Orlando’s Four Horsemen Shut Down Diamond Dawgs

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Week 1 of the Orlando Snappers' 2026 Florida Collegiate Summer League season has been characterized by a merry-go-round of pitching performances. Tuesday night saw the culmination of four standout outings result in a 3-1 win over the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs.

Geoffrey D'Amato decided to put himself on a 20-pitch leash as he continued his recovery from a facial injury. D'Amato cheated slightly, needing 21 pitches to work through the top half of the Winter Park lineup. If the "20-pitch rule" had to be broken, it was only fitting that he was perfect in the process. He cruised through 1 2/3 innings in his start while racking up three strikeouts, a sign of things to come for the Canadian.

Ryland Happel was the next to take the mound, and the lone returner from Orlando's 2025 championship squad continued his excellent start to the season. Happel worked an efficient 5 1/3 innings, throwing 54 strikes against just 16 balls. He relied on fantastic defensive plays from Mason Resmondo and Santiago Busot to silence the Dawgs and preserve the Snappers' lead.

With a 3-1 advantage, Orlando needed to cover the eighth and ninth innings with limited pitching available. Head coach Alan Kunkel used five pitchers in Monday's loss to Leesburg, leaving the bullpen thin for the late innings. Recent high school graduate Ryon Smith was thrust into action in the eighth and needed just four pitches to retire three Diamond Dawgs hitters, an impressive display of efficiency.

That left the ninth inning. Someone had to step up and secure the save. Roberto Alvarez began the game in right field but made his way to the mound in the final frame. Alvarez simply pounded the strike zone with fastballs, inducing three groundouts to end the game and earn his first save in years.

After the game, Alvarez admitted he didn't even know he could pitch.

"I didn't know I could either," he said with a chuckle. "I told Coach I was willing to help if needed, and I guess he needed me in the ninth."

Orlando got two of its three runs from a clutch two-run single by Roy Rodriguez, who finished with three hits. Ty Kennedy also had a strong night, scoring the first run of the game for the Snappers and ripping a double down the left-field line for his first hit of the season.

That offense proved to be enough thanks to the four horsemen of Tuesday night.

D'Amato, Happel, Smith and Alvarez combined for the most dominant pitching performance of the season so far and ensured Orlando secured the win. The Snappers will look to carry that momentum into a weekend series against the Winter Garden Squeeze beginning Thursday night at Horizon High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Theo Shernoff (Michigan)