JUSTIN HALL

Week Two of the Lexington County Blowfish season saw a marked improvement in offensive output in the games it could complete.

The dreaded “R” word – rain - forced the cancellation of two games in Lexington County. The Blowfish returned to action June 11, falling 6-4 to the Macon Bacon in the first game of 2019 for the Pancakes.

The Blowfish then rattled off 2 straight wins behind phenomenal efforts offensively at home against Martinsville and on the road in Gastonia.

“We’re just seeing the ball really well right now,” head coach Marshall McDonald said. “Guys are working deep counts and we’ve got the talent that will make a pitcher pay for a mistake.”

Lexington County put up 25 runs in the back-to-back wins in their midweek games, including a 14-run outburst in Gastonia.

A quality outing from Bennett Nance and Jordan Beatson of Airport High School in both of those games was overshadowed by the offense.

“Bennett’s a guy that I really enjoy coaching,” pitching coach Shawn Torbett said. “He gets ‘it’, and he’s like a sponge soaking up every piece of information he can.”

Torbett was just as glowing about Beat-son’s outing in Gastonia.

“Jordan has to establish his fastball inside, especially to right handed hitters,” Torbett explained. “When he can do that, his slider is much more effective and he’s able to change speeds better to keep hitters off-balance.”

The brief winning streak ended this past Saturday with a 10-0 shutout at the hands of South Division leader Savannah.

“Baseball sometimes doesn’t go your way,” McDonald said. “Tonight, we ran into a really good pitcher (starter Austin Temple threw 5 2/3 perfect innings and allowed just 1 hit) and didn’t execute the way we know we’re capable of. But I still feel like we’re a good team, and we’ll get back in the win column.”

It was the Bananas’ 9 consecutive victory at Lexington County Baseball Stadium dating back to July 29, 2017 and was the first of 2 straight home losses by 10 runs to Georgia-based teams.

This past Monday, the Macon Bacon defeated the Pancakes again 15-5 as centerfielder M.J. Rookard posted the stadium’s first-ever ‘cycle’ with a single, home run, double and triple in his first 4 at-bats. He finished with 6 runs scored, 3 RBI and 2 walks.

Despite the setback, Blowfish coaches still feel confident that their team is prepared for the long haul of the Coastal Plain League season.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

THURSDAY – at Savannah 7:05 pm

FRIDAY – at Florence 7:05 pm

SATURDAY – FLORENCE 7:05 pm

MONDAY – at Florence 7:05 pm

TUESDAY – FLORENCE (DH)*

WEDNESDAY – at Forest City (DH)#

*Game 1 starts at 5, followed by Game 2 at 7:05 pm. Two, 7-inning games.

#Game 1 starts at 1 pm, followed by Game 2 at 6 pm. Two, 7-inning games.