Lightning grasp championship slot

By: Laura Kubitz

LEESBURG- The Leesburg Lightning shut out the Sanford River Rats, 5-0, in the second game of the playoffs to secure a spot in the championship against the Clermont Mavericks.

Saturday's game was the second time the Lightning have shut out the River Rats this season. The first time was at The Villages when the Lightning defeated the River Rats, 1-0.

Lindsey Caughel (Stetson) dominated the game working seven innings, striking out 10, allowing four hits, allowing no runs and walking none. He threw 68 strikes in 89 pitches.

"That was one of the best games I have ever felt," Caughel said. "Every single pitch was working. I got ahead of every single batter. I threw my change up, curve ball and fastball counts, and an off speed count. Out of 10 starts you are lucky to feel like that once. It's a great feeling."

Robert Lake (Winthrop) worked one inning, allowing one hit and striking out one. Eric Doty (Polk State College) finished up the game striking out one and giving up no hits.

Caughel striking out 10 batters was the second highest for the Lightning this season, right

behind Kyle Wahl (Southern), who struck out 11 against Clermont on July 2.

"He [Caughel] had a great overall summer and when you establish a strike zone, the defense is going to make the plays," said Lightning manager Frank Viola.

The Lightning kept the River Rats to just five hits and stranding six. The Lightning stranded six as well, but recorded 11 hits and scored four out of the five runs after two outs.

Michael Dufek (Michigan) went three for four with three singles and scoring two runs. Nick DelGuidice (Florida Atlantic) went two for two with an RBI-single, a base hit and scoring two runs.

After three scoreless innings, the Lightning got ahead of the River Rats in the fourth, 2-0. After two outs, Trae Gore (Florida Southern) and Dufek were in scoring position when Evan Taylor (Lenior Rhyne) walked to load up the bases. Chris Berset (Michigan) stepped up to deliver a single to left center to score Gore and Dufek.

In the fifth, the Lightning deepened their lead. DelGuidice reached first on a fielder's choice. Again after two outs, Gore sent one down the middle to score DelGuidice, leaving the score, 3-0.

The Lightning went out with a bang in the eighth scoring two runs. DelGuidice led off