The first half of the Coastal Plain League season came to an unceremonious end for the Lexington County Blowfish this past Saturday.
The Blowfish played 8 games in 6 days, thanks to 2 consecutive days of doubleheader action. On June 24, Lexington County fell 6-5 to the Florence Redwolves on a walkoff error.
“We’re just struggling to get the breaks to go our way,” head coach Marshall McDonald said after the loss, the 3rd as a result of a walkoff in a 5-game stretch. “We just have to keep fighting. Our team has good morale, but we just have to clean up the mistakes that have cost us games in the first half.”
Lexington County followed up the loss splitting a doubleheader at home against the Redwolves on Tuesday. Lexington County held the lead in Game 1 before a grand slam by Mitch Barrow gave Florence the lead in the top of the seventh.
The Blowfish rebounded in Game 2, winning 9-5 to snap the 4-game losing streak. Both Houston Wright and Lexington County newcomer Tristen Hudson accounted for 3 RBI and Bennett Nance struck out 4 for the win. 
The Blowfish then hit the road, dropping both games of a day-night doubleheader in Forest City. With the team reeling and injuries piling up, Lexington County saw a 2-0 early lead turn into a 15-2 mercy rule blowout loss to the Gastonia Grizzlies on June 27 at home. 
Lexington County wrapped up the first half of the season against the Macon Bacon and Savannah Bananas. 
The Blowfish played their most complete game of the year, beating the then-first place Bacon 4-3 behind a strong outing from Brett Fulk. The Lenoir-Rhyne pitcher threw 6 innings, giving up just 2 runs and striking out seven Bacon batters, and Hudson drove in 3 runs. 
It was a much needed win as the Blowfish defeated the Bacon for the first time this season and 2nd time ever at Luther Williams Field. 
“We went in to win the game,” pitching coach Shawn Torbett said after the game.  
Lexington County ended the first half of the season with a 6-0 shutout loss to Savannah. It was the 11th consecutive loss to the Bananas at home for the Blowfish, who finished the first half 7-18 record overall and 9.5 games behind South Division champion Savannah. 
“There’s good news, the second half is like a whole new season,” McDonald said. “We’re playing good baseball. It’s just the breaks aren’t going our way right now. The second half of the season can change that.”
Lexington County opened the second half this past Monday at Gastonia. The Blowfish will have a 4-day All-Star break following Saturday’s road game at Savannah. 
The Blowfish are seeking their first playoff appearance since 2015.
“We’re going to keep grinding,” McDonald said. “We’ve still got a long way to go and a lot of games left to play. We’ve shown how good we can be and how well we can compete night in and night out.”
Veterans’ Night on Friday
Friday's contest between the Lexington County Blowfish and Macon Bacon will serve as Veterans’ Night.
A collaborative effort of the Lexington County Blowfish and American Legion Post 7, the event will serve as a Salute to the organization’s 100th birthday. 
Free admission and food inside the VIP Stadium room will be made available for veterans and a guest. There will also be a pre-game veteran’s group recognition, a first pitch by a veteran and group photo opportunity with the Blowfish players. Festivities will begin at 6:20 pm and a post-game fireworks show will take place.
Veterans can confirm their RSVP by contacting Kyle Calhoun at the Blowfish office at (803) 254-FISH (3474) or via email at kyle@blowfishbaseball.com .  

UPCOMING BLOWFISH SCHEDULE
(All Games start at 7:05 pm) 

WEDNESDAY - at Macon 

THURSDAY – SAVANNAH
FRIDAY - MACON 
SATURDAY - at Macon 
SUNDAY & MONDAY - Coastal Plain League All-Star Game in Savannah, Ga. 
WEDNESDAY - SAVANNAH