SANFORD — It’s still very early in the season, but the Sanford River Rats have quickly established themselves as possibly the most important thing in athletics.
FINISHERS.
Three times this past week, the Rats pulled out walk-off wins at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium to extend their winning streak to 12 games.
And in each win, Sanford was trailing going into the bottom of the inning, having allowed at least one run to the visitors in the top half of the inning, meaning the home team had to score more than one run to pull out the victory.
And in two of those wins, it was River Rats veteran Stewart Puckett that came through in the clutch, coming through with big hits to drive in the winning runs.
Now in his third season with Sanford, the rising junior at South Florida out of DeLand High School is batting .333 through 12 games and in 74 games in his River Rats career, the switch-hitting infielder has a .335 batting average.
As mentioned Sanford is on quite a roll, having now won 10 games in a row and carrying an 12-1 record and a 3-1/2 game lead over the two-time defending Champion Leesburg Lightning heading into an off day on Sunday.
Here are the standings (as of June 18):
1. Sanford River Rats, 14-1; 2. (tie) Leesburg Lightning and Orlando Snappers, 9-6, 5 games behind; 4. Winter Garden Squeeze, 6-9, 8 games behind; 5. DeLand Suns, 5-10, 9 games behind; 6. Winter Park Diamond Dawgs, 2-13, 12 games behind.
The FCSL also announced its first Pitcher and Player of the Week this past Monday and it was a pair of players from the Orlando Snappers claiming the honors.
Here is the Press Release from the FCSL’s Adrian Delgado (UCF):
Throughout the 2025 season, the Florida Collegiate Summer League will honor two players at the conclusion of each week, an FCSL Player of the Week and an FCSL Pitcher of the Week. This week's honors represent performances from Friday, May 30, through Sunday, June 8. The weekly honors are selected via a vote of league coaches and officials.
The Orlando Snappers swept the first Player and Pitcher of the Week honors of the 2025 season. Coby Valle (Catonsville CC) was named Pitcher of the Week and Mathew Farner (Northwest Florida State) named Player of the Week.
Through 10 games, Farner slashed .577/.730/.846 with 15 RBI and 10 runs scored. The shortstop has reached base in every game and has also swiped five bags. Farner’s big moment came on June 3, when he launched a grand slam over the right field wall to propel his team to a 9-1, run-rule victory over the DeLand Suns. His performance on Tuesday night was enough to receive Hitter of the Night recognition, finishing with a line of 3-for-4, four runs scored and 5 RBI.
In two starts, Valle hurled a total of 10 innings, punching out 10 and only allowing one run for a 0.90 ERA on the season. The right-hander collected his first win in his first start on May 30, shutting down the Winter Garden offense with six strikeouts through four frames., setting the Snappers up for a 8-0, run-rule victory.
Additionally, the Florida League will honor one player from each team that was not selected as Player or Pitcher of the Week.
Florida League Honor Roll (Hitters): Gavin Thomas (DeLand/Davidson), Marco Mueses (Leesburg/New Orleans), Dawson Mock (Sanford/South Florida), Jordan Marlo (Winter Garden/West Georgia), Luis Rivero (Winter Park/Saint Leo).
Florida League Honor Roll (Pitchers): Joey Ervin (DeLand/Coastal Alabama), Blake Tipmore (Leesburg/Rollins), Brady Wright (Sanford/Santa Fe), Isaac Sewell (Winter Garden/Arkansas State), Knute Rockey (Winter Park/Embry-Riddle).
Here is the upcoming schedule:
Wednesday, June 18
No games scheduled.
Thursday, June 19
Diamond Dawgs vs. River Rats, Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, 6:30 p.m.; Lightning vs. Squeeze, Horizon High School, 7 p.m.; Snappers vs. Suns, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 20
River Rats vs. Diamond Dawgs, Rollins College/Alfond Stadium, 6 p.m.; Lightning vs. Squeeze, Horizon High School, 7 p.m.; Suns vs. Snappers, The First Academy-Orlando, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 21
Diamond Dawgs vs. River Rats, Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, 6:30 p.m.; Squeeze vs. Lightning, Buddy Lowe Field at Pat Thomas Stadium, 7 p.m.; Snappers vs. Suns, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 22
No games scheduled.
Monday, June 23
River Rats vs. Diamond Dawgs, Rollins College/Alfond Stadium, 6 p.m.; Snappers vs. Suns, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 7 p.m.; Diamond Dawgs vs. Lightning, Buddy Lowe Field at Pat Thomas Stadium, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24
River Rats vs. Squeeze, Horizon High School, 7 p.m.; Snappers vs. Suns, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 7 p.m.; Suns vs. Lightning, Buddy Lowe Field at Pat Thomas Stadium, 7 p.m.; Diamond Dawgs vs. Snappers, The First Academy-Orlando, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25
No games scheduled.
In other FCSL News:
* Games streamed LIVE on Varsity Sports Nation PPV _ All Florida League games will once again be streamed live and archived for replays on Varsity Sports Nation PPV this season. For information about how to access this content go to _ https://varsitysportsnationppv.lightcast.com/.
Go to _ www.floridaleague.com _ for more information.
