Diamond Dawgs Clinch Playoff Spot With 12-7 Win

WINTER PARK, Fla. — The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs are headed to the playoffs.

Winter Park clinched a postseason berth with a 12-7 victory over the Winter Garden Squeeze on Saturday night at Alfond Stadium. The Diamond Dawgs overcame an early deficit before erupting for eight runs over the final two innings to secure one of their biggest wins of the season.

Winter Garden jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Winter Park began its comeback. Roberto Odor scored the Dawgs' first run in the bottom of the first, and Hutson Guinn cut the deficit to one with an RBI triple in the third. Garrett Frost tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth with an RBI single.

The score remained even until the seventh inning, when the Diamond Dawgs broke the game open.

Guinn gave Winter Park its first lead with an RBI single that scored Skyler Jersey. Jacob Pearl followed with a two-run single, and Anthony Vizzini delivered a two-run double to extend the advantage. Canyon Marcewicz added an RBI as the Diamond Dawgs scored seven runs in the inning to build an 11-4 lead.

The Squeeze answered with a run in the eighth, but Winter Park responded when Pearl drove in Guinn for his third RBI of the night to make it 12-5. Winter Garden scored twice in the ninth, but the Diamond Dawgs closed out the 12-7 victory.

The win improved Winter Park to 15-18-1 and clinched a playoff berth. After battling throughout the summer, the Diamond Dawgs will now have the opportunity to compete for the Florida Collegiate Summer League championship.

Justin Baltes (University of Central Florida)