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With the game-winning run standing at third, in a 1-2 count with two away in the bottom of the tenth, Mees Robberse looked to play “hero” for the Winter Garden Squeeze. Little did anyone know, Robberse wouldn’t even have to pick the bat up off his shoulder, as Anthony DeVita spiked a fastball in the dirt that popped over the catcher, allowing Issac Stanwick to slide in for the Winter Garden victory.

 

“My first instinct was I’m going,” said Stanwick. “I needed to score because we got two outs. I scored and didn’t know what to do and I just saw Jacob [Delano] throw his hands up and Ben [Maskin] comes out of nowhere with a water bottle and sprays it in my face.”

 

Back in the eighth inning, Winter Garden saw themselves in a 3-0 deficit. With the bases loaded and one out, Winter Garden was primed for a big inning. Stanwick was able to draw a walk on five pitches to plate one for Winter Garden and bring it to the top of the lineup. However, the top two in the lineup went down quietly, stranding the bases loaded and still in a two-run deficit.

 

Down to their final two outs in the ninth, the Squeeze put together a rally to even the score. Delano walked and immediately came around to score off Zack Stokes’ single. Cole Steinmetz drilled a single of his own right after and Dom Bello was plunked with two strikes to load the bases for Winter Garden. Max McClusky skied a fly ball to foul territory in right field which was caught and Stokes decided to break from third, to test out the arm of Jax Yoxtheimer. Stokes was able to come across to knot up the score at three with the close play at the dish.

 

In the tenth inning with a runner starting at second, Drew Cashin got the call from the pen to try and shut down Orlando’s offense. After the lead-off man moved the runner over with a ground out to second, Cashin was able to notch a huge strikeout with the runner 90 feet away, which ultimately helped the Squeeze reign victorious.

 

“That was huge because the momentum goes to your side,” said Cashin. “Now I’m just looking for an out and I can do anything. Getting that strikeout is the biggest thing and a killer for them.”

 

After the shutdown tenth, Cashin was awarded the victory against the squad he was originally supposed to suit up for. The inning was Cashin’s third straight scoreless and hitless outing, after joining the team June 27th.

 

“Just to be down 3-1 and find a way, it may not have been pretty, but winners win and you have to find a way sometimes,” said Cashin.

 

The last game the Squeeze played prior to this one had them on the opposite side of a walk-off, losing to DeLand in ten innings.

 

“It’s a good bounce back,” said Stanwick. “We’re back in the win column and hopefully we can stay in the win column before playoffs.”

 

The pitching staff for Winter Garden is what carried them to the victory. Nolan Maroth threw four strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run with five strikeouts. Tommy Groom, Corey Battey and Kaiden Perez were the other arms, alongside Cashin, to appear for the Squeeze. None of them gave up more than two hits and in total, they only walked three hitters while striking out eight.

 

The Squeeze will start their final series of the regular season Thursday night against the last place Diamond Dawgs. The Diamond Dawgs are still in contention for the final play-in spot, competing with Orlando. First pitch Thursday is scheduled for 7pm EST.

 

Riley Kelton (Auburn University)