Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Lightning Pound Winter Haven

Monday, June 6, 2011 5:20pm

The Lightning continued their hot start with another win Sunday afternoon against the Winter Haven Loggerheads, a new team to the Florida Collegiate Summer League in 2011.

As was the case in the first two games, Leesburg battled their way out of trouble in the first defensive frame and saw their bats explode in the bottom half of the inning. The Lightning ripped off five runs on six hits, all of which was done with two outs. With shortstop Jacob Tillotson on third, Hunter Mayfield hit a slow roller to the first baseman, which would have ended the inning, but the ball was mishandled and allowed Tillotson to score and the inning to continue. Chase Durham then placed a ball perfectly down the left field line for one of his two doubles on the night, Brandon Singer singled in two more runs and catcher Nick Octavi continued his hitting streak with another single and another RBI. And before some in the stands had even taken their seats the Lightning were up 5-0.

Contrary to the first two games however, Winter Haven came back in the second inning, chasing Lightning starter Andrew White from the game and scoring four runs of their own. The success of the first inning for Leesburg carried over into the second inning and the Lightning scored another four runs off Winter Haven starter and Texas product Clayton Freimuth. The early runs would end up being the difference in the game.

Defense was also unlike the first two games and saw both teams combine for eight errors. Leesburg committed five errors in the infield throughout the game, hurting their pitchers as well as allowing Winter Haven runs that should have been outs. “We definitely have to limit our errors,” said first baseman Chase Durham who played his best game so far this season. “We gave them more chances than they deserved as a result.”

The only defensive highlight on the game were made on a great catch by Troy Drummond in the fourth inning and an even more spectacular play in the sixth by leftfielder Christian Coburn. With a runner on first and two outs, Loggerhead shortstop Michael Heller put a ball down the left field line and hustling around the bases from first was Andrew Sterling, who thought he had third base easy but Coburn had other plans. He immediately saw Sterling trying for third and showed off his cannon of an arm and gunned out Sterling on a perfect throw, ending the inning.

The umpiring also added to the drama of the game as a few controversial calls were made throughout the contest. None of the calls had an effect on the outcome of the game itself, however it riled up a few fans at Pat Thomas Stadium-Buddy Lowe Field. One of the calls saw skipper David Therneau run out on the field to ask for some “clarification,” further stirring up those in attendance.

“It’s awesome playing in front of the hometown fans,” said Brandon Singer who added another hit and a pair of RBI’s. “I played here a bunch in high school, but to hear everybody in the stands behind me backing me up is great.”

“Offensive execution,” was the reason given by Coach Therneau in explaining his teams’ 3-0 start. “We’re moving guys around the bases and we’re hitting and scoring runs.”

The team has a day off Monday and returns to action Tuesday at 7:00 at Orlando.

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)