Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Sanford Enjoys Walk Off to Split Series

Friday, August 5, 2011 12:16am

 

After a big walk off win, the Lightning were on the opposite side on Thursday night when the Sanford River Rats earned a walk off of their own in the 11^th inning, winning 4-3.

The River Rats scored two quick runs, one in the first and one in the third. Both came off the bat of Ian MacGeorge.

In the bottom of the first, Sanford decided to take a page out of the Joe Madden playbook and used a suicide squeeze with runners on the corners to get the first run of the game across the plate.

In the third, with a runner on second, MacGeorge took a single down the left field line to drive in the second run of the game and Sanford had a two run lead.

As abysmal as the Sanford offense was the night before early in the game, the Lightning found themselves without a hit through five innings. The Lightning offense has been nothing short of dangerous all season long, but early in the game they just couldn’t muster a hit off of starter Ray Hanson who entered the game on a hot streak of scoreless innings.

But in the sixth inning, the Lightning threatened. After leadoff man Jacob Tillotson was hit by a pitch, Mike Albaladejo laid down a perfect bunt and forced the first baseman to make a play on him. The first base umpire ruled out by the home plate umpire overruled him and called safe and the Lightning were in business with two on. They soon loaded the bases with one out for Mike Miller. Luck was on Leesburg’s side all inning though as Miller popped a ball straight up but the catcher never saw it and the ball that could have killed a rally went for a foul ball. Miller proceeded to hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Albaladejo and the Sanford lead was cut to one. In a great at bat, Chase Durham then made Hanson throw him 12 pitches before walking. As a result of the at bat, Hanson’s pitch count skyrocketed and he was replaced in the next inning.

Lightning ace Nic Kovacs took the mound trying to get that one last win. He didn’t have his best stuff, but kept his team in the game. Early on, it looked like Kovacs was being outpitched by Hanson, but things quickly evened out and after allowing the second run of the game in the third, Kovacs held the River Rats scoreless and hitless in the next four innings.

Leesburg tied it in the seventh off of Sanford mistakes. Christian Coburn walked then reached second on a wild pitch. A groundball got him to third and with one out, Tillotson ripped a ball to the shortstop. He came home with the throw, but the catcher mishandled the ball and Coburn was safe.

In his final inning of work, Kovacs was laboring and with a runner on first, the next batter lined out to Tillotson who then tagged the advancing runner. The double play got Kovacs out of the jam and kept the game knotted at two runs apiece.

Florida flamethrower Ethan Bader blew away five of the seven Sanford hitters in the eighth and ninth innings to send the game, once again, to extra innings.

Tempers flared in the ninth when both teams showed their playoff attitudes after exchanging big plays and the umpires made sure both sides stayed in their respective dugouts.

Bader continued to tear down Sanford hitters striking out two more in the tenth to make it six straight retired courtesy of Bader strikeouts.

Finally, into the eleventh inning for consecutive nights, the Lightning would take their only lead of the game. Two walks and an error loaded the bases with one out. Leesburg fans in attendance held their breath once again as both teams stepped out of the dugout to watch the action. The next pitch was released too early and it sailed to the backstop. Tillotson slid in safe and the Lightning took the 3-2 lead as the Leesburg faithful, who swarmed Sanford Memorial Stadium Thursday night went crazy.

But the action was just starting as Bader took the mound once again looking for three more outs. The Lightning would pull within one strike of Tropicana Field before Austin Liput on a full count with runners on the corners, took a Bader pitch up the middle to score the man on third. The ensuing throw from the outfield got by third base and scored the runner from first and the River Rats had a walk off of their own.

The series is now tied and there will be a third game tomorrow night at Pat Thomas Stadium after both teams traded heartbreaking endings. The action starts at 7:00 where all of Leesburg will be sure to head into the stands.

By: Nick Beardi (Medaille College)