Keller Powers Lightning to Victory Over River Rats
Sanford, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning erased an early three-run deficit with a five-run sixth inning and went on to defeat the Sanford River Rats 9-6 on Saturday night at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
Leesburg struck first in the opening inning when Charlie Keller reached on a fielding error that allowed Andon Gray to score, but Sanford quickly responded. Jake Schincariol launched a three-run home run later in the first inning to put the River Rats ahead 3-1, and Sanford extended its lead to 4-1 in the third when Drew Pynes scored on a passed ball.
The Lightning offense broke through in the sixth inning. KT Thompson opened the rally with an RBI double before Cory Banasiak lined a two-run single to tie the game at four. Moments later, Marcello Cortale delivered the biggest hit of the inning, ripping a two-run double to left field that scored Ledger Pleasant and Banasiak, giving Leesburg a 6-4 advantage.
Leesburg added more breathing room in the seventh when Keller crushed a two-run homer to right field, his third home run in the last three games, extending the lead to 8-4.
Sanford answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but the Lightning got one of those runs back in the eighth when Gray singled home Pleasant to make it 9-6.
The offense collected 11 hits and drew nine walks. Keller finished with three RBIs, while Banasiak drove in two, and Cortale added a pair of RBIs with his sixth inning double. Gray reached base three times, scored once, and drove in a run, while Pleasant scored twice and recorded two hits.
After Austin MacCardle allowed four runs over 2.2 innings, the Leesburg bullpen turned the game around. JD Aragort tossed two scoreless innings with three strikeouts before Ethon Tesmer earned his first victory of the season. Tesmer allowed two runs and just one earned across 1.2 innings. Bryce Gluckman struck out two during 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, and Cody Clymer closed out the ninth with two strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
The victory improved the Lightning to 16-6 on the season and secured their second sweep of Sanford this season. With the series against the River Rats now all concluded, the Lightning will have two days off before they return to action at Pat Thomas Stadium on Tuesday, June 30th at 7:00 PM vs the Winter Garden Squeeze.
Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)
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Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Gray, 2b |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Green, ss |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Murphy, dh |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Keller, rf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Reed, eh |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Thompson, cf |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Banasiak, c |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Pleasant, 3b |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cortale, lf |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waddingham, 1b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Thompson, Cortale
HR - Keller
RBI - Gray, Keller 3, Thompson, Banasiak 2, Cortale 2
GDP - Gray, Banasiak, Waddingham
HBP - Gray, Murphy
Fielding
E - Gray
Pitching
Wild Pitches - MacCardle
Pitches/Strikes - MacCardle 52/28, Aragort 40/19, Tesmer 40/24, Gluckman 19/10, Clymer 11/8
Groundouts/Flyouts - MacCardle 3/2, Aragort 2/1, Tesmer 1/2, Gluckman 3/0, Clymer 0/1
Batters Faced - MacCardle 16, Aragort 10, Tesmer 10, Gluckman 5, Clymer 3
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Walker, cf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Ercole, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Beal, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Pitman, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Pynes, c |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Schincariol, lf/1b |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
| Thomas, eh |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Meyer, eh |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Seymour, 3b |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Stafford, 1b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| M. Dobkowski, lf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Weckman, rf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Velez, ss |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Scott, 2b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| J. Dobkowski, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Gonzalez, 2b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Pynes
HR - Schincariol
RBI - Schincariol 3, M. Dobkowski
HBP - Thomas, Meyer
Fielding
E - Stafford, Weckman
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Vargas |
5.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
| Hair, L |
0.2 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
| DeVita |
1.1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
| Garcia |
2.0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Pitches/Strikes - Vargas 87/50, Hair 35/16, DeVita 27/18, Garcia 45/20
Groundouts/Flyouts - Vargas 5/3, Hair 0/1, DeVita 1/2, Garcia 3/3
Batters Faced - Vargas 21, Hair 9, DeVita 7, Garcia 10
Lightning
