FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.- The Columbia Blowfish defeated the Fayetteville SwampDogs 8-3 Tuesday night to win their first ever Coastal Plain League Petitt Cup Championship.
The 'Fish ended the season with a dog pile on top of the pitchers mound celebrating the team's first championship.
They ended the season with a 38-24 record.
The Blowfish, coached by former South Carolina Gamecocks Brian Buscher and Jon Coutlangus, started slowly but blew the game open with a seven run fourth inning. Gabe Loweree led the inning off with a double to left and then scored on a Tre-Von Johnson single up the middle. Zach Smith then singled down the left field line to advance Johnson to third. Johnson was then thrown out at home on a ground ball hit to second by Daniel Torres. Jarrod Reed then tripled to right to score Torres and Smith to give the Blowfish a 3-0 lead. After Reed tripled Federico Castagnini singled up the middle to give the Blowfish a 4-0 lead. Michael Wilson then singled to left and Graham Saiko followed with a three run blast over the left field fence to cap the seven run inning.
The Blowfish got an excellent outing on the mound from right-hander Stuart Pound. Pound went six innings allowing just one hit and striking out seven to get the win.