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Ortega Shuts Down Loggerheads

Thursday, June 23, 2011 3:08am

The Lightning finally got their elusive tenth win of the season on Wednesday against the Winter Haven Loggerheads.

The team had been stuck on nine wins for the last four games, suffering losses to Winter Haven, Orlando and Sanford before the Leesburg offense came back to life Wednesday. The Lightning scored eight runs off nine hits and handily defeated the Loggerheads 8-1.

The hit parade started early as doubles by designated hitter Hunter Mayfield and left fielder Chris Coburn put the Lightning up by three in the first inning. And that would be all that Leesburg starter Dylan Ortega would need, as he had by far his best outing of the season. Through 6.1 innings of work, Ortega scattered four hits and only allowed one run. Despite only striking out one, Ortega used a fastball- curveball combination that was electric and was able to deceive the majority of the Loggerhead hitters.

“My fastball was spotting real nice,” said Ortega, who was very happy with his dazzling performance. “I hate losing, so to get us back in the win column feels great.”

The Lightning were able to capitalize when it counts, just as they have been for all of their wins this season. With the bases loaded, Chase Durham knocked a two strike two out fastball through the right side of the infield that brought in two runs. Winter Haven starter Clayton Freimuth, who has pitched against Leesburg three times this season already, was chased from the game in the third inning having given up five runs off five hits and six walks.

The Lightning found ways to get on base and received great performances from Mayfield, who finished the game 3-5 with three runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. His two doubles led the team. Also adding to the offense were Coburn and Mike Albaladejo, both of whom reached base three times.

“I tried going the other way with the pitches,” said Mayfield of his three hits. “It just feels good as a team to have a good offensive showing.” After three games where the Leesburg offense was a shadow of what it was the first ten games of the season, the team rebounded in a big way.

There have been several lineup changes over the past few games and Coach Therneau has been doing whatever he can to try and find where guys are comfortable both in the lineup and on the field.

“I try and search for where people are going to be the most successful,” said Therneau. “We got a good start from (Ortega) and the guys behind the pitcher follow that success.” The skipper also emphasized how the little things are what decide a ballgame and that wins and losses aside, the team is still firing on all cylinders and the team on a whole is tremendously competitive.

The Lightning play in The Villages tomorrow against DeLand at 7:00. Despite the close proximity, the game is being billed as an away game for the Lightning, who look to replicate Wednesday night’s success.

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)