sfoggi posted on July 01, 2011 22:27
WINTER PARK, Fla. (July 1, 2011) - The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (13-3) won their fifth consecutive game at home on Friday against the Orlando Freedom with a 4-2 victory.
Last time both these teams met, the game ended in a 4-2 Winter Park victory as well.
The Diamond Dawgs leaned on starting pitcher Chad Modomo (West Virginia Wesleyan College), who tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings, while striking out five and walking none.
“He forced hitters to become defensive,” said Head Coach Kevin Davidson.
Modomo was able to keep the Freedom (5-15) hitters off balance as he kept the ball down in the strike zone, changed batters eye levels, and consistently threw his breaking pitches.
“I just tried to get ahead and get the first strike because that first pitch strike means a lot,” said Modomo.
Orlando starting pitcher Garrett Nuss (University of Central Florida) received the loss, despite throwing 5 1/3 innings, while surrendering just two hits and striking out seven.
“Nuss threw a heck of a ball game,” said Davidson. “That’s a great arm and the league is fortunate to have a guy like him.”
Michael Danner (Polk State College) gave Winter Park the early edge in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run over the right field fence. It is Danner’s second dinger of the season, and both have come in consecutive games.
However, the pitching duel between Modomo and Nuss would continue on 1-0 for the duration of their starts. Modomo had three different 1-2-3 innings, and Nuss upped his league leading strikeout total from 25 to 32.
Nonetheless, Winter Park got the insurance runs they would need in the bottom of the seventh inning, as every run proved to be crucial. With two outs and runners on second and third, center fielder Ted Blackman (Coastal Carolina) came through in the clutch with a single, plating Patrick McGavin (University of Alabama) and Michael Reed (Auburn University). Advancing to second on a stolen base, Blackman then scored on a Dustin DeMuth (Indiana University) RBI single to left field. When the dust settled, the Dawgs had a 4-0 lead.
Although pitching dominated the majority of the game, Orlando would not go quietly in the ninth. The Freedom managed to score two runs off of closer Matt Kimbrel (Shelton State Community College), but reliever Chris Waltermire (Polk State College) came on to record his second save of the season and secure the victory for Winter Park.
The Diamond Dawgs will be on the road against the DeLand Suns July 2, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
Mitchell Adams (UCF)