WALDORF, Md. — The Lancaster Stormers overcame early deficits with a barrage of home runs and timely hitting to secure a 9-8 victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on August 14, 2025, at Regency Furniture Stadium. The game, which drew 2,146 fans under humid 75-degree conditions, saw the Stormers improve to 53-43 while the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs fell to 49-46 in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning, capitalizing on doubles from Alejandro De Aza and Braeden Barrera, with Barrera driving in a run. They extended the advantage to 4-0 in the fourth, thanks to triples by Pearcy Howard and Ryan McCarthy, along with sacrifice flies and additional hits that plated two more. Lancaster responded in the fifth with two runs on a home run by Kyle Watson Jr., narrowing the gap to 4-2.
The Stormers’ offense ignited in the seventh, scoring three runs highlighted by Niko Ward’s solo home run and Mason Martin’s two-run shot, taking a 5-4 lead. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs regained momentum in the bottom of the seventh, pushing across two runs on hits including a double by Steven Dexter, to go up 6-5. Lancaster exploded for four runs in the eighth, aided by walks and hits, including Watson Jr.’s double, to seize a 9-6 advantage.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs mounted a comeback in the eighth and ninth, scoring one run each time. In the eighth, Jackson Loftin’s single drove in a run, and in the ninth, Dexter’s double brought home another, but the rally fell short at 9-8. Jackson Rees earned the win for Lancaster with one inning of relief, allowing one run, while Dalton Ross took the loss after yielding four runs in a brief appearance marked by two wild pitches. Scott Engler secured the save, navigating the ninth despite the pressure.
Key performers for the Stormers included Watson Jr., who went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBIs and a stolen base, boosting his season average to .228 with 14 homers and 55 RBIs. Martin contributed a home run and two RBIs, maintaining his .305 average and league-leading 28 home runs. For the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Dexter stood out with three doubles and three RBIs, raising his average to .253, while Loftin added two hits and an RBI, continuing his .270 clip with 47 stolen bases, tops in the league.
Noah Skirrow started for Lancaster, pitching six innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Connor Overton took the mound for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, going five innings and surrendering two runs on seven hits. The game featured 21 hits total, with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs outhitting Lancaster 12-9 but leaving 10 runners on base compared to the Stormers’ nine.
This matchup marked the second in a series, following Lancaster’s 3-1 win over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on August 13, where the Stormers rallied in the ninth for the victory, extending their winning streak to seven games entering this contest. The Stormers’ late surge in the August 14 game echoed that resilience, as detailed in a league recap noting their use of three homers and a five-walk inning to overcome deficits.
As the season progresses toward September playoffs, this loss drops the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs further in the standings, necessitating wins in upcoming series against York and Gastonia to climb back. Lancaster, meanwhile, solidifies its position with the road win, aiming to maintain momentum in the North Division race.
The Atlantic League emphasizes player development, with over 1,000 alumni reaching MLB, underscoring its role as a bridge for talent. For the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, games like this highlight the need for consistent closing, as bullpen struggles in the late innings proved costly.
