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SANFORD, Fla. - The 2021 FCSL playoffs started with a bang, but it didn't go the Winter Garden Squeeze's way as they lost 11-7 to the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs in Sunday night's play-in game at Sanford Memorial Stadium. 

Ethan Brown (USF) got the start for the Squeeze and couldn't get out of the third inning, allowing seven runs in two and a third innings pitched. He only allowed two hits but issued five walks as well as hitting three batters. The Dawgs led this game 8-0 after the top of the third with the big hits being Dominick McIntyre's (North Florida) two-run double and a two-run single off the bat of Michael Ballard (Eckerd). 

The Squeeze got two runs back against Dawgs starter Dariel Fregio (Saint Leo) on an Elvis Lopez (Bloomfield) RBI single and Jeissy De La Cruz (New Orleans) RBI ground out. 

The Dawgs would have full control of this game until the bottom of the seventh. With Winter Park ahead 10-3, the Squeeze made it a game again by scoring three runs on an Edgar Alvarez (Seminole State) bases-loaded walk and Jacob Nemith (West Alabama) two-run single. 

Winter Park got a run back in a contentious top of the eighth inning, as Sterlin Thompson drove one in on a single.

The score remained 11-6 until the bottom of the ninth. With Winter Garden down to their final three outs of the season, they rallied. The first three men to hit reached on two errors and a Jeissy De La Cruz (New Orleans) base-hit, making it 11-7. That also meant the potential tying run was in the on-deck circle for the Squeeze. Edgar Alvarez came to the plate, after getting the count to 3-2 he struck out swinging. Then it was Jacob Nemith's (West Alabama) turn, but he also struck out. Winter Garden's season came down to Joseph Charles (FSU). Charles hit a slow ground ball to second and a 4-3 putout ended the game and Winter Garden's season. 

The Squeeze worked their way back from an eight-run deficit to make it a four-run game, but the obstacle was too great and their season ends in the play-in game. Terry Abbott had nothing but good things to say about his players post-game:

"We fell behind early but our guys never gave up," said Abbott. "You can't fault our guys' effort, they fought to the very end."

Looking back on the season, Abbott is proud of his players' growth: 

"I think we had some kids grow up and I think a lot of the kids are starting to learn how to play the game the correct way," said Abbott. "If anybody takes this and parlays it into their fall and they become a better player and help their team win in the spring then this summer was a success." 

The semifinals are set, it will be the top-seeded Sanford River Rats taking on the Diamond Dawgs in a best of three series, as well as the 2-seed Leesburg Lightning facing the 3-seed DeLand Suns in another three-game set. The winners of both series will face each other for the FCSL Championship which is scheduled to start on Friday. 

Justin Velazquez (Full Sail University)