LANCASTER, Pa. — The Lancaster Stormers secured an 8-4 victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on July 8, 2025, at Penn Medicine Park, kicking off the second half of the Atlantic League season with a strong performance. The Stormers, who have won the second half title each of the past three years, overcame an early deficit with timely hitting and effective relief pitching to claim the win before 2,227 fans.
The Blue Crabs struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Ethan Wilson, Jamari Baylor, and Brett Barrera each singled and crossed the plate, with Pearce Howard driving in two runs on a double to center field. Southern Maryland added another run in the third when shortstop Sam Dexter singled to score Barrera, giving the Blue Crabs a 4-2 lead.
Lancaster responded in the second inning. Alex Isola and Danny Amaral hit consecutive doubles, with Amaral scoring on a single by Joe Campagna, narrowing the gap to 3-2. The Stormers tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth, sparked by a leadoff double from Ariel Sandoval. Isola walked, and Amaral and Campagna each delivered RBI singles to level the score.
The Stormers’ bullpen took control from the fifth inning onward. Starter Noah Bremer allowed four runs over five innings. Still, relievers Jackson Rees, Cody Stashak, and Gerson Moreno combined for four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six. Rees earned the win, improving to 5-2, while Blue Crabs starter Shawn Semple took the loss, falling to 5-4 after allowing six runs in seven innings.
Lancaster pulled ahead in the sixth when Nick Lucky tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Amaral, who finished with three RBIs and two runs scored. In the seventh, Nick Ward hit a solo home run to extend the lead to 6-4. Lucky added a solo homer in the eighth, and an additional run scored due to a throwing error by Blue Crabs catcher Ryan McCarthy and a wild pitch by reliever Cody Thompson, finalizing the score at 8-4.
Southern Maryland’s offense stalled after the third inning, managing only two hits against Lancaster’s relievers. Howard led the Blue Crabs with three hits and two RBIs, while Barrera scored twice. For Lancaster, Campagna went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Lucky contributed a triple, a home run, and two runs scored.
The game, which lasted 2 hours and 32 minutes, was played under clear weather at Penn Medicine Park. Plate umpire Buzz Albert and field umpires Pete Lakkis and Ian Pittenger officiated. The teams will face off again on July 9, 2025, at 6:45 p.m., with Lancaster’s Luke McCollough making his first start against Southern Maryland’s Andrew Thurman (3-1). Fans can watch the matchup on FloBaseball.
The Atlantic League, a professional baseball league featuring independent clubs, is in its 27th season. Lancaster (32-32) and Southern Maryland (36-28) are both competitive in the North Division, with the Blue Crabs holding a slight edge in the standings. This series marks an early test for both teams as they vie for playoff positioning in the second half.
