By Thomas Grant Jr.
With nine games remaining in the second half of the Coastal Plain League season, the Lexington County Blowfish find themselves in a two-way battle for first place.
Standing in the way of the defending league champions returning to the post-season are the red-hot Martinsville Mustangs. Entering Tuesday, it held a ½ game lead on Lexington County thanks to a 10-game win streak.
The Blowfish (21-18, 11-4) have won four straight to move back over .500 overall at 21-18 and remain close to Martinsville after dropping back-to-back game to the Florence Flamingos.
The streak started last Friday with a 10-0 shutout victory at the Forest City Owls.
The trio of starter Chance Fitzgerald and relievers Hayden Smith and Jack Whitlock combined for seven shutout innings and four strikeouts. Phillip Ard began his productive weekend by going 2-3 with three RBI and a home run.
This past Saturday, the Blowfish continued their home success with a 10-6 win over the Wilmington Sharks. In a rematch of last year’s Petitt Cup final, Lexington County rallied from an early 4-3 deficit.
University of South Carolina infielder Evan Stone of Dutch Fork went 3-5 with three RBI, including a solo home run. Thomas Hudson also drove in three runs and CPL All-Star C.J. Czerwinski struck out five in six innings of relief.
Sunday night saw the Blowfish explode for their highest run total of the season. The 17-3 win in seven innings over the Holly Springs Salamanders saw River Bluff graduate Zach Cowart of Lander University drive in a season-high six runs on 4-5 batting and a home run.
For the second time in three games, Ard had three RBI and River Bluff graduate Thomas Powell of North Greenville also drove in three runs.
Monday night saw the Blowfish hold off Florence 10-8 to snap a 3-game losing streak to the Flamingos. Lexington County jumped out to a 7-1 advantage through four innings before Florence scored eight unanswered runs to take the lead.
An RBI single by Brookland-Cayce grad Parker Mergo scored Gilbert graduate Ashby Vining, who drove in three RBI, to tie the game in the sixth inning. Sam Busch then put the Blowfish ahead when he scored on a passed ball.
Jakob Wax also scored on a passed ball and Whitlock, Smith and Nate Roof combined for four scoreless innings of relief to clinch the win.
Lexington County returned home.
Former Blowfish picked in MLB draft
Batesburg native and College World Series champion Billy Amick and Cole Mathis were teammates on the 2022 Lexington County Blowfish.
On Sunday, both infielders became the organization’s two highest selected players in the Major League Baseball draft. Amick and Mathis topped former Blowfish and University of South Carolina pitcher Wil Crowe who was the 65th overall selection of the 2017 MLB Draft
Mathis was picked 54th overall in the second round by the Chicago Cubs. He’s also the highest selected player ever from alma mater the College of Charleston, surpassing third-round selections Taylor Clarke and Brett Gardner.
Mathis was named first team All-CAA following his junior season after batting .335 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 63 runs scored and 57 RBI.
It was six picks later which Amick was chosen by the Minnesota Twins. Amick, who also played at W.W. King Academy and the P27s, spent three seasons at Clemson before transferring this season to Tennessee.
He batted.306 with 23 home runs in 65 games for the Volunteers. He was instrumental in the Volunteers winning their first-ever national title as he drove in seven RBI and had a grand slam during the Knoxville Regional and had two hits in a comeback win against Florida State during the CWS.
Other former Blowfish players drafted were Lebarron Johnson Jr. (5th round – Colorado Rockies) and Trey Pooser (10th round – Tampa Bay Rays).
LEXINGTON COUNTY BLOWFISH SCHEDULE
THURSDAY – MACON 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY – at Forest City 7 p.m. CATAWBA VALLEY STARS (exhibition) 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY – CATAWBA VALLEY STARS (exhibition) 7:05 p.m.
MONDAY – at Forest City 7 p.m.
TUESDAY – at Asheboro :05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY – FOREST CITY 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Lexington County Blowfish