Leesburg Captures its Second Sweep of the Season in a 7-5 Win Over DeLand

DeLand, Fla- The Lightning outscored the Suns 16-10 in the three-game sweep to improve to 8-4 on the season. The team now sits comfortably in second place in the Florida League standings behind the River Rats. 

Leesburg got the scoring started early in the first with an RBI single from extra hitter Charlie Keller to give the team a 1-0 lead. 
That lead would be short-lived as LHP Dustin Dunlap ran into trouble in the bottom of the 1st starting with an RBI double that tied the game at 1-1. A single from the Suns shortstop then plated another run to give them a 2-1 lead with the bases loaded and two outs. Before Dunlap could get out of trouble, players were told to head off the field due to lightning in the area. 

After an hour delay, the game would resume with an 0-1 count, two outs, and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. RHP Bryan Burtoft came on to relieve Dunlap and was able to get a two-pitch strikeout to get the Lightning out of trouble. 

Just like the Leesburg offense has done all season, they would answer back in the second after a double from CF Eli Thurmond saw RF Marco Mueses come around to score on a wacky play from the DeLand defense. With Thurmond heading to third base after the throw in right field got away from the middle infield, Mueses initially held up with the ball going straight to the third baseman. This put Thurmond in a rundown before Mueses decided to take his chances at home which paid off as he scored and Thurmond reached third safely before scoring on a groundout two at bats later. This would give the Lightning a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 2nd. 

In the 3rd, a double steal put two runners in scoring position for 3B Reid Snider who drove them both in with a single. Mueses would cause some more havoc on the basepaths when he stole third before the throw down went over the third basemen’s glove allowing him to score, extending the Lightning lead to 6-2.

Burtoft sat down 7 straight batters through 2.1 innings before getting into trouble, eventually allowing a walk, RBI double, and RBI single to the first three batters in the 4th. LHP Ethan Barrett would come on in relief to try and get two more outs but would first give up a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5. 

It was no surprise that Leesburg answered back once again, this time scoring just one insurance run after another RBI base hit from Keller scored 1B James Strom to extend the lead to 7-5. 

Barrett would pitch two more frames of no hit, shutout ball while striking out 3 before his night was over. LHP Riley Fitzgerald would come on in the 7th, giving up just 1 hit before RHP TJ Socarras would throw a clean 8th inning, striking out two out of the three batters faced. 

LHP Nicholas Delnegro came on for the save in the 9th having to face the top of the Suns batting order. The lefty would get a quick strikeout and groundout before allowing a two out hit which brough the tying run to the plate. In another quick at bat, Delnegro would get a ground ball to second that sealed the deal, giving the Lightning the 7-5 victory and the sweep. 

Assistant Coach Tanner Clark described how well the offense was able to keep adding on throughout the game despite having to sit for an hour during the weather delay. 

“Our guys did a great job responding to that because we gave up a few runs in the first and gave up the lead before the delay,” said Clark. “Bryan Burtoft came in and threw great for us and we got the lead right back and cruised through the rest of the game. That was huge for the team.” 

With another great night, Charlie Keller noted how he has felt at the plate recently after getting off to a bit of a slow start. 

“I’m not really thinking too much,” said Keller. “I’m just trying to hunt good pitches and hit them hard, but the more you get in there the more comfortable you get. And when you have an offense like us you don’t have to act like you’re the guy, you just have to do your job.” 

Leesburg enjoys a well-deserved day off before the team gets right back at it in Orlando on Monday June 16. First pitch against the Snappers is set for 7 p.m. at The First Academy. 

Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)

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