Leesburg Lightning

6

FINAL

2

DeLand Suns
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
LEE 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 6 10 1
DEL 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 1
WPerry
LHuff
Lightning Bounce Back with Win over Deland

Lightning Bounce Back with Win over Deland

THE VILLAGES, Fla - The Leesburg Lightning returned to their winning ways Thursday afternoon with a 6-2 victory over the Deland Suns at The Villages High School. 

Leesburg took game one of the series, improving to 7-5 while extending the Suns’ winless streak to nine games. 

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Leesburg would surrender a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back sacrifice flies.  

The go-ahead hit came from Lightning outfielder Marco Dinges (Tallahassee CC) in the third inning as he lined a ball into the left center gap to break a 2-2 tie. Offensive production started early for the Bolts as they put together six runs on 10 hits.

Starting left-hand pitcher Matt Dadlani (Hillsborough CC) tossed the first two innings, allowing two runs on no hits with one strikeout. In the third, a call to the bullpen was made and right-hander Layton Perry (Jacksonville U) came out firing. 

Perry delivered four scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and two punchouts. He picked up his second win of the season, improving his earned run average to 2.25.

“I just had to focus on pounding the (strike) zone,” Perry said. “Trying to get ahead and making them beat me with their bats.” 

The big day offensively came from catcher Travis Stapleton (Polk St.). He finished the day 3 for 4, two runs scored and his fourth double of the year.

“Biggest thing for me is staying aggressive,” Stapleton said. “If I see it in the zone, I'm putting my best swing on it and good things happen.”

Three other Lightning batters had multi-hit games; Gabe Esquivel (North Florida), Ian Thornton (Lake Sumter), Michael Furry (Troy). Esquivel drove in the opening run of the ballgame with an RBI single in the first. He finished with two hits. Leesburg would score once more in the first on a fielder’s choice from third baseman Quinn Petty (North Alabama). 

Thornton finished 2 for 4 with a double and Furry had two hits, driving in a run in the fourth inning to extend the Leesburg lead to 4-2. 

Later in the sixth, Leesburg would add two more on a botched pickoff move from Deland that would score Thornton from third, followed by an RBI groundout from second baseman Gabe Santiago (Newberry). 

Stapleton spoke of the team's success in its fourth double-digit hit victory.

“The difference was our approach, I thought we were really locked in,” Stapleton said. “We shortened our swings a little bit, moved runners over and drove guys in, that’s how you win.”

The ensuing arms for Leesburg were just as good as Casey Daiss (Pasco Hernando St.) hurled the seventh and eighth innings, striking out four, without allowing a hit. Deland was only able to scrape together three base knocks in the loss. 

Fan-favorite and closer Connor Gleeson (Gardner-Webb) did his job in the ninth, as he struck out one and gave up one hit. In five single-inning appearances, Gleeson has struck out nine batters, allowing just two hits and zero runs for a 0.00 ERA.

The Lightning will seek their second series win on Friday night at Pat Thomas Stadium - Buddy Lowe Field for game two with the Deland Suns. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. 

Tom Cavanaugh (Michigan State University)

Tom Cavanaugh - 06/17/22 2:45am

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Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Santiago, 2b 3 1 0 1 2 0
Best, dh 3 2 0 0 2 0
Esquivel, 1b 3 0 2 1 1 0
Petty, 3b 3 0 0 1 1 0
Dinges, rf 3 0 1 1 1 0
Cordova, ss 3 0 0 0 1 2
Thornton, dh 4 1 2 0 0 1
Stapleton, c 4 2 3 0 0 0
Triplett, cf 4 0 0 0 0 2
Furry, lf 3 0 2 1 1 0

Batting

2B - Dinges, Thornton, Stapleton

RBI - Santiago, Esquivel, Petty, Dinges, Furry

GDP - Petty

Baserunning

SB - Best, Furry 2

Fielding

E - Esquivel

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Dadlani 2.0 0 2 2 2 1
Perry, W 4.0 2 0 0 0 2
Daiss 2.0 0 0 0 0 4
Gleeson 1.0 1 0 0 1 1

Wild Pitches - Dadlani

Pitches/Strikes - Dadlani 45/25, Perry 46/29, Daiss 37/26, Gleeson 20/11

Groundouts/Flyouts - Dadlani 3/2, Perry 3/7, Daiss 0/2, Gleeson 1/1

Batters Faced - Dadlani 10, Perry 14, Daiss 8, Gleeson 5

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Neal, 2b 2 1 0 0 1 0
Simmons, rf 0 0 0 0 0 0
St Claire, cf 0 1 0 0 0 0
Dolan, 3b/2b 3 0 0 0 0 1
Griffis, rf/cf 3 0 0 0 1 1
Sparling, lf 3 0 1 1 0 0
Berry, dh/p 3 0 1 1 0 1
McArdle, dh 3 0 1 0 1 0
Smalley, 3b/rf 3 0 0 0 0 1
Haughey, c 3 0 0 0 0 0
Rice, ss 3 0 0 0 0 1
Moran, 1b 3 0 0 0 0 3

