Boxscore

LEESBURG, Fla (July 31, 2018) – Game one of a three game series between the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs and the Leesburg Lightning was a tight one throughout.  In game one of round one, Leesburg would pull out a 1-0 victory and now just needs one more win in the next two games to advance to the championship round.

Winter Park had a chance to get on the board in the third inning when Cale Jones (Santa Fe) led off with a double.  The next batter attempted to lay down a bunt but popped it straight into the air for the first out.  A wild pitch would get away from Leesburg’s catcher to advance Jones to third.  A ground ball to the left side of the infield would be picked up by the Lightning third baseman as he threw Jones out at home.  The threat had subsided.

This game was more about pitching than hitting.  A pitcher’s duel took place as JP Williams (Undecided) was as sharp as a tack for the Diamond Dawgs.  The game was scoreless for five innings until the bottom of the sixth inning where Williams would end up walking in a run with one out but would limit the damage and end the inning at 1-0.

Williams would pitch 5.2 innings and go on to strike out six batters.  That one walk was really his only blunder as his curveball was fooling hitters all night long and never really got a solid barrel on any of his pitches.

“JP pitched well enough to win,” said pitching coach Jim Newlin, “It was a great outing by him; he’s really made strides this year.”

The Diamond Dawgs never really had any chances as the game went on, as they were only able to collect one more hit and draw only two walks all game long.  On the flip side, the Winter Park pitching staff stranded 11 Leesburg runners on base.

“I liked the way our guys came in tonight and held their ground,” said Newlin, “We got big outs in big situations, we just couldn’t touch their guy at the plate.”

Leesburg’s Josh Shapiro tossed a complete game shutout on the hill against the Diamond Dawgs as he threw a total of 94 pitches while striking out eight batters.

“You just have to tip your cap to him,” said manager Chuck Schall, “Our guys did a good job of hanging in there and battling, we just ran into a buzz saw.”

Winter Park once again faces a win-or-go-home situation as they get ready for game two at home which takes place on Wednesday at 7 p.m.  Trevor Tinder (Georgia) will be the man tasked with keeping the Diamond Dawgs' season alive.

Ken Landis (UCF)