WALDORF, Md., May 15, 2025 — The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs swept the York Revolution in a doubleheader on May 14 at Regency Furniture Stadium, winning 3-0 in Game 1 and 3-2 in Game 2 in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The victories improved the Blue Crabs’ record to 10-7, while the Revolution fell to 11-6.
In Game 1, starting at 10:40 a.m., the Blue Crabs shut out the Revolution over seven innings, finishing in 1 hour and 44 minutes under partly cloudy, 69-degree weather. Shawn Semple earned the win, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, striking out five, and walking two. Jimmie Sherfy secured the save with a scoreless seventh. Matt Walker took the loss for York, yielding three runs on eight hits over six innings with three strikeouts.
The Blue Crabs struck first in the opening inning when John Taylor hit a solo home run, his third of the season. They added a run in the fifth when Jackson Loftin singled to score Sam Dexter, who reached on a single and advanced on an error. Gio Digiacomo sealed the 3-0 lead with a solo home run in the sixth, his fourth. “It was a great team effort,” said Blue Crabs manager Stan Cliburn, though no direct quotes from the game were provided.
York struggled offensively, managing four hits, including doubles from Marty Costes, Alerick Soularie, and Jeffrey Wehler. The Revolution left six runners on base and committed one error, while the Blue Crabs played error-free, stranding four runners. Digiacomo led Southern Maryland with two hits and an RBI, while Loftin and Taylor each contributed a hit and an RBI.
Game 2, starting at 1:06 p.m. and lasting 2 hours and 26 minutes under overcast 74-degree skies, saw 5,213 fans as the Blue Crabs edged York 3-2. Ian Kahaloa earned the win, allowing two runs on six hits over five innings with seven strikeouts. Cody Thompson secured the save, pitching a scoreless seventh. Ian Churchill took the loss for York, giving up one run on one hit in the sixth. Foster Pace started for York, allowing two runs on seven hits over five innings.
Southern Maryland scored in the first when Alejandro De Aza doubled to drive in Ethan Wilson, who reached on a fielder’s choice. York tied it in the third when Alerick Soularie’s sacrifice fly scored Costes. The Blue Crabs regained the lead in the fourth when Brett Barrera’s sacrifice fly scored De Aza. York answered in the fifth, with Frankie Tostado’s single driving in Jalen Miller to tie the game at 2-2. The decisive run came in the sixth when Jamari Baylor, pinch-hitting for Pearce Howard, doubled to score De Aza, who had walked.
York’s offense produced eight hits, including two doubles from Tostado, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Costes added two hits, and Soularie drove in a run. The Revolution left 10 runners on base. For the Blue Crabs, De Aza and Taylor each had two hits, with Baylor and Barrera driving in runs. Southern Maryland stranded six runners and played error-free, while York also had no errors.
The Blue Crabs’ pitching was a standout in both games. In Game 1, Semple’s command limited York to a .167 batting average, while Sherfy’s efficient 13-pitch save closed the door. In Game 2, Kahaloa struck out seven, and Thompson navigated a late threat with two runners on base. York’s pitchers, despite solid efforts, couldn’t match Southern Maryland’s clutch hitting and defense.
Regency Furniture Stadium, the Blue Crabs’ home since 2008, provided a lively backdrop. The Atlantic League, an independent professional league founded in 1998, features teams like the Blue Crabs and Revolution, offering competitive baseball outside Major League Baseball’s affiliate system. Both teams are in the North Division, with York leading the Blue Crabs by one game entering the series.
Historically, the Blue Crabs have been a consistent contender, reaching the playoffs multiple times, though they seek their first championship since 2015. The Revolution, based in York, Pennsylvania, have won three titles, the last in 2017. This doubleheader showcased the rivalry’s intensity, with Southern Maryland’s balanced attack proving decisive.
The Blue Crabs’ offense leaned on timely power and speed. Taylor’s leadoff homer in Game 1 set the tone, while Loftin’s stolen base and Digiacomo’s homer showcased their versatility. In Game 2, De Aza’s two hits and Baylor’s pinch-hit double highlighted their depth. York’s bats, led by Tostado and Costes, showed promise but couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities, going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position across both games.
Defensively, Southern Maryland executed flawlessly, turning a double play in Game 2 and recording 17 putouts in Game 1. York’s defense was solid but hindered by a fifth-inning error in Game 1 that led to a run. Catcher Michael Berglund threw out one baserunner in Game 1, but the Revolution couldn’t stop Loftin’s steal in the fifth.
The sweep strengthens the Blue Crabs’ position in the North Division race, narrowing the gap with York. Both teams continue their series, with Southern Maryland aiming to build momentum at home. The Atlantic League’s 126-game season, split into two halves, offers ample opportunity for both clubs to vie for playoff spots.
This doubleheader underscored the Blue Crabs’ pitching depth and offensive opportunism, while York’s resilience suggests they remain a threat. As the season progresses, fans can expect more tightly contested matchups between these regional rivals.
