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Lightning Win in Extras

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 3:11am

The Lightning played by far their most exciting game of the season Tuesday night at Winter Haven. Leesburh knocked off the Loggerheads in extra innings 9-7.

Through five innings, the Lightning led 2-0. Leesburg would have had more runs, but they had a string of bad luck in the second and third innings. With runners on the corners in the second, Mike Miller hit a hard liner that looked like it might get over the left fielders head, but was caught for an out. In the same situation the next inning, Tom Sicking ripped a ball but right at the shortstop who then doubled up Chase Durham at first.

Their luck would come back though in a big way in the top of the sixth when they would score four runs off of some good hits with runners in scoring position. With men on second and third and two down, Lightning shortstop Jacob Tillotson hit a perfectly placed ball down the left field line that would go for a triple and score both runs. Hunter Mayfield would drive in Tillotson on the next pitch and the Lightning took a 6-0 lead.

That would seem to be enough for Leesburg starter Nic Kovacs, who, despite a great start in his last outing, was coming off a loss. Through five innings, Kovacs only allowed two hits, both to Winter Haven shortstop Michael Heller. But in the sixth inning, Kovacs ran out of gas and the Loggerheads capitalized. They scored five runs off of four hits and Kovacs was removed from the game.

His replacement was Zane Evans, who has played first base and catcher exclusively for the Lightning but has pitched in his baseball career. He threw hard and was able to get Leesburg out of the jam in the bottom frame of the sixth with the team still leading. In his second inning of work, an error would come back to haunt the Lightning and the Loggerheads tied the game at 6.

It would come down to the final innings. In the eighth, Loggerhead third baseman Kyle Campbell made a spectacular play that robbed Mike Albaladejo of a probable double. Winter Haven escaped the top of the eighth and reliever Mike Clutterbuck would enter the game to pitch for the Lightning.

A leadoff double an ensuing error would put a runner on third with no outs and a single later in the inning by Sean O’Brien would plate the seventh run of the game for the Loggerheads. O’Brien, who entered the game as a pinch hitter for Winter Haven, delivered in both of his at bats, driving home two runs.

The final frame was started by a great at bat by Troy Drummond who drew a walk and advanced to second on a gutsy sacrifice bunt with two strikes by Nick Octavi. Drummond would advance to third on a hard-hit groundball by Chase Durham. The Loggerheads would be two strikes away from victory when Drummond tied the game on a wild pitch to send it to extra innings.

The tenth inning looked grim for the Lightning before Tillotson reached with a two out single. Mayfield drove a ball down the right field line and Coach Therneau held Tillotson at third. With two outs and two on, Mike Miller stepped to the dish needing a big hit and he delivered. He crushed a fastball deep to centerfield for a triple that scored two runs.

“I put a good swing on it,” said Miller. “Honestly, I thought he was camped out under it, but it kept going.” Miller went 2-6 with 3 RBIs.

Closer Max Rusch was absolutely dominant, as per usual. He would face four batters in the ninth, striking out three. In the tenth, with the game on the line, Rusch struck out two more and induced the final batter to pop out.

“I got some swings and threw a lot of strikes,” said Rusch. “I’m comfortable in that spot (as closer) and I’ve continued my success from spring.”

“Again, we have to correct the mental and physical mistakes,” said Therneau. “That’s not the way you want to win but we won and that’s what counts.”

The Lightning play again Thursday ay home at 7:00.

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)