Baseball season in Aiken might be over before it even begins.

The possibility of a second season of Aiken Foxhounds baseball took another hit on Tuesday when the South Coast League announced the resignation of Jamie Toole, its chief executive officer.

"It is bittersweet to leave the South Coast League's day-to-day operations," Toole said in a statement. "The last two-and-a-half years have been extremely rewarding, and my hope is that the SCL will reach its full potential in the coming months."

SCL chief development officer J.D. Hardin said Toole's resignation came as a complete shock.

"I didn't send that (statement) out. I'm just as caught off guard as you are," he said. "All questions will have to be directed to him."

Toole's statement didn't give a reason for his resignation, and Toole did not return multiple phone calls nor an e-mail seeking comment.

Already struggling, the South Coast League is in an even bigger mess after Toole's departure.

After completing its inaugural season last summer, the league saw two of six teams shut down operations in the off-season. The league made plans to field only four teams in 2008.

Two of those remaining teams, including the Foxhounds, had general managers resign in recent months and haven't named replacements.

The search for a new Foxhounds general manager has temporarily stopped.

"That's been put on hold with all this other stuff going on," said Jason Rabun, the Foxhounds' director of ticket sales. "We're trying to save the ship here, but without getting some new investors on board I don't know if that ship is going to stay afloat."

Rabun said local investors "with major interest" have approached the league about a possible buy-out, but nothing has materialized.

"It's frustrating for us. We're still intending to play ball, but no one (from the league office) is returning our phone calls," Rabun said. "We're handcuffed now."

The Foxhounds are scheduled to open the season on the road against the Macon Music on May 15, but water and electricity have been turned off at Luther Williams Field, where the Music play.

Aiken's home opener is May 22 at USC Aiken's Roberto Hernandez Stadium, but a $30,000 lease to use the field hasn't been paid in full.

USC Aiken athletic director Randy Warrick said the deadline to pay the bill is next week.

"The last meeting we had with them, they had intended to pay," Warrick said. "They have sent in a partial payment, but the rest is due next week."