the lead to 9-2.
Forest City picked up two runs in the Bottom 6th. Lexington County added three insurance runs in the Top 9th before the Owls answered with three to end the game.
Lexington County opened the season with a 6-2 road victory over Florence. Pereira had a 2-run single as part of a 5-run fourth inning for the Blowfish.
Zach Gimon struck out six and allowed just one run in five innings. He was relieved by Owen Carter who struck out five in three scoreless innings.
The Blowfish played their 11th home opener at Lexington County Baseball Stadium Friday against the Macon Bacon. Down 4-3 in the Bottom 8th, Emory Guilford tied the game with an RBI single and Cooper Noble sent a go-ahead sacrifice fly for the 5-4 victory.
Macon got revenge the following night with an 11-1 victory in eight innings. Lexington County was held to just five hits with the lone run scored by Brandon Cromer off a wild pitch.
Richland County Sheriff’s Department beats Lexington County in softball
For the third consecutive year, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office was defeated in the annual USO-South Carolina softball game by its counterpart in Richland County.
After leading 4-1, Lexington County gave up five runs in the Top 5th inning. With Sheriff Leon Lott playing catcher, Richland County came away with the 6-4 victory.
More important than keeping the trophy, according to Lott, was helping to raise funds for a worthy organization like the USC-South Carolina.
“It’s a friendly game, but it’s a competitive game,” he said. “The winners are going to be the soldiers and our military and the USO. So that’s what we’re all out her for tonight.”
Area director Joanie Thresher said the USO plays an important role in assisting incoming servicemembers as they arrive at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Welcoming as many as 8,600 young men and women recruits a month for training, the organization makes their time easier bringing a “touch of home” as they wait to get transported to Fort Jackson.
USO-Columbia also has an active site at the McCrady Training Center at 5401 Leesburg Road in Eastover. Service members and their families can also receive assistance and take part in other monthly events such as Military Spouse Appreciation in May.
LEXINGTON COUNTY BLOWFISH SCHEDULE
FRIDAY – CATAWBA VALLEY STARS/at Boone Bigfoots
SATURDAY – MACON BACON
MONDAY – at Florence Flamingos
WEDNESDAY – FLORENCE FLAMINGOS
