STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs powered their way to a 12-8 victory over the Staten Island FerryHawks on Aug. 24, securing the rubber match of their three-game Atlantic League series at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park with four home runs and timely hitting that overcame a late FerryHawks surge.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs struck early, plating five runs in the first inning off Staten Island starter Rob Kaminsky. Second baseman Jackson Loftin led off with a solo home run, his 12th of the season, before first baseman Jamari Baylor capped the frame with a two-run shot, his 14th. Staten Island responded in the bottom half, as shortstop Eddy Diaz singled and scored on a single by designated hitter Mark Contreras, followed by right fielder Kolby Johnson’s bases-loaded double that drove in two more to make it 5-3.
The FerryHawks narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the second on Contreras’ sacrifice fly, but Southern Maryland Blue Crabs pulled away in the third against reliever Clay Helvey, adding two runs for a 7-4 lead. Shortstop Sam Dexter extended the advantage with a solo home run in the fifth, his 12th. Staten Island mounted a comeback in the sixth, when Johnson smashed a three-run homer—his fourth—with two outs and two on base, cutting the deficit to 8-7 and drawing cheers from the 863 fans in attendance.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs regained momentum with a run in the seventh and, after Staten Island scored once in the eighth to make it 9-8, catcher Ryan McCarthy sealed the win with a three-run homer in the ninth, his fourth. Andrew Thurman earned the win for Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, allowing six runs over 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, while Kaminsky took the loss after yielding six runs in two innings. The game lasted 3 hours and 17 minutes, ending at 4:50 p.m.
Johnson paced Staten Island with five RBIs on two hits, including the homer and double, while Contreras added three RBIs. For Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Baylor finished 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a homer, Dexter went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a homer, and McCarthy drove in three. The Blue Crabs totaled 13 hits and committed two errors, while the FerryHawks had 12 hits but five errors that contributed to unearned runs.
The win improved Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to 54-50 overall in the Atlantic League’s second half, where they sit at 22-40, trailing leaders like the High Point Rockers (38-25) and Gastonia Baseball Club (37-26) in the North Division. The team signed outfielder Ethan Wilson, a former Philadelphia Phillies second-round pick, to bolster their lineup for the season.
Staten Island dropped to 46-59, struggling in the second half at 3-4 in recent series play. The FerryHawks, who play at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, began their 2025 home slate May 2 and have re-signed hitting coach Aharon Eggleston while adding players like pitcher Adalberto Mejia, infielder Eddy Diaz and outfielder Nate Scantlin. Staten Island hosts the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars starting Sept. 3, aiming to climb from their position behind teams like the York Revolution (5-2) in recent league action.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs next play Aug. 26 at Regency Furniture Stadium, continuing their push in the Atlantic League, which features 10 teams and emphasizes player development for potential MLB returns. Loftin, a speedy infielder with 51 stolen bases this season, and Baylor, a power threat with 17 doubles alongside his homers, highlight the Blue Crabs’ balanced attack. Johnson, meanwhile, has emerged as a key RBI producer for Staten Island despite the team’s challenges.