COUNCIL "SAVES" BLOWFISH - Team co-owners receive support from Lexington County Council to reopen ballpark to fans

Wednesday's home game versus the Lake Murray Purple Martins is new "home" opener

THOMAS GRANT JR.
chroniclesports@yahoo.com
Posted 7/14/20

Will Chronicle County fans have an opportunity to see the Lexington County Blowfish in person this season?

Co-owners Bill and Vicki Shanahan were hopeful of reopening Lexington County Baseball …

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COUNCIL "SAVES" BLOWFISH - Team co-owners receive support from Lexington County Council to reopen ballpark to fans

Wednesday's home game versus the Lake Murray Purple Martins is new "home" opener

Posted

Will Chronicle County fans have an opportunity to see the Lexington County Blowfish in person this season?
Co-owners Bill and Vicki Shanahan were hopeful of reopening Lexington County Baseball Stadium to the public for Wednesday’s game against the Lake Murray Purple Martins. 
The sticking point was getting approval from the Governor’s office. The team has appealed the executive order which stopped fans from attending the July 1 season-opener and kept them away ever since.
The Shanahans told the Lexington County Council Tuesday a week has passed and no they've received no response from the governor’s office. They believe no action would put the franchise in “dire straits”. 
“The future of the Blowfish amateur baseball club is at stake,” Bill said. 

Thanks to the Lexington County Council recategorizing the team as an amateur youth baseball team, the Shanahans got their wish. 
Under the Governor’s guidelines set May 20, youth sports and recreation departments could start holding games ‘with or without spectators” on June 15. This allowed fans at travel baseball leagues and the S.C. American Baseball Summer League games. 
Despite competing in a summer collegiate amateur league (Coastal Plain League) and a ballpark owned by the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission, the governor’s office considered the Blowfish a “nonessential business”. 
The Shanahans believe their organization was "accidentally mislabeled” by the governor’s office. Bill said the Blowfish should receive the same status as an amateur high school league like the SCABSL. 
An emotional Vicki Shanahan expressed her heartbreak and shock upon learning the untimely news. 
“This news was absolutely devestating and we are completely perplexed in what has happened to our family in the Blowfish community,” she said. “The last 2 weeks have been a trial, no doubt, and a very perservering time for us.”
The Shanahans also showed a 90-second video dealing the measures taken by the Blowfish towards providing a safe environment for the fans:
•Temperature checks for fans and covid-19 test on players. 
•Limiting capacity to 30 percent (700-800 fans), taping off seats to space out fans for social distancing
•Persistent disinfecting throughout the ballpark
•Installed plexiglass sneezeguards placed at the concession stand booths
•employees wear masks
Following the presentation, the council unanimously approved a resolution showing their support to the Shanahans and Blowfish. In addition, the team was recategorized as an amateur youth sports team and will be able to reopen its ballpark to fans. 
“Play ball and let’s bring the fans back to the ballpark,” council member Scott Whetstone said. 

Blowfish Shanahan baseball

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