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Gray, 2b |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Green, ss |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Murphy, dh |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Keller, rf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Reed, eh |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Thompson, cf |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Banasiak, c |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Pleasant, 3b |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cortale, lf |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waddingham, 1b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Thompson, Cortale
HR - Keller
RBI - Gray, Keller 3, Thompson, Banasiak 2, Cortale 2
GDP - Gray, Banasiak, Waddingham
HBP - Gray, Murphy
Fielding
E - Gray
Pitching
Wild Pitches - MacCardle
Pitches/Strikes - MacCardle 52/28, Aragort 40/19, Tesmer 40/24, Gluckman 19/10, Clymer 11/8
Groundouts/Flyouts - MacCardle 3/2, Aragort 2/1, Tesmer 1/2, Gluckman 3/0, Clymer 0/1
Batters Faced - MacCardle 16, Aragort 10, Tesmer 10, Gluckman 5, Clymer 3
River Rats
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Walker, cf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Ercole, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Beal, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Pitman, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Pynes, c |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Schincariol, lf/1b |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
| Thomas, eh |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Meyer, eh |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Seymour, 3b |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Stafford, 1b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| M. Dobkowski, lf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Weckman, rf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Velez, ss |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Scott, 2b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| J. Dobkowski, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Gonzalez, 2b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Pynes
HR - Schincariol
RBI - Schincariol 3, M. Dobkowski
HBP - Thomas, Meyer
Fielding
E - Stafford, Weckman
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Vargas |
5.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
| Hair, L |
0.2 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
| DeVita |
1.1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
| Garcia |
2.0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Pitches/Strikes - Vargas 87/50, Hair 35/16, DeVita 27/18, Garcia 45/20
Groundouts/Flyouts - Vargas 5/3, Hair 0/1, DeVita 1/2, Garcia 3/3
Batters Faced - Vargas 21, Hair 9, DeVita 7, Garcia 10
Scoring Plays
Top 1st
Charles Keller reached first on a fielding error by 1b, RBI. Dylan Green advanced to third on the error. Andon Gray scored.
Bottom 1st
Jake Schincariol homered to right field, 3 RBI. Drew Pynes scored. Zach Walker scored.
Bottom 3rd
Drew Pynes scored on a passed ball.
Top 6th
Kaden Thompson doubled to right field, RBI. Preston Murphy advanced to third. Dylan Green scored.
Cory Banasiak singled through the left side, 2 RBI. Kaden Thompson scored. Preston Murphy scored.
Marcello Cortale doubled to left field, 2 RBI. Ledger Pleasant scored. Cory Banasiak scored.
Top 7th
Charles Keller homered to right field, 2 RBI. Preston Murphy scored.
Bottom 7th
AJ Seymour singled to pitcher, advanced to second on a throwing error by p. Tyler Meyer advanced to second, advanced to third on the error. Drew Pynes advanced to third, scored on the error.
Michael Dobkowski grounded out to 1b unassisted, RBI. AJ Seymour advanced to third. Tyler Meyer scored, unearned.
Top 8th
Andon Gray singled to left field, RBI. Ledger Pleasant scored.
All Plays
Top 1st
Dylan Green singled to second base. Andon Gray advanced to third.
Preston Murphy flied out to rf. Dylan Green advanced to second on a throwing error by rf. Andon Gray did not advance.
1 out
Charles Keller reached first on a fielding error by 1b, RBI. Dylan Green advanced to third on the error. Andon Gray scored.
Hudson Reed struck out swinging.
2 out
Kaden Thompson walked. Charles Keller advanced to second.
Cory Banasiak struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Enzo Ercole struck out swinging.
1 out
Zach Walker advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Drew Pynes singled to center field. Zach Walker advanced to third.
Jake Schincariol homered to right field, 3 RBI. Drew Pynes scored. Zach Walker scored.
Michael Thomas hit by pitch.
AJ Seymour singled through the left side. Michael Thomas advanced to second.
Sean Stafford struck out looking.
2 out
Braeden Weckman reached on a fielder's choice to second base. AJ Seymour out at second 2b unassisted.
3 out
Top 2nd
Ledger Pleasant singled to right field.
Marcello Cortale flied out to lf to left center. Ledger Pleasant did not advance.
1 out
Jack Waddingham grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b. Ledger Pleasant out on the play.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
Adonys Velez grounded out to 3b.
1 out
Caleb Scott flied out to cf.
2 out
Enzo Ercole struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 3rd
Dylan Green struck out looking.
1 out
Preston Murphy flied out to lf. Andon Gray did not advance.
2 out
Charles Keller grounded out to 1b unassisted.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Drew Pynes doubled to center field, ground-rule.
Jake Schincariol grounded out to 2b. Drew Pynes advanced to third.
1 out
Tyler Meyer replaces Michael Thomas at pinch hitter.
Drew Pynes scored on a passed ball.
Tyler Meyer hit by pitch.
AJ Seymour flied out to cf. Tyler Meyer did not advance.
2 out
Jose Aragort replaces Austin MacCardle at pitcher.
Sean Stafford grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Top 4th
Tyler Meyer replaces at .
Hudson Reed singled to shortstop.
Kaden Thompson walked. Hudson Reed advanced to second.
