Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Just “DelGuidice”!

Friday, July 2, 2010 9:11am

Nick DelGuidice (Florida Atlantic) showed why he just may be one of the most dangerous shortstops in the league, going 3-for-5 with three doubles and an RBI.  The Lightning were up 1-0 in a very defensive oriented game until the ninth inning when the DeLand Suns tied the game to send the already late ballgame deeper into the night.  In the bottom of the tenth, all tied up at 1-1, Matt Pierpont (Winthrop) reached base on an infield single up the middle.  DelGuidice would then step to the plate, wasting no time, smacking the first pitch out to left field, clearing the fielder and sending Pierpont all the way around the bases.  Pierpont would be waved home as the ball approached the infield, but the throw would not be in time as Pierpont would cross the plate only to meet his fellow teammates.  DelGuidice, standing on second base would raise both arms in the air as college teammate Michael Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic) who reached base four times in the game came running out to celebrate with the hero for the Lightning.

DelGuidice has struggled early on in the season, hitting just under the Mendoza Line before Thursday night’s game.  When asked what the key was tonight for DelGuidice, he simply said, “My brother.”  DelGuidice explained that his brother has been a large help in refocusing.  In the game of baseball, your mind can sometimes be the toughest opponent of all, and Nick said his brother was a big part of breaking through that.  DelGuidice broke through in a big way tonight, hitting three doubles, the first one coming a foot short of a clearing the fence in left field.

 DelGuidice was not the only Lighting to record multiple doubles in the game.  In fact, of the ten hits that the Lightning had, seven were doubles.  Designated hitter Adam Cellini (Belmont) had two doubles on the night, scoring the Lightning’s first run from third after Nick Smelser (Midland College) successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt, setting up Albaladejo for the RBI single through the left side of the infield.  This run would come in the bottom of the seventh to put the Lightning up 1-0.

The Lightning pitching staff and defense in Thursday night’s contest were phenomenal. Garrett Bush (Seminole State College) would start for the Lightning, going four strong innings and allowing only three hits.  Robert Lake (Winthrop) would come in relief of Bush in the fifth inning, also throwing four stellar innings for the Lightning.  Of the last nine outs, Lake would fan six and allow only one hit. 

In the top of the ninth, Dylan Ortega (Brevard Community College) would take the mound to close for the Lightning.  After getting the first two batters out, Ortega would give up a single to Joey Delmonico (Volunteer State).  Delmonico’s college teammate Chandler McLaren (Volunteer State) would step to the plate and drive a 1-0 pitch deep to left-center, scoring Delmonico from first on a clutch stand up double to tie the game 1-1.

In the bottom half of the ninth, the Lightning would find themselves in a prime position to end the game, loading the bases with one out.  Mark Darlington (West Virginia Wesleyan) sent a line drive into left field that looked to be the game winner, but the left fielder would make the catch and a strong throw home, keeping all runners at their respective bases.  A fly out would end the inning, leaving the bases loaded. 

The DeLand Suns would go down in order in the top of the tenth, leading to DelGuidice’s game winning RBI double to score Pierpont and end the game with a score of 2-1.

DelGuidice’s teammate, Albaladejo also deserves a ton of credit for not only his performance in the game Thursday night, knocking in the first run for the Lightning, but also the energy he seems to bring every game.  “The guy (Albaladejo) just loves playing baseball,” Viola said. “He’s the one that’s “rah rahhing” and just loving the game,” Viola said, referencing Albaladejo’s enthusiasm on the field and in the dugout.

The Lightning are now looking red hot, winning six of the last seven games and their second three game win streak of the year.  They continue to climb closer to .500, now 11-13 on the year.  They will face the Heroes of the Diamond (Military All-Stars) Friday, July 2^nd at 7:00PM at home.

Trey Garant (University of Michigan)