sfoggi posted on July 06, 2011 21:02
WINTER PARK, Fla. (July 6, 2011) - The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs won their exhibition contest against the US9 Armed Forces Baseball team, 11-5, Wednesday night at Alfond Stadium.
It was a step in the right direction for the Dawgs, who have dropped their last three Florida League games, as they scored 11 runs on 12 hits and four errors.
“It’s nice to get a win, exhibition or not,” said Head Coach Kevin Davidson.
It was a bullpen effort for the Winter Park pitching staff, as closer Matt Kimbrel (Shelton State Community College) started the game going three innings, striking out three, and picking up the win.
US9 starting pitcher Sean Yost (Veteran-US Navy) tossed seven innings, giving up five earned runs. Yost, a knuckle baller, was able to keep the Diamond Dawgs from scoring in five of those innings.
The scoring began in the bottom of the second inning when Winter Park jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Blake Hutton (Ohio State University) kick started things with a triple off of the top of the right center field wall. Hutton scored on a Patrick McGavin (University of Alabama) single to center field. Ryne Knuth (Polk State College) provided the third straight hit of the inning, with a single to left field. Knuth eventually came around to score on a fielder’s choice.
The US9 scored their first run of the ball game in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Aaron Trone (BM3-US Navy) drew a walk. He then advanced to second on a Danny Pinales (AD3-US Navy) single to center field. Trone advanced to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on another wild pitch to make things 2-1.
However, the Diamond Dawgs would distance themselves in the bottom of the fifth inning by responding with three runs. With one out, Spencer Haynes (University of Central Florida) hit a single to left field, plating Stephen Holden (Lake Sumter Community College). Haynes went 2-for-4 with a walk on the night. The next two runs would come on a two out McGavin double down the right field line. McGavin went 2-for-4 with a walk, three RBIs, and a run scored. Still, there was more to come from the Diamond Dawgs.
Winter Park broke open the game with a six run eighth inning, building an insurmountable 11-1 lead.
Nevertheless, the US9 Armed Forces team made things interesting in the ninth inning. Justin Rariden (E4-US Navy), Josh Meents (1ST Lt-US Air Force), and Pinales all reached base to begin the inning, two coming via the walk and one due to a hit by pitch, to load the bases with no outs. Rariden, Meents, and Pinales would all score, as the US9 mustered up four runs in their late rally, but the deficit proved to be too large.
“They’re all pretty good players,” said Ben Brown (University of Tampa). “You have to have a lot of respect for guys like that.”
Winter Park will be back in Florida League action as they take on the Orlando Freedom at home on July 7. The game is set to start at 7 p.m.
Mitchell Adams (UCF)