Blue Crabs Crowned First-Half Liberty Division Champions
Tonight’s 2-1 walk-off win against the Lancaster Barnstormers and the Long Island Ducks loss in Game 1 of a doubleheader to the Bridgeport Bluefish have helped lift the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to the 2013 first half Liberty Division crown tonight at Regency Furniture Stadium. With the win and Long Island’s loss, the Blue Crabs have now secured a playoff berth for the fifth time in their six year franchise history as part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
The Barnstormers would jump ahead to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Jerry Owens would lead off the game with a single and eventually find himself on third base Lancaster’s Blake Gailen coming up to the plate. Gailen would then double to center field to take the lead, which the Barnstormers would hold onto through the first four inning of the game. Then in the fifth frame, second baseman Wladimir Sutil tallied the first run of the game for the Blue Crabs as he singled and too made his way to third. Shortstop Renny Osuna’s grounder would then tie the game and bring the game into extra innings as each team remained silent throughout the remainder of regulation. Osuna then factored into the game-winner for Southern Maryland as he hit the walk-off home run off of Lancaster’s pitcher Nate Reed with two outs in the bottom of the tenth for the 2-1 final.
Making the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, Southern Maryland currently holds the league record for most consecutive years to make a postseason run in a row. Missing the playoffs during their inaugural 2008 season, the Blue Crabs have never looked back since, as they’ve made their playoffs from their 2009 sophomore season on. Last season, Southern Maryland was upset by the Ducks in the division championship series.
The Blue Crabs have also began their 2013 marketing campaign for this year’s postseason and will use the slogan “Dangerous Waters Ahead” to go with the Liberty Division’s nautical theme.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and play at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The franchise will enter its 6th season on April 18, coming off of the team’s fourth consecutive playoff appearance. The Blue Crabs and Regency Furniture Stadium will also host the 2013 Atlantic League All-Star Celebration Featuring Circurious on Tuesday, July 9 presented by Turkey Hill, as well as the 2013 Atlantic League All-Star Game Presented by The Communities of St. Charles on Wednesday, July 10. Please
