FloridaLeague posted on June 22, 2010 06:08
Patrick Murray (Tennessee)
After falling to an early 4-0 deficit, DeLand battled back to tie the game at four in the seventh inning on a two-run single from Sean Emory (Stetson). Winter Park’s Brad Hutton (Ohio State) hit a solo home run in the eighth to give the Diamond Dawgs the lead.
Things looked grim for the Suns after leaving the bases loaded in the eighth with the Florida League’s most feared closer Chandler Jagodzinski (Lake Sumter CC) standing on the mound to start the ninth.
Jagodzinski struck out his Lake Sumter CC teammate Stephen Bellantoni to start the ninth, but the pitch skipped to the backstop. Bellantoni sprinted to first and an errant throw from the catcher allowed him to move into scoring position at second base.
Emory moved Bellantoni to third with a sacrifice bunt. The hot hitting Dexter Kelley (Savannah State) pounded a base hit to left to plate the tying run.
Suns coach Rick Hall was pleased with more than Kelley’s bat. “Dexter Kelley is such a leader, he’s making all these guys believe in themselves,” Hall said.
Kelley moved to second on a hit and run play when Jeff Moyer (Florida) grounded out. Consecutive walks to Bryan Adametz (Palm Beach State) and pinch hitter Oscar Depablos (Northwood University) loaded the bases for JT Warmoth (Embry Riddle).
Warmoth battled Jagodzinski to a full count before lining a base hit into left, bringing home Kelley and giving the Suns their third walk-off win of the season.
The two runs were the first allowed by Jagodzinski in eleven and two-thirds innings pitched.
DeLand overcame three errors, five walks and two hit batsmen to claim victory.
“We really didn’t play a good game,” coach Hall said. “But we hung in there and were able to come back and get some key hits.”
Joey Munoz (Bethune-Cookman) picked up the win for DeLand, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.
The Suns’ 12 hits is their highest total to date, along with their season high five stolen bases. Perhaps the biggest steal of the game came in the seventh when Bellantoni stole second with two outs putting himself in position to score the tying run on Emory’s base hit.
The Suns will have an off day on Tuesday before heading out on a five-game road trip. DeLand will again take on first place Winter Park on Wednesday at Rollins College. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.