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Joseph Adel (1st photo) and Alex Mendez (2nd photo) were the Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, for the Sanford River Rats this past week.
The DeLand Suns are currently leading the league with a 4-2 record. The Suns have found most of their success against the Sanford River Rats, earning three victories against the club.
The Diamond Dawgs started on a breakneck pace, beginning the season 4-0. The tides have turned, however, as the Dawgs currently find themselves in a four-game slide.
The Orlando Monarchs grabbed their first road victory Sunday against the Leesburg Lightning. The Monarchs sit in the middle of the pack with a 3-3 record while the Lightning possesses a 4-3 mark.
Finally the Orlando Freedom also won back-to-back games this weekend to push their record to 3-4. The Freedom’s streak has been a tribute to a high scoring offense, tallying up a combined 14 runs in the two wins.
Here are this week’s Player and Pitcher of the Week Awards:
Player of the Week _ David Lee, Orlando Monarchs (Bethune-Cookman)
Lee went 4-for-4 at the plate on June 15 vs. the Orlando Freedom when he had two doubles, two singles, two runs and an RBI. He went 2-for-3 on June 13, and he was 2-for-5 on June 16 with two doubles, a run and 2 RBIs. On June 10 vs. the DeLand Suns, he was 2-for-5 with a triple, a home run and two runs. Lee also leads the league in batting average.
Pitcher of the Week _ Drew Jackson, DeLand Suns (Stetson)
Jackson started the season strong, tossing four perfect innings with six strikeouts on opening night against Sanford (6/08). He was dominant in his second start of the season, throwing seven shutout innings en route to his first victory of the season. He struck out four batters, and only gave up three hits and two walks. He also has a .40 WHIP. He faced 37 batters in both games, which was only four over the minimum (33 batters through 11 IP). Jackson had a strong command of the strike zone and kept batters guessing in both games.
Team Specific Players/Pitcher of Week:
* DeLand Suns _ Player: Mike Small (Richmond); Pitcher: Drew Jackson (Stetson).
* Leesburg Lightning _ Player: Brett Moreland (Flagler); Pitcher: Mike Clutterbuck (Macomb CC).
* Orlando Freedom _ Player: Mark Nelson (Florida Atlantic); Pitcher: Tim Koons (Oakland).
* Orlando Monarchs _ Player: David Lee (Bethune-Cookman); Pitcher: Drew Gay (Aurora).
* Sanford River Rats _ Player: Alex Mendez (USF); Pitcher: Joe Adel (USF).
* Winter Park Diamond Dawgs _ Player: Michael Danner (Tampa); Pitcher: Michael Sylvestri (Florida Atlantic).
UPCOMING GAMES
Tuesday, June 19
Sanford River Rats @ Orlando Monarchs; Leesburg Lightning @ DeLand Suns; Winter Park Diamond Dawgs @ Orlando Freedom. All at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 20
DeLand Suns @ Sanford River Rats, 11 a.m.: Camp Day; $1 Kayem Hot Dogs.
Orlando Monarchs @ Orlando Freedom _ $1 Kayem Hot Dog Night, Christian Service Center Night, 7 p.m.
Winter Park Diamond Dawgs @ Leesburg Lightning _ Bark at the Park, 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 21
Sanford River @ Orlando Monarchs _ Thirsty Thursday - $1 Yeungling Beers, 7 p.m.
Winter Park Diamond Dawgs @ DeLand Suns _ Thirsty Thursday - $1 Yeungling Beers, 7 p.m.
Leesburg Lightning @ Orlando Freedom _ Pink at the Park - Proceeds to support Susan G. Komen Foundation, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 22
DeLand Suns @ Leesburg Lightning, 7 p.m.
Orlando Freedom @ Sanford River Rats _ 'Pink at the Park - Proceed to support Susan G. Komen Foundation', 7 p.m.
Orlando Monarchs @ Winter Park Diamond Dawgs, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 23
Winter Park Diamond Dawgs @ Leesburg Lightning _ Retro Night, 7 p.m.
Orlando Monarchs @ Orlando Freedom _ Playing With a Purpose- Proceeds to support Jorden Aponte, 7 p.m.
DeLand Suns @ Sanford River Rats _ Boy Scout Night, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 24
Orlando Monarchs @ Winter Park Diamond Dawgs; Orlando Freedom @ DeLand Suns, both games at 5 p.m.
Monday, June 25
Sanford River Rats @ Leesburg Lightning, 7 p.m.