Diamond Dawgs Win 2010 Championship

There is no doubt that the FCSL Championship Game Thursday night will be one to remember.  The setting of Tropicana Field, the fans of both sides filling up the seats behind home plate, and two teams battling it out to the very last pitch; it was truly a game that had everyone on the edge of their seats.  A dream that every college baseball player has came true Thursday night; playing in a Major League venue.  The stage was set, and the audience was blessed to see an outstanding show, worthy of a standing ovation.  In the end, the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs came out victorious, defeating the Leesburg Lightning by a score of 1-0.  Diamond Dawg starter Nick Goody (State College of Florida) got the win, throwing seven complete innings, striking out nine batters, allowed two hits, and no runs.  Goody was named the MVP of the game.  Kyle Wahl (Southern University) was the Lightning starter, and threw an amazing game as well, going 6.2 innings, allowing only four hits while striking out six, giving up the only run of the game which would score after he left the seventh inning due to pitch count.

It was definitely a pitcher’s duel, both starters showing Major League control, pounding the strike zone with a myriad of fastballs and off speed pitches.  Several batters quickly realized the size of Tropicana Field, hitting deep fly balls that in most fields this summer, would easily have cleared the fence, and instead, fell quite short of the fence for routine outs.  Defense also played a large factor in the game.  It must be noted that neither team made an error, nor did any runner ever advance to a base due to a passed ball.  The quality of play was everything one would want for a championship matchup.

The Lightning had a real opportunity to draw first blood in the game early on, putting two runners on in the second inning.  Michael Gonzalez (East Tennessee State) and Danny Baatz (UNC Asheville) hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning.  After a sacrifice bunt by Mark Darlington (West Virginia Wesleyan), the Lightning had runners on second and third with one out and set to strike.  Unfortunately, the next two batters would be retired, Goody able to get both batters to hit pop ups to the shortstop to end the threat. 

The Diamond Dawgs scored what would later be the game winning run in the seventh inning, Wahl would walk only his second batter of the evening with one out, the batter then stealing second base.  With a man in scoring position, Wahl buckled down and struck out the next batter.  Unfortunately, it would be the end of Wahl’s night, having hit the 100 pitch count limit.  With two outs, Chase Okey (Lake Sumter CC) came to the plate with a clutch RBI single to right field.

Nick DelGuidice (Florida Atlantic) kept the Lightning hope alive in the top of the eighth, hitting a deep double to left field, one hopping the fence, to lead off the inning.  DelGuidice would make it as far as third base on a deep fly out after a strikeout, but the Lightning once more couldn’t find that one clutch hit.

The Diamond Dawgs finished the Lightning in the top of the ninth, allowing only one runner to reach on a hit by pitch.  As the final pop out was caught, the Diamond Dawgs stormed the field, meeting in a dog pile near the pitching mound.  And even though the Lightning didn’t come out with the trophy Thursday night, they had nothing to hang their heads about, and a whole lot to be proud of.  Coach Frank Viola certainly thought so.  After the game, the Lightning players met in a circle in front of the first base dugout, and Viola proceeded to tell them how much he enjoyed coaching this team.  He then named each guy on the team and said something about them, missing no one.  I think it says a lot about the kind of coach Viola is.  Viola wasn’t upset about the sub .500 regular season, or losing the Championship game.  No, instead, Viola was happy that he was able to see each of his players grow, not only as ball players, but as men as well.  Coach Frank Viola gets it, and it shows.  As the guys left the field, there were handshakes, hugs, and smiles.  I don’t know about anyone else, but to me, that shows success in itself.  Although a trophy and the Championship would definitely be great, the friendships and memories will last a whole lot longer, and that is something you can’t put a price on.

Congratulations to the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs for a fantastic season and the 2010 FCSL Championship.  Congratulations to the Leesburg Lightning for an incredible playoff run, and a great fight in the championship game. 

Trey Garant (University of Michigan)

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