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By: Laura Kubitz

LEESBURG- The Sanford River Rats came out on top, 6-5, of a close game against the Leesburg Lightning on Tuesday.

Tuesday's game was the second nail biter in as many games, with only one run deciding the winner.

"I think that these games are competitive because we are playing for second and third right now," said Lightning coach Tony Darden.   There are coming out and playing hard, we are playing hard.  The games are close.  It's a benefit for these kids because the playoffs are win or go home."

The Lightning's Nick Aranas (USC-Aiken) went two for two with a triple and a homerun.  Ian MacGeorge (Seminole CC) went three for four for the River Rats with an RBI-single and two base hits.

After a scoreless first inning, the River Rats picked up four unearned runs in the second. David Schulze (Samford) reached home on a wild pitch and Craig Manuel (Rice) brought in a run on a fielding error by shortstop Aranas.  MacGeorge reached on another wild pitch and Drew Geissenger (High Point) followed suit scoring on an error by second basemen Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic).

"We did not play well in the first half of the game but these kids did not give up, they came back," said Darden.

The Lightning responded in the second picking up two runs.  Evan Taylor (Lenoir Rhyne) singled through the left side to score Trace Venegas (Santa Fe College) and Aranas flied out to right field to bring home Taylor, leaving the score, 4-2.

The River Rats did some more damage in the fourth when Schulze doubled to left field to score Trey Hayes (Samford).

Spencer Hale (Furman) made his first appearance of the year relieving starter Alan Oaks (Michigan) after he worked three and one-third innings. Hale went two and two-third innings, striking out three, allowing one hit and no runs.

In the fifth, Aranas hit his second home run of the season and was greeted at home plate by his team and cheering fans in the stands. Trae Gore (Florida Southern) grounded out to second base to score Danny Baatz (UNC-Asheville) to put the Lightning behind the River Rats, 5-4.

MacGeorge scored again the seventh on an RBI-single by Geissenger, to put the River Rats ahead, 6-4.

Aranas lit up the field in the seventh firing the ball down the right field line to record a triple.  Alex Hudak (Stetson) followed with a single to bring home Aranas., to leave the score, 6-5.

In the eighth, the Lightning loaded up the bases on a bunt by Taylor, but the River Rats prevented a Lightning rally when Christ Berset (Michigan) hit into a double play.

"We are not hitting in critical situations," Darden said. "We have bases loaded and we didn't get the run.   That's the ball game.  Yes we have 11 hits, but we didn't hit in certain situations."

In the ninth, Eric Doty (Polk State College) relieved John Michael Blake(Lake Sumter CC) Blake worked two innings, struck out three and allowed two hits.  Doty stepped up his game striking out three River Rats in a row to give the Lightning a chance to pick up the lead in the bottom of the ninth.

With the crowd chanting, "Let's go Lightning, let's go," it looked like the Lightning could steal the lead from the River Rats after two walks and a balk put runners into scoring position.  But Delegis Soto (Seminole CC) ended any hope of a Lightning victory striking out Venegas and throwing out Michael Dufek (Michigan) at first.

The Lightning will host the Clermont Mavericks today at 7 p.m. and a double header against the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs on Thursday starting at 4 p.m.

Box Score>

By: Laura Kubitz

LEESBURG- The tide turned in favor of the Leesburg Lightning on Sunday when they topped the Sanford River Rats, 3-2, with a walk-off single.

The victory came after a difficult loss to the River Rats on Saturday where the Lightning fell, 7-3, on a walk-off grand slam.

"It's good for the kids," said Lightning coach Tony Darden. "It's two good ball games in a row. It's a learning experience for the kids. They need to learn how to win games like this. This is what the playoffs are going to be like."

Michael Dufek (Michigan) went three for five with a homerun, base hit and the walk-off single to clinch the win.

In the first, Trae Gore (Florida Southern) homered to right center for his third homerun of the season, good enough to be ranked second in the Florida Collegiate Summer League.

In the second, Dufek smacked the ball over the 365-yard sign to hit his second homerun of the game and his second homer of the season, to put the Lightning ahead, 2-0.

With runners on the corners, the River Rats set up for a rally in the fifth. Craig Manuel (Rice) reached home on a throwing error by Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic) and Ian MacGeorge (Seminole CC) advanced to third, ready to tie up the game. But MacGeorge was left stranded when the Lightning converted three outs in a row.

The River Rats began the sixth with a leadoff walk putting the tying run on first.  Drew Morgan (Western Kentucky) reached second on a sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on an RBI-single by Chris Smelley (Alabama), evening the score, 2-2.

The Lightning loaded up the bases in the sixth in an attempt to steal the lead from the River Rats, but Trey Hayes (Samford) caught the third out in right field to get the River Rats out of the jam.

"We aren't hitting the ball when we are in scoring positions," Darden said. "We are leaving to many guys on base. We are hitting the ball, but we aren't getting the big hit."

After three scoreless innings, Albaladejo picked up the momentum firing a single through the left side. After two pop-outs, Dufek stepped up to the plate to deliver a single up the middle to score Albaladejo, securing the win for the Lightning.

The Lightning will take a break on Monday and come back on Tuesday to host the Sanford River Rats.

by: Laura Kubitz

LEESBURG- Just because the season is beginning to wind down for the Leesburg Lightning, that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of action left on and off the field.

