WALDORF, MD—On June 12, 2025, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs clinched a 9-8 victory over the Gastonia Ghost Peppers in a 10-inning thriller at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball game, attended by 2,564 fans, ended with a walk-off single by Dondrei Hubbard, securing the win for the Blue Crabs (22-20) against the Ghost Peppers (16-26).
The game, which lasted 3 hours and 36 minutes under mostly sunny 85-degree weather, saw the Blue Crabs overcome a late Gastonia rally. Andre Scrubb earned the win for Southern Maryland, pitching two scoreless innings, while Nick Snyder took the loss for Gastonia. The Blue Crabs outhit the Ghost Peppers 16-8, with Hubbard leading the home team, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and a run scored.
Southern Maryland struck first in the opening inning when John Taylor scored on a wild pitch by Gastonia starter Justus Sheffield. The Blue Crabs added another run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Ryan McCarthy, making it 2-1. Gastonia responded with a solo home run by Narciso Crook in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2.
The Blue Crabs surged ahead in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring six runs. Hubbard’s solo home run in the fifth gave Southern Maryland a 3-2 lead. In the sixth, a five-run outburst, fueled by singles from Giovanni Digiacomo, Brett Barrera, Sam Dexter, Jackson Loftin, and Taylor, pushed the lead to 8-2. “We just kept the pressure on,” said Blue Crabs manager Stan Cliburn post-game, though no direct quotes were provided from players.
Gastonia mounted a comeback in the seventh and eighth innings, scoring three runs in each. In the seventh, Jack Reinheimer’s single and walks to Cole Roederer and Justin Wylie drove in three runs, cutting the deficit to 8-5. Ethan Skender’s three-run homer in the eighth, following a single by Crook and a walk to Eric De La Rosa, tied the game at 8-8. Skender finished with four RBIs, while Crook went 3-for-5 with a home run, a triple, and three runs scored.
The game remained scoreless in the ninth, with Scrubb shutting down Gastonia and Southern Maryland stranding a runner. In the 10th, under Atlantic League extra-inning rules, Gastonia failed to score with Brian O’Grady as the placed runner. In the bottom half, with Dexter starting on second, Hubbard’s single to left field scored Dexter, sealing the 9-8 walk-off win.
Southern Maryland’s offensive depth shone, with six players recording multiple hits. Dexter and Barrera each scored twice, while Loftin stole two bases and drove in a run. Gastonia’s pitching struggled, with Sheffield allowing eight runs over 5.1 innings. Despite the loss, Gastonia’s Crook and Skender provided key offensive sparks.
The Blue Crabs’ victory marked their second straight win, improving their standing in the Atlantic League’s South Division. The game showcased both teams’ resilience, with Gastonia battling back from a six-run deficit and Southern Maryland delivering in the clutch. Regency Furniture Stadium, known for its lively atmosphere, buzzed as fans cheered the dramatic finish.
The series continues in Waldorf, with the Blue Crabs aiming to extend their momentum against the Ghost Peppers. The game highlighted the competitive nature of the Atlantic League, where tight contests often hinge on late-inning heroics.