Batting

RBI - Sparling, Berry

HBP - Simmons, St Claire, Smalley

Fielding

E - Berry

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Huff, L 3.2 5 4 3 6 3
Berry 1.2 3 2 1 2 1
Mastromauro 3.2 2 0 0 1 1

Wild Pitches - Huff 2

Pitches/Strikes - Huff 85/40, Berry 38/23, Mastromauro 34/22

Groundouts/Flyouts - Huff 4/2, Berry 1/2, Mastromauro 4/4

Batters Faced - Huff 21, Berry 9, Mastromauro 12

Lightning

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Santiago, 2b 3 1 0 1 2 0
Best, dh 3 2 0 0 2 0
Esquivel, 1b 3 0 2 1 1 0
Petty, 3b 3 0 0 1 1 0
Dinges, rf 3 0 1 1 1 0
Cordova, ss 3 0 0 0 1 2
Thornton, dh 4 1 2 0 0 1
Stapleton, c 4 2 3 0 0 0
Triplett, cf 4 0 0 0 0 2
Furry, lf 3 0 2 1 1 0

Batting

2B - Dinges, Thornton, Stapleton

RBI - Santiago, Esquivel, Petty, Dinges, Furry

GDP - Petty

Baserunning

SB - Best, Furry 2

Fielding

E - Esquivel

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Dadlani 2.0 0 2 2 2 1
Perry, W 4.0 2 0 0 0 2
Daiss 2.0 0 0 0 0 4
Gleeson 1.0 1 0 0 1 1

Wild Pitches - Dadlani

Pitches/Strikes - Dadlani 45/25, Perry 46/29, Daiss 37/26, Gleeson 20/11

Groundouts/Flyouts - Dadlani 3/2, Perry 3/7, Daiss 0/2, Gleeson 1/1

Batters Faced - Dadlani 10, Perry 14, Daiss 8, Gleeson 5

Suns

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Neal, 2b 2 1 0 0 1 0
Simmons, rf 0 0 0 0 0 0
St Claire, cf 0 1 0 0 0 0
Dolan, 3b/2b 3 0 0 0 0 1
Griffis, rf/cf 3 0 0 0 1 1
Sparling, lf 3 0 1 1 0 0
Berry, dh/p 3 0 1 1 0 1
McArdle, dh 3 0 1 0 1 0
Smalley, 3b/rf 3 0 0 0 0 1
Haughey, c 3 0 0 0 0 0
Rice, ss 3 0 0 0 0 1
Moran, 1b 3 0 0 0 0 3

Batting

RBI - Sparling, Berry

HBP - Simmons, St Claire, Smalley

Fielding

E - Berry

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Huff, L 3.2 5 4 3 6 3
Berry 1.2 3 2 1 2 1
Mastromauro 3.2 2 0 0 1 1

Wild Pitches - Huff 2

Pitches/Strikes - Huff 85/40, Berry 38/23, Mastromauro 34/22

Groundouts/Flyouts - Huff 4/2, Berry 1/2, Mastromauro 4/4

Batters Faced - Huff 21, Berry 9, Mastromauro 12

Scoring Plays

Top 1st

Gabe Esquivel singled to right field, RBI. Noah Best advanced to third. Gabe Santiago scored.
Quinn Petty reached on a fielder's choice to second base, RBI. Gabe Esquivel out at second 2b to ss. Noah Best scored, unearned.

Bottom 1st

Sean Sparling flied out to rf, SF, RBI. Evan Griffis advanced to second. Evan St Claire advanced to third. Gavin Neal scored.
Thomas Berry flied out to rf, SF, RBI. Evan Griffis advanced to third. Evan St Claire scored.

Top 3rd

Marco Dinges doubled to center field, advanced to third on the throw, RBI. Quinn Petty advanced to third, out at home cf to ss to c. Noah Best scored.

Top 4th

Michael Furry singled to left field, RBI. Travis Stapleton scored.

Top 6th

Ian Thornton scored on an error by p.
Gabe Santiago grounded out to 3b, RBI. Michael Furry advanced to third. Travis Stapleton scored, unearned.

All Plays

Top 1st

Gabe Santiago walked.
Noah Best walked. Gabe Santiago advanced to second.
Noah Best advanced to second on a passed ball. Gabe Santiago advanced to third on a passed ball.
Gabe Esquivel singled to right field, RBI. Noah Best advanced to third. Gabe Santiago scored.
Quinn Petty reached on a fielder's choice to second base, RBI. Gabe Esquivel out at second 2b to ss. Noah Best scored, unearned. 1 out
Marco Dinges walked. Quinn Petty advanced to second.
Ramses Cordova struck out swinging. 2 out
Ian Thornton grounded out to 2b. 3 out

Bottom 1st

Gavin Neal walked.
Evan St Claire hit by pitch. Gavin Neal advanced to second.
Evan Griffis walked. Evan St Claire advanced to second. Gavin Neal advanced to third.
Sean Sparling flied out to rf, SF, RBI. Evan Griffis advanced to second. Evan St Claire advanced to third. Gavin Neal scored. 1 out
Thomas Berry flied out to rf, SF, RBI. Evan Griffis advanced to third. Evan St Claire scored. 2 out
Sean McArdle grounded out to 1b unassisted. 3 out

