Costly Errors Lift Snappers Past Squeeze

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Game 2 of the three-game series between the Winter Garden Squeeze and Orlando Snappers featured much of the same offensive firepower as Thursday night's opener, with the teams combining for 17 hits and 19 runs. This time, however, a series of costly defensive miscues by the Squeeze proved to be the difference.

With the game tied 3-3, the fifth inning unraveled for Winter Garden as the Snappers plated five runs.

After loading the bases with no outs, Winter Garden reliever Anthony Barton (Miles College) struck out Santiago Busot (St. Johns River State), moving one step closer to escaping the jam. However, Roy Rodriguez (Undecided) followed with a ground ball that appeared destined to become an inning-ending double play. Squeeze shortstop Javier Calzadilla (Undecided) fielded the ball cleanly but sailed his throw over second baseman Osjun Rivas (Lake Sumter State), allowing two runs to score.

The defensive struggles continued later in the inning. James Hankerson Jr. (UCF) hit another potential double-play ball to Calzadilla, but Rivas' relay throw was off target, allowing two more Orlando runners to score and extending the Snappers' lead to 7-3.

The miscues did not end there. Hankerson advanced two bases on a wild pitch before eventually scoring on a throwing error by Winter Garden catcher Landon Towns (Florida SouthWestern), capping a five-run inning for Orlando.

Defensive mistakes proved costly for the Winter Garden Squeeze (2-4) as the Orlando Snappers (4-2) evened the series with a 10-9 victory Friday night at Horizon Park. The two clubs have combined to score 36 runs through the first two games of the series.

The Squeeze struck first against Orlando starter Ryon Smith (Miami Dade). After issuing a leadoff walk to Cael Reish (Flagler), Smith uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Reish to score the game's first run.

Winter Garden added to its lead later in the inning when Alex Galan (Lake Sumter State) drew a walk and Carlos Fuenmayor (Lake Sumter State) executed a hit-and-run perfectly, lining a single that moved Galan to third. David Freitas (Hillsborough) followed with a groundout that scored Galan and extended the Squeeze's lead to 2-0.

Brady Montrowl (UCF) made his first appearance in a Squeeze uniform after his collegiate season ended in the Auburn Regional and was dominant in the opening inning, striking out two batters before running into trouble in the second.

Three consecutive singles by the Snappers loaded the bases, and Angel Mendoza (Seminole State) delivered the breakthrough for Orlando. His single skipped under the glove of right fielder Freitas, allowing all three runners to score and giving the Snappers a 3-2 lead.

The Squeeze answered in the bottom of the fourth when Freitas redeemed himself at the plate with an RBI double that scored Galan and tied the game at 3-3.

After falling behind by five runs in the top of the fifth, Winter Garden mounted a response in the bottom half. Towns led off the inning with a single and later scored on a wild pitch by Orlando reliever Mason Resmondo (Seminole State).

The Squeeze continued to chip away moments later, capitalizing on a Snappers error. With the bases loaded, Rodriguez misplayed a ball that allowed another run to score, trimming Winter Garden's deficit to three.

Winter Garden mounted its biggest threat of the night in the later innings, stringing together three consecutive run-scoring plate appearances. With the bases loaded, Joshua Schaller (Undecided) lined a single through the right side to score Calzadilla and keep the rally alive. Josh Bell (Florida A&M) was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home Fuenmayor, before Towns was also hit by a pitch to bring home Freitas and tie the game at 8-8.

But the Snappers immediately regained control in the top of the eighth, plating two runs. Consecutive singles by Elvin Figueroa (Rollins) and Hankerson helped set the table for Orlando. Figueroa later scored on a bases-loaded walk, and Hankerson crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 10-8.

Winter Garden threatened in the bottom of the ninth and scored once, but Orlando held on for the 10-9 victory.

The rubber match is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. at Horizon Park.

Zach Moore (University of Florida)