Anthony Ruiz pitched a complete seven-inning game in the Big Buoys' 6-5 win on July 11 against the Gnarlies. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Big Buoys third baseman Gio Rodriguez. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Josh Fallon bats for the Big Buoys. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast Big Buoys pitcher Anthony Ruiz loses his cap as he tosses a pitch to the plate on July 11. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Big Buoys batter Adam Canfield. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Palm Coast Big Buoys swept a doubleheader against the New Smyrna Beach Gnarlies on Saturday, July 11, in an Orange State League game at the Indian Trails Sports Complex.
Nathan Riccio hit a walk-off single in the seventh inning to lift the Big Buoys to a 6-5 victory in the first game. In the second game, Skyler Milheiser belted a three-run home run and Isaac Lopez smashed his second homer in two nights to help Palm Coast trounce the Gnarlies 12-4.
Anthony Ruiz pitched a complete game for the win in the opener. Ruiz allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out six. In the nightcap, winning pitcher Owen McKinley struck out 10 batters.
The first-year Orange State League is a summer collegiate wood-bat league with four teams — the Big Buoys, Gnarlies, St. Augustine Sardines and Cocoa Tailgators.
Palm Coast improved to 6-8 with the doubleheader sweep, which came on the heels of an 11-10 home loss to the Tailgators on Friday, July 10.
Lopez went 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs in the loss. Logan Hawkins went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. The Big Buoys scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at 10-10. But the Tailgators scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh on an error.
The two teams combined to score 21 runs on 21 hits and 20 walks.
The big Buoys' game at St. Augustine on July 12 was rained out. They were scheduled to play four home games in four days July 13-16 ending with a game against Cocoa on Thursday, July 16, at 7 p.m. The Big Buoys return home for four more contests in four days, July 19-22, at Indian Trails.
