Lightning season ends in Tuesday night loss to Squeeze

 A rocky start and slow bats wouldn’t push the Leesburg Lightning (19-19-1) to victory and further into the playoffs on Tuesday night. The Winter Garden Squeeze (16-21) walked away with a 9-4 win at Pat Thomas Stadium.

The Squeeze took advantage of Lightning ace Michael Johnson early in the contest, plating one in the first on a wild pitch and grabbing a 7-0 lead on a six-run inning in the top of the third.

Dominic Jeancola replaced Johnson, who went 2.1 innings with eight hits, seven runs and two strikeouts, in the top of the third.

Leesburg responded in the bottom of the inning thanks to a leadoff home run from Tucker Rayburn to cut into the Squeeze lead. Kevin Lambert followed with a double and Alex Ray singled and advanced to second with head’s up base running. Both were brought home on an error by Winter Garden’s third baseman for a 7-4 ballgame.

Jeancola had his longest out of the season with 4.2 innings of incredible relief to keep the Bolts in the game with three hits, no runs and two strikeouts. Drew Peden replaced him in the top of the eighth, where the Squeeze would add two more for a 9-4 score.

Leesburg held Winter Garden through the ninth when Rayburn and Tristen Gagan relayed to Austin Mauer, limiting the damage and getting the final Squeeze out at home plate.

Camden Williamson led off the bottom of the inning with a single to left but no help followed him, as the Squeeze sent the Lightning packing with a 9-4 final.

Emily Shoffit - 08/01/17 9:55pm

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