Leesburg Lightning

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FINAL

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Orlando Snappers
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LEE 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 8 4
ORLS 6 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 8 3
WPowers
LPeddycoart
SVMaire
Leesburg’s Comeback Effort Falls Short in an 8-5 Loss to Orlando to End the Season

Leesburg’s Comeback Effort Falls Short in an 8-5 Loss to Orlando to End the Season

Orlando, Fla- For the first time since 2019, the Leesburg Lightning will not be headed to the Florida League championship series. Despite the struggles throughout the season, the team was able to get back on course and eventually force a game three against one of the best rosters in the league.

First inning struggles came back to haunt Leesburg as Starting RHP Austin Peddycoart struggled to get out of the frame unscathed. The damage started with an RBI double followed by a single that plated another run giving Orlando a quick 2-0 lead. A wild pitch from Peddycoart then brought home two more runs due to a throwing error from C Cole Bullen which allowed a runner from second to score as well. With the lead up to 4-0, the Snappers got a two-run homer that extended their advantage to 6-0.

RHP Steven Rojas was the first arm out of the bullpen for Leesburg in the 2nd, tossing a 1-2-3 frame before he got some run support in the bottom of the inning.

After 2B Ryan Jenkins reached first on an error by the shortstop, extra hitter Riley Fitzgerald knocked him in with an RBI groundout to make it 6-1.

In the 3rd, Rojas hit the leadoff batter to start the inning and later allowed that run to score after an RBI single made it 7-1. RHP Lucas Perez came on to get the final out in the inning and induced a popup to send things to the 4th.

Perez struck out the second batter of the inning after a leadoff walk but issued another free pass before he gave way to RHP Carson Henrikson. The righty was able to strand both runners by getting back-to-back punch outs to end the frame. Henrikson finished his night allowing just one run over the next three innings while striking out a total of 4 batters.

Leesburg was able to keep chipping away at the lead later in the 6th starting with back-to-back singles from RF Charlie Keller and 1B James Strom. Jenkins then brought home Keller with an RBI single before Bullen knocked in Strom with a double to make it 7-3. Fitzgerald and extra hitter Ledger Pleasant were able to bring home two more with consecutive RBI groundouts that put the score at 7-5.

With trouble brewing in the 7th, RHP Lex Sanchez came on to relieve Henrikson and allowed a sacrifice fly that made it 8-5 before he closed out this inning.

The Lightning had an opportunity in the 8th with two on and two out but the team failed to cut into the deficit as they left both runners stranded. 
 
With just 3 outs left, the Leesburg offense was shut down in the 9th with a 1-2-3 frame sending Orlando to the FCSL championship series this weekend. 
 
The Lightning wraps up their season with a record of 19-16 as they miss the championship series for the first time since 2019. 
 
Coach Billings had nothing but great things to say about his players this summer and how proud he is of the progression they made during the season. 
 
“I think the thing I’m probably the most proud of is that a lot of these guys came in here this summer and they didn’t know where they were going after this,” said Billings. “A lot of guys in the portal, some guys that were trying to figure out what the next step was and almost every guy that we had this summer that was in that situation found a place to play. I take a lot of pride in that and I take that very seriously. I'm so happy for all of them because their career is able to continue so that means more to me than anything.”
 
The Lightning look ahead towards next summer as Coach Billings will begin to scout potential players for the new season in the next couple of months. Be sure to check the Lightning website for updates on the 2026 season and until next time, Bolts Up!
 
Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)

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Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Irizarry, lf/dh 4 0 1 0 1 1
Thurmond, cf 4 0 0 0 0 2
Keller, rf 4 1 1 0 1 2
Strom, 1b 3 1 0 0 1 2
Jenkins, 2b/3b 4 2 1 1 0 1
Bullen, c 4 1 3 1 0 0
Fitzgerald, dh/lf 4 0 1 2 0 0
Pleasant, dh/2b 4 0 0 1 0 0
Snider, 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0
Socarras, ph/dh 0 0 0 0 2 0
Jordan, ss 3 0 1 0 1 0

