2009 FCSL Champions

Leesburg Lightning defeated the Clermont Mavericks 5-1 at Tropicana Field 

Box Score>

By: Laura Kubitz

ST. PETERSBURG- The Leesburg Lightning toppled the defending Florida Collegiate Summer League champions, the Clermont Mavericks, 5-1, to capture their second championship at Tropicana Field on Monday.

The Lightning had an impressive run in the post-season giving up just two runs in three games.  They continued the trend of two out runs collecting three in the decisive seventh inning.

Rick Kalgstein (Polk CC) started pitching five and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits, one run  and striking out three.  Spencer Hale got his first win of the season working one and one-third innings, allowing no hits or runs and striking out one.  Nicolas Aranas (USC-Aiken) went two for three with two base hits and one run scored.

The action picked up in the fifth when the Lightning took the lead after four scoreless innings.  Chris Berset (Michigan) reached on a walk after Evan Taylor (Lenoir Rhyne) popped out to center field.  Aranas stepped up to deliver a single up the middle to advanced Berset to third.  Mike Albaladejo (FAU) had an RBI-ground out to score Berset.

But the Mavericks also picked up momentum in the sixth.  Tyrone Wethers (New Orleans) advanced to first on a walk and stole second.  Chase Okey (Lake Sumter CC) delivered a single to center field to score Wethers, tying the score, 1-1.   Tyler Benzel (Louisiana Lafeyette) advanced on a walk, putting Okey on second and Ryan Semeniuk  (Wake Forest) singled to load up the bases.  Spencer Hale (Furman) relieved Rick Kalgstein and got the Lightning out of the jam when Evan Stermer (Palm Beach CC) popped out to second base.

For the second time, the Lightning took the lead in seventh.  Taylor reached on a lead off walk and advanced to second on a Berset sacrifice ground out.  Aranas singled and stole second.  Taylor scored on an Albaladejo sacrifice fly to center field.  Danny Baatz (UNC-Asheville) continued the action with a single to right-center scoring Aranas.  Nick DelGuidice (FAU) then doubled, resulting in a two-run throwing error, advancing DelGuidice and Baatz home and putting the Lightning ahead, 5-1.

Jonathan Bolt(USC-Aiken), in the final game of his baseball career, relieved Robert Lake (Winthrop) in the ninth to pitch the final out of the game striking out Evan Stermer.

The Lightning started the season with a three game losing streak, but ended the season with three consecutive wins when they needed them most.

ST. PETERSBURG-Today the Leesburg Lightning are going out with a bang.

The Lightning will take on the Clermont Mavericks at 5 p.m. at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg in a winner-take-all battle for the Florida Collegiate Summer League championship.

The Mavericks will be looking to be the first team in FCSL history to repeat the championship, but the Lightning want to relive the glory of 2007 when they grasped their first championship.

"I am really excited to play against them," said Lightning right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bolt said. "I have a lot of respect for Clermont they have a lot of great players.  I think its cool we both come from Lake County.  Lake County will be getting a championship no matter what the outcome."

The series between the Lake County rivals has been consistent all year.  The Lightning has sat comfortably in the third seed with 20 wins and 18 losses, in front of the Mavericks in fourth with 19 wins and 23 losses.  But the Mavericks came out on top in the season series against the Lightning, 5-4.

If a championship isn't enough enticement, the opportunity to play at Tropicana Field is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for some of the players.

"I think it's the whole key to the Florida league," said Lightning manager Frank Viola.  "In other leagues, there is nothing at the end to keep them focused, but here they have a goal the whole summer to get there."

The atmosphere at a major league field adds a level of excitement that many of the players aren't used too.

"You step onto a major league baseball field and everything is on a completely different level than what you are used to playing on," said Bolt.

The Lightning has led the FCSL in batting for most of the season and their offense will be a key component to winning the championship.

As far as defense, the Lightning has struggled throughout the season, but has come alive on the field and at the mound in the playoffs.

"Frank [Viola] positioned our team to be in a very good spot when the playoffs started," said Bruce Ericson, general manager of the Leesburg Lightning.  "He moved players in and out of the lineup throughout the year and despite arm trouble from pitchers, we were able to work through that.  We went into the playoffs with all our pitchers healthy."

Throughout the summer, it was a priority for Frank Viola, manager of the Lightning, to give all the players a chance to gain experience and become better ball players.  But for the playoffs and championship, Viola is putting his best weapons on the field.

"The whole significance of summer baseball is to give everyone an opportunity to play and gain experience," Viola said.  "I am not big on playing the best players all the time.  Not to take anything away from the guys that aren't playing, but we have decided in the last couple of games to go with the guys that have been playing the best at the time."

