News

WINTER GARDEN, Fla (July 5, 2018) – The Winter Garden Squeeze cut a five-run lead, and beat the Sanford River Rats 19-9 after back-to-back seven run innings. 

It was a game that was almost hard to believe if you weren’t at Sanford Memorial Stadium last night. 

Shane Haight (Saint Leo) started on the mound as the Squeeze took the field in the bottom of the first. Overall, he pitched three innings with five strikeouts.

Winter Garden took the lead to start the game and scored four runs. It all started after an RBI double from Sadler Goodwin (Troy) scored Drenis Ozuna (Connors State), followed by an RBI single from Jonathan Elicier (Newberry) brought home Goodwin; Elicier made it home shortly thereafter. To end the first half of the inning, Reeder Smith (Troy) advanced to third off an error that was made, and scored off of a single from Aaron Anderson (Flagler). 

Sanford went on a run and scored nine by the end of the sixth inning; in which they were able to score five runs against Winter Garden in that inning alone. Before the Squeeze were able to score in the top of the seventh, the River Rats were up 9-4. 

The Squeeze scored one run in the seventh after an error was made by the catcher and Anderson was able to run in to score from third base. The Squeeze were now only down by four, headed into the eighth inning. 

To start the inning, Goodwin, Hunter Kamplain (Shelton State), and Elicier were all walked, bases loaded; with Smith up to bat. The next five batters; Smith, Anderson, Adams Torres (UCF), Marcus Begg (Webber International), and Matt Morgan (Manhattan), were all walked before the pitching changed for the River Rats. The Squeeze were now up 11-9, with no outs. 

With bases still loaded and a new pitcher for the River Rats, the Squeeze were able to score two more runs before the inning concluded. 

Goodwin at the mound for Winter Garden, the bottom of the eighth ended quick, as Sanford was unable to score; and ninth inning had the same theme as the eighth. 

Anderson lead the inning with a single. Begg was walked, and Morgan hit a single with only one out; bases were loaded for the Squeeze once again. Ozuna was walked, and Anderson was brought home. An RBI double from Goodwin scored Begg and Morgan, followed by an RBI single from Kamplain to score both Ozuna and Goodwin. 

Kamplain was able to advance to third after two wild pitches, and scored after an RBI single from Smith. Anderson once again hit another single, but was able to advance to third due to error by the right fielder; which scored Smith and the inning ended shortly thereafter. 

Sanford was yet again unable to score in the bottom of the ninth; pitcher Chase Pilato closed the game for Winter Garden. The final scored therefore resulted in Winter Garden’s favor, 19-9, with only 12 hits. 

“I can’t say I’ve ever been in a game like this one, it was kind of a weird situation but it worked for us. I was able to find success where it was needed (in right field), and I’m glad we could finish with the win.” Ozuna said postgame. 

Winter Garden will take on the Leesburg Lightning (18-5) on Friday, July 6 at Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg; followed by the 2018 All-Star Weekend at Sanford Memorial on Saturday.

Winter Garden will be represented by:

Home Run Derby – Sadler Goodwin (Troy) and Marcus Begg (Webber)

All-Star Game
IF - Aaron Anderson (Flagler)
IF - Luke Reidy (Rollins)
IF - Adams Torres (UCF)
P - Ryan Welsh (Undecided)
P - Ryan Ashworh (Flagler)

Samantha Milliren (Saint Leo University)