sfoggi posted on June 03, 2011 21:59
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (June 3, 2011) – The Winter Haven Loggerheads opened their inaugural season with an 8-5 victory over the Orlando Freedom on Friday night at Chain of Lakes Field.
Leading the Loggerheads (1-0) offensively was Chris Pagliarulo (Boston College) with three hits, while Sam Halpern (Barry) got two hits off the Orlando Freedom pitching staff. Michael Heller (Florida), Nicholas Geary (Georgetown), and Kevin Clements (Trinity) each tacked on a hit as well.
Winter Haven starting pitcher Bryan Poland (Benedictine College) got the winning nod in five innings of work, recording four strikeouts, but it was freshman reliever Ryan Heuler (Wake Forest) that had the effective arm for the Loggerheads. The right-handed hurler tossed three complete innings on the hill striking out a game-high seven batters. Heuler gave up one run on not hits.
The Loggerheads wasted no time after stepping onto the diamond as they scored three runs in the opening frame. Leading off the inning was centerfielder Andrew Sterling (Dickinson College) as he reached by way of walk and advanced to second and third on a stolen base and wild pitch, respectively. Sterling then scored the Loggerheads first run on a groundout to short. Heller and Pagliarulo then scored in the following three at-bats.
The Freedom (0-1) then managed to escape with a lone run in the second inning and came within one of the Loggerheads in the top of the six after scoring a single run in the three consecutive innings. Winter Haven put up a pair of runs in the fourth as Sam Halpern scored on an Orlando defensive miscue after reaching on a double. Catcher Nicholas Geary then scored two batters later on a Madden wild pitch.
In the bottom of the sixth, Winter Haven took a 7-5 lead over Orlando and kept the Freedom scoreless for the next two innings. Winter Haven capped off the night with a lone run in the eighth as Kevin Clements (Trinity) scored on a bases loaded walk.
Each team gave up eight hits with the Orlando Freedom committing three costly errors. Jake Huxtable and Spragg each had two hits for the Freedom, while starting pitcher Madden was charged with the loss in four innings of work.
Winter Haven will take to the field Saturday (June 4) afternoon as the Loggerheads play host to the Sanford River Rats. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.