Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Lightning Walk Off to Take Game One

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 11:11pm

 

The Lightning walked off in dramatic fashion Wednesday night in the first game of the playoffs against Sanford 2-1 in 11 innings.

Sanford beat Orlando earlier in the day in the play-in game by a 12-2 margin, but the offense in the night game was few and far between.

Leesburg struck first, scoring in the first inning when a Hunter Mayfield sac fly brought home Jacob Tillotson.

But that would be the only run scored by either team for the next eight innings.

Dylan Hathcock was given the ball to make the start in Game One and was lights out. He had a no-hitter heading into the seventh inning before James Ramsay broke it up with a double beyond the outstretched glove of Christian Coburn. Hathcock threw exactly 100 pitches and only allowed one hit and one walk in his tenure. He received a well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd when he left the mound.

With Leesburg up 1-0, they turned the ball over to Max Rusch who has been arguably the best reliever in the league all season. He got out of the eighth inning but walked the leadoff man in the ninth to put a runner on. The next batter grounded a ball to Mike Albaladejo who slid to his left, recovered and threw in time for the out. The fielders choice moved the runner to second and a passed ball moved him to third. Everyine held their breath as the next batter fought off some pitches to stay alive. Rusch threw one in the dirt and the runner broke for the plate before realizing catcher Mike Miller had the ball. The runner tried to slide back into third as the throw came from the plate, but the throw was low and the ball went into the outfield, allowing Sanford to tie the game.

Despite the one mistake, Miller was and has been excellent behind the dish for the Lightning. Twice, he threw out would be base stealers including James Ramsay trying to steal third late in the game. Miller was subdued after the error, but quickly recovered to handle the Lightning staff.

“I feel a little lucky to come out with a win,” said Coach Thernueau. “We made so many mistakes, but at this point, what matters is that we get it done.”

The game would go into extra innings. Prior to Wednesday, the Lightning had only played in one game in extras all season, a 9-7 defeat of Winter Haven.

The two teams would trade nerves in the tenth as those in attendance watched the action through their fingers. In the top half, the River Rats would load the bases with one out against reliever Mike Clutterbuck who got out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.

“I was just trying to keep the ball low, trying to hit my spots,” said Clutterbuck.

In the bottom frame, the Lightning had men on second and third for Mike Miller, looking for redemption. He hit a good piece, but right at the centerfielder and the game headed into the 11^th.

Clutterbuck worked quickly through the 11^th, mowing down the Sanford hitters and giving his team a chance to win it and they wouldn’t let him down.

In what would be the last inning, Chase Durham reached on a hometown hop that the shortstop couldn’t handle. A wild pitch moved him to second and a grounder off the bat of Christian Coburn moved him to third. Coach Therneau called time to pinch hit Tyler Kellmann with a runner on third in the biggest spot of the season.

On a 1-2 count with the infield in, Kellmann ripped a ball up the middle over the diving shortstop and Pat Thomas Stadium erupted as Durham crossed the plate.

“That was the biggest hit I’ve ever had,” said Kellmann who confessed it was his first walk off. “I was trying to put it in play and he got it over the plate.”

With the exciting win, the team was elated after the game and broke the post game huddle with chants of “One more game!”

One more game and Leesburg is headed to Tropicana Field on Sunday. In order to do so, they’ll battle Sanford tomorrow at Sanford Memorial Stadium at 7:00.

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)