FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2025
Contact: Justin Sellers, 919.744.3060

DURHAM, NC – The Coastal Plain League (CPL) recognized Lexington County this afternoon for earning the 2025 CPL Promotion of the Year. The Promotion of the Year Award recognizes the most creative, impactful, and well-executed marketing or community engagement initiative of the season.

“Each year, teams across the Coastal Plain League raise the bar with creative promotions that bring our communities together,” said Lexington County General Manager Tony Baldwin. “We are truly honored to have our ‘One Night Only: The Hooties’ promotion recognized by both our peers and the league. This recognition is especially meaningful because the promotion not only resonated with our organization, but also made a real impact on so many people in our community.”The Blowfish team, which began in Columbia, S.C., in 2006, are named after the band Hootie and the Blowfish, which also hails from the Palmetto State capital. In 2015, the club moved to Lexington County, but maintained their nickname and their relationship with the band.

This season, Lexington County partnered with the band for the third consecutive year, with a special promotion that saw the Blowfish become the “Hooties” for a game against the Florence Flamingos on June 20. This year, however, the promotion included “turn back the clock” jerseys with a 1990s theme, which included neon colors and a full 90s vibe. In collaboration with the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation, the Blowfish raised a total of $10,400 in the jersey auction, which was then donated to Lexington Medical Center Foundation for its Partners Program, which assists students seeking to become healthcare workers. Furthermore, two lucky fans in the auction were able to walk away with jerseys signed by the entire Hootie and the Blowfish band.

“This promotion is a rewarding one for us because it raised funds for Lexington Medical Center Foundation’s Partners Program, supporting students pursuing careers in healthcare,” continued Baldwin. “We went all in on the 1990s theme, complete with neon, one-of-a-kind jerseys that were auctioned off that night. Partnering with Hootie and the Blowfish and their foundation, who generously matched every dollar raised, made the event more impactful. Together, we were able to raise more than $10,000.

In the three seasons that the “Hooties” jesery promotion has taken place, the Blowfish have raised nearly $48,000 for the Lexington Medical Center Foundation.

About Coastal Plain League


The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier and most innovative summer collegiate baseball league. The CPL is currently comprised of 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,800 alumni drafted, and 201 alums make their Major League debut. Most notable alumni include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, Alec Bohm, Jake Cave, Chas McCormick and NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @CPLBaseball.

Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, WRAL Digital and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV, WILT-LD and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality and Coastal Plain League in Durham, NC; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC, and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC.