WP Winning Streak Ends Against Orlando
WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs lost to the Orlando Snappers, 9-3, at Alfond Stadium to set up a Monday rematch in the playoffs.
The final score didn’t go their way, but the Dawgs were on top at the start of this game. In the top of the second inning, third baseman Cal Leonard (North Florida) blasted a three-run home run to strike first. After two clean innings, WP starting pitcher Andrew White (Queens University) allowed three runs in the third, then another in the fourth to lose the lead.
Orlando reliever Drew Byers (Georgia Tech) took the ball from starter Jaxon Mills (Undecided) after the fourth inning, and things went from bad to worse for Winter Park. Byers pitched three scoreless frames, and by the time he was done, the Snappers were up 9-3.
The Dawgs could never return fire at the Snappers, but saw some good performances from the bullpen. Zack Wilson (Chowan), Nolan Lepkoske (UCF), and Nick Jennings (Saint Leo) each contributed a shutout inning to end the game.
It wasn’t a great night on offense for the Dawgs, but two players had standout nights at the plate. As mentioned earlier, Cal Leonard hit his second homer of the season, but also added a single and a walk. Center fielder Kade Faircloth (Newberry) went two-for-four, second baseman Sam Tanous (Saint Peter’s) had a hit and a walk, and shortstop Kai Hudson (Olivet Nazarene) walked twice to make thirty on the season.
Head Coach Jim Newlin thought that the reason for the loss was clear: poor pitching. “We just can’t give out free bases like that,” Newlin said. “Every time you give up free bases to a team, you just put too much pressure on your defense, and you can see what happens (when you do that). Big innings come from that.”
The Dawgs are now 15-18, cementing the fourth place spot in the Florida League. The final regular season Dawgs game is on July 22nd at 5 p.m. at Alfond Stadium (the Snappers will act as the home team). Watch online with FloSports.
Alex Remoll (Syracuse University)