There are still plenty of promotions that will bring fun, prizes, valuable information and a chance to give back to the community.

For the first time, Hometown Health and Healthy Living magazine are teaming up to host the Healthy Hits Exposition on July 22 at Pat Thomas Stadium when the Lightning take on the Clermont Mavericks.

"I have been a fan of the Lightning since they started, so I contacted Bruce [Ericson] to see what opportunities were available," said Mar Robertz-Schwartz, president and executive producer of Hometown Health.

The two organizations are joining forces so they can bring the most emphasis towards healthy living and public outreach as possible, Robertz said.

At the exposition, organizations from the area, such as Quest Diagnostics and the Lake County Health Department will be at the game to educate Lightning fans about staying in good health and providing information about what their businesses do and what they can offer the public.

"It's an opportunity to educate fans while they are having a good time at the game," Robertz said.

All of the organizations attending Healthy Hits made a $100 donation to be given to Lifestream, a social services organization that provides social and behavioral services to those in need in Lake, Sumter and other surrounding counties, according to the program's Web site.

Robertz hopes Healthy Hits will be on the schedule of promotions at Lightning games in coming seasons and that the exposition will attract more exhibitors to participate in coming years.

Healthy Hits has been heavily publicized in Healthy Living Magazine and on Hometown Health Television, a locally produced health and wellness video that is distributed in doctor's officers and appears Lakefront TV, Schwartz said.

There will be cameras and reporters at the field to do follow-up stories to be broadcast on the August edition of Hometown Health Television.

Schwartz and Kendra Akers, publisher of Healthy Living magazine, will have the honor of throwing the first pitch at the game.

At tonight's game against the Sanford River Rats, the first 250 fans that arrive to the field will receive free Lightning T-shirts, sponsored by Technicuff.

The Lightning will also continue the tradition of Dollar Hot Dog Night on every Tuesday home game.  On July 21, fans will be treated to $1 hot dogs, sponsored by WRHB 1410 AM.

Dollar Hot Dog Night is one of the more popular promotions, said Bruce Ericson, general manager of the Leesburg Lightning.  The last Dollar Hot Dog Night was rained out after the third inning, but all the hot dogs were sold.

"The line at the concession stand is pretty continuous all night long," Ericson said.

On Thursday July 23, the Lightning will give fans a chance to make a child's holiday a little brighter.  Attendees to the game will be asked to bring a present to support the Lightning's Christmas in July.

Presents should be unwrapped and appropriate for children between the ages of six and 12.  The gifts will be collected by the United States Marine Corps and given to Toys for Tots, who will then give them to children during the holidays.

Also as a part of Christmas in July, the first 200 fans to arrive at the game will receive a one-gallon Red Oak or Pine tree so they can plant a Christmas tree in their yard.

Box Score>

by: Laura Kubitz

SANFORD- The Leesburg Lightning battled for 10 innings against the Sanford River Rats but a walk-off grand slam by Craig Manuel put the River Rats on top, 7-3.

The Lightning bullpen battled hard against the River Rats striking out 16.  Kyle Wahl (Southern) worked five and one-third innings and struck out nine.

Once again, Trae Gore (Florida Southern) demonstrated why he is second in the league in hitting with a base hit to center field.  Batting cleanup, Trace Venegas (Santa Fe College) smacked a double to the warning line to bring home Gore and to put the Lightning ahead, 1-0, in the first.

In the third, two base hits and an error loaded the bases.  John Prano (Marist) scored on a passed ball to tie up the game, but Wahl silenced the River Rats threat by striking out two in a row.

The Lightning picked up the lead, 3-1, in the fourth with an RBI-base hit by Danny Baatz (UNC-Asheville) and a sacrifice fly to right field by Mike Albaladejo (FAU) to score Chris Berset (Michigan).

The River Rats began the fifth with a stand up double for Drew Geissinger (High Point).  A strike out delayed the action, but Drew Morgan (Western Kentucky) picked up the momentum with an RBI-single to leave the score, 3-2.

In the sixth, Robert Lake (Winthrop) relieved starter Wahl who worked five and one-third innings, struck out nine and allowed five hits.

To tie up the game in the sixth, the Doug Simmons (Rice) hit an RBI-ground out to score Chris Smelley (Alabama).

The Lightning went into extra innings for the first time this season after three scoreless innings.

In the bottom of the tenth, Trey Hayes (Samford) advanced to third on a walk, an error and a stolen base.  John Michael Blake (Lake Sumter CC) struck out Jordan Yost (West Virginia) and intentionally walked Smelley and Antonio Clark (Florida State College).  Ian MacGeorge (Seminole CC) struck out swinging.

With two outs, lefty Brett Blaise (Pearl River CC) relieved Blake and was left with the job of finishing the inning in the tenth.

"Blaise was put in a tough situation," said Lightning coach Tony Darden.  "I have all the confidence in the world in Blaise to get that guy in the next situation."

With the crowd chanting, "We will rock you", a full count and two outs, Craig Manuel (Rice) smacked a walk-off grand slam to right field to win the game for the River Rats, 7-3.

"That's gonna happen, that's baseball," said Darden.