The first week in the 2011 Florida League season was a tremendous success. A huge crowd on Opening Day at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium watched the Diamond Dawgs nudge out the Sanford River Rats 5-2.

 

Week one in the 2011 Florida League season may be in the rearview mirror, but it’s a week the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs and Leesburg Lightning will not soon forget. Both Winter Park and Leesburg are 3-0 and scoring runs with ease. In only 3 games, the Lightning have plated 31 runs while the Diamond Dawgs have put up 26 runs. Both Kevin Davidson (Head Coach of Winter Park) and David Therneau (Head Coach of Leesburg) have the luxury of talented offensive players and excellent team speed. In only three games, the Dawgs and Lightning have swiped 11 stolen bases each, which puts each team on pace to steal 162 bases this summer. Both undefeated teams look to use the momentum from week one to keep themselves afloat on top of the Florida League standings.

 

Week two in the Florida League has even more excitement to bring to the fans than the first week. Thursday, June 9 at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium has several attractions for Florida League fans. June 9^th is Seminole County Employee Night, Thirsty Thursday ($1 Beers), and the River Rats rematch with the defending Florida League Champion Winter Park Diamond Dawgs. Saturday, June 11^th is Boy Scout Camp Out Night in Sanford. Bring the kids out to the ballpark for campout fun. On top of the promotions through the week, Tuesday through Saturday will have a full slate of games each day.

 

Pitcher and Player of the Week have been announced for the Florida League’s first week in the 2011 season. Undefeated Winter Park has both players of the week to start off the season. Michael Danner (Polk State College) was an absolute menace to any opposing pitcher. The 5’10” 185 pound freshman hit .667 (8 for 12) with 4 runs scored and one RBI. In 13 plate appearances, Danner was only retired four times. Jeremy Strawn from State College of Florida earned the Pitcher of the Week award. In Strawn’s start, he threw five shutout innings while striking out eight and not walking a batter to pick up the win.

 

The rest of the team winners were:

 

Player: Anthony Caronia (State College of Florida, .500, 2 RBI, 3 SB)

Pitcher: Ryan Caporice (UNC-Asheville, 3 IP, 4 K, 1 ER)

 

 

Player: Sam Halpern (Barry; .308, 2B, 3B, .538 slugging pct)

Pitcher: Ryan Hueler (Wake Forest; 3 IP, 1 ER, 7 K)

 

 

Player: Stephen Bellantoni (USC-Aiken; .385, 4 SB)

Pitcher: Chad Rood (Stetson; 4 IP, 0 ER, 5 K)

 

 

Player: Hunter Mayfield (Rollins; .417, 5 R, 2 2B, 6 RBI, SB)

Pitcher: Ethan Bader (Lake Sumter CC; 2 IP, 6 K, 0 ER)

 

 

Player: Austin Liput (USC Upstate; .462, 3 R, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI)