News

 

Orlando, Fla. - The Winter Garden Squeeze dropped game 1 of their 2025 season in the first of a three-game series to the Orlando Snappers, falling 8-0 in a seven inning run rule at The First Academy on Friday. 

 

It was a rough opener for Winter Garden’s starting pitcher, Jacob Loeffler (Alabama State). The freshman began the game strong, going three up and three down in the bottom half of the first inning. However, this momentum would not last long.

 

Loeffler walked William Wallburn (Jacksonville State) on five pitches to kick things off in the home half of the second inning. Wallburn advanced to third base off of a double by Julian Mercado (Stetson), before a Jax Carter (Rollins) single and a fielding error allowed both baserunners to score.

 

In the bottom of the third inning, Loeffler’s last for the night, Wallburn and Hayden Gustavson (State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota) both singled before Winter Garden Head Coach Mike McDaniel brought in relief for Loeffler.

 

“I mean it’s really what he told me,” said McDaniel. “He said, ‘Hey man, you know if it’s not your day, it’s not your day.’ and I said you know, it happens and you just have to build on this and come back and be better than today.”

 

Orlando scored two runs in the third after Loeffler was subbed out of the game. Gustavson and Wallburn each touched home plate on fielder’s choices, making the score 7-0 in favor of the Snappers after three innings.

 

The pitching picked up and the action slowed down, with neither team scoring from the fourth inning through to the top half of the seventh.

 

It looked like Winter Garden had momentum late in the contest. In the sixth inning, Michael Thomas (Edward Waters) and Braeden Weckman (Snead State) both hit singles  and Gabriel Rodriguez (Warner) walked to load the bases. The Squeeze could not capitalize on the opportunity, as consecutive putouts left the runners stranded.

 

“Well you know, it’s game one, right?,” McDaniel said to his players. “So you know, we didn’t get off to a great start on the mound and really that’s what matters in this league is your starting pitchers have to try to take you through four or five innings and that didn’t happen for us tonight.”

 

The Squeeze will face off with the Snappers again on May 31 at home at Horizon High School at 7 p.m.

 

Rickie Potts II (Syracuse University)