Top 2nd

James Dolan replaces Evan St Claire at third base.
Evan Griffis replaces at center field.
Pip Smalley replaces at right field.
Travis Stapleton grounded out to ss. 1 out
Brandon Triplett struck out swinging. 2 out
Michael Furry walked.
Michael Furry stole second.
Gabe Santiago grounded out to 3b. 3 out

Bottom 2nd

Pip Smalley hit by pitch.
Derek Haughey grounded out to 1b unassisted. Pip Smalley advanced to second. 1 out
Pip Smalley advanced to third on a wild pitch.
JT Rice grounded out to 3b. 2 out
Landon Moran struck out looking. 3 out

Top 3rd

Noah Best walked.
Noah Best stole second.
Gabe Esquivel flied out to cf. Noah Best advanced to third. 1 out
Quinn Petty reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Noah Best no advance.
Marco Dinges doubled to center field, advanced to third on the throw, RBI. Quinn Petty advanced to third, out at home cf to ss to c. Noah Best scored. 2 out
Ramses Cordova struck out swinging. 3 out

Bottom 3rd

Layton Perry replaces Matt Dadlani at pitcher.
Gavin Neal grounded out to ss. 1 out
James Dolan struck out swinging. 2 out
Evan Griffis lined out to 3b. 3 out

Top 4th

Ian Thornton singled to right field.
Travis Stapleton singled to center field. Ian Thornton advanced to second.
Travis Stapleton advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ian Thornton advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Brandon Triplett flied into double play rf to c. Ian Thornton out on the play. 2 out
Travis Stapleton advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Michael Furry singled to left field, RBI. Travis Stapleton scored.
Gabe Santiago walked. Michael Furry advanced to second.
Thomas Berry replaces at pitcher.
/ replaces Matthew Huff at .
Noah Best flied out to cf. 3 out

Bottom 4th

Sean Sparling flied out to rf. 1 out
Thomas Berry singled to center field.
Sean McArdle singled to second base. Thomas Berry advanced to second.
Pip Smalley flied out to cf. 2 out
Derek Haughey grounded out to 2b. 3 out

Top 5th

Gabe Esquivel walked.
Quinn Petty walked. Gabe Esquivel advanced to second.
Marco Dinges reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Quinn Petty out at second 3b to 2b. Gabe Esquivel advanced to third. 1 out
Ramses Cordova flied into double play rf to 1b. Marco Dinges out on the play. 3 out

Bottom 5th

JT Rice flied out to cf. 1 out
Landon Moran struck out swinging. 2 out
Gavin Neal grounded out to 2b. 3 out

Top 6th

Ian Thornton doubled to center field.
Travis Stapleton singled to second base. Ian Thornton advanced to third.
Ian Thornton scored on an error by p.
Brandon Triplett struck out looking. 1 out
Michael Furry singled to left field. Travis Stapleton advanced to third.
Thomas Berry replaces at designated hitter.
Evan Mastromauro replaces at pitcher.
Michael Furry stole second.
Gabe Santiago grounded out to 3b, RBI. Michael Furry advanced to third. Travis Stapleton scored, unearned. 2 out
Noah Best flied out to cf. 3 out

Bottom 6th

James Dolan fouled out to c, bunt. 1 out
Evan Griffis flied out to rf. 2 out
Sean Sparling fouled out to c. 3 out

Top 7th

Jesse Simmons replaces Gavin Neal at right field.
James Dolan replaces at second base.
Pip Smalley replaces at third base.
Gabe Esquivel singled to center field.
Quinn Petty grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b. Gabe Esquivel out on the play. 2 out
Marco Dinges grounded out to 2b. 3 out

Bottom 7th

Casey Daiss replaces Layton Perry at pitcher.
Thomas Berry struck out swinging. 1 out
Sean McArdle flied out to cf. 2 out
Pip Smalley struck out swinging. 3 out

Top 8th

Ramses Cordova walked.
Ian Thornton struck out swinging. 1 out
Travis Stapleton doubled to left field. Ramses Cordova advanced to third.
Brandon Triplett flied into double play cf to c to 3b. Ramses Cordova out on the play. 3 out

Bottom 8th

Derek Haughey reached on an error by 1b.
JT Rice struck out swinging. 1 out
Landon Moran struck out swinging. 2 out
Jesse Simmons hit by pitch. Derek Haughey advanced to second.
James Dolan flied out to 1b. 3 out

Top 9th

Michael Furry lined out to 3b. 1 out
Gabe Santiago flied out to lf. 2 out
Noah Best grounded out to 3b. 3 out

Bottom 9th

Connor Gleeson replaces Casey Daiss at pitcher.
Evan Griffis struck out swinging. 1 out
Sean Sparling singled to left field.
Thomas Berry flied out to cf. 2 out
Sean McArdle walked. Sean Sparling advanced to second.
Sean McArdle advanced to second on a passed ball. Sean Sparling advanced to third on a passed ball.
Pip Smalley grounded out to ss. 3 out

Friday's game has been suspended due to weather.