SANFORD — Timberrr….
Playing before the home fans at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium Saturday night, the host Sanford River Rats (17-1) scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning and built a 9-0 lead before settling for a 9-2 record-setting victory over the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (2-16).
The win was the 15th in a row for the River Rats, breaking the previous record of 14 in a row set by the Leesburg Lightning during the 2018 season.
Heading into an off day on Sunday, Sanford had built a full 6-game lead over the Lightning and Orlando Snappers, who are tied for second with 11-7 records.
Leesburg had pulled back into a tie for second by winning its second consecutive game with a 5-2 victory over the Winter Garden Squeeze (7-9), while the Snappers had their three-game winning streak end, 5-1, at the hands of the DeLand Suns (6-12), which finally saw its losing streak snapped at 11.
Here are the standings (as of June 25):
1. Sanford River Rats, 19-1; 2. (tie) Leesburg Lightning and Orlando Snappers, 13-7, 6 games behind; 4. Winter Garden Squeeze, 7-13, 12 games behind; 5. DeLand Suns, 6-14, 13 games behind; 6. Winter Park Diamond Dawgs, 2-18, 17 games behind.
The FCSL also announced its second Pitcher and Player of the Week this past Monday.
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 Monday, June 9, through Saturday, June 14. The weekly honors are selected via a vote of league coaches and officials.
Nathan Ricko (Stetson) of the DeLand Suns was tabbed with Pitcher of the Week while Player of the Week went to Drew Pynes (St.Petersburg) of the Winter Garden Squeeze.
In the past week, Pynes slashed .875/1.000/.909 with three RBI and two runs scored. The catcher always managed to find a way to reach base, reaching in 10 of 11 plate appearances. Pynes had an All-Star worthy performance in a 10-9 loss to the Sanford, going 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
Despite DeLand’s current seven game losing streak, Ricko has been lights out coming out of the bullpen. In two appearances, the Stetson commit was perfect over four innings of work (12-up, 12-down) with seven strikeouts.
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) _ Jordy Oriach (Leesburg/New Mexico), Xavier Lopez (Sanford/Undecided), Dawson Mock (Orlando/South Florida), Cole Steinmetz (Winter Garden/Valdosta State), Matthew Delay (Winter Park/Southeastern).
Florida League Honor Roll (Pitchers) _ Haro Baez (DeLand/Bethune-Cookman), Jacob Riegel (Sanford/Tallahassee CC), Braden Rapp (Orlando/Northwest Florida State), Skylar Stinson (Winter Garden/Tallahassee CC), Harrison Miller (Winter Park/Wingate).
Results:
Monday, June 16 _ Snappers 7, Lightning 2; Lightning 5, Snappers 2; River Rats 5, Suns 3; Squeeze 10, Diamond Dawgs 1.
Tuesday, June 17 _ Snappers 8, Lightning 6; River Rats 1, Suns 0; Squeeze 10, Diamond Dawgs 5; Squeeze 10, Diamond Dawgs 4.
Wednesday, June 18 _ No games scheduled.
Thursday, June 19 _ River Rats 7, Diamond Dawgs 5; Snappers 5, Sun 4; Squeeze vs. Lightning, rain.
Friday, June 20 _ River Rats 4, Diamond Dawgs 3; Squeeze 6, Lightning 1; Lightning 10, Squeeze 4.
Saturday, June 21 _ River Rats 9, Diamond Dawgs 2; Lightning 5, Squeeze 2; Suns 5, Snappers 1.
Sunday, June 22 _ No games scheduled.
Here is the upcoming schedule:
Wednesday, June 25
No games scheduled.
Thursday, June 26
Suns vs. Diamond Dawgs, Rollins College/Alfond Stadium, 6 p.m.; Lightning vs. River Rats, Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, 6:30 p.m.; Squeeze vs. Snappers, Orel Hershiser Field at The First Academy-Orlando, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 27
Suns vs. Diamond Dawgs, Rollins College/Alfond Stadium, 6 p.m.; Squeeze vs. Snappers, Orel Hershiser Field at The First Academy-Orlando, 7 p.m; River Rats vs. Lightning, Buddy Lowe Field at Pat Thomas Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 28
Snappers vs. Squeeze, Horizon High School; Lightning vs. River Rats, Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, 6:30 p.m.; Diamond Dawgs vs. Suns, Melching Field at Conrad Park, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 29
No games scheduled.
Monday, June 30
Squeeze vs. River Rats, Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m.; Snappers vs. Diamond Dawgs, Rollins College/Alfond Stadium, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 1
Snappers vs. Diamond Dawgs, Rollins College/Alfond Stadium, 6 p.m.; Squeeze vs. River Rats, Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, 6:30 p.m.; Suns vs. Lightning, Buddy Lowe Field at Pat Thomas Stadium, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 2
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.
