Lightning down Diamond Dawgs
By: Laura Kubitz (Florida)
The Leesburg Lightning (2-4) came off a hard defeat against the DeLand Suns and refocused on their game to defeat the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (1-5) on the road, 6-2.
\Eric Doty (1-1) (Polk CC) got the win working three innings, striking out five, walking none and allowing just three hits.
"Eric threw the ball extremely well tonight," said Lightning manager Frank Viola. "The key for any pitcher who is going to pitch for my type of team is you have to establish a strike zone and you have to establish a fast ball. Up until John Michael Blake walked the two guys in the ninth inning, we went three straight games without walking a hitter. We are going after the hitters and were are making them swing the bat."
The Diamond Dawgs were the first to score in the game, but their lead wouldn't last long. In the bottom of the third, Nick Adams ( Mercer) advanced to first on a fielder's choice. Taylor Oldham (Covenant College) singled to left field, advancing Adams to third and allowing him to score on a throwing error to third base, putting the Dawgs up by one.
The Lightning answered back in the fourth. Nick Aranas (USC-Aiken) singled and advanced to second on a base hit by Michael Dufek. (Univ. of Michigan) Danny Baatz's (UNC-Asheville) RBI-single plated Aranas, evening the score.
In the fourth, the Diamond Dawgs would take the lead for the last time in the game. Brad Hutton (Polk CC) doubled to right center and advanced to third on Mitchel Brennan's (Mercer Univ.) ground out to shortstop. David Edwards (James Madison) plated Hutton with a single, putting the Dawgs ahead, 2-1.
A Lightning rally began in the sixth with Aranas' pop-up double. Another double by Travis Howard (USC-Aiken) plated Aranas to tie the game.
In the seventh, Mark Stewart (SCAD) got to first on a pass ball and advanced to second on Michael Albaladejo's (Florida Atlantic) sacrifice bunt. Stewart put himself in scoring position stealing third base and plated on DelGudice's single to right field, putting the Lightning ahead, 4-2.
"I'm not a firm believer in small ball, but what really got us going was Albaladejo's sacrifice bunt and Nick DelGuidice got the base hit after Stewart stole third base," Viola said. "We just did the things necessary to win tonight."
It looked like the Lightning would put more runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth, but pitcher Chad Hodges (Shoter College) got out of a bases loaded jam by striking out Stewart, catching DelGuidice's line drive and throwing out Trace Venegas (Santa Fe CC) at third for a double play.
The Lightning didn't go out quietly in the ninth inning. DelGuidice's started the inning with a triple and was plated by Aranas' base hit. Aranas stole second and advanced to home on a base hit by Howard. Venegas singled to right center and got to second on a fielder's choice. Venegas scored the sixth run of the night thanks to two pass balls, sealing the deal for the Lightning.
The Lightning will look to get their third win of the season on Saturday when they head to East Ridge High School to take on the Clermont Mavericks at 7 p.m.
Suns defeat Lightning
Laura Kubitz (Florida)
LEESBURG - The DeLand Suns (6-1) defeated the Leesburg Lightning (1-4) on
Thursday, 4-0, and continued their domination in the Florida Collegiate
Summer League, winning their fifth game in a row.
Jimmy Nelson (Alabama) (1-0) got his first win of the season, striking out six and
allowing only three hits in six innings.
"Nelson's been good for us all year,"said DeLand coach McConnehead. "He
just battled, he's a competitor. We're lucky to have him."
Manager Davey Johnson left immediately after the game and was unavailable
for comment.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the third.
Mason Heller (Southern Polytechnic) doubled and advanced to third on Jovan Pickett's (Univ. of Alabama) infield single. A ground-rule double to left field by Brandt Hendricks (Univ. of Alabama) plated Heller and Pickett.
In the top of the fourth, the Suns recorded a run. Jonathan Griffin (Manatee CC) doubled
and advanced to third on a base hit by Emmanuel Castro. (Bethune-Cookman) A single by Peter O'Brien (Bethune-Cookman) plated Griffin, bringing the score 3-0.
The Suns snuffed out a potential rally in the bottom of the fourth. Nick
Aranas (USC-Aiken) attempted to steal home on a bobbled third strike but was tagged out by Nelson.
In the top of the seventh, Hendricks scored on a sacrifice fly to center by
Castro for the Suns final run.
The Lightning attempted a ninth-inning rally when Danny Baatz (UNC-Asheville) ripped a one-out double down the left-field line, but Thomas Berryhill,(Newberry College) the fifth pitcher used by the Suns, retired the final two batters to secure the win.
"When you as a team aren't focused on going out there and doing your job, it
makes the other team's job a lot easier," said Lightning manager Frank Viola.
"I'll put that on the coaching staff, we didn't have them ready tonight."
McConnehead said the Suns played well in their first trip to Leesburg.
"I think we came out to play pretty good in this hostile crowd, so we are
pretty excited about that," said McConnehead.
The Lightning play the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs at 7 p.m. today at Alfond
Stadium/Harper-Shepherd Field at Rollins College in Winter Park.
Despite the loss on Thursday, Viola remains optimistic about today¹s
matchup.
"I think they are going to have a completely different attitude and I think we¹re going to see a good team (today)," said Viola
Lightning win their first game of the season
Laura Kubitz (Florida)
LEESBURG -It was a night of firsts for the Leesburg Lightning.
