Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Lightning Fall in First Half Finale

Sunday, July 10, 2011 8:05pm

After a big win Saturday night, the Leesburg offense sputtered against the Sanford River Rats. The Lightning were rained out Thursday against Sanford and had another doubleheader rained out Friday and heading into this week’s All Star Break, a win on Sunday would have been a welcome breath of relief. Alas, it wasn’t in the cards as the Lightning fell to Sanford 4-0.

                Both starting pitchers threw well through the first four innings. Dylan Hathcock, recently named to the All-Star team for the North, scattered three hits and went to the pitch limit in his six innings of work. He had some trouble in the fifth when the River Rats loaded the bases and subsequently scored two runs off of singles and walks before a great catch by Christian Coburn, who collided with centerfielder Troy Drummond on the play, ended the Sanford threat.

                Hathcock’s counterpart on the mound was Taylor Smith. The right hander was equally impressive on the mound and in his five innings of work, didn’t allow a run. He struck out four and kept the River Rats ahead in the game.

                In the sixth inning, the Lightning loaded the bases for Jacob Tillotson with one out. The River Rats made a pitching change and during the break in the action, Tillotson and Coach Therneau talked over strategy. The Leesburg fans were hoping for an at bat reminiscent of Saturday night when Tillotson hit a big homerun to give the Lightning the lead. Tillotson battled for a few pitches and hit a ball hard up the middle, but right at the pitcher who snagged the ball threw it to the catcher who then doubled up Tillotson at first killing what would be Leesburg’s best chance at tying the game.

                In the eighth inning, the Lightning brought in Patrick Hicks in relief and he had some trouble commanding his fastball and the River Rats quickly loaded the base once again. A single through the right side of the infield scored two more Sanford runs and the lead expanded to four runs.

                The Lightning stranded 11 runners and failed to get the big hit when they most needed it. They had only five hits all day and while the Sanford offense wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, they did enough to grind out a victory.

                Mike Miller and Christian Coburn each had two hits in the game.

                The Lightning head into the All-Star break as the top dog in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. The team is sending nine players to the Game as well as their Head Coach Dave Therneau. They’ll be back in regular season action again Thursday and have another pivotal doubleheader scheduled for next Friday at home against the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs.

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)