- July 22, 2026
-
-
Loading
Loading
Winter Garden Squeeze’s outfielder Alexander Galan never imagined he would be stepping back onto Horizon High’s baseball field after his graduation in 2025.
But that’s exactly what happened this summer.
Galan, a rising sophomore at Lake-Sumter State College, found his way back to the field through his collegiate head coach Rich Billings. Billings is a three-time Florida Collegiate Summer League coach of the year and in his 11th season with the Leesburg Lightning.
When Billings offered Galan to play summer ball for the league as a Squeeze and discovering it was at Horizon, Galan jumped at the opportunity.
“I felt good just knowing that I was being able to go back to play where I played high school (baseball) at, and it just felt comfortable, because I already played there for two years,” he said.
Galan and his other Squeeze teammates’ decisions to play for the Squeeze in 2026 brought them not only fun memories together throughout the two months of play but also valuable baseball knowledge. The team’s regular season wrapped up Saturday, July 18, and now the players will take lessons back with them for their next year of college ball.
Throughout high school, Galan saw his tools develop, especially after he transitioned from Lake Buena Vista High after his sophomore year to Horizon. His freshman year at Lake-Sumter is where he saw true growth under Billings and the increased games college brought compared to high school.
More reps led to more production.
Galan started off just OK. He wasn’t the best but as his comfort grew he began to find his stride through the spring season, recording a .378 batting average and 11 home runs with 55 runs batted in and 61 runs. Galan began the spring season on a high but slowly hit a downfall mid-season. His coach continued to play him, and he continued to practice and trust in himself to end up with a fantastic last half of the season.
“I felt good,” he said. “It felt good, honestly, just being able to go out there with confidence and playing good and helping the team win. But we didn’t end up reaching how far we wanted to go, so to go into next year and end up going farther than we did this past year.”
The Squeeze’s summer ball helped Galan elevate his confidence and comfortability with a bat in hand, just as his teammates saw it do the same for them.
Pitcher Rylee Gibson redshirted his first season with The Citadel. It was hard to watch everyone else play. But looking back, he is grateful for his time, because it gave him a year to watch others and develop. Being back on the field for the Squeeze helped grow his mental state. He threw 31 innings in his 11 appearances and six starts.
Cael Reish, the Squeeze’s outfielder who recorded the highest hitting statistics for the team (No. 11 in the FCSL at the end of the regular season and selected for the All-Star team) said head coach Steven Crabtree’s early work sessions have been huge for his development. Crabtree emphasizes relaxing to the players and playing their own game, which is how they see their best abilities.
“Honestly, just him telling us to relax and just play the game of baseball means a lot, and it kind of helps us go back into our place,” Reish said. “We’re gonna fight for a spot but at the end of the day, if you stay relaxed and do your own thing, you’re going to be good and all set to make a spot.”
Crabtree also has taught the players about aggression.
First baseman Ayden Elixson, who was one of the two players staying with a host family this summer, said Crabtree’s emphasis on aggression — especially at the plate — has helped. It’s the main trait he struggled with his freshman year at St. Johns River State College, and now, Elixson understands its importance.
“(Crabtree) has talked a lot to us about what you put in the world is what you’re going to get out of it,” Elixson said. “He’s been very helpful.”
Galan said Crabtree and assistant coach Dewon Brazelton always were focused on getting the win.
“Coach Crabs is really passionate about (winning) which is always good to have, because it makes you want to win,” Galan said. “It makes you want it more since your head coaches also want it.”
At the beginning, the players were struggling with achieving their coaches’ desires. But Reish said after the team’s chemistry grew and they knew they could always trust in one another, production flipped. Galan said they began slow but midseason turned the heat on and made up for their deficit in games.
The team finished regular season No. 2, behind the Lightning, and a 17-17 overall record and hosted a playoff game Tuesday, July 21.
