WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (July 28, 2011) - The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (22-12) split a doubleheader with the Winter Haven Loggerheads (13-23) in two-seven inning ball games.
The Diamond Dawgs took game one by a score of 3-1.
All of the action happened early, as the Dawgs scored three runs in the first inning. Ted Blackman (Coastal Carolina) tied the record for most walks in a season (37) in his first plate appearance. However, Blackman was picked off of first, and with one out, Dustin DeMuth (Indiana University) singled to centerfield. In the next at-bat, DeMuth, advanced to third on an error by the third baseman. He then scored on an error by the short stop. B.J. Zimmerman (University of Tampa) then brought home the second run of the game on a sacrifice fly to centerfield, and Blake Hutton (Ohio State University) brought home the third run of the inning, and game, on a single to left field.
Winter Haven got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Sean O’Grady (Benedictine College) singled to right field and then made it to third on a Jonathan Hall (Trinity University) double to left center. O’Grady then scored on a Chris Pagliarulo (Boston College) grounder to second.
Both teams had a few missed scoring opportunities. In the top of the second inning, Mike Reed (Auburn University) led off with a double to left field, but Winter Park could not bring him home.
“We weren’t getting good pitches to hit,” said Zimmerman. “[Fishman] made good pitches when he needed to.”
In the bottom of the third inning, Winter Haven had the bases loaded with one out, but could not push across a run either, as Winter Park starting pitcher Case Nixon (University of Alabama) worked out of the jam.
“[Nixon] had to battle today,” said Pitching Coach Kevin Gallaher. “He didn’t have total command, but he made pitches when he needed to.”
The Loggerheads also had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth inning, but again failed to score as Nixon pitched out of another tough situation.
Nixon got his second win of the season, giving up three hits and one run in five innings of work, while striking out four. Meanwhile, Loggerheads starter Matt Fishman (Quincy University) was dealt his third loss of the summer, allowing three unearned runs on nine hits in seven innings.
Stephen Holden (Lake Sumter Community College) sealed the deal for the Dawgs, pitching two scoreless innings of relief to end game one.
The Loggerheads would redeem themselves in the nightcap taking a 7-6 victory.
Diamond Dawgs starter Chad Modomo (Embry-Riddle) received his second loss of the season while giving up five earned runs on eight hits, seven runs total, in five innings. Joe Kelly (Saint Leo) picked up his first win of the summer in four innings of work in which he allowed three runs in four innings while striking out four.
It seemed like the Diamond Dawgs were picking up right where they left off, as Blackman started the game off with a single to right center. Unfortunately, Blackman had to come out of the game because he sprained his right ankle after trying to put on the breaks from rounding first base.
Both teams continued to not capitalize on early scoring threats as the game turned into a pitcher’s duel in the first three innings.
Winter Haven broke out in the bottom of the fourth inning as they exploded for six runs as they batted around.
The Dawgs came right back in the top of the next frame. The first three batters of the inning all reached on walks. Zimmerman would bring home two of them on a single to right field, and tie the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs single-season record for RBIs with his 30th of the season. Austin Chubb (Florida Southern) brought home the third run of the inning on a single to left field. However, those three runs would be the only runs of the inning for the Dawgs, even though the first six batters of the inning reached base safely.
The Loggerheads would tack on a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 7-3 ball game, but Winter Park was right back at it in the top of the sixth inning with another three runs. However, the three run rally was another chance for the Dawgs to truly take charge as the first three batters of the inning reached base safely yet again. So, despite the fact that Winter Park put together a rally, they did not take full advantage of their scoring threats.
“I think some guys are trying too hard to do their job,” said Zimmerman. “All they have to do is relax when they’re up at the plate.”
That would be it for Winter Park, as they ran out of innings and went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game.
“We weren’t swinging at good pitches,” said Gallaher. “We didn’t play smart baseball today.”
The Diamond Dawgs will be on the road Friday, July 29 against the Leesburg Lightning. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Mitchell Adams (UCF)