LEXINGTON COUNTY BLOWFISH - Four HRs lifts Blowfish to 14-2 season-opening win

Fans turned away from attendance after Governor cites rules against "spectator sports".

THOMAS GRANT JR.
chroniclesports@yahoo.com
Posted 7/1/20

The 2020 season opener at Lexington County Baseball Stadium opened with a bang for the home team.

The Lexington County Blowfish pounded out 15 hits and 5 home runs enroute to a 14-2 win over the …

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LEXINGTON COUNTY BLOWFISH - Four HRs lifts Blowfish to 14-2 season-opening win

Fans turned away from attendance after Governor cites rules against "spectator sports".

Posted

The 2020 season opener at Lexington County Baseball Stadium opened with a bang for the home team.
The Lexington County Blowfish pounded out 15 hits and 5 home runs enroute to a 14-2 win over the Bomb Island Bombers in 7 innings. 
Unfortunately for the Blowfish, pregame news put a whimper on the festivities. Instead of enthusiastic young and old fans, only team officials and stadium workers were privy to watching the offensive explosion live in person.
Nearly 2 hours prior to the opening pitch, Gov. Henry McMaster cited emergency orders which restricted indoor movie theaters, concerts, performing arts venues, nightclubs amd spectator sports.
McMaster said the Blowfish fell under the category of "spectator sports. While the Coastal Plain League features amateurs like the S.C. American Baseball Summer League, which had a contest between Lexington and Sumter Post 15 which was well-attended, McMaster apparently sees the Blowfish as a "business enterprise". 
After a last-ditch appeal failed, Shanahan read the governor's office's response to the fans standing outside the ballpark gate.
"After careful consideration, we have determined that your business falls within the non-essential categories outlined in the order," Shanahan read. "As such, you must cease operation until such time until the state of emergency is lifted." 
As fans walked left the ballpark, the Blowfish quickly built a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by the University of South Carolina's Wes Clarke and Zachary Iverson.
Bomb Island answered with a run in the top 2nd off starter and Gamecock righthander Brett Kerry. He gave up all 3 hits by the Bombers and struck out 3 for the win. 
Lexington County responded with 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning, with Clarke driving in his 2nd run of the game.
The next 2 innings saw the Blowfish play longball. Brennan Reback and Jack Cucinotta homered in the 3rd. Reback belted a 2-run homer in the 4th and Matt McDermott added a solo shot to push the Blowfish's lead to 13-1.
Clarke scored on a wild pitch to give Lexington County a 14-1 advantage. 
Chris Reeves relieved Kerry in the 5th and struck out 4 over 2 hitless innings. Clemson's Brett Percival gave up a run in the 7th, but got the final 3 outs to close out the victory.
"It was great to see how the guys reacted, responded well to all that stuff," Lexington head coach Matt Padgett said in his debut. "Opening day win, all good as part as that goes." 
The 4-game homestand continues Thursday against the Lake Murray Purple Martins. Lexington County should learn by the opening pitch whether fans can attend.
"I am hoping fans can get in," Padgett said. "I understand that there are people that maybe can't get it, health reasons and this and that. If we're allowed to play and we can provide some sort of entertainment, that's the way I look at it, I think that's a positive. As long as we do it the right way." 
 

Blowfish, baseball, South Carolina

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