2024 Blue Crabs Sweep Cubs in Chesapeake MSBL 21+ Fred Gore Division Championship Series
Chesapeake MSBL, 21+ Fred Gore Division
Baltimore Blue Crabs 10, Maryland Cubs 1 (Game two in best-of-three championship series sweep)
Submitted by Tim Saunders, Manager
The Blue Crabs swept the Maryland Cubs 2 games to 0 to win their first championship in the 21+ Fred Gore Division of the Chesapeake MSBL. The Crabs also swept the Chesapeake Giants in the best-of-three semi-final series.
The 2024 season started with uncertainty for the Blue Crabs, losing two impact players. A slugging shortstop and a dual threat closing pitcher with an overpowering fastball. Both players had home run power and filled the three and four spots in the lineup, respectively.
Cam Carter, a high average hitter and versatile defender normally batting second, sustained an ACL/MCL injury before the season began and was limited to just eight plate appearances. Through key free agency pickups and the draft, the roster was completely revamped, and the Crabs were ready to go.
The season started with an 11-game winning streak including two shutouts, one of which was 23-0. A second 23-0 shutout came later in the year. Sam Shepard, another productive bat and solid defender, was sidelined with a shoulder injury about halfway through the regular season. The Crabs finished the regular season 18-2 as the #1 seed, outscoring opponents 166 to 58.
Five starters had a batting average of .450 or above and the team stole 79 bases while being caught only seven times, a 91.86% success rate. The pitching staff struck out 152 batters in 121 innings (11.3 K/9) with a 2.08 ERA.
The Crabs were undefeated in the playoffs; they won all four games, scored 10 or more runs in each game, and outscored opponents 51-22. Game one of the semi-finals was a competitive game in which the Crabs battled back from a 6-3 deficit. After the Giants’ lead was cut to one in the bottom of the seventh, the game was suspended with one out and runners on first and third, killing the Crabs’ momentum. When play resumed at a later date, the Crabs added five more runs scoring a total of seven in the inning and never looked back, finishing with a 10-8 win.
The most dominant win was the championship-clinching game, a 10-1 victory against the Cubs. Matt Boyd pitched eight shutout innings allowing only one hit. He also carried the offense going 4-4 at the plate with two triples, four RBI, three runs, a walk and a stolen base. The team stole nine bases and Michael Hernandez went 1-1 with four HBP.
Matt Boyd was named the 2024 Blue Crabs MVP. He slashed .488/.639/1.314 with 19 RBI and led the team in each of those categories. On the mound, he went 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 36 innings.
What started as a group of guys who didn’t know each other’s names evolved into a tight-knit team. Injured players frequently showed up to games to support their teammates. Team chemistry was a vital aspect of the Blue Crabs success and they’re already eager to defend their title in 2025!