It was opening day at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws stadium!
There was a lot happening during this game, and everyone was excited to see this minor league team return for the 2025 baseball season.
The BlueClaws took on the Aberdeen IronBirds at their home stadium in Lakewood on Tuesday, April 8, at 6:35 P.M.
This game is the first of several in their series against the Aberdeen IronBirds.
There was a lot of action during this game, but plenty to keep the fans going. The temperature was about 33 degrees outside, but it felt more like 28.
There wasn’t a lot of action in the first inning, but it was enough to get things truly going.
Up to the plate first was the Ironbirds Center Fielder, Vance Honeycutt. He ended up striking out.
Aaron Combs was the starting pitcher for Lakewood.
Following him at the plate was second baseman Aaron Estrada. Estrada hit a fly ball to left field that was caught. After he was out, shortstop Griff O’Ferrall was third to the plate in the first. He was struck out, ending their start at bat in this game.
For Aberdeen, Nestor German was the starting pitcher.
Jersey Shore came to the plate and started with their shortstop, Bryan Rincon. He started this game by being walked to first.
Second Baseman Devin Saltiban was next up to the plate. Rincon attempted a steal, but German stopped him. He tried a second-time moments later and ended up getting tagged out. Saltiban also struck out.
Carson DeMartini was next up to the plate. He hit a line drive to the third baseman, Leandro Arias, who threw to first in time to get the out.
In the second inning, things stayed the same, but there was a little bit more work being done. Austin Overn started off batting in this inning. He hit a fly ball to the right field, which was caught by right fielder Eduardo Lopez.
Following him was Aberdeen’s right fielder, Thomas Sosa, at the plate. He hit a ball to center field, where Dylan Campbell missed catching it, allowing Sosa to run a double. Center fielder Ryan Stafford came to the plate next. After several swings, Combs struck him out. Arias batted after him and hit a double to the outfield, allowing Sosa to run home and place a score on the scoreboard, putting the score at 1-0.
The team’s designated hitter, Jalen Vazquez, stepped up after the score and hit the ball out to center field where it was caught for the final out of the second inning.
Jersey Shore returned to the plate, and Center Fielder Dylan Campbell started them off. Campbell hit the ball to center field, where Overn caught it. Right fielder Eduardo Lopez followed, where he was struck out at the plate. First baseman Bryson Ware was next. He hit the ball to the outfield that was caught for the final out of the half inning.
In the third inning, things went quickly for both teams.
First baseman Anderson De Los Santos started the inning for the team. He started off with a bunt, but it ended up going foul. Santos hit a ball up the third baseline, and the Blueclaws were about to have the out when it was thrown to first in time to get De Los Santos out.
Honeycutt came back to the plate. He hit a fly ball to the center outfield, which Campbell caught. Estrada made a return and hit the ball to left field, where it was caught by the left fielder Pierce Bennett.
Blueclaws came back again, and catcher Jordan Dissin went to the plate. He struck out.
Luke Davis came up to the plate after him. During his swing, Davis hit a single to first. Bennett also hit a single, but Davis was out at second. The top of the lineup came back up to the plate. Rincon came back to the plate. He was struck out at the plate during the third.
During the fourth inning, things stayed quiet for both teams, but not for long. The BlueClaws switched out their pitchers from Aaron Combs to Braydon Tucker.
O’Ferrall returned to the plate to start the fourth inning. He hit the ball to the left field, where Bennett caught it for the out. Overn came back for a second time. During this at bat, the count ran to two balls and two strikes. He then hit a home run for Aberdeen to continue their lead by two. The score was now 2-0.
Sosa came to the plate for the second time after Overn’s home run. He hit a line drive to the shortstop, who picked up the ball and threw it to first in time to get the out. Stafford followed and immediately hit a grounder to first and was thrown out.
Jersey Shore returned to the plate. Saltiban started the inning for them. Saltiban hit the ball to left field, and Maran singled. DeMartini made his second appearance. During Demartini’s time at the plate, Saltiban attempted many steals. He was finally successful when Demartini struck out, making it to second base.
Campbell also made his second appearance. He hit a line drive straight to the German. Saltiban got to third, and Campbell was out at first. Lopez also made his second appearance. After several throws that came to balls, Lopez was walked to first. Ware came to the plate. He hit a fly ball to the left outfield, which Overn caught, ending the fourth inning and bringing the score to 2-0.
