Diamond Dawgs Too Much for Lightning in 6-2 Loss

WINTER PARK, Fla. -- The Leesburg Lightning (12-16) travelled to The First Academy in Orlando to face the league’s top club, the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (25-3). 

The Lightning found themselves in an early hole, as the Dawgs hung two runs on the board in the game’s first inning. Winter Park pushed two runs across via a wild pitch and an RBI single by Jack Matero (Manhattanville) that gave the Dawgs a 2-0 lead after one.

While the Lightning were held in check by Winter Park starter Ryan Stumpefig (Wichita State), the Diamond Dawgs were able to score in the third and fourth innings. The Dawgs’ runs came on on two miscues by the Lightning, a wild pitch and an error, both of which have haunted the Lightning in recent losses.

As the game entered the fifth, the Lightning trailed 4-0. The Bolts would not let the shutout last for long, however. With runners on second and third with no outs, Tate Mathis (North Alabama) battled in a very tight at-bat and eventually grounded out to first, which drove in a run. Max Law (Embry-Riddle) followed Mathis and crushed a line drive to left field that was caught, but it would be a productive out as it was deep enough to plate Nick Lewis (Valdosta State), who earlier doubled. After five, Winter Park clung to a 4-2 advantage.

The Diamond Dawgs were able to acquire some insurance in the seventh, as they tallied two RBI singles to extend their lead to 6-2.

The vaunted bullpen of Winter Park kept the Lightning off the bases and off the board in the final two innings, as the Dawgs won their 25th game, 6-2. 

Two main factors prevented the Lightning from winning Thursday night’s game: situational hitting and walks. The Lightning stranded several runners, while the pitching staff walked nine batters.

Lightning skipper Rich Billings said that is impossible to overcome against Winter Park. “You can’t do those things agaisnt this team,” Billings said. “They take advantage of every mistake. You have to play nearly flawless baseball to beat them, and we haven’t proven that we can do that yet.”

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