Batting

2B - Bullen

RBI - Jenkins, Bullen, Fitzgerald 2, Pleasant

GDP - Thurmond

HBP - Thurmond

Baserunning

SB - Irizarry, Keller

Fielding

E - Keller, Bullen 2, Jordan

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Peddycoart, L 1.0 5 6 3 1 1
Rojas 1.2 2 1 1 1 1
Perez 0.2 0 0 0 2 2
Henrikson 3.2 1 1 1 1 4
Sanchez 1.0 0 0 0 1 2

Wild Pitches - Peddycoart, Henrikson 2

Pitches/Strikes - Peddycoart 28/17, Rojas 42/23, Perez 22/8, Henrikson 44/33, Sanchez 21/11

Groundouts/Flyouts - Peddycoart 1/1, Rojas 0/4, Henrikson 2/4, Sanchez 0/1

Batters Faced - Peddycoart 9, Rojas 9, Perez 4, Henrikson 13, Sanchez 5

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Fields, cf 4 2 2 0 0 1
Farner, ss 2 0 0 0 2 1
Comeaux, 2b 3 2 1 1 0 2
Gustavson, dh 3 1 1 2 0 1
Trivella, dh 4 1 2 1 0 0
Mercado, 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0
Walburn, lf 2 1 0 0 2 0
Guinn, 3b 3 1 1 2 1 0
Pierzynski, c 4 0 0 0 0 2
Irizarry, rf 3 0 0 0 1 3

Batting

2B - Comeaux

HR - Guinn

RBI - Comeaux, Gustavson 2, Trivella, Guinn 2

HBP - Comeaux

Baserunning

SB - Comeaux, Walburn

Fielding

E - Mercado 2, Irizarry

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Corbett 3.0 2 1 0 2 6
Powers, W 3.0 5 4 2 2 0
Maire, SV 3.0 1 0 0 2 2

Wild Pitches - Corbett, Powers

Pitches/Strikes - Corbett 57/34, Powers 54/33, Maire 43/23

Groundouts/Flyouts - Corbett 1/2, Powers 4/4, Maire 3/4

Batters Faced - Corbett 15, Powers 16, Maire 12

Lightning

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Irizarry, lf/dh 4 0 1 0 1 1
Thurmond, cf 4 0 0 0 0 2
Keller, rf 4 1 1 0 1 2
Strom, 1b 3 1 0 0 1 2
Jenkins, 2b/3b 4 2 1 1 0 1
Bullen, c 4 1 3 1 0 0
Fitzgerald, dh/lf 4 0 1 2 0 0
Pleasant, dh/2b 4 0 0 1 0 0
Snider, 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0
Socarras, ph/dh 0 0 0 0 2 0
Jordan, ss 3 0 1 0 1 0

Batting

2B - Bullen

RBI - Jenkins, Bullen, Fitzgerald 2, Pleasant

GDP - Thurmond

HBP - Thurmond

Baserunning

SB - Irizarry, Keller

Fielding

E - Keller, Bullen 2, Jordan

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Peddycoart, L 1.0 5 6 3 1 1
Rojas 1.2 2 1 1 1 1
Perez 0.2 0 0 0 2 2
Henrikson 3.2 1 1 1 1 4
Sanchez 1.0 0 0 0 1 2

Wild Pitches - Peddycoart, Henrikson 2

Pitches/Strikes - Peddycoart 28/17, Rojas 42/23, Perez 22/8, Henrikson 44/33, Sanchez 21/11

Groundouts/Flyouts - Peddycoart 1/1, Rojas 0/4, Henrikson 2/4, Sanchez 0/1

Batters Faced - Peddycoart 9, Rojas 9, Perez 4, Henrikson 13, Sanchez 5

Snappers

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Fields, cf 4 2 2 0 0 1
Farner, ss 2 0 0 0 2 1
Comeaux, 2b 3 2 1 1 0 2
Gustavson, dh 3 1 1 2 0 1
Trivella, dh 4 1 2 1 0 0
Mercado, 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0
Walburn, lf 2 1 0 0 2 0
Guinn, 3b 3 1 1 2 1 0
Pierzynski, c 4 0 0 0 0 2
Irizarry, rf 3 0 0 0 1 3

