Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Lightning Dismantle Dawgs 6-4

Monday, July 25, 2011 10:28pm

 

Entering Monday, the Lightning held a one and a half game lead over the Diamond Dawgs. The two teams play each other three times in the remaining seven games, and all three are at Pat Thomas Stadium.

The first of the three was played Monday night. Due to a confliction with their stadium, Winter Park played as the home team, but that was nothing more than a formality as Leesburg took the home field advantage to heart and beat the Dawgs 6-4 in exciting fashion.

The Lightning, batting in the top half for the duration of the game, struck early in the first inning scoring two runs. Jacob Tillotson and Mike Albaladejo both scored off of a sacrifice fly by Hunter Mayfield and a double by Mike Miller.

Starter Dylan Ortega rebounded from a subpar start in his last outing and was excellent over his five innings of work. He was on a short leash to save his arm for a later start perhaps this week but held the Dawgs to just one run.

That run came off the bat of Ted Blackman when he belted a homerun to right centerfield. The homer brought back memories from the last time these two teams met. Blackman hit a homerun and caused a frenzy when he showed up the pitcher. Those in attendance held their breath to see if any fireworks would ensue on Monday night, but Blackman had more class and the Lightning, especially Ortega, shook it off.

Ortega was pulled after the fifth with his team leading 2-1 but got some revenge against Blackman when he struck him out looking in his final batter faced.

Zane Evans, who has been crushing balls all over the park as of late, offset Blackman’s homer with a blast of his own, sending a ball half way to Eustis over the wall in left center. The bomb was Evan’s third of the season and he now leads the team in that category.

With the Lightning up two runs, the resurgent David Lucroy came in but had a forgettable outing, allowing three runs to score and the Lightning lost the lead. Mike Clutterbuck came in to stop the bleeding and did just that, getting out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings before turning the ball over to Kory Brooker who was just as successful.

Leesburg would come right back and bail out Lucroy though, loading the bases for the top of the order in the seventh inning. With no outs and three on, Jake Tillotson hit a screamer down the left field line and the runner tagged when the left fielder made a great diving catch. But the stellar defense didn’t prevent a run and the game was tied at 4-4 heading into the final innings.

In the ninth inning, walks to Tillotson and Albaladejo put runners on the corners and forced Winter Park to make a pitching change. Another walk loaded the bases with one out and it was Leesburg’s time to capitalize. Down to their last strike, Mike Miller, capping off a three hit game, put a ball through the right side of the infield and scored two runs. The crowd went wild and then held their breath for the bottom of the ninth.

“I probably should have swung earlier in the at bat,” said Miller of his big hit. “I just looked to put the ball in play and I got it.” Miller said everyone is fired up after the hostility present between the two teams.

Coach Therneau stuck with Brooker given the upcoming lefty on lefty matchups coming up. After issuing a walk to Blackman, Brooker got a strikeout and with one out and one on, Therneau came out to talk to his pitcher and the next batter grounded into a double play to end the game.

“I told him it was his last batter regardless,” said Therneau of the final at bat of the game. “I was going batter by batter at the end but stuck with (Brooker) and he got out of it.”

“It was exhilarating,” said Brooker. “The team did a great job and it was a great win for us especially over these guys.” Brooker admitted he was going batter by batter too at the end and had his whole team fired up when he induced the double play ball.

“When we play like that, it shouldn’t even be a game,” said Therneau. “We executed offensively and defensively and for tonight, we flat out outplayed them.”

The two teams rematch tomorrow night at Pat Thomas Stadium at 7:00 and the action is sure to keep everyone on the edge of their seats

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)