sfoggi posted on July 15, 2011 22:55
LEESBURG, Fla. (July 15, 2011) - The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs managed to maintain their half game lead over the Leesburg Lightning after splitting a doubleheader at Pat Thomas Stadium Friday night. The teams played two seven-inning games.
Leesburg took the first game by a score of 4-2. Lightning starting pitcher Dylan Ortega (Brevard Community College) tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, earning his third win of the season. On the other hand, Diamond Dawgs starting pitcher, Jeremy Strawn (Florida Atlantic University), was dealt his first loss of the season, throwing 4 1/3 innings and giving up three runs.
The scoring began in the bottom of the third when Tom Sicking (Texas Pan-American) got into scoring position by leading off with a double down the right field line. Sicking eventually came around to score on a Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic University) sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lightning added two more runs to their lead, making things 3-0 in their favor. Winter Park struggled to break the silence, but the Diamond Dawgs finally got on the board in the top of the sixth.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Brad Hutton (Ohio State University) hit a double to center field to plate Dustin DeMuth (Indiana University) and Michael Danner (Polk State College). However, the Dawgs late push was too little, too late. The Lightning tacked on another run in the bottom of the frame and sealed the deal in the top of the seventh inning.
“We came out flat in the first game,” said University of Tampa’s B.J. Zimmerman.
But it came down to the second game when things became interesting; despite the fact the Diamond Dawgs defeated the Lightning 9-1.
Winter Park starting pitcher, Chad Modomo (Embry-Riddle), got his third win of the season by working six innings and allowing one run on four hits. Lightning starting pitcher Micah Kellogg (Flagler College) threw 5 1/3 innings and gave up seven runs.
Winter Park struck early in the second contest as Ted Blackman (Coastal Carolina) scored on a Zimmerman single in the top of the first inning.
The intrigue and intense competition came about in the top of the third inning. With one out and a runner on second base, Blackman hit a two-run home run to right field. It was a no-doubt shot as Blackman made his way around the bases to extend the Dawgs lead to 3-0.
Leesburg responded back with their only run of the game in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Diamond Dawgs put their exclamation mark on the game by exploding with a six spot and putting the Lightning away for the first time all season.
“It felt good to beat them, we knew this was a big game,” said Zimmerman.
The Diamond Dawgs will be on the road against the Winter Haven Loggerheads on Saturday, July 16. The game is set to start at 7 p.m.
Mitchell Adams (UCF)