Behind Scanlon's Three HR, Lightning Take Two From Diamond Dawgs

LEESBURG, Fla. - The Leesburg Lightning (18-20) took two from the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (14-21) on Monday night, winning 15-5 in game one and 13-9 in game two at Pat Thomas Stadium - Buddy Lowe Field. Game one was a continuation of a suspended game from July 12.

Game One

Harrison Scanlon (Western Kentucky) had himself a game one, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBI. A grand slam in the second and a two-run shot in the sixth helped power Leesburg to their third straight victory.

After allowing Winter Park to put up a four spot in the first, the Lightning wasted little time retaliating. They scored two in the bottom half of the first as Clay Simmons (South Florida) doubled down the right field line, scoring Austin Simmons (Thomas) and Jose Bonilla (Florida Atlantic). In the second, the retaliation continued as Scanlon took a 3-2 pitch from Hunter McMahon (Coffeyville CC) and crushed it over the fence in right field for a grand slam, extending Leesburg’s lead to 7-4.

When play resumed on Monday, the Lightning kept the scoring influx coming as they erupted for seven in the sixth to take a 15-4 lead. They batted around in the inning as Cornell Nixon (Eastern Kentucky) and Bonilla contributed RBI hits. Winter Park faltered mightily, allowing two of the seven runs to score on a wild pitch. Scanlon also added his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to end things after seven innings.

MacLain Larson (Flagler) threw five scoreless innings in relief, picking up the win.

Bonilla also went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.

"Our pitching has really come through for us lately," Head Coach Rich Billings said. "We're putting up enough runs to give our pitchers cushions and it's what we've been waiting on all season. It's been nice."

Game Two

The momentum of game one’s victory carried over to game two as Leesburg put up 13 runs on 16 hits.

After two first inning miscues by Winter Park allowed Leesburg to take an early 2-0 lead, the Lightning responded with six more runs in the second to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

Josh Pagliei (Flagler) and Nixon picked up RBI hits, along with Scanlon’s second grand slam in as many games — his fifth home run of the season.

In the fourth, Tanner Long (Thoams) added to Benjamin Link’s misery. He took him deep over the fence in right field for his fourth of the season, extending Leesburg’s lead to 10-5.

The Diamond Dawgs broke through with five runs in the third and made it interesting late in the game, breaking through with three in the eighth to cut the Lightning lead to 11-8.

Each Lightning starter recorded a hit in the win.

Following a three HR and 12 RBI day, Scanlon is now batting .400 with a league-leading 33 RBI and 52 hits.

"Harry's without a doubt been our catalyst the second half of the season," Billings said. "Guys are continiously getting on in front of him and it's helping him see good pitches. He's playing on a different level right now."

Having won four consecutive games, the Lightning have now moved into fourth place. They are a half game ahead of the Winter Garden Squeeze and 2.5 games ahead of sixth place Winter Park.

"If this late surge could've come at any time, there's no better time in the world than the last week of the season," Billings said.

Leesburg returns to action on Tuesday as they travel to Bishop Moore High School for the final regular season matchup with the Diamond Dawgs. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.


Eddie Poe, York College of Pennsylvania

Eddie Poe - 07/25/16 10:52pm

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