Dawgs To Face Elimination on Season's Final Day

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. - The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs came within three outs of a crucial victory Friday night, but the Winter Garden Squeeze rallied late before walking off an 8-7 win in 10 innings at Horizon High School.

Winter Park fell behind 1-0 in the first inning before responding in the second. Hutson Guinn launched a two-run home run to left-center field, scoring Skyler Jersey and giving the Diamond Dawgs a 2-1 lead.

The Diamond Dawgs extended their advantage in the fourth when Jake Biaggi lined an RBI single and Osmin Melendez followed with an RBI single to make it 4-1. Garrett Frost added an RBI single in the fifth to stretch the lead to 5-1.

Winter Garden mounted its comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Colson May hit a two-run home run before Joshua Schaller and Osjun Rivas each drove in a run to even the score at 5-5.

Neither team scored over the final four innings of regulation, sending the game to extra innings.

Winter Park appeared to seize control in the 10th. Biaggi reached on an error that allowed Frost to score, and Guinn crossed the plate on a throwing error to give the Diamond Dawgs a 7-5 lead.

The Squeeze answered in the bottom half of the inning. A wild pitch brought home one run before Alexander Galan doubled in another to pull Winter Garden within one. Brody Bellomo then delivered a walk-off RBI single to right field, completing the three-run rally and handing the Diamond Dawgs an 8-7 defeat.

Winter Park will close the regular season Saturday against the Squeeze at Alfond Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., with a playoff berth on the line.

Justin Baltes (University of Central Florida)