Batting

2B - Comeaux

HR - Guinn

RBI - Comeaux, Gustavson 2, Trivella, Guinn 2

HBP - Comeaux

Baserunning

SB - Comeaux, Walburn

Fielding

E - Mercado 2, Irizarry

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Corbett 3.0 2 1 0 2 6
Powers, W 3.0 5 4 2 2 0
Maire, SV 3.0 1 0 0 2 2

Wild Pitches - Corbett, Powers

Pitches/Strikes - Corbett 57/34, Powers 54/33, Maire 43/23

Groundouts/Flyouts - Corbett 1/2, Powers 4/4, Maire 3/4

Batters Faced - Corbett 15, Powers 16, Maire 12

Scoring Plays

Bottom 1st

Grant Comeaux doubled down the 3b line, advanced to third on the throw, RBI. Blake Fields scored.
Hayden Gustavson singled to right field, RBI. Grant Comeaux scored.
Mario Trivella advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored on a throwing error by c, unearned. Hayden Gustavson scored on a wild pitch.
Hutson Guinn homered to left center, 2 RBI, unearned. William Walburn scored, unearned.

Top 2nd

Riley Fitzgerald reached on a fielder's choice to second base, RBI. Cole Bullen out at second 2b to ss. Ryan Jenkins scored, unearned.

Bottom 3rd

Mario Trivella singled to center field, RBI. Grant Comeaux scored.

Top 6th

Ryan Jenkins singled to right field, RBI. James Strom advanced to second. Charlie Keller scored, unearned.
Cole Bullen doubled to right center, RBI. Ryan Jenkins advanced to third. James Strom scored.
Riley Fitzgerald grounded out to 3b, RBI. Cole Bullen advanced to third. Ryan Jenkins scored.
Ledger Pleasant grounded out to 2b, RBI. Cole Bullen scored, unearned.

Bottom 7th

Hayden Gustavson flied out to cf, SF, RBI. Mathew Farner advanced to third. Blake Fields scored.

All Plays

Top 1st

Julian Irizarry walked.
Eli Thurmond struck out swinging. 1 out
Charlie Keller struck out swinging. 2 out
Julian Irizarry stole second.
James Strom struck out looking. 3 out

Bottom 1st

Blake Fields singled up the middle.
Mathew Farner struck out swinging. 1 out
Grant Comeaux doubled down the 3b line, advanced to third on the throw, RBI. Blake Fields scored.
Hayden Gustavson singled to right field, RBI. Grant Comeaux scored.
Mario Trivella singled to right field. Hayden Gustavson advanced to second.
Julian Mercado grounded out to c. Mario Trivella advanced to second. Hayden Gustavson advanced to third. 2 out
Mario Trivella advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored on a throwing error by c, unearned. Hayden Gustavson scored on a wild pitch.
William Walburn walked.
Hutson Guinn homered to left center, 2 RBI, unearned. William Walburn scored, unearned.
Austin Pierzynski flied out to lf. 3 out

Top 2nd

Ryan Jenkins reached on an error by 1b.
Ryan Jenkins advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Cole Bullen singled through the left side. Ryan Jenkins advanced to third.
Riley Fitzgerald reached on a fielder's choice to second base, RBI. Cole Bullen out at second 2b to ss. Ryan Jenkins scored, unearned. 1 out
Ledger Pleasant flied out to cf. 2 out
Reid Snider flied out to lf. 3 out

Bottom 2nd

Steven Rojas replaces Austin Peddycoart at pitcher.
Daniel Irizarry struck out swinging. 1 out
Blake Fields lined out to 3b. 2 out
Mathew Farner flied out to ss. 3 out

Top 3rd

Grant Jordan singled to right field.
Julian Irizarry struck out swinging. 1 out
Eli Thurmond hit by pitch. Grant Jordan advanced to second.
Charlie Keller struck out swinging. 2 out
James Strom walked. Eli Thurmond advanced to second. Grant Jordan advanced to third.
Ryan Jenkins struck out swinging. 3 out

