FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Keith Noonan, Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations

Phone Number: (301)-638-9788

Email: [email protected]

Blue Crabs Announce Additional 2026 Ticket Plans

Blue Crabs Unveil all Ticket Plans for Upcoming Season

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are excited to unveil new ticket options for the 2026 Atlantic League season.

Silver Sluggers can continue to enjoy each Tuesday home game this season, with pricing at $45 per seat for Infield seating, and $60 per Homeplate seats during the 2026 campaign. Members can add on $10 for the pregame meal each Tuesday game. The first Silver Sluggers game will be on Tuesday, April 28^th. All Tuesday home games will be 6:30pm first pitches.

“Our Silver Sluggers are some of our most loyal fans,” Blue Crabs General Manager Christian Heimall said. “We are excited to have them back and offer exciting options for them.”

Secondly, the Blue Crabs announce two Half-Season Ticket options, available in three pricing tiers. Half-Season Tickets are priced as follows:

• Outfield (Sections 1–4 and 23–25) at $250
• Infield (Sections 5–10 and 17–22) at $400
• Home Plate (Sections 11–16) at $500.

Half-season ticket holders will receive tickets to Opening Day, Fourth of July, Fan Appreciation Day on August 30^th, and enjoy a robust number of exclusive benefits, including:

• Annual STH Gift
• Pick Your Seat privileges
• No Ticket Goes Unused Policy
• 15% Team Store Discount
• Early Access and Discounted Pricing for Stadium Events
• exclusive Invitation to the STH Picnic
• First Pitch Opportunity.

Additionally, starting at only $99, the Blue Crabs announce new Mini Plans that offer something for every fan — whether you love fireworks nights, weekend matchups, premium seating, or the freedom to pick your own games.

The 2026 14-Game Mini Plan Options include:

• Outfield Reserved – $99
• Infield Reserved – $250
• Home Plate Premium – $275

Fans can choose from Four Unique Plans:

Plan 1 – The perfect mix of weeknight and weekend games, including multiple fireworks dates.
Games: Apr 21 (Staten Island), May 1 & 2 (High Point), May 15 & 16 (Hagerstown), May 29 (Staten Island), Jun 12 & 13 (Long Island), Jun 26 & 27 (High Point), Jul 3 (Staten Island), Jul 17 & 18 (Charleston), Aug 30 (Gastonia)

Plan 2: Loaded with Friday, Saturday, and holiday fireworks games.
Games: Apr 21 & 23 (Staten Island), May 2 & 3 (High Point), May 15 & 16 (Hagerstown), May 29 (Staten Island), Jun 13 (Long Island), Jun 28 (High Point), Jul 4 (Staten Island), Jul 18 (Charleston), Jul 31 & Aug 1 (Lancaster), Aug 30 (Gastonia)

Plan 3– Built around the biggest theme nights and promotions of the summer — plus flexibility with 4 Pick-Your-Own games.
Fixed Games: Jun 26 (High Point), Jul 3 (Staten Island), Jul 17 & 18 (Charleston), Jul 28 & 30, Aug 1 (Lancaster), Aug 14 & 15 (Lexington), Aug 28 (Gastonia)

• 4 Pick-Your-Own Flex Games

Plan 4 – Starter + Flex Plan (10 fixed games + 4 flex games)- The most affordable way to secure your seats and still catch 14 games with maximum flexibility.
Fixed Games: Apr 23 (Staten Island), Apr 29 (High Point), May 17 (Hagerstown), May 26 & 28 (Lancaster), Jun 14 (Long Island), Jun 24 & 25 (High Point), Jul 5 (Staten Island), Jul 29 (Lancaster)

• 4 Pick-Your-Own Flex Games

“We know committing to a full season ticket plan can be a lot for some,” noted Heimall. “Our Half Season and 14 game Mini Plans allow fans the chance to enjoy similar benefits without making the full commitment.”

