Fredericksburg Nationals coverage
Fredericksburg is getting ready to paint the town red, white, and blue to honor its hometown heroes—the Fredericksburg Nationals—after their 2024 Carolina League Championship victory.
Fans are invited to join the Carolina League Championship Celebration and Ring Ceremony on Monday, April 7, at noon at Riverfront Park in downtown Fredericksburg. The event will honor the FredNats’ thrilling 2024 season and their second league title since the team’s arrival in the city.
The Fredericksburg Nationals (FredNats), in collaboration with the Fredericksburg Area Museum, Germanna Community College, and Dovetail Cultural Resource Group/Mead & Hunt, have unveiled a new alternate uniform identity for select games in the 2025 season.
For select home games, the FredNats will take the field as the Fredericksburg Frogs, a tribute to an all-African American team that played in downtown Fredericksburg from 1919 through at least the late 1930s, according to a press release. Known in the press as “the world’s hoppinest team,” the Frogs were a source of pride and entertainment for the local community, the team adds.
Press Release:
The FredNats will continue to play 66 regular season home games in 2025. Following the 2024 Carolina League championship season, the Fredericksburg Nationals announce 2025 home game times with several changes from previous seasons. Here’s a summary of what’s to come in 2025 at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Changes from 2024 are in bold:
Two Fredericksburg Nationals staff members, Eric Taylor and Chris Krick, received top honors in the Carolina League following the team’s 2024 championship season. Taylor, the FredNats’ Head Groundskeeper, was named Carolina League Groundskeeper of the Year, while Home Clubhouse Manager Krick earned the title of Home Clubhouse Manager of the Year. The awards, chosen through surveys of league managers, players, and executives, recognize their dedication to maintaining an exceptional playing and clubhouse environment.
FredNats General Manager Robbie Perry praised their contributions, noting that their hard work set the foundation for a historic season. This marks the first time since 2020 that two individuals from the same Carolina League team have won these awards.
While the Fredericksburg Nationals have clinched the Carolina League Championship, fans must wait until spring 2025 for the official celebration. The city and the team have announced plans to honor the champions before next year’s season opener. This decision aligns with the players’ schedules, as they typically leave town shortly after the season concludes.
“The players leave right after the season. It was a joint decision between the FredNats and the city to hold the celebration next spring,” explained Sonja Cantu, spokeswoman for Fredericksburg City Government.
The Fredericksburg Nationals have claimed their first Carolina League Championship since moving to Fredericksburg, defeating the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in a thrilling series finale on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. This marks the franchise’s first championship since 2014.
The FredNats rebounded from a loss in the second game of the series, played as part of a doubleheader due to a rainout, to clinch the title with a 3-0 victory in game three. In game two, the Nationals’ offense was stifled, as they managed just one hit in a 3-0 loss to Kannapolis, forcing a winner-takes-all third game.
Tonight’s Game 2 of the Carolina League Championship Series between the Fredericksburg Nationals (FredNats) and the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers has been postponed due to inclement weather. The two teams will now look to play a potential doubleheader today, with the first game scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Both games are set to last seven innings each, but if the FredNats win the first game, they will be crowned Carolina League champions, making the second game unnecessary.
Fans who had tickets for Tuesday night’s postponed matchup will have the option to exchange their tickets for an equal or lesser value ticket for tomorrow’s doubleheader. Gates are expected to open at 4 o’clock this afternoon.
After securing a 6-4 win on the road in Game 1, the FredNats return home to try and finish the series with a victory. Starting pitcher Alex Clemmey takes the mound for Fredericksburg, making his second playoff start. Clemmey had an early solid outing in his first playoff start but struggled in the 4th inning. Travis Sthele is expected to back him up from the bullpen while Kannapolis sends righty Tanner McDougal to the mound.
In Game 1, the FredNats led wire-to-wire, jumping ahead with key RBI hits from Caleb Lomavita and Nate Ochoa and a clutch two-run single from Seaver King in the 5th. Despite a strong comeback effort from the Cannonballers, Fredericksburg held on, aided by a stellar outfield assist from Cristhian Vaquero and solid relief pitching from Robert Cranz and Anthony Arguelles.
Press Release:
Virginia Credit Union (VACU) and the Fredericksburg Nationals have donated $11,710 to combat hunger and food insecurity in the Central Rappahannock River area. Through a partnership with the FredNats, the Fredericksburg-based minor league baseball team, VACU makes a $5 donation to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank for every strikeout recorded by the Nationals’ pitchers during the course of the season. The FredNats matched VACU’s $5,855 donation.
Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation, and Events will host its inaugural “Day of Play” at the Virginia Credit Union Stadium on September 21, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The family-focused event will feature a variety of activities like an obstacle course, kayak paddling pool, baseball pitch, and Ga Ga ball. University of Mary Washington’s Cheerleading team will teach cheerleading skills, while Mary Washington Healthcare will host Wellness Workshops. The event will also have a Toddler Area, designed for the youngest attendees.
