By Thomas Grant Jr.
A fourth straight series comeback and second consecutive Coastal Plain League title was not to be for the Lexington County Blowfish.
The Wilmington Sharks completed a Best-of-Three series sweep of the defending champions Friday at home. They defeated the Blowfish 9-2 in Game Two to win the Petitt Cup for the third time and first since 1999.
Game One at Lexington County Baseball Stadium went in favor of the visiting Sharks 4-2. The Blowfish got on the board after Breon Ishmael advanced to third on an Evan Stone single and scored on a throwing error. Stone then scored on an RBI single by fellow Dutch Fork graduate Blake Martin.
Blowfish starter Eric Moore held Wilmington scoreless through five innings. He gave up a solo home run to David Sturgeon in the Top 6th before leaving the game with six strikeouts.
Wilmington tied the game in the Top 7th. Cam Hassert reached second after a throwing error by first baseman Phillip Ard to reliever Reed Gallant, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder’s choice by Aiden Evans.
The Sharks put runners on first and second to open the eighth inning. Cam Suto then cleared the bases with a 2-run double to give Wilmington the lead.
Lexington County was unable to rally against the Sharks’ bullpen in its home finale.
Game Two started in similar fashion in “The Shark Tank.” Lexington County led 2-0 in the third inning on an RBI fielder’s choice by River Bluff graduate Zach Cowart and an RBI single by Sam Busch.
Blowfish starter Kevin Steelman held Wilmington scoreless through the first four innings. In the fifth inning, he gave up a leadoff walk to Jason Culley and Sturgeon scored him on an RBI double.
Cole Munhall replaced Steelman and Dylan Jeffries tied the game with a single. Wilmington added two more runs on an error in leftfield and an Avery Spencer RBI single.
The Sharks added five more runs in the sixth and seventh innings, two by Jeffries, to break the game open. Greyson Linderman sealed the championship in relief by recording five strikeouts in the final two innings.
Wilmington finished the 2024 season at 30-19, while Lexington County posted a 28-25 overall record.
Photo by Thomas Grant Jr. – Lexington County Blowfish’s Blake Martin with an RBI single.
