Squeeze Can’t Complete Comeback Against Scorpions
MINNEOLA, Fla. - The Seminole County Scorpions (6-22-1) bested the Winter Garden Squeeze (4-24-1), 7-5, in a back-and-forth contest at Lake Minneola High School Sunday morning.
The Scorpions struck first in the top of the second inning following a sacrifice fly by Fausto Lopez (Middle Tennessee). The Squeeze immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning, taking their first and only lead of the game after Bobby Head (Austin Peay) blasted a two-run home run over the left-field fence, scoring Bryce Jackson (Clarion), to put Winter Garden on top, 2-1.
The lead would not last long, as Seminole County rallied for two more to regain the lead in the top of the third following a home run from Anthony George (Jacksonville) and a two-out single from Riley Wash (Pittsburgh).
Once again, Winter Garden rallied back to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as Jackson scored again, this time on a sacrifice fly by Marcus Judd (Edward Waters). However, the Scorpions took the lead for good in the fifth and sixth innings, thanks to an RBI double by Wash and a two-run home run by George.
The Squeeze made one more comeback effort in the seventh and eighth innings, with Ethan Brant (West Georgia) kicking off the seventh with a double. After a flyout, back-to-back walks by Justin Holmes (Seminole State) and FCSL All-Star Wesley Faison (Texas State) loaded the bases for Bryce Jackson, who promptly delivered with a two-run single to cut the Scorpions’ lead to one. However, Seminole County induced a double play to end the threat.
In the bottom of the eighth, Brant got on base again with two outs following a walk. A hard-hit double by Dalton Shuffield (Texas State) moved Brant to third. Unfortunately, the Scorpions ended the threat once more, striking out Holmes to end the inning. Seminole County added an insurance run in the top of the ninth after Josh Reynolds (Embry-Riddle) singled home Gunnar Hoglund (Ole Miss). Alex Carpenter (Eastern Florida State) closed the door in the ninth, giving the Scorpions a 7-5 victory and a two-game lead over the Winter Garden Squeeze for the fifth spot in the FCSL standings.
The Squeeze left 10 men on base in the loss. Bryce Jackson was a bright spot for Winter Garden, going 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
“I was pretty confident,” Jackson said of his performance today after struggling to start the week. “I love Babe Ruth and one of his famous quotes is ‘yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s game,’ so that’s just something I like to follow.”
The Squeeze will be back in action at Lake Minneola High School against the Leesburg Lightning (14-17) Wednesday, July 17, following the Prospect Showcase which will be held July 14 and July 15 in Cary, North Carolina. Dalton Shuffield (Texas State) and Ethan Brown (Seminole County) will represent Winter Garden.
Logan Whaley (Union Univ.)
