Pitching Excels in Snappers 7-3 Victory over River Rats

SANFORD, Fla. - The Orlando Snappers spoiled the Sanford River Rats' home opener Saturday night, taking game two of the season by a score of 7-3. A tale of excellent pitching, plate discipline, and defense saw the Snappers start the 2026 season 2-0, atop the Florida Collegiate Summer League standings.

Orlando entered the weekend with three available pitchers and three two-way players who hadn't pitched competitively in years. Head coach Alan Kunkel used pitchers Gavin Meyer, Ryland Happel, and Logan Chalk in the season opener, leaving the Snappers with just three arms capable of throwing off a mound for game two.

Ryon Smith started the game on the mound for the Snappers in what was his first game above the high school level. Smith shoved through three innings of one-run ball, picking up three strikeouts along the way. Smith showcased his mid-90s fastball and tight slider, both of which should continue to excel at Miami Dade, his destination in 2027.

Smith was relieved by Angel Mendoza, a 5-foot-7-inch utilityman from the Dominican Republic. When asked if he could pitch, he claimed he had thrown an inning or two in high school. After spending the 2026 season with Seminole State as a position player, Mendoza entered a ballgame with a 3-1 lead and recorded nine outs, including one strikeout. Multiple times, he worked himself out of jams, relying on some great defense from second baseman Ty Kennedy in the process.

Heading into the seventh, the Snappers held a 7-3 lead, but the River Rats had shown their ability to stack runs in an instant. Enter Mason Resmondo, who after the game said he hadn't pitched since his senior year of high school. Resmondo earned the nine-out save, hanging zeroes in each of the final frames.

"Adrenaline was pumping. I was ready to get out on the mound and get after it," Resmondo noted postgame. He spent the first six innings manning left field at Sanford Memorial Stadium and even picked up a hit in the fifth inning. When the time came to climb the hill, Resmondo accepted the challenge and aced it.

Three innings each from Smith, Mendoza, and Resmondo resulted in a three-course meal of domination for the Snappers. The pitching came with a side of perfect defense, as the boys in green left a zero in the error column. The offense stayed patient for the second straight game, drawing 10 walks for a combined total of 24 through two games. Orlando produced seven runs to win the game with a four-run cushion, a complete team showing through and through.

The Snappers now turn their attention to Monday's 7 p.m. affair at Pat Thomas Stadium against the Leesburg Lightning, where they will look to build on their momentum from an opening-series sweep of the River Rats.

Theo Shernoff (Michigan)