Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Leesburg Picks Up Win #29; Breaks Record

Sunday, July 31, 2011 8:33pm

                The Lightning finished the regular season strong Sunday afternoon, quickly beating the Loggerheads 8-2 to win their final four games.

                Leesburg took the field at Chain of Lakes Park Sunday afternoon with nothing to lose. Their playoff future was secured as they attempted to win the final regular season home game of the season to set the record for most wins in a season in league history. On the other hand, Winter Haven was playing for their lives. They needed a win and an Orlando loss to secure their spot in Tuesday’s play-in game against Sanford.

                With both teams having something to play for, it was Leesburg who would come out on top.

                In the first inning, the Lightning took advantage of three straight Loggerhead errors to score the first run of the game and take an early lead.

                The offense that was so dynamic the last three games, continued on Sunday. The Lightning racked up 14 hits and eight runs in a blowout win in what would be the last game of the season for Winter Haven.

                Leesburg had six hits and three runs in the third inning to make it a four run game. Hits came off the bats of Jacob Tillotson, Hunter Mayfield, Chase Durham and Tyler Kellmann who each had singles and doubles by Mike Albaladejo and Mike Miller.

                Ethan Bader took the mound for his second start of the season. He was robbed of a win in his last and only other start when the Lightning lost a pitching duel 1-0 last week against Winter Park. Bader was great then and was fantastic on Sunday as well. He threw five scoreless innings and was removed in order to keep his pitch count under 85.

                The Loggerhead offense has sputtered as of late as they were held scoreless in their last two games and didn’t score a run until the sixth inning of Sunday’s game.

                The Lightning scored three more in the fifth inning when Zane Evans and Mayfield led off the inning with back to back doubles. Tom Sicking would finish out the scoring when he knocked in two runs with a single.

Mayfield and Sicking led all Leesburg hitters with three hits a piece. Mayfield went 3-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Sicking had similar numbers going 3-5 with a triple. Hit King Jake Tillotson had two more hits to finish the year with an astounding 63.

                “We’ve been seeing the ball all season,” said Tilltoson. “We’ve gotten good pitches and some clutch hitting.

                The story of the game though was the Lightning’s capture of the regular season title and with the win on Sunday, breaking the record for most wins in a single season. The 29 wins breaks the previous mark set by Winter Park. Leesburg has been a consistently dangerous team all season and has held first place in the standings for the majority of the summer. They got off to an outstanding 9-1 start which kick started their historic season.

                “You line anybody up in this league nine on nine and anybody can beat anybody,” said Coach Therneau. “But these guys have played well every single game, they’ve played hard and this is their reward.”

                Their explosive offense has been tyrannical all season, punishing Florida League pitching en route to a first place finish and hopefully a title shot.

                “This team is one of the best the league has seen on paper and now they’ve set their mark,” said Therneau. “We’re going to take a few days off then go out there (in the playoffs) and play our tails off.”

                The Lightning will know after Tuesday night who they will face in the three game series starting on Wednesday at Pat Thomas Stadium. The Championship Game is scheduled for next Sunday in St. Petersburg.

                Where will Leesburg be next Sunday? “Tropicana Field,” said Tom Sicking.   

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)