The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs split a doubleheader against the Charleston Dirty Birds on July 29, 2025, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia, dropping the opener 3-2 before rallying for a 7-2 victory in the nightcap.
In the first game, which started at 5:09 p.m. and lasted two hours and 32 minutes, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Dondrei Hubbard doubled to score Jackson Loftin. The Dirty Birds tied it in the third on a solo home run by James Nelson, his 25th of the season. Charleston pulled ahead 2-1 in the sixth, but the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs evened the score in the seventh on Pearce Howard’s RBI double. The game extended to the eighth, where Travis Demeritte delivered a walk-off double for Charleston’s 3-2 win. Connor Overton pitched six innings for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, allowing two runs—one earned—on six hits with six strikeouts. Brandon McCabe took the loss in relief.
The second game began at 8:27 p.m. and ran two hours and 33 minutes. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs again scored first, with Jamari Baylor’s sacrifice fly bringing in Loftin for a 1-0 lead. Charleston knotted it at 1-1 in the sixth. The decisive moment came in the seventh, when the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs erupted for six runs. Loftin walked, Zach Racusin singled, and Baylor singled in the go-ahead run. A wild pitch scored Ethan Wilson, Howard doubled in Baylor, and Willie Estrada’s single led to an error that allowed two more runs. Charleston added one in the bottom half, but the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs held on for the 7-2 win. Cael Chatham threw four scoreless innings in his debut start, and Cody Thompson earned the win in relief.
Standout performances included Loftin, who stole two bases in the second game to set the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs’ single-season record at 46. Baylor drove in three runs across the doubleheader, while Howard contributed two doubles and two RBIs. For Charleston, Nelson’s homer and Demeritte’s game-winner highlighted the opener.
The split left the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs with a 45-38 overall record, maintaining their position in the Atlantic League’s South Division. As of July 30, 2025, they trailed the High Point Rockers by seven and a half games but held second place over the Lexington Legends by one and a half games . The Dirty Birds fell to 39-45, tied for fourth in the division.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, based in Waldorf, play home games at Regency Furniture Stadium, drawing fans from across St. Mary’s, Charles and Calvert counties. The team, founded in 2008, has won two Atlantic League championships and features players with major league experience. This season, they’ve navigated a competitive second half, posting an 8-11 record after the All-Star break. Recent games included a 10-6 win over the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars on July 26, where Baylor homered. Earlier matchups with the Dirty Birds saw the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs win 7-5 on July 16 in a thriller.
Attendance for the opener was 1,786 under partly sunny skies at 88 degrees, rising to 1,991 for the nightcap at 84 degrees. The games featured umpiring crews led by Derek Whitfield in game one and Ben Smith in game two.
The Atlantic League, an independent professional circuit, includes 10 teams divided into North and South divisions. It emphasizes player development, with many advancing to Major League Baseball organizations. For Southern Maryland residents, the Blue Crabs provide accessible entertainment and community events, boosting local economy through tourism and youth programs.
Looking ahead, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are set to face the Dirty Birds again on July 30 at 6:35 p.m., aiming to build momentum before returning home. Fans can follow games on FloBaseball or attend at Regency Furniture Stadium, where tickets support the team’s operations in the heart of Southern Maryland.
This doubleheader showcased the resilience of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, blending veteran contributions with emerging talent. As the season progresses toward playoffs in September, their performance against divisional foes like Charleston will be crucial for postseason positioning.