Cory Banasiak grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b. Kaden Thompson out on the play. Hudson Reed advanced to third.
2 out
Ledger Pleasant struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Adonys Velez struck out looking.
1 out
Caleb Scott walked. Braeden Weckman advanced to second.
Zach Walker struck out swinging.
2 out
Ethan Beal replaces Enzo Ercole at pinch hitter.
Ethan Beal struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 5th
Ethan Beal replaces at designated hitter.
Marcello Cortale grounded out to 2b.
1 out
Jack Waddingham singled to third base.
Andon Gray grounded into double play 2b to 1b. Jack Waddingham out on the play.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Jake Schincariol reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Drew Pynes out at second ss to 2b.
1 out
Tyler Meyer singled to left field. Jake Schincariol advanced to second.
AJ Seymour flied out to rf. Tyler Meyer did not advance. Jake Schincariol did not advance.
2 out
Ethon Tesmer replaces Jose Aragort at pitcher.
Sean Stafford lined out to cf.
3 out
Top 6th
Joshua Hair replaces Gabriel Vargas at pitcher.
Preston Murphy hit by pitch. Dylan Green advanced to second.
Charles Keller flied out to cf. Preston Murphy did not advance. Dylan Green did not advance.
1 out
Hudson Reed struck out swinging.
2 out
Kaden Thompson doubled to right field, RBI. Preston Murphy advanced to third. Dylan Green scored.
Cory Banasiak singled through the left side, 2 RBI. Kaden Thompson scored. Preston Murphy scored.
Ledger Pleasant walked. Cory Banasiak advanced to second.
Marcello Cortale doubled to left field, 2 RBI. Ledger Pleasant scored. Cory Banasiak scored.
Philip DeVita replaces Joshua Hair at pitcher.
Andon Gray hit by pitch. Jack Waddingham advanced to second. Marcello Cortale advanced to third.
Dylan Green struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Braeden Weckman singled to second base.
Adonys Velez singled to right field. Braeden Weckman advanced to second.
Caleb Scott lined out to lf. Adonys Velez did not advance. Braeden Weckman did not advance.
1 out
Zach Walker singled to left field. Adonys Velez advanced to second. Braeden Weckman advanced to third.
Ethan Beal grounded into double play rf to c. Braeden Weckman out on the play.
3 out
Top 7th
Preston Murphy singled through the left side.
Charles Keller homered to right field, 2 RBI. Preston Murphy scored.
Hudson Reed flied out to cf.
1 out
Kaden Thompson flied out to cf.
2 out
Cory Banasiak grounded out to ss.
3 out
Bottom 7th
Drew Pynes singled down the lf line.
Jake Schincariol struck out looking.
1 out
Tyler Meyer singled through the right side. Drew Pynes advanced to second.
AJ Seymour singled to pitcher, advanced to second on a throwing error by p. Tyler Meyer advanced to second, advanced to third on the error. Drew Pynes advanced to third, scored on the error.
Michael Dobkowski replaces Sean Stafford at pinch hitter.
Bryce Gluckman replaces Ethon Tesmer at pitcher.
Michael Dobkowski grounded out to 1b unassisted, RBI. AJ Seymour advanced to third. Tyler Meyer scored, unearned.
2 out
Braeden Weckman grounded out to p.
3 out
Top 8th
Jake Schincariol replaces at first base.
Michael Dobkowski replaces at left field.
Tyler Garcia replaces Philip DeVita at pitcher.
Ledger Pleasant singled to left center.
Marcello Cortale out at first 1b to p. Ledger Pleasant advanced to second.
1 out
Jack Waddingham grounded out to 2b. Ledger Pleasant advanced to third.
2 out
Andon Gray singled to left field, RBI. Ledger Pleasant scored.
Dylan Green flied out to lf.
3 out
Bottom 8th
Adonys Velez grounded out to ss.
1 out
John Dobkowski replaces Caleb Scott at pinch hitter.
John Dobkowski struck out looking.
2 out
Zach Walker struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 9th
Miguel Gonzalez replaces John Dobkowski at second base.
Preston Murphy popped up to 2b.
1 out
Hudson Reed popped up to 1b. Charles Keller did not advance.
2 out
Charles Keller advanced to second on a passed ball.
Cory Banasiak grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 9th
Cody Clymer replaces Bryce Gluckman at pitcher.
Cooper Pitman replaces Ethan Beal at pinch hitter.
Cooper Pitman struck out swinging.
1 out
Drew Pynes struck out swinging.
2 out
Jake Schincariol flied out to rf.
3 out
