WALDORF, Md., June 12, 2025 — The Gastonia Ghost Peppers triumphed over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs with a 10-3 victory in an Atlantic League of Professional Baseball game on June 11 at Regency Furniture Stadium. The three-hour, 24-minute contest, attended by 2,445 fans, saw Gastonia’s offense erupt for 14 hits, including three home runs, to secure the win.
The Blue Crabs took an early lead, scoring one run in each of the first two innings. Alejandro De Aza drove in John Taylor with a single in the first, and Sam Dexter hit a solo home run in the second. Gastonia responded in the third, with Jack Reinheimer’s fielder’s choice scoring Eric De La Rosa. The Ghost Peppers tied the game in the fourth when Narciso Crook’s double drove in Cole Roederer, and took the lead in the fifth as Henderson Perez scored on a groundout.
Gastonia’s offense surged in the sixth, powered by back-to-back home runs from Kevin Watson Jr. and De La Rosa, scoring three runs. The eighth inning proved decisive, with Roederer’s double driving in Perez and Dalton Guthrie, followed by Justin Wylie’s two-run homer, pushing the lead to 10-2. The Blue Crabs added a final run in the ninth when Brett Barrera’s single scored Jamari Baylor.
Nick Wells earned the win for Gastonia, pitching five innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts. Garrett Martin took the loss for Southern Maryland, surrendering six earned runs over 5.1 innings. Both teams recorded 14 hits and 11 strikeouts, with no errors committed.
Standout performances included Roederer, who went 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, and Wylie, who hit a home run and drove in two. For the Blue Crabs, Dondrei Hubbard went 4-for-4 with a walk, and Barrera contributed three hits, including an RBI single. Despite leaving 16 runners on base, Southern Maryland could not capitalize on their opportunities.
The Ghost Peppers’ bullpen, including Tanner Myatt, Rodney Hutchison, Ariel Hernández, and Bryce Schares, held the Blue Crabs scoreless for three innings. Southern Maryland’s relievers, Rafi Vazquez, Santiago Florez, and Noah Williamson, struggled, with Florez allowing four runs in the eighth.
The game, played under clear 78-degree weather, featured strong defensive play, with catchers Henderson Perez and Ryan McCarthy each recording 11 putouts. Gastonia’s De La Rosa stole a base, while Taylor and De Aza each stole one for the Blue Crabs.
With the win, Gastonia improved to 16-25, while Southern Maryland fell to 21-20. The game showcased Gastonia’s offensive depth and timely hitting, overcoming an early deficit to dominate the later innings.
