Crabs Claim South Division Championship with 11-3 Win

Blue Crabs beat Legends in four games, advance to ALPB Championship Series

W: Isaac Fix (1-0)

L: Jack Lynch (0-1)

WALDORF, MD – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (3-1, 73-53) punched their ticket to the Atlantic League Championship Series with an 11-5 win over the Lexington Legends in Game Four of the South Division Championship Series on Saturday night at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Crabs scored in each of the game’s first five innings before the bullpen closed the door. It’s the first time Southern Maryland won a division series since 2015 and is the third ALPBCS berth in franchise history.

For the fourth consecutive game in the series, the Blue Crabs struck first in the first inning. Alejandro De Aza scored as part of a double steal with Jackson Loftin to put Southern Maryland ahead 1-0.

A pair of bases loaded walks and an RBI fielder’s choice by P.J. Hilson gave the Legends the advantage in the top of the second inning, but the Crabs answered in the bottom of the frame. Danny Bautista Jr. scored on a passed ball before Taylor Darden lined a three-run home run to left field, his first homer of the postseason, to put the Crabs back in the lead at 5-3 after two innings.

Both teams scored again in the third inning. The Legends got one run on a wild pitch by Blue Crabs relief pitcher Adam Bogosian, but the Blue Crabs picked up a pair of runs on RBI singles by Bautista Jr. and Ethan Wilson as Southern Maryland extended their lead to 7-4.

Once again, both offenses traded runs in the fourth inning. Xane Washington hit a solo home run in the top of the inning before Loftin lifted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame to maintain the Crabs’ three-run lead.

The Blue Crabs continued to pour on in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs in the inning, Jordan Thompson hit a two-run automatic double and De Aza added an RBI single to put Southern Maryland over double digits in the runs column at 11-5.

After taking a six-run lead, the Blue Crabs’ bullpen shined to close the game. Isaac Fix dazzled in bulk relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa threw a shut-down eighth inning before Endrys Briceno turned Lexington aside to close the series in Southern Maryland’s favor.

The Blue Crabs advance to the Atlantic League Championship Series against the North Division-champion Long Island Ducks. The series begins on Tuesday, September 22 at Regency Furniture Stadium. First pitch is at 6:35 pm. To purchase tickets, click here.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have been proud members of the Atlantic League since 2008, the fourth-longest tenured team in the league. With a proud tradition of success on and off the field, many players have found a home while playing in front of Crustacean Nation, the nickname for the Blue Crabs’ avid fanbase. A host of former Major Leaguers have played for the Blue Crabs, including Chien-Ming Wang, Pat Mahomes Sr., and team legend Daryl Thompson. Many players have also made it to the Major Leagues after playing with Southern Maryland, including Isaac Mattson of the Pittsburgh Pirates. 2026 marks the 18th season of Blue Crabs baseball at Regency Furniture Stadium, where Clawsome Times Await.