Bottom 3rd

Grant Comeaux hit by pitch.
Hayden Gustavson popped up to 1b. 1 out
Grant Comeaux stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c.
Mario Trivella singled to center field, RBI. Grant Comeaux scored.
Julian Mercado singled to right field. Mario Trivella advanced to second.
William Walburn popped up to ss. 2 out
Hutson Guinn walked. Julian Mercado advanced to second. Mario Trivella advanced to third.
Lucas Perez replaces Steven Rojas at pitcher.
Austin Pierzynski struck out swinging. 3 out

Top 4th

Kyle Powers replaces Garrett Corbett at pitcher.
Cole Bullen singled to right center.
Riley Fitzgerald reached on a fielder's choice to second base. Cole Bullen out at second 2b to ss. 1 out
Riley Fitzgerald advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Ledger Pleasant flied out to cf. 2 out
Reid Snider popped up to ss. 3 out

Bottom 4th

Daniel Irizarry walked.
Blake Fields struck out looking. 1 out
Mathew Farner walked. Daniel Irizarry advanced to second.
Carson Henrikson replaces Lucas Perez at pitcher.
Grant Comeaux struck out looking. 2 out
Hayden Gustavson struck out swinging. 3 out

Top 5th

Grant Jordan flied out to lf. 1 out
Julian Irizarry singled to left center.
Eli Thurmond grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b. Julian Irizarry out on the play. 3 out

Bottom 5th

Julian Irizarry replaces at designated hitter.
Riley Fitzgerald replaces at left field.
Mario Trivella reached on a dropped fly by rf, out at second rf to ss. 1 out
Julian Mercado grounded out to ss. 2 out
William Walburn fouled out to 1b. 3 out

Top 6th

Charlie Keller singled to first base.
James Strom reached on a fielder's choice to first base. Charlie Keller advanced to second on a throwing error by 1b, advanced to third on the error.
Ryan Jenkins singled to right field, RBI. James Strom advanced to second. Charlie Keller scored, unearned.
Cole Bullen doubled to right center, RBI. Ryan Jenkins advanced to third. James Strom scored.
Riley Fitzgerald grounded out to 3b, RBI. Cole Bullen advanced to third. Ryan Jenkins scored. 1 out
Ledger Pleasant grounded out to 2b, RBI. Cole Bullen scored, unearned. 2 out
TJ Socarras replaces Reid Snider at pinch hitter.
TJ Socarras walked.
Grant Jordan walked. TJ Socarras advanced to second.
Julian Irizarry flied out to lf. 3 out

Bottom 6th

Ryan Jenkins replaces at third base.
Ledger Pleasant replaces at second base.
TJ Socarras replaces at designated hitter.
Hutson Guinn flied out to cf. 1 out
Austin Pierzynski grounded out to p. 2 out
Daniel Irizarry struck out looking. 3 out

Top 7th

Julien Maire replaces Kyle Powers at pitcher.
Eli Thurmond struck out looking. 1 out
Charlie Keller walked.
Charlie Keller stole second.
James Strom struck out swinging. 2 out
Ryan Jenkins flied out to cf. 3 out

Bottom 7th

Blake Fields singled to center field.
Blake Fields advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Mathew Farner walked.
Mathew Farner advanced to second on a wild pitch. Blake Fields advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Grant Comeaux struck out looking. 1 out
Hayden Gustavson flied out to cf, SF, RBI. Mathew Farner advanced to third. Blake Fields scored. 2 out
Mario Trivella flied out to lf. 3 out

Top 8th

Cole Bullen flied out to cf. 1 out
Riley Fitzgerald singled to right field, advanced to second on a fielding error by rf.
Ledger Pleasant grounded out to 3b. 2 out
TJ Socarras walked.
Grant Jordan flied out to cf. 3 out

Bottom 8th

Lex Sanchez replaces Carson Henrikson at pitcher.
Julian Mercado flied out to 2b. 1 out
William Walburn walked.
William Walburn stole second.
Hutson Guinn reached on an error by ss. William Walburn advanced to third.
Austin Pierzynski struck out swinging. 2 out
Daniel Irizarry struck out swinging. 3 out

Top 9th

Julian Irizarry grounded out to 2b. 1 out
Eli Thurmond grounded out to 2b. 2 out
Charlie Keller flied out to rf. 3 out