Banasiak sends the fans home happy in a 5-4 win for Leesburg

Leesburg, FL – It was a game for the ages ending in spectacular fashion for the Leesburg Lightning as they defeated the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs 5-4 in walk off fashion.  

It was a slow start for the Lightning offense as the top of the order struggled in the first inning. However, in the top frame starting pitcher Ethan Priest was able to escape out of trouble with a strikeout after giving up an RBI double.  

The second inning saw the Lightning get on the board after a sacrifice fly from shortstop Dylan Green which scored Turner Gross to make it a one run game. 

After Priest started the game, Head Coach Rich Billings turned to one of his experienced pitchers in the form of Lucas Perez. Perez had five strikeouts in his outing while Carson Henrikson came in behind him with four of his own as he found ways to pound the strike zone with his fastball working to perfection. 

After falling behind in the top of the sixth 4-1, Leesburg had to look for answers offensively to get back in the game. After a single by Marcello Cortale, third baseman Hudson Reed stepped up to the plate after striking out and grounding out in his first two at bats. Reed proceeded to bring the energy back into Pat Thomas Stadium with a towering two run home run into left field to make it a one run game and give the Lightning a fighting chance. 

The Diamond Dawgs pitching staff did everything they could in the later innings with Nick Burgos holding the Lightning from any opportunities in the seventh and eighth inning. 

Cody Clymer came in to pitch for Leesburg in the top of the ninth to limit any further opportunities for the Diamond Dawgs. Clymer got one strikeout in his short outing to give the bats for the Lightning one last opportunity. 

Dylan Green led off the ninth inning with a single to get a speedy base runner on the bases. Green was followed by first baseman Jack Waddingham, who fought through a tough at bat against relief pitcher Daniel Irizarry and was able to work the walk putting two runners on base for Ledger Pleasant. Pleasant would bunt to move the runners over to second and third, which would set up Cory Banasiak. 

Once Banasiak saw the fastball, he covered every inch of it as he drove home Dylan Green to win the game for the Lightning. Leesburg now goes to 2-0 on the season as they’ll take their winning ways with them to Alfond Stadium on the campus of Rollins College in Winter Park for another matchup with the Diamond Dawgs on Sunday, May 31st at 6:00 PM. 

Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University) 

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