Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Double defeat against Diamond Dawgs

Friday, July 24, 2009 9:21am

By: Laura Kubitz

LEESBURG- The Leesburg Lightning came off of momentum from a win in the first game of the double header to defeat the Diamond Dawgs again, 10-2.

In the first inning of the second game, it took no time for the Lightning to take the lead. Danny Baatz (UNC-Asheville) scored on a single to right center by Trae Gore (Florida Southern) and Mike Albaladejo (FAU) advanced to home on a sacrifice fly by Trace Venegas.

"When you have double headers, kids have opportunity to get at bats," said Lightning coach Tony Darden. "They have an opportunity to see pitches."

In the fourth, Trey Blackman (TCC) a single to center field to bring home Brad Hutton (Polk State College) and in the fifth the Diamond Dawgs tied it up on a sacrifice fly by Hutton to bring home Ryan Fern (USC Upstate).

The Lightning rallied in the fifth and seventh scoring four runs in each inning to throttle the Diamond Dawgs once and for all.

The Lightning lit up the field again in the seventh scoring four insurance runs to secure the win.

The Lightning defeated the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs, 5-2, in the first game of a double header.

Kyle Wahl (Southern) got the win pitching six innings, striking out four, allowing four hits and giving up two runs.

"It's very hot out," Darden said. "They came out and threw strikes and got ahead. They were aggressive in the strike zone."

Evan Taylor (Lenoir Rhyne) picked up a solo home run to left field in the fourth and Nick DelGuidice (FAU) followed suit smacking the ball over the left field fence to pick up his first homerun of the season. Baatz scored on a base hit by lead off hitter Mark Stewart (SCAD) to put the Lightning ahead, 3-0.

In the fifth, Gore picked up an insurance run on a fielding error by third basemen Brett Richardson (Murray State).

The Diamond Dawgs weren't going down easy though. In the sixth, Nick Adams (Mercer) advanced home on a wild pitch and Carlos Labrador (Lake Sumter CC) plated on a throwing error, leaving the score, 4-2.

In the sixth, the Lightning picked up an insurance run when Venegas singled to bring home Albaladejo.

In the ninth, the Diamond Dawgs went quietly when John Michael Blake (Lake Sumter CC) relieved Wahl and struck out two to get the save.

"As long as they compete, Frank [Viola] and I are happy and that is what they did tonight," Darden said.

To sign up to play in the Leesburg Lightning Benefit Golf Tournament and for a chance to play golf with Frank Viola and Ken Griffey Sr., call the Continental Country Club Pro Shop at 352-748-3293.