GASTONIA, N.C. — The Gastonia Ghost Peppers defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 8-3 in an Atlantic League of Professional Baseball game on May 29, 2025, at CaroMont Health Park. Gastonia’s strong first and sixth innings, powered by three home runs, secured the victory before 834 fans despite light rain. The Blue Crabs, now 15-13, struggled to counter Gastonia’s 10 hits, falling to the 10-20 Ghost Peppers.
Gastonia surged ahead in the first inning, scoring four runs, including a solo home run by Jack Reinheimer and a three-run homer by Narciso Crook. The Ghost Peppers added four more in the sixth, with Patrick Mazeika’s two-run homer and Dalton Guthrie’s two-RBI single proving decisive. “Those early runs set the tone,” said Gastonia’s winning pitcher Craig Stem, who allowed one run over five innings. Southern Maryland’s John Kelly took the loss, surrendering seven runs in 5.2 innings.
The Blue Crabs scored their first run in the fourth on Pearce Howard’s solo home run. They added one in the sixth when Giovanni Digiacomo scored on John Taylor’s double, and another in the seventh when Sam Dexter crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Despite six hits, Southern Maryland left seven runners on base and couldn’t overcome Gastonia’s lead. “We had chances but couldn’t capitalize,” said Blue Crabs manager Stan Cliburn post-game.
Gastonia’s offense was led by Crook, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Mazeika, who hit 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Reinheimer also contributed a home run and an RBI. For Southern Maryland, Howard and Taylor each had two hits, with Howard and Taylor driving in one run apiece. Ethan Wilson added an RBI via a groundout. Gastonia’s lone error, by Crook, didn’t impact the outcome, while the Blue Crabs played error-free.
The game, starting at 7:01 p.m., lasted 3 hours and 8 minutes under 74-degree weather with light rain and 3 mph winds. Umpires Clark Morgan (plate), Timothy Gansrow, and Anthony Greene officiated. Gastonia’s pitching staff, including Stem, Luke Baker, Graham Firoved, Nick Horvath, Bryan Blanton, and Kent Hasler, limited Southern Maryland to three earned runs. Blue Crabs relievers Santiago Florez and Brandon McCabe couldn’t halt Gastonia’s momentum.
The Atlantic League, an independent professional baseball league, features competitive matchups like this one, with both teams vying for playoff contention. Gastonia’s win snapped a skid, boosting morale, while Southern Maryland looks to rebound in upcoming games. CaroMont Health Park, a 5,000-seat venue, hosted the modest crowd, reflecting Gastonia’s growing baseball fanbase.
