GASTONIA, N.C. — The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs defeated the Gastonia Ghost Peppers 12-8 in an Atlantic League of Professional Baseball game on May 28, 2025, at CaroMont Health Park. The Blue Crabs (15-12) overcame an early deficit with a five-run third inning and strong offensive performances, improving their record while the Ghost Peppers (9-20) struggled defensively. The game, attended by 631 fans, lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes under cloudy 64-degree weather.
Giovanni Digiacomo led Southern Maryland, going 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Alejandro De Aza contributed three RBIs, including a two-run double in the eighth. Brett Barrera added three hits, two RBIs, and two runs. Noah Willamson (1.1 innings, no hits, two walks) earned the win, while Gastonia’s Bryan Blanton (1 inning, three runs) took the loss. No save was recorded.
The Blue Crabs trailed 1-0 after Jack Reinheimer’s solo home run for Gastonia in the first. Southern Maryland responded in the third, erupting for five runs. Andy Valdes opened with a solo home run, followed by Digiacomo’s grand slam, scoring Jackson Loftin, Ethan Wilson, and De Aza. Gastonia answered with two runs in the third on Cole Roederer’s two-run homer and added one in the fourth via Dalton Guthrie’s sacrifice fly, narrowing the gap to 5-4.
Southern Maryland extended its lead in the fifth when Jamari Baylor scored on an error by Gastonia’s Patrick Mazeika. Gastonia fought back, scoring two runs in the sixth on singles by Roederer and Mazeika, making it 6-7. The Blue Crabs pulled away in the eighth with three runs, driven by De Aza’s double, and added three more in the ninth on Barrera’s two-run double and Loftin’s RBI single. Gastonia managed one run in the eighth on Narciso Crook’s solo home run but couldn’t close the gap.
Southern Maryland’s 16 hits included five doubles and two home runs, with no errors committed. Gastonia’s 11 hits featured three doubles and three home runs but were marred by one error and 11 runners left on base. The Blue Crabs’ pitching staff, led by starter Andrew Thurman (3.2 innings, four runs), navigated eight walks, while Gastonia’s pitchers, starting with Matt Hartman (two innings, two runs), issued six walks and struggled late.
Digiacomo’s performance stood out, with his seventh home run and 12th stolen base of the season. Valdes’ first home run of the year sparked the pivotal third inning. For Gastonia, Roederer drove in three runs, and Reinheimer and Crook each homered, but defensive miscues and stranded runners hindered their comeback. The game saw 17 total pitchers, with Southern Maryland’s bullpen holding firm after Gastonia’s sixth-inning rally.
The victory strengthens Southern Maryland’s position in the Atlantic League standings, while Gastonia continues to seek consistency. Both teams showcased offensive firepower, combining for 27 hits, but the Blue Crabs’ timely hitting and cleaner defense proved decisive in the high-scoring affair.
