sfoggi posted on June 22, 2011 21:54
WINTER PARK, Fla. (June 22, 2011) - The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (10-3) defeated the Orlando Freedom 4-2 in a close one all the way through.
The last time the two teams met, it was a wild contest that saw double-digits in multiple statistical categories. This time things were different, as the pitching for both teams shined.
Winter Park starting pitcher Ben Brown (State College of Florida) threw seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, walking none, and striking out eight.
“That was a big start for him,” said Head Coach Kevin Davidson. “He’s throwing as well as anyone for us.”
Brown’s counterpart, Corben Madden (Jacksonville University), tossed 7 1/3 innings, while giving up six hits and walking just two.
“[Madden] did a great job of keeping us off balance,” said Davidson.
In the bottom of the third inning, Winter Park struck first. With one out, Michael Reed (Auburn University) was hit by a pitch. Ted Blackman (Coastal Carolina) followed with a single to left field. That brought Spencer Haynes (University of Central Florida) to the plate, and he brought home the Diamond Dawgs first run of the game on a single to right field. With two outs and runners in scoring position, B.J. Zimmerman (State College of Florida) hit a double to right field, giving the Dawgs an early three run lead.
The Diamond Dawgs managed to hold onto that lead for the remainder of the game.
However, the Freedom came within one run of the Dawgs in the top of the eighth inning after Matt Mattone (Palm Beach State College) crushed a one-out, two-run home run over the left field fence.
Winter Park relief pitcher Chris Waltermire (Polk State College) entered the game in the eighth inning with two outs and runners on second and third, for the four out save; he immediately got the Diamond Dawgs out of the jam. Winter Park would go on to plate an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, making things 4-2. Waltermire shut the door on Orlando in the ninth, recording his first save of the season.
The Diamond Dawgs will be on the road against the Winter Haven Loggerheads on Thursday, June 23. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Mitchell Adams (UCF)