Waldorf, Md. — The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs concluded their 2025 Atlantic League campaign with a 66-57 record, securing third place in the South Division after a final series loss to the High Point Rockers on September 14. The team, based at Regency Furniture Stadium in Charles County, fell short of the playoffs by 3.5 games behind the division-winning Rockers, who finished 72-51. Gastonia Ghost Peppers matched the Blue Crabs’ win total at 66-57 but claimed second via tiebreaker, leaving Southern Maryland out of postseason contention for the third straight year.
The season unfolded with early challenges and flashes of competitiveness across 123 games. Opening April 25 against High Point at home, the Blue Crabs dropped a 3-0 decision, kicking off a 0-3 skid that included two more losses to the Rockers. By May 10, however, momentum shifted as the team notched a five-game winning streak before falling 7-2 to the Charleston Dirty Birds. Midseason highlights included a July 31 loss to Charleston by 10-3, but the Crabs rebounded with strong showings against North Division foes. On August 27, they blanked the Staten Island Ferry Hawks 3-0, scoring late to extend a four-game win streak. September brought late drama, with a 12-9 victory over High Point on September 11 featuring a walk-off grand slam and a 9-5 win the next day, only to drop a 2-1 heartbreaker on September 13.
Offensively, the Blue Crabs relied on young talent and MLB veterans for production. Jackson Loftin, a 24-year-old former Houston Astros 13th-round pick signed in February, provided power from the leadoff spot, including a solo home run in a September 14 game against High Point. Ethan Wilson, a left-handed outfielder and ex-Philadelphia Phillies second-round selection from 2021, bolstered the lineup after inking with the team in the offseason. Pearce Howard, in his professional debut year, carried over minor league success with a .360 average, four home runs and 62 RBIs from prior stops, contributing hits and RBIs throughout the Crabs’ campaign. The roster featured 27 players, including pitchers like Shawn Semple, who logged 93 innings in 2024 and returned for a key role in 2025 with a career minor league 4.33 ERA. Other standouts included Endrys Briceño, Jordan Carr and Jason Blanchard in the rotation, alongside position players like Zach Racusin and Giovanni Digiacomo.
Pitching anchored the team’s .537 winning percentage, with starters like Garrett Martin earning wins in complete games, such as a nine-inning outing against the Long Island Ducks where he allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out six. The staff posted a collective effort in tight contests, including a 5-4 win over High Point on September 3 driven by a late homer. Team batting and pitching specifics remained competitive league-wide, though exact leaders like top home runs or ERA were not finalized in early September reports.
Regency Furniture Stadium hosted 38 home dates, drawing families from Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties for affordable baseball amid Southern Maryland’s summer scene. Events like postgame base running, fireworks on Saturdays and autograph sessions enhanced community ties, with the team partnering with local MLB affiliates for talent development. The Blue Crabs’ schedule aligned with the Atlantic League’s 140-game format across North and South divisions, emphasizing independent pro ball’s role in player pathways to majors.
Founded in 2007 as an expansion franchise, the Blue Crabs have called Waldorf home since 2008, fostering regional pride in a county of about 170,000 residents. The 2025 effort built on 2024’s similar 66-57 mark, showing consistency under manager Stan Cliburn. As the season closed without playoffs, focus shifts to 2026 roster tweaks and offseason community outreach, including youth clinics at the stadium. The Atlantic League, now in its 27th year as a partner league to Major League Baseball, continues to spotlight talents like those on the Blue Crabs amid independent baseball’s growth.
