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AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Crabs fall to 'Sharks

July 3, 2008 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs built an early lead, but faltered in the middle innings and fell to the Camden Riversharks by a score of 12-8. The win clinches the first half division title for Camden, giving them a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.

The Blue Crabs offense performed well early and often, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Following a George Sandel walk to lead off the game, Curtis Pride smacked a single down the left field line to bring up Patrick Osborn. Osborn, the league leader in runs batted in, would smack a ball that went just under the center fielder's glove, and the Freedom division's leading all-star vote getter found himself on third base with a triple.

The hit upped Osborn's RBI total to 64 on the season, 9 more than the next closest hitter. Osborn would pick up another RBI later in the game, allowing John Ramistella to score on a grounder to shortstop. Osborn ended the night 2-for-4, as he added a single later on.

Osborn would come home on Clinton Johnston's single, and the Blue Crabs appeared to be off and running. Starting pitcher Adam Johnson ran into some trouble, however, and had to be pulled after only 1.2 innings of work.

The Riversharks scored four runs in the top of the second, but the Southern Maryland offense battled back. In the bottom of the third, after Osborn's groundout RBI, Clinton Johnston smacked the first pitch he saw into the left field picnic seats. Johnston would end the night 3-for-4, accounting for three RBI as well as two runs scored.

Jeremy Owens would also get in on the act in the third, doubling before stealing third, then scoring on a James Shanks bloop single. Owens also picked up two hits on the night, one of five Blue Crabs to do so. Also included on that list were John Ramistella (2-for-5) and Chad Ehrnsberger (2-for-5).

The fourth inning was where the wheels fell off, as the Blue Crabs gave up six runs before recording an out. The inning lasted nearly an hour, with Camden scoring seven runs in all.

Southern Maryland continued to fight. They quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the 4th, but with a 2-2 count James Shanks was rung up on a ball that seemed to be well off the plate. That would not be the last rally, as Southern Maryland again put runners on in the seventh. Following singles by Johnston and Owens, Chad Ehrnsberger soubled down the left field line to score a run. Adam Shorsher then came up and battled for ten minutes, seeing twenty-two pitches before finally flying out.

Mathew Schweitzer pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out all three batters he faced, but the offense ran out of at-bats before another rally could be mounted.

The Blue Crabs will get another crack at the Riversharks tomorrow night as they celebrate the fourth of July at Regency Furniture Stadium and honor the United States of America. A packed house is expected, and fireworks will follow the game. Jonathan Connolly will take the hill for the home team, looking to build on an impressive outing last time out as he held the Somerset Patriots to only three runs. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Check out the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Statistics



Atlantic League Stories from July 3, 2008


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