Dawgs are on top

In what may be the most bizarre inning in the league this year, the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs were held hitless but scored five runs to come from behind to beat the DeLand Suns.

And they jumped to the top of the Florida Collegiate Summer League standings in the process, while the former league-leading Sanford River Rats continued their descent. That process was accelerated for both teams Tuesday, as the Dawgs trounced the Rats 11-3.

The Dawgs are back on top of the Florida Collegiate Summer League ladder, but not by much as they battle to stay ahead of the Leesburg Lightning just below them heading into July.

The Dawgs and Lightning have been in a virtual deadlock at the top of the FCSL for the past two weeks, after longtime rival Sanford started to fall off after a strong first few games.

Sanford is now near the bottom of the league standings, looking to recover and turn their season around before it’s too late.

For the surging Dawgs, a four-game win streak heading into this week has put them at 12-3-1 so far.

Against the DeLand Suns June 26, the Dawgs had a wild comeback on their hands early on.

The Suns’ Eric Green had a very unlucky start from the mound in that game, pitching a no-hitter through two innings but somehow managing to give up a blowout loss.

The Suns had jumped out ahead in the first inning, grabbing one run and then holding the Dawgs hitless into the second.

But the bottom of the second turned into a wild one for the Dawgs, who loaded the bases on their fourth batter of the inning thanks to two walks and an error by the pitcher.

With the bases loaded, right fielder Ted Blackman took one for the team, getting beaned to score the first run of the game. Then Spencer Haynes walked to score a second run. Then B.J. Zimmerman walked to score a third. After a wild throw and a trio of stolen bases added a fourth run, Austin Chubb was hit by a pitch to load the bases again.

A sacrifice fly let Haynes score from third, but then Zimmerman tried to take advantage of the situation to steal third base and was gunned down by Green to end the inning.

After that, the game was all Dawgs, who held onto the lead and added another score to put it away.

Thursday, after press time, the Dawgs will be on the road to Chain O’Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven for a 7 p.m. game. At 7 p.m. Friday, they’ll throw the first pitch against Orlando, hosting that game at home at Rollins College’s Alfond Stadium.

The Rats hosted Winter Haven and Orlando at press time, but return to the field at 7 p.m. Friday, July 1 at Winter Haven. Then they’ll return home to Sanford Memorial Stadium for a 7 p.m. rematch against Winter Haven on Saturday, July 2.

Learn more

The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs’ home is Rollins College’s Alfond Stadium at 801 Orange Ave., Winter Park. Visit www.Floridaleague.com for more information.