(Bridgewater, NJ., Jul. 13, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs led the way for the Freedom Division yesterday, with Zach Wilson winning both the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game MVP.
The festivities began with the Home Run Derby Wednesday afternoon at TD Bank Ballpark. Wilson slugged eight homeruns in the first round, earning a place in the Championship Round to face Lancaster’s Garret Weber. Wilson outlasted Weber in the finale, hitting four homeruns to pick up his first piece of hardware on the day.
The big day for Southern Maryland didn’t stop there, as the momentum carried into the All-Star Game on Wednesday Night. The Blue Crabs had three starters in the Freedom Division lineup, with Michael Snyder and Cory Vaughn earning the nod alongside Wilson.
Brian Grening pitched the bottom of second inning, sitting down the Liberty Division 1-2-3. Wilson then led the way in the top of the third, clubbing a three-run homerun to break a 2-2 tie, and put the Freedom Division ahead. Vaughn added an RBI single later in the inning, putting their teammate Grening in line for the victory.
Daryl Thompson pitched the fourth inning, allowing a solo homerun to Angelo Songco of the Long Island Ducks. Thompson set up teammate Gaby Hernandez for the fifth, who worked a scoreless inning, allowing just one hit.
Snyder led all hitters with three hits on the day, including an RBI single in the sixth inning. The Freedom Division turned the 10-3 lead to Southern Maryland’s closer Cody Eppley in the bottom of the ninth. Eppley worked around a one-out single, forcing a double play to lock in the win for his teammate Grening.
After the game, Wilson was named the 2017 Atlantic League All-Star Game MVP for his deciding three-run homerun.
“It’s great to see our guys go out and perform the way they did on the big stage,” said Blue Crabs General Manager Courtney Knichel. “Zach got everything started with his showing in the Home Run Derby, and the momentum carried into the game. This team showed they are going to continue to be a force in the second half of this season.”
The Atlantic League returns to action Friday, July 14th, as the Blue Crabs will hit the road to face the New Britain Bees. Southern Maryland will send LHP Pat McCoy (2-4, 4.03) to the mound, looking to build on his All-Star appearance. He will matchup with New Britain’s LHP Nick Greenwood (0-2, 6.39), facing the Blue Crabs for the first time this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Friday at New Britain Stadium.
For more information on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, or to reserve your seat today for any of the Blue Crabs upcoming home games, please visit our website at somdbluecrabs.com or call us at 301-638-9788.