Arias kicked off the fifth inning, where things didn’t work out for him. He hit a line drive out to the shortstop Rincon, who caught it. Vasquez came back to the plate again and struck out on a foul tip. De Los Santos finished their time up at bat, where he was also struck out by combs at the plate.
At this point in the game, the Iron Birds switched out their pitchers from starter Nestor German to Wyatt Cheney.
For Jersey Shore, Dissin came back to the plate. He ran the count full and was walked to first. Davis came to bat, but it did not last long because he was struck out. Bennett came back to the plate. He hit a fly ball to center field, where Honeycutt made the catch, putting him out. Dissin attempted to steal, but he was out at second.
Honeycutt started off the sixth inning at the top of the lineup. He hit a foul ball that was caught by the first baseman Ware. Moments later, Estrada hit a line drive to right field and singled to first. It was then that O’Ferrall followed up. He hit a fly ball over to right field, where Lopez caught it in the outfield. Overn then came to the plate. He bunted and singled to first. Sosa hit a line drive that ended up being caught and that ended the inning.
Jersey Shore returned to the plate for the bottom of the sixth.
Rincon started the top of the lineup for this inning. He struck out. Saltiban hit a fly ball to center field, which was caught, and he was out. DeMartini came back once again. This time, he walked first. Campbell followed him and hit a line drive to third, which was thrown to first, putting him out and ending the sixth inning.
To start the seventh inning, the BlueClaws made a pitching change. They pulled Chenault out and replaced him with Braydon Tucker. Stafford started off at the plate but hit a fly ball that was caught by the Blue Claws second baseman Saltiban.
Arias followed. He had a full count and was about to swing, but was hit by a pitch and took first base. Vasquez came to the plate moments after. He also walked, putting runners on first and second. De Los Santos returned to the plate and attempted a bunt, but struck out in the end.Honeycutt came to bat for Aberdeen and ended up striking out.
At this point in the game, the BlueClaws made a comeback and took the lead moments after things changed.
The Iron Birds also changed their pitcher from Cheney to Jared Beck.
Lopez started on Jersey Shore at the bottom of the seventh. After several balls, he walked to first. Ware came to the plate and also walked to first. Following him, Dissin returned to the plate and hit a line drive single to center field, which allowed Lopez to run home, finally putting a score for the Blueclaws on the board. The score was now 2-1 Aberdeen.
Davis came to the plate and walked to first base. At this point, the bases were loaded: Davis on first, Dissin on second, and Ware on third. Bennett hit a line drive single to left field, which drove in Ware and Dissin. The Blueclaws were ahead by 3-2.
Rincon came back to the plate to continue the Blueclaws’ streak. He hit a fly ball to right field, which Sosa caught. Saltiban came to the plate and ended up striking out this time.
DeMartini then hit a three-run home run to right field moments later. The BlueClaws continued their lead now by 6-2.
Before the end of the inning, the Iron Birds changed their pitchers from Beck to Riley Cooper.
Campbell came back to the plate. However, he was struck out.
The last inning of the game was one for the books.
The Blue Claws Changed their pitcher from Chenault to Luis Avila.
Estrada hit a ground ball at the top of the eighth inning and singled to first. O’Ferrall ended up walking after his time up at bat. Estrada and O’Ferrall also stole bases.
Overn came to the plate once again, where he struck out. Sosa grounded out to second while Estrada scored. Putting the score at 3-6. Stafford bunted to third baseman DiMartini but got the ball to first in time to get him out.
The bottom of the eighth started with Lopez on the plate. He was struck out.
Ware followed at the plate, starting with a foul ball. He drove it down the third baseline and singled to first. Dissin also hit a single moments later. Putting him on first and Ware on second. Then Davis struck out.
Bennett came to the plate once again. This time, he swung and hit a double, allowing Dissin and Ware to run home. The score was now 8-3. In the midst of all this, Bennett stole third base. Rincon ended the streak for this inning and ended up striking out.
In the last inning, things went smoothly for the BlueClaws.
To start the inning, The Blue Claws switched Luis Avila out with pitcher Tommy McCollum. Aris took the plate, hit a fly ball to the center field, and ran for the center.
Vasquez followed but was out due to the ball that Dissin caught in foul territory.
De Los Santos hit the ball to the second baseman Saltiban to Rincon, who threw Arias out at second base. Following that, the ball was passed back to first base, where De Los Santos was out for the double play.
The game ended with the Blue Claws taking their first win of the season, 8-3.
The Blueclaws will play again on Wednesday, April 9 at 6:35 against the Aberdeen IronBirds in the second game of this series.
