Squeeze Bats Go Silent in Opening Day Loss

WINTER GARDEN, Fla.- After rainouts on both Friday and Saturday, baseball finally arrived in Horizon West on Sunday afternoon. However, the season opener did not unfold as the Winter Garden Squeeze had hoped.

The Squeeze offense struggled throughout the game, managing just two hits while striking out nine times and leaving eight runners on base.

Those offensive woes helped propel the DeLand Suns (1-0) to a 5-1 victory over the Winter Garden Squeeze (0-1) at Horizon Park on the campus of Horizon High School.

Right-hander Carson Kreuger (Hillsborough) got the Opening Day start for Winter Garden and was dominant early, retiring the Suns in order in the top of the first inning. On the other side, DeLand head coach Stephen Piercefield handed the ball to Jackson Clark (Navy), who matched Kreuger by setting down the Squeeze in order in the bottom half of the inning.

The Suns threatened in the second inning after consecutive singles by Joshua Vinciguerra (Undecided) and Noah Prudencio (Florida State College at Jacksonville) put runners on the corners with no outs. Kreuger escaped the jam by striking out Devon Crown (Mississippi College) before inducing a fielder's choice to keep the game scoreless.

Kreuger finished his outing after two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and recording three strikeouts.

DeLand broke through in the top of the third inning after Austin Liss (Valdosta State) entered in relief for the Squeeze.

Torin Foley (Embry-Riddle) sparked the rally with a leadoff single, and Richard Collazo (Eastern Florida State) was hit by a pitch to put two runners aboard. A familiar face from the Suns' 2025 roster, Shane Thomas, delivered an RBI single to score Foley and give DeLand a 1-0 lead.

The Suns continued to apply pressure as Akhil Nimmala added an RBI single to score Collazo. Vinciguerra capped the inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring Thomas and extending the DeLand advantage to 3-0.

DeLand added to its lead in the fourth inning. With two outs, Boomer Rogozinski (Stetson) drew a walk before Asher Kimball (Rollins) singled to left field. An error by Winter Garden left fielder Cael Reish (Flagler) allowed Rogozinski to score from first base, pushing the Suns' lead to 4-0.

Winter Garden got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Edwin Melendez (Undecided) drew a four-pitch walk before Ayden Elixson (St. Johns River State) recorded the Squeeze's first hit of the season with an infield single over the glove of DeLand first baseman Akhil Nimmala.

Melendez later came around to score on a wild pitch, trimming the Suns' lead to 4-1.

Rylee Gibson (The Citadel) entered in relief and provided a bright spot for the Squeeze pitching staff. Making his first appearance in more than a year after redshirting last season, Gibson tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out two batters.

"Being back out on the mound was amazing, especially being able to play with a few of my former teammates from my childhood," Gibson said.

Both teams were held scoreless from the fifth through the seventh innings before DeLand added an insurance run in the eighth.

With two outs, Vinciguerra collected his second hit of the game with a double down the left-field line. He later stole third base, and an overthrow by catcher Leonardo Suarez (Polk State) allowed him to score, extending the Suns' lead to 5-1.

The Squeeze return to action June 1 for a one-game set against the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (1-2). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Alfond Stadium.

Zach Moore (University of Florida)