News

DELAND, Fla.- The DeLand Suns took the first game of a doubleheader against the Seminole County Snappers, thanks to a 2-run double by Robert Chayka (Kentucky Wesleyan) that proved to be the difference in a 3-1 win. The second game of the twinbill was called off due to inclement weather.

Tobey McDonough (Brown) got the nod for DeLand, and he had his A-game early. McDonough retired the Snappers 1-2-3 in the top of the first. He allowed a one-out single to Ryan Coleman (Rollins), but then got Jeslyn Whitehead (Rollins) to roll into a double play.

Tyler Dowdy (West Florida) started on the hill for Seminole County, and looked strong through his first two innings of work. His only blemish came on a walk to Joe Burke (Kentucky Wesleyan), but he got out of the inning unscatched.

DeLand got another scoreless frame from McDonough in the top of the third, before the bats started to heat up.

Diego Garcia (Pasco Hernando) stroked a one out single the other way into right, then Ray Sass (Brown) followed him up with a scorched double into left-center. Chayka came up with two gone, and roped a two-RBI double to give the Suns a 2-0 lead after three.

The Suns added an insurance run in the fifth, when a double steal on a first and third play allowed Joey Aden (Ohio State) to score from third base.

Nate Palmer (Alabama State) relieved McDonough after his five scoreless innings. Palmer’s command faltered a bit, as he walked the first batter he faced before hitting the second. Evan Orzech (St. Xavier) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Josiah Rivera (Coahoma Community College) scored the Snappers’ first run on a passed ball, but the skies opened up shortly after that and the game was called due to rain. McDonough earned the win, and Dowdy took the loss.

DeLand starts a three game series against Winter Park tomorrow night, first pitch is scheduled for 7pm at Bishop Moore.

Ben Carlton (Ithaca College)