Box Score>

By: Laura Kubitz

LEESBURG-All it took was one hit for the Lightning to outshine the Sanford River Rats, 6-2.

Trace Venegas (Santa Fe College) stole the game with a grand slam to right field in the seventh to put the Lightning ahead, 6-1.

Alan Oaks (Michigan) got the win working six innings, striking out four and allowing just one run.

That run came in the second when David Schulze (Samford) scored on a single by Chris Smelley (Alabama) to take the lead.

But the Lightning responded in the third with an RBI-single by Alex Hudak (Stetson) to tie up the game, 1-1.

In the sixth, Danny Baatz (North Carolina Asheville) jumped at the fence in left field to catch a fly ball and to prevent the River Rats from taking the lead.

"The turning point was when Danny [Baatz] took that homerun away, said Lightning manager Frank Viola," "It changed the whole complexion of the game."

The River Rats switched up their bullpen in the seventh, bringing in Kyle Kvies (North Florida) to relieve Jordan Rasinski (UCF).   Rasinski walked three to load up the bases, giving the Lightning a chance to take the lead.

Doug Simmons (Rice) then relieved Rasinksi, but he walked Alex Hudak to bring home Chris Berset. (Michigan)

"That is what happens when you get a little wild, walk a few people, next thing you know you lay one in there and it hurts you," Viola said.

But the Lightning took control of the ball game with a grand slam by Venegas. The grand slam was the first one of the season for the Lightning.

"You want to make them earn throwing the strike", Viola said. "That was the first time this whole year I have made them take the strike before they hit anything.  It paid off because Trace finally got a ball to hit and he knew what to do with it."

The River Rats didn't go out quietly, but an RBI-single by Smelley wasn't enough for a River Rats victory.

The Lightning will travel to DeLand to take on the Suns today at 5 p.m.

Tonight's game (July 11) against the Sanford River is going to broadcast live on the Internet!

Simply visit LiveStream to watch the game from your computer!

Box Score>

By: Laura Kubitz

WINTER PARK- The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs took down the Leesburg Lightning on Thursday, 8-4.

Anthony Figliolia (UCF) went three for four with an RBI-triple and two base hits for the Diamond Dawgs.

That RBI-triple came in the seventh inning, along with a sacrifice fly in by Brad Hutton, to put the Diamond Dawgs in the lead and to prevent the Lightning from recovering.

In the first, the Diamond Dawgs put up a run when Figliolia advanced to home on a double play.

In the second, the Lightning fought back scoring to runs.  Evan Taylor (Lenior Ryhne) scored the tying run on Nick Aranas' (USC Aiken) single.  Aranas made a good decision stealing second to get into scoring position and advanced home on a single by Alan Oaks (Michigan).

The Diamond Dawgs tied up the game in the fifth.  An error by catcher Mike Albaladejo (FAU) brought Adams just 90 feet away from home plate.  Adams then made his way home on another error by third basemen Aranas.

"It's frustrating because we were playing pretty good," said Lightning manager Frank Viola. "It just came out of nowhere."

In the sixth, the Lightning loaded up the bases on three back-to-back singles.  Aranas brought home Michael Dufek (Michigan) on yet another single.  Taylor then came home on a sacrifice fly by Oaks, leaving the score, 4-2.

But the Diamond Dawgs responded in the sixth.

Mitchel Brennan (Mercer) scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Labrador (Lake Sumter CC) and Robert Crews (Stetson) advanced to home on a single by Kevin Mierzwinski (Stetson), to tie up the game, 4-4.

Mark DeDecker (Furman) made his first appearance for the Lightning relieving Brett Blaise (Pearl River CC).  He struck out two to put an end to the Dawg rally in the seventh.

"The new guy, Marc DuDecker, he came out and he did terrific, he is going to be a great addition for us."

After taking the lead in the seventh, in the eighth, the Diamond Dawgs tacked on two insurance runs to secure the lead, 8-4.

"That's playing good baseball, moving them over and getting them in," said Viola. "And I can't tell you enough about that Figliolia kid, that kid is a hell of a ball player."

The Lightning will have today off and then host the Sanford River Rats on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Box Score>

By: Laura Kubitz

DELAND- The DeLand Suns came out on top against the Leesburg Lightning on Tuesday, 2-1.

It's not very often the Lightning have to contend with a crowd larger than the one who packs Pat Thomas Stadium, but the Lightning had to battle against the number one team in the Florida Collegiate Summer League with not only a packed stadium, but fans watching at home.

Tuesday's game was the first ever-televised game for the FCSL, broadcasted by Bright House Sports Network.

Jimmy Nelson (Alabama) got the win working seven innings, struck out 11, allowed just two hits and one run.  This is the fourth time the Lightning has faced Nelson and the fourth time the Lightning have lost to the Suns.

"I don't know," said Lightning manager Frank Viola when asked how to overcome Nelson's pitching.  "You gotta just keep swinging the bat.  You gotta pray that you get some pitches up, keep your head on the ball and start hitting the ball.  We are giving to much credit, although he is good, we are giving him to much credit and he is just dominating us right now."

Lightning pitcher Kyle Wahl (Southern) got the loss pitching six and two-third innings, but still struck out five.

"He is making the pitches he needs to, but he is getting to many guys on base and that eventually will catch up with you," Viola said.  "He pitched really well otherwise."

In the second, the Suns loaded the bases and threatened to score.  Wahl got a hold of the hit to deliver the ball to catcher Chris Berset (Michigan) to tag out Derek Luciano (UCF) at home.  Berset then assisted in an out at first to pick-off Mason Heller (Southern Polytech).  A fly ball to left field was caught by Danny Baatz (North Carolina Asheville) ended the Suns' threat.

The Suns took the lead in the fifth when Alejandro Sanchez (Bethune Cookman) scored Peter O'Brien (Bethune Cookman) by hitting the ball over to left field, recording his first home run of the season.

"I just wasn't expecting that two run homerun right then," Viola said.

In the seventh, the Lightning picked up some action.  Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic) smacked a double to score Berset, but Baatz rounded third base to score the tying run, but was tagged out in a disputed call at home plate.  In the heat of the moment, Baatz was ejected from the game.

"Maybe I messed up sending Danny [Baatz], but I really thought it would be a smart play," Viola said.

After a base hit and two walks, the Suns loaded up the bases again in the eighth threatening to tack on some insurance runs.  Eric Doty (Polk CC) came through and struck out Emmanuel Castro (Bethune Cookman) to get out of the jam.

"Eric came in and did a good job," Viola said.  "We just didn't get the big hitting."

But the Lightning went three up, three down in the ninth to end the game.

"They battled, and that's all you can ask for," Viola said.