Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

2012 Lightning Preview

Monday, January 30, 2012 10:27am

Eleven players will be returning to the 2012 Lightning and will have their sights set on breaking their own record for number of wins in a season as well as winning that last game in Tropicana Field in August.  The Lightning set a FCSL league record with 29 wins in 2011 but fell short of making the championship game at Tropicana losing in the semi finals to the Sanford River Rats, who went on to defeat the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs 7-5 in the finale. The Lightning will return seven pitchers, forming a strong nucleus for the 2012 staff. Among those returning is the FCSL strikeout leader and “Fireman of the Year” Ethan Bader. Bader fanned 47 (55 including playoffs) walked only 10 and posted an amazing 0.52 ERA in 34.1 innings. Also returning to the mound for the Lightning will be the FCSL leader in wins with, Nic Kovacs, who posted 5 wins, fanned 50 and walked only 3 in 63 innings of work. Any team would be excited to have these two returning to anchor a staff, but there’s more. LHP Dylan Hathcock (47 K’s in 2011), Mike Clutterbuck (3-1 with 20 K’s), Kory Brooker (0.77 ERA), Carlton Patton and Leesburg native Nick Palmer bring added experience to the Lightning pitching staff in 2012. In addition, former Winter Haven Loggerhead JJ McLaughlin, Trey Norris (Polk State College), Stetson Nelson (Winthrop) and Jaime Dennis (University of South Alabama) who led the nation with 16 saves setting a school record at NW Shoals CC in Alabama and recorded a team best 1.59 ERA, 45 K’s with just eight walks.

Behind the plate the Lightning look forward to returning catcher Mike Miller (Dallas Baptist), who posted a .279 average in 2011 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 15 RBI’s. Joining Miller in 2012 will be Andrew Kawam (McComb CC, MI) and Ocala native Erik Hindmon (Polk State College). On the corners, University of South Alabama Junior Nick Zaharion will provide some punch in the lineup as he earned all-Southern Conference honors as a sophomore batting .354 with six home runs and 27 RBI’s. Tyler Kellman returns to the Lightning after leading LSCC in hitting this fall with a .377 average. Plant City native Matt Singletary (Polk State College) will provide added depth to the infield as will two Leesburg natives Jake Cavender (Point University) and Kyle Teaf (USF). Along with Palmer, Teaf and Cavender went through the Leesburg Parks and Recreation baseball program before earning their middle infield spots at Point University and USF. They are joining a talented group of infielders anchored by the return of shortstop Jacob Tillotson (Santé Fe CC). Tillotson shattered the all time FCSL hits record with 63 hits in regular season play. In the process he accumulated 82 total bases, 29 walks, nine doubles, a triple, two home runs, 25 RBI’s and a .447 on base percentage.

Returning in the outfield will be Chase Durham (Dallas Baptist) who had eight doubles, two home runs and 26 RBI’s for the 2011 Lightning. Joining Chase in the outfield will be four newcomers to the Lightning uniform: Kevin Knapp (University of South Alabama), Drew Doty (Santa Fe CC), TJ Sutton Kent State University and Brett Moreland (Flagler). Moreland, a junior, hit .429 with 65 hits, 14 doubles, five triples, and four home runs for Frederick (MD) CC before joining Flagler this year. Doty led Santa Fe with a .381 average with 17 doubles, three triples, 39 runs and 46 RBI’s in 2011.   

The 2012 roster provides a good mix of talent and experience with plenty of run scoring potential along with top quality arms on the mound. Rest assured that on opening day our great Lightning fans will join this lineup of talented players and provide a home field advantage second to none at Pat Thomas Stadium/Buddy Lowe Field.