All mini plan holders receive the same great season-ticket-holder benefits, including:

• Guaranteed same seat for every game in your plan
• 10% discount at the Crab Claw Team Store
• No Ticket Goes Unused Policy
• First access to postseason tickets and Other Stadium Events

Half Season and Mini Game Plans can be reserved on a $50 dollar receipt, and Silver Sluggers must be paid in full at time of purchase. To learn more about the Blue Crabs ticket plans, or to secure your ticket plans now, call (301)-638-9788 or email [email protected]

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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 18th season of baseball at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. For more information on the Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.bluecrabsbaseball.com  for more information. For media requests, contact Keith Noonan at 301-638-9788.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, 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. Over its 27-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,450 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 48 million fans to its 10 state-of-the-art ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Follow the action at AtlanticLeague.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Keith Noonan, Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations

Phone Number: (301)-638-9788

Email: [email protected]

Semple Man: Blue Crabs’ Shawn Semple Led all Starting Pitchers with 3.95 ERA

Half of Semple’s 22 Starts Were Quality Starts, He was Tapped as League Mid-Season All-Star

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs’ ace Shawn Semple led the Atlantic League in starting pitching ERA this season by authoring a 3.95 ERA this year. Semple was also named the lone Starting Pitcher Mid-Season All-Star. 

Semple dominated on the mound, with half of his starts being quality starts, firing 11 QS out of his 22 games started. He was third in the league in innings pitched with 130. Semple gave up 133 hits and had a walk per nine innings of just 2.1, not allowing many free passes. He also tied for the league lead in shutouts with two this season, tying Matt Solter of High Point. 

Blue Crabs Manager Stan Cliburn said, “Shawn was our workhorse for the Blue Crabs this season, you can always count on him to be durable and always gave us a chance to win when he took the mound.” 

Cliburn, who brought Semple back to Waldorf for a second season added “Every fifth day he was fun to watch, a true competitor through and through.”

In early May, Semple won three starts in a row, improving to 3-0 on the young season. Over those starts, all three were quality starts, and he gave up just two earned runs over 18 innings against Charleston, Lancaster and York. On June 13th, Semple picked up his fourth win of the year, tossing six scoreless innings against Lexington, where he gave up just three hits in the 4-0 victory. His next start, he struck out his season high nine at Gastonia in a no decision, where he threw seven strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Five days later, in what was maybe his best start of the season, he and former major league pitcher, Mike Kickham, then of Hagerstown, were locked in a pitchers’ duel. Semple pitched eight brilliant innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just one run, but the Blue Crabs were shutout in the 1-0 loss. Semple then followed that up in his next start on July 2nd, against Hagerstown again, throwing a complete game in a double header, firing seven shutout innings and striking out eight while giving up only two hits. Semple dominated Hagerstown again later in the month on July 26th, this time, Semple cruised through another seven innings, allowing  five hits and just one run in the winning effort. 

Blue Crabs pitching coach Jason Blanton, who was able to work with Semple this season for the first time said:

“It was very clear, right away, that Shawn was already a hard worker and very intense competitor. So much so, that he would often be excruciatingly hard on himself, very similar to everyone who is great at something in their life. He demanded the very best out of himself in everything he did, all season. With his desire to be his best version of himself, he came to the table with me bringing an open mind and a willingness to listen and learn as I did my best to make sure he felt heard and valued.”

From the 2024 season to the ’25 campaign, Semple’s improvement under Blanton was stark. He went from an ERA in 2024 of 5.23, to leading the ALPB in ERA among starters with a 3.95.

              “The biggest change he made during this season early on was to use his fastball to both sides of the plate, seeing the value of pitching in on hitters. Then he also challenged hitters with his full arsenal and didn’t automatically eliminate pitches based on the handedness of the hitter. What he soon learned, was that his splitter was a great weapon against both right- and left-handed hitters. Adding that to the fact that hitters now couldn’t eliminate one side of the plate against him anymore, it really opened up more opportunities to get them out in the zone vs working so hard for “chases,” Blanton continued.

From last season to the 2025 season, Semple’s hits per nine went down from 10.1 in 2024, to 9.2, while also striking out the fourth most batters in his nine-year career with 101 punchouts.

“The biggest piece of the puzzle, I feel for Shawn, was that he learned how to give himself grace and know that he was equipped with the answer to overcome adversity in real time. Instead of getting down on himself as much as he used to in previous seasons, he started to know he could overcome any situation while he was on the mound for his team. I’m very happy for him and proud of the work he put in this year. He earned every bit of success he had and it was well deserved,” Blanton said. 

Stay tuned to bluecrabsbaseball.com and our social media pages for more information on the Blue Crabs standout performances from the 2025 season, and announcements for the upcoming 2026 campaign. 

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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 18th season of baseball 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 Keith Noonan at 301-638-9788.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, 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. Over its 27-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,450 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 48 million fans to its 10 state-of-the-art ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Follow the action at AtlanticLeague.com.