A small but enthusiastic crowd at the Lexington County recreational baseball fields on Ballpark Road Friday night welcomed the Columbia Blowfish to Lexington.
The seven-inning scrimmage featured half of the semi-pro Blowfish players battling the other half and their manager pitching for both teams.
The event was an effort to get Lexington fired up about possibly being the new home of the Blowfish, and to raise money for next year's Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, which will be hosted by Lexington. Tickets were $6, but local Dixie Youth players in uniform were admitted for free.
A two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh won the game for the White Blowfish over the Blue Blowfish, 4-3, but few knew the score until they were told, for the left-field scoreboard wasn't used. Also unused for the game were a half-dozen portable bleachers brought in for the game. Nearly all of the fans found seats on bleachers, portable chairs and blankets between first and third bases.
Following the game, fans were entertained by a fireworks display and Blowfish players talked to fans and signed autographs. Before the game, several Blowfish players were involved in a baseball clinic for local players.
The Blowfish, made up of former college players from USC and Lander to Notre Dame and points between, are losing their home at Capital City Stadium in Columbia after this year. That site is being redeveloped.
Many Lexington County officials have said they hope to lure the Blowfish to Lexington, but nothing has been announced.
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