Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Lightning Storm in Seventh Leaves DeLand in Shadows

Thursday, July 1, 2010 9:26am

The Lightning found themselves behind 5-3 late in the game, until center fielder Alex Hudak (Florida Atlantic) teed one up, blasting a triple to the right field fence, clearing the bases to claim the lead for good in the top of the seventh.  Hudak’s blast brought the whole Lightning squad to their feet, and you could feel the momentum shift instantaneously out on the field.  Fired up, Mark Darlington (West Virginia Wesleyan) followed up with an almost identical shot, claiming an RBI double to continue the rally.  The first five Lightning batters of the inning had reached safely, and after batting around the order, they found themselves on top 8-5.  The Lightning would go on to win the game 8-6, putting the squad at 10-13 on the season.

DeLand wasted no time getting up on the board in Wednesday night’s contest, scoring their first run in the bottom of the first inning on one hit and a sacrifice fly.  In the bottom of the third inning, the Suns would extend their lead with two more runs coming on a walk, two singles and an infield error by the Lightning.  In the fifth inning, with one out, Suns left fielder Dexter Kelley (Savannah State University) would reach on a great bunt down the third base line.  Kelley’s bunt would be the second of the night for a single, scoring back in the third inning after reaching in similar fashion.  Lightning starting pitcher Jason Cochcroft (USC Aiken) would counter with a great pickoff move to first base, catching the speedy Kelley off first for the second out.  The very next batter for the Suns would then scorch a ball in the hole on the left side where Nick DelGuidice (Florida Atlantic) would make a great play and a deep throw to just nab the runner for the third out. 

The Lightning would begin their scoring in the top of the fifth inning with a leadoff walk by Mike Gonzalez (East Tennessee State).  With the leadoff man on, the next two Lightning batters would flyout, bringing Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic) to the plate with two outs.  Albaladejo would single through the right side of the infield to put runners at first and second for the Lightning’s nine-hole hitter Nick Smelser (Midland College).  Smelser would connect with the first pitch of the at bat, sending the ball deep to left field, hitting the fence a foot shy from the top for a two out, two run double.  The Lightning would then go on in the sixth inning to tie the game, Gonzalez scoring Hudak on a single.

The Suns would quickly break the tie in the bottom of the sixth with two more runs, starting the inning with a double and scoring on a single later in the inning.  One Sun reached base on a fielder’s choice, when shortstop DelGuidice made the play in front of him and tried to catch the runner from second advancing to third and was unable to record the out.

 In the end, it all came down to the Lightning’s big five run seventh inning.  Albaladejo started the inning by drawing a walk, followed by a Gonzalez single.  Danny Baatz (UNC Asheville) looked to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt but was hit by the pitch instead, loading the bases for Hudak.  Hudak would take a 2-0 fastball deep down the right field line, clearing the bases to claim the 6-5 lead for the Lightning.  As stated above, two more runs would come through in the inning, and the Lightning would hold on to win the ballgame 8-6, sacrificing one run to the Suns in the bottom of the ninth.  Reliever Lee Hall (East Tennessee State) secured the win in his 3.2 innings of work and John Michael Blake (UCF) picked up his first save of the year.

How big was Hudak’s 3 RBI triple?  “I think that was the big key,” Coach Viola said.  “When you have a 2-0 count, bases loaded, (and) no place to put you, you have to look for a zone,” Viola described after the game.  “Alex (Hudak) did a great job of taking that zone, and driving the ball.  Three runs scored, and that changed the whole complexion of the game.” 

Viola’s Lightning look to continue rolling into the end of the week with a five game home stand, starting with the DeLand Suns on Thursday, July 1^st at 7:00PM.

Trey Garant (University of Michigan)