(Waldorf, MD, November 16, 2022) Following the Atlantic Leagues release of the 2023 ALPB regular season schedule, the Blue Crabs have announced their schedule for next season, along with the beginning of their 15th-anniversary season campaign, The Crabs 15th.
For the past 15 years, Southern Maryland has been searching for their first ALPB title. Their closest chances to a championship came in 2009 and 2015, losing to the Somerset Patriots in the finals in both years. Following the 2009 season, the Blue Crabs made it to the playoffs for four-straight seasons. Then again in 2017, and once more in 2021 and 2022.
Regency Furniture Stadium is scheduled to host sixty-three home games in 2023 and will head on the road for sixty-two compared to last season’s sixty-five home games and sixty-six road games.
The Blue Crabs Fan Fest for 2023 will be held on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023. This annual event allows the fans to come to Regency Furniture Stadium to enjoy games, photo opportunities, season ticket package pickup, and tons of fun events for the entire family.
The team is set to be in Southern Maryland on April 17th, the first day of Spring Training. This roughly two-week span gives the team time to hone their skills and play exhibition games to prepare for the upcoming season.
The 2023 season kicks off on Friday, April 28th with a four-game series against the reigning ALPB Champions and division rival, the Lancaster Barnstormers. The Blue Crabs and the Barnstormers faced off five times throughout 2022, three of those meetings were held in Southern Maryland. In 2023, the Blue Crabs don’t get the pleasure of traveling to Clipper Magazine Stadium in the regular season, but the Barnstormers come to Southern Maryland twice, including a doubleheader on April 29th. Besides the opening series, the Barnstormers return to Waldorf on August 18th for a four-game series.
A tenth team will be joining the Atlantic League and will be placed in the South division for the 2023 season. The Blue Crabs aren’t scheduled to play the club on the road but are scheduled to host them twice in the upcoming season.
A not-so-familiar opponent that will be seen more often in 2023 is the 2022 South Division First-Half champions, the Gastonia Honey Hunters. The Honey Hunters and the Blue Crabs met just twice last season, but in 2023, the two powerhouses face off five times throughout the season. One of the series will be held in Southern Maryland, while the remaining four will be in Gastonia, NC.
The Charleston Dirty Birds will be another tough opponent that the Blue Crabs will see a lot of in 2023. The Dirty Birds and the Blue Crabs face off five times throughout the 2023 season, one less than in 2022. Two of the series will be held at home, and three series at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, WV.
Returning for their second season in the Atlantic League and the North Division, are the Staten Island FerryHawks. The FerryHawks and Blue Crabs met a total of six times in 2022 and will only meet four times in the upcoming season, three times in Staten Island, and once in Southern Maryland.
The York Revolution has been a North Division opponent since the Blue Crabs were formed in 2008 and have faced-off numerous times over the team’s 15-year history. In 2023, the Blue Crabs are scheduled to face the Revs three fewer times than in 2022. The Blue Crabs will head to PeoplesBank Park for two of the three meetings.
The 2022 South Division champion High Point Rockers will be a tough battle during the upcoming season. The Blue Crabs will take on the Rockers an extra three times this season, compared to the two teams meeting just four times in the year prior. Of the seven scheduled meetings between the two teams, the Blue Crabs will host five of them at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Southern Maryland gets their first battle with another division rival on May 26th when they take on the Long Island Ducks at Fairfield Properties Ballpark for a three-game series including a doubleheader on Saturday, May 27th. The two North Division rivals are scheduled to meet five times in 2023, with three games being in Central Islip, NY, and the remaining two in Waldorf, MD.
Another team finding themselves traveling to Southern Maryland more this upcoming season is the Lexington Legends. The two teams met just twice in 2022 but will face off five total times throughout 2023. The Legends will travel to Southern Maryland for three of the five series.
A few games during the 2023 season will be played at unique game times due to their promotions on those days. As always, we are excited to have our summer camp days, and our Baseball in Education days. Make sure to keep an eye out for those special game times when we release our promotional schedule later this year.
Season tickets and mini plans are on sale now for the 15th-Anniversary season! Make sure to get yours today and support Southern Maryland’s hometown team.
READ THE ATLANTIC LEAGUE’S RELEASE HERE
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About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Blue Crabs play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, MLB’s Premiere Partner League. The Blue Crabs are set to kick off their 15th season of baseball, and will have their 2023 Opening Day on Friday, April 28th at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. For more information on the Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information. For media requests, contact Steve Bowen at 301-638-9788 ext. 216 or at [email protected]
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary season in 2023, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
