Cherepanya Stellar, but Suns Fall
DELAND, Fla.- The Seminole County Snappers (2-0) came to town on Sunday night as the DeLand Suns (0-2) were looking for their first win of the year. Despite a good outing on the mound from their starter, the Suns dropped a 9-0 decision to the Snappers at the Sperling Sports Complex.
Stephen Cherepanya (Rollins) started on the mound for the Suns, marking his first pitching appearance for the team this year. The right hander threw six and a third incredible innings, allowing zero earned runs and striking out six batters. However, those stats weren’t as important to Cherepanya as the zero in the walk department.
“Honestly, just throwing strikes helped me out,” Cherepanya said. “I was putting the ball in the zone and making them hit ground balls.”
The Suns’ night at the plate seemed like a replay of the first two games of the season: lots of opportunities, but missing the big hit.
The first inning was one with promise for DeLand as Evan Griffis (Stetson) walked and Sean Sparling (Daytona State) singled to give J.T. Rice the chance to give the Suns the lead. Rice struck out, but Sparling knows the big hits are coming soon for the team.
“My dad always told me you can’t get hot if you don’t swing,” Sparling said. “I told the guys that to help keep their heads up.”
Sparling added to his night at the plate with two more singles, taking each to center field. The lefty takes pride in being on time for breaking balls, so he can go to the opposite field with fastballs.
“Today I got some heaters and went with them to the left side,” He said.
The seventh inning rolled around, and the Suns found themselves down 2-0 after a few errors in the infield in the third inning. Evan Mastromauro (Stetson) came into pitch and immediately got into trouble. The righty faced seven batters that frame, allowing three to score.
The eighth inning was no different as Brandon Cruz (Bethune Cookman) came into pitch. Cruz struggled to find the strike zone, as four more Snappers crossed the plate. The Suns fell 9-0 as the mercy rule came into play after the eighth concluded.
The Suns go on the road on Monday night as they will face the Snappers for the second of three games this week. Game time is at 7 p.m. at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
Dylan Pescatore (Arizona State)