The Lightning (1-3) won their first game of the season Wednesday, a 3-1 decision against the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (0-4).
Nick Aranas (USC-Aiken) sent the ball sailing towards the 375 feet marker in the bottom of the sixth to record the first homerun of the season and giving the Lightning a two-run lead.
Jon Bolt (USC-Aiken) (1-0) got the first win for the Lightning giving up no runs and striking out one.
In his third year with the Lightning, Bolt is confident the team is coming together, and that the Lightning¹s key to success -pitching-is starting to improve.
"Everything starts with pitching," Bolt said.
Lindsey Caughel (Stetson) made his Lightning debut as starting pitcher for the Lightning, striking out four.
The score remained scoreless until the top of fifth, but a throwing error by Caughel to third advanced Scott Chase (Rollins) to home with an unearned run, bringing in the first run of the game.
The Lightning made a key defensive play in the top of fifth. With two players on base and zero outs, Carlos Labrador (Lake Sumter CC) laid down a bunt on an attempted squeeze, but catcher Michael Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic) got to the ball and tagged out Logan Moro (Manatee CC).
"The little things about the game of baseball make all the difference in the world," said Lightning manager Frank Viola."
The Lightning answered back in the bottom of the fifth. Danny Baatz (UNC-Ashville) walked and advanced to third on a double to left by Alan Oaks (Michigan). Mark Stewart (SCAD) got the Lightning on the board with a ground out to short, scoring Baatz.
Albaladejo flied out to right, scoring Oaks.
Aranas' home run in the bottom of the sixth brought the fans to their feet and sealed the deal for the Lightning.
Michael Dufek (Michigan) pitched the ninth, striking out two and earned his first save of the season.
The Lightning will host the DeLand Suns today for the first time this season. The matchup will pit Viola against Suns manager Davey Johnson. Johnson managed Viola in 1990 with the New York Mets and again in 1995 with the Cincinnati Reds.
"He (Johnson) is a great guy, one of my favorite managers I've played for and I am looking forward to seeing him on the other side and matching heads a little bit," said Viola.
Lightning welcome canines to game
LAURA KUBITZ
Special to the Daily Commercial
LEESBURG -- Fans coming out to the Leesburg Lightning baseball game today may have to bring their pooper-scoopers to Pat Thomas Stadium-Buddy Lowe Field.
Cardio Fit, located in downtown Leesburg, is sponsoring the third annual Bark in the Park Night at the contest between the Lightning and the Winter Park Diamond Dogs.
Bark in the Park is a chance to for fans to bring their pooch out to the game and an opportunity for others to adopt a dog that needs a loving family. The community is also taking an active role in providing information to keep pets healthy and happy.
A ton of prizes will be given away, too.
For the first time, Bark in the Park will have a representative from Best Paw Forward available to answer questions about their pet's behavior and obedience issues. They will also be giving away free pet training.
Best Life Barb from Heartbeat Radio, WRHB 1410 am, will be at the game be giving away bubbles to children and dog treats to all the four-legged friends, said Traci Brosman, owner of Cardio Fit.
Veterinarian Julia Morrow will be on hand to answer health questions about any critter Lightning fans consider a part of the family.
Leesburg Pet Center will also be giving away a ton of prizes and goodies for dogs and their owners, Brosman said.
Bruce Ericson, the general manager for the Leesburg Lightning, said he got the idea for Bark at the Park from a trip to a Florida Marlins game. The Marlins host a Bark in the Park event each year, and Ericson thought it would be great to bring the idea to Leesburg.
"People look forward to bringing their four-legged friends to the game," Ericson said.
The first year the Lightning hosted Bark at the Park, one pet adoption agency successfully adopted four dogs to families and last year weather prohibited the dogs from coming to the park, said Ericson.
This year, Pet Connections is looking to find homes for three small dogs and German Shepard Rescue will have two of their dogs up for adoption, Brosman said.
"We decided to sponsor the event because we love animals and thought it would be a great way to let people know about the First Annual Walk 4 Dogs," Brosman said.
Cardio Fit and the Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department will be sponsoring the Walk 4 Dogs, to be held Oct. 10 at Venetian Gardens. The walk is being held to raise money for organizations that provide a safe place for pets until they can find the animals a good home.
Information will be available for people who are interested in walking, sponsoring or volunteering at the event.
"During these tough economic times, these organizations need our help more than ever," Brosman said.
To keep pooches from overheating at the game, a misting fan and water will be available for pet owners to provide their dogs a break from the heat.
"Last year, people walked through the mist fans was much as the dogs," Ericson said.
Dogs of all shapes and sizes attended the event last year, said Luke Freeze, an intern with the Lightning. For some people, their dogs are like their kids, and they look forward to being able to bring them to the stadium.
Ericson is planning on bringing his Saint Bernard, Molly, to the game if he can have someone available to watch her.
"It's hard for me to go some places and have to leave my dog behind," Ericson said.
Lightning rained out at Sanford
by: Laura Kubitz (Florida)
Wherever the Lightning strike, rain seems to follow.
The Leesburg Lightning's away game against the Sanford River Rats was rained out on Monday.
The Lightning's next game will be at home on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Winter Park Diamond Dogs. The promotion for the day is Bark at Park.
Hope to see everyone there!
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