Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Lightning Capitalize on Late Inning Errors by Suns for a 2-1 Victory

Saturday, July 24, 2010 8:33am

The Leesburg Lightning traveled to The Villages on Friday night to take on the DeLand Suns, or as they were known throughout their three game series at The Villages, The Villages Sluggers.  Although the Lightning struggled to mount any offensive attack, key mistakes by the Suns allowed the Lightning to score two runs on the night, winning a close game by a 2-1 score.  Pitching and defense was the name of the game Friday night, only ten combined hits between the two teams.  When back to back errors occurred in the top of the ninth inning, the Lightning found themselves ahead of the Suns, scoring the winning run without ever recording a hit.

            Lightning starter Garrett Bush (Seminole State College) went 5.1 innings, allowing only four hits and one earned run.  Great defensive support by the Lightning infield would help Bush to keep DeLand off of the base paths, especially in the third inning when the Lightning would also commit two errors.  After giving up a leadoff hit, Bush would deliver a ball in the dirt that would skip away from catcher Michael Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic).  Albaladejo would quickly recover, throwing a laser to second base to catch the runner trying to steal the bag.  The very next batter that Bush faced hit a hard line drive towards the hole between first and second, but Robert Beary (South Carolina), showing his range at second, made a diving stop on the one-hop, making the throw from his knees to record the second out. 

            The Lightning would strike in the top of the fifth inning, starting with a one-out single by left-fielder Michael Gonzalez (East Tennessee State).  Gonzalez then stole second base, and an errand throw by the catcher trying to throw him out allowed Gonzalez to then take third base as well.  Designated Hitter Adam Cellini (Belmont) drew a walk.  Suns hurler would fake a throw to third, catching Cellini too far off of first and Cellini would then get hung up in a pickle.  Gonzalez took off for home, and although a good throw would come into home, an even better slide by Gonzalez found him safe at home, and Cellini standing safely on second.

            In the bottom of the sixth inning, Bush would get knocked out by Dexter Kelley (Savannah State University) when Kelley would hit a triple to deep right field, collecting an RBI and the only run for DeLand.  Scott Robinson (Lake Sumter CC) came in relief of Bush in the sixth inning to collect the last two outs.  Robinson also shut down the Suns in the seventh and eighth inning, allowing only two hits.  In the bottom of the eighth inning, Albaladejo made one of the best plays of the season by a catcher thus far, when Suns third baseman Sean Emory (Stetson) popped up a bunt.  Albaladejo, scrambling to catch the shallow bunt, laid out, fully extended, making an unbelievable catch as his third baseman and Robinson would come crashing in on the play as well.

            In the top of the ninth inning, Beary drew a leadoff walk.  Mark Darlington (West Virginia Wesleyan) came to the plate, hitting a ball directly back to the pitcher for what would certainly be a 1-6-3 double play.  Instead, the pitcher threw the ball in the dirt to second base, the shortstop unable to handle the ball.  With runners on first and second and no outs, Matt Pierpont (Winthrop) laid down a would be sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher coming quickly off the mound fielded the bunt with plenty of time to get the force out at third.  Rushing his throw however, the pitcher would commit yet another error, allowing Beary to take home for the winning run.  Dylan Ortega (Brevard CC) came in to collect the save in the bottom of the ninth, setting the Suns down in order and striking out the final two batters.

            “Overall, especially after that last game (Sanford loss 7-5), that was a real good ballgame,” Coach Viola said.  In the last game, the Lightning defense committed six errors and gave up three unearned runs.  With only two errors committed in Friday night’s ballgame, and a few great defensive plays by Beary and Albaladejo, the Lightning certainly looked to have turned it around.

            The Lightning play the Diamond Dawgs at home on Saturday at 7:00PM.

 

Trey Garant (University of Michigan)