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Photo Credit: Bradley Walker NGSC Sports
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Coming into this game, the Clearwater Threshers were on a winning streak and jumped to second place. The first-place team was their opponent, the Lakeland Flying Tigers, who took first place in the west division for the first half. Most of the teams that play the Flying Tigers end up on the wrong side of the coin. After a cloudy and rainy afternoon in Clearwater, the sky cleared out and allowed for evening baseball. The visiting Lakeland Flying Tigers were in navy blue tops and caps with grey pants. The home team, Clearwater Threshers, were in their normal red tops and red caps with white striped pants. The crowd had more than usual as the ballpark had a dollar night, including tickets and most of the food and beverages. Some of the fans were there to see the Flying Tigers.
The reason why Lakeland was the top team in the entire Florida State League is that they jump on teams early. Because when the first three hitters had three runs via a solo and two-run home runs. The solo home run came off the bat of center fielder Nick Dumesnil, and then Jack Goodman got a hit. The next hitter was Ricardo Hurtado, and he drove in Goodman, and just like that, the Threshers fans started to worry. Clearwater went one two three in the bottom of the first. Lakeland would add two more runs in the second with three consecutive hits. That was not all, because just a short time later they loaded the bases and got a grand slam home run, which once again was Hurtado who finished the game 3 for 4, three runs and five RBIs.
By the time you blanked, the Threshers were down 11-0 through two innings, and many thought the 10-run rule would be in effect, but they do not have one in minor league baseball. Over the next two innings, the Flying Tigers would add two more runs and take a 13-0 lead heading into the final five innings. Many fans headed towards the exits, and after they left, the Threshers scored and got their first hit in the sixth. Clearwater scored four runs and made a semi-fight, and showed they would not be shut out. The only problem is that after the four runs, they allowed the Flying Tigers to score three more in the eighth. Clearwater scored two runs combined in the final two innings, but it was too little too late. The final score was 16-6.
This is one of those games that you hate as a fan unless the roles are reversed. This shows that the Lakeland Flying Tigers are a great team and are built to win. On the other hand, for the Threshers, it shows that the team is close but not quite there yet. At the end of the game, Clearwater had the same number of hits, and they scored runs. So did the Flying Tigers with 16 runs on 16 hits, and the only bad part was that they had two errors. Lakeland had two other players who had a good game at the plate, other than Hurtado. Nick Dumesnil went 3 for 6 with two runs and one strikeout. The other is Jude Warwick, who went 3 for 5 with two runs and one RBI. Hopefully, in the next five games, the Clearwater Threshers can bounce back.
What have you stayed and watched the game despite the result? Leave a comment below.
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Author Profile
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Director of Operations for NGSC Sports
Covers USF Athletics in Football, Baseball, Lacrosse, and Softball.
Also covered both major and minor league baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays and Clearwater Threshers.
He also covers college football bowl and conference championship games.
It might seem like just covers team sports he also covers both the PGA & LIV Tours and writes and announces for the Pinellas Park High School Patriots in football and basketball.
He also has two sports podcasts in the P&W Sports Report and The Walker Report.
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