Blowfish look to clinch playoff berth in final week

By Thomas Grant, Jr.

So many events, so many ramifications for Lexington County Blowfish.

The final week is guaranteed to end in a “blaze of glory” even with the final fireworks show planned for the regular-season home finale this Friday. After the last “Dog Day Wednesday” against the Forest City Owls, the Blowfish will end the regular season this week with five games – four taking place during back-to-back home-and-away doubleheaders with the Macon Bacon.

The second twin bill Friday is not just Fan Appreciation and Irish Heritage Night. It will also serve to close out the annual online auction of this year’s championship-themed team jerseys.

Each jersey features a town/city inside Lexington County, emblazoned on the sleeve and listed across the back. It’s a reminder who our organization represents – Lexington, Batesburg-Leesville, Chapin, South Congaree, and more. It also has a gold trim in keeping with the tradition of World Series championship teams in Major League Baseball.

The auction concludes at 9 p.m. Friday and the winners announced following the second game against the Bacon. Proceeds will once again go towards charitable organizations in Lexington County.

The Blowfish end the regular season Saturday at Forest City looking to secure a berth into the Petitt Cup playoffs to defend their Coastal Plain League title.

They have found themselves in a heated race for first place in the West Division for the second half for most of the season. Lexington County has found itself either chasing or staying barely ahead of the Martinsville Mustangs.

At one point, the Mustangs won a club record 11 straight victories and showed no signs of relenting to Lexington County. An opening finally occurred this past weekend as the Mustangs dropped three consecutive games by one run.

Lexington County capitalized off the Mustangs’ losing streak to move back into first place by ½ game following Monday’s 8-5 home win over the Forest City Owls.

Dariyan Pendergrass went 2-4, including a 2-run homer, and River Bluff graduate Walker Mitchell also had two RBI. Phillip Ard also homered for his team-high fifth time this season.

The Blowfish received a major boost from reliever Sean Hollister. The Presbyterian College righthander entered the game with the bases loaded in the Top 7^th and managed to allow only an unearned run.

The Owls were held hitless the rest of the way as Hollister finished with seven strikeouts for the save.

Lexington County’s stay in first was short-lived as it lost 8-3 at Asheboro and Martinsville routed the Tri-City Chili Peppers 14-3 on Tuesday. The Blowfish do have two more remaining games than the Mustangs which could work to their advantage.