Rick Kalgstein will be the starting pitcher for the Lightning.  Kalgstein has had a solid season with a 3.13 ERA in eight starting appearances.  He has pitched 37.1 innings this summer, struck out 34 and walked six.

And as always, the Lightning can depend on their fans to give them support on a level unprecedented in the FCSL.

Vic's Embers Supper Club is sponsoring a coach bus to take fans to the game.  To reserve a spot, fans should call 352-728-9888 between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.  The cost is $10 for a round-trip ticket and the bus will be leaving from Pat Thomas Stadium-Buddy Lowe Field at 2 p.m.

"They [the fans] play just as big of part in getting here as we do," Bolt said.

After their dominating performance in the playoffs, Viola is confident in the Lightning's ability to bring home a championship.

"We are peaking at the right time," Viola said."  "If we have play like we have played in the last two games, I like our chances."

But Bolt has faith in his team's ability to come together and rally for a win.

"I haven't been on a team with this much talent, Bolt said. "We have a lot of weapons offensively and a lot of good pitching.  We are a good baseball team when we play as a team."

For Bolt, 22, today's game will be end of his baseball career.  Bolt has been playing baseball since he was five-years old.  He has spent the last three summers with the Lightning and was with the team in 2007 when they brought home their first championship.  He plans to start a career in teaching after his baseball career is over.

"After the playoffs, Coach Viola told me to be ready for the championship," Bolt said.  "It would be nice way to end my career."

But Bolt isn't the only player eager to put it all on the line at Tropicana Field.

"No one wants to go home," Bolt said.  "Everyone wants to win."

Box Score>

By: Laura Kubitz

LEESBURG- The Leesburg Lightning shut out the Sanford River Rats, 5-0, in the second game of the playoffs to secure a spot in the championship against the Clermont Mavericks.

Saturday's game was the second time the Lightning have shut out the River Rats this season. The first time was at The Villages when the Lightning defeated the River Rats, 1-0.

Lindsey Caughel (Stetson) dominated the game working seven innings, striking out 10, allowing four hits, allowing no runs and walking none.  He threw 68 strikes in 89 pitches.

"That was one of the best games I have ever felt," Caughel said. "Every single pitch was working.  I got ahead of every single batter.  I threw my change up, curve ball and fastball counts, and an off speed count.  Out of 10 starts you are lucky to feel like that once. It's a great feeling."

Robert Lake (Winthrop) worked one inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.  Eric Doty (Polk State College) finished up the game striking out one and giving up no hits.

Caughel striking out 10 batters was the second highest for the Lightning this season, right

behind Kyle Wahl (Southern), who struck out 11 against Clermont on July 2.

"He [Caughel] had a great overall summer and when you establish a strike zone, the defense is going to make the plays," said Lightning manager Frank Viola.

The Lightning kept the River Rats to just five hits and stranding six.  The Lightning stranded six as well, but recorded 11 hits and scored four out of the five runs after two outs.

Michael Dufek (Michigan) went three for four with three singles and scoring two runs.  Nick DelGuidice (Florida Atlantic) went two for two with an RBI-single, a base hit and scoring two runs.

After three scoreless innings, the Lightning got ahead of the River Rats in the fourth, 2-0. After two outs, Trae Gore (Florida Southern) and Dufek were in scoring position when Evan Taylor (Lenior Rhyne) walked to load up the bases.  Chris Berset (Michigan) stepped up to deliver a single to left center to score Gore and Dufek.

In the fifth, the Lightning deepened their lead.  DelGuidice reached first on a fielder's choice.  Again after two outs, Gore sent one down the middle to score DelGuidice, leaving the score, 3-0.

The Lightning went out with a bang in the eighth scoring two runs. DelGuidice led off with a single and after two strikeouts, Dufek singled up the middle to put DelGuidice into scoring position.  Taylor singled through the left side to score DelGuidice.  Berset kept the action going with a double up the middle to score Dufek.

In the regular season series versus Sanford, the Lightning were ahead, 5-3, but Sanford has been sitting comfortable with the number two seed in the Florida Collegiate Summer League in front of third place Leesburg.

But Leesburg dominated the playoffs with a solid bullpen and a strong defense.

"We have struggled all year defensively except for the last two games we have had a combined one error," Viola said. "When you put the ball over the plate and make the pitches and you make plays, you are going to be in a good position."

The Lightning will face the FCSL defending champs, the Clermont Mavericks, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Monday at 5 p.m. in a one-game battle for the FCSL championship.