Chapin head baseball coach Dell Lever throws out the first pitch at Lexington County Baseball Stadium. (Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The tradition of honoring Lexington County state high school champions continued at Lexington County Baseball Stadium this past Monday.
Head coach Dell Lever and members of the Class 5A Division II champion Eagles’ baseball team were invited guests of Lexington County Blowfish co-owner Bill Shanahan. Along with getting a front row seat behind homeplate to watch the team in action, they got to greet the players and took place in pregame activities.
Lever threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the contest against the Asheboro Zookeepers. He also gave public praise to his team after their playoff run produced the school’s 12th state title in S.C. High School League history.
The Eagles are second all-time behind Gilbert after winning their first championship since 2018. It was also the fourth state title won by a Region 4-5A team since 2019.
SPRING BREAK HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL
On Wednesday, it was learned that Chapin, Lexington, River Bluff and Brookland-Cayce will take part in a first-ever Spring Break High School Invitational.
A joint venture of the Blowfish and the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission, which owns the stadium, the event will include four visiting teams to compete in an 8-team tournament. Running next year, it will take place March 28-April 1.
“On behalf of the Blowfish and LCRAC, we are excited to host this brand-new showcase for our local Lexington County players,” said Shanahan in a press release, “And hosting high school teams from across the state and the region is perfect to travel to beautiful Lexington County and play ball on what Lexington County calls our ‘Green Diamond Jewel’ we call Lexington County Baseball Stadium.
“The Lex.” is a 2,000-seat stadium which recently underwent a $1.5 million renovation, which included the installation of a state-of-the-art AstroTurf surface to help secure events just like this.” said LCRAC Executive Director Randy Gibson. “The stadium serves as the home of the Coastal Plain League summer collegiate Blowfish Baseball Club, which is celebrating its 21st season overall—including 12 years in Lexington County and 9 years in Columbia, South Carolina.”
The visiting teams, game schedules and ticket prices will be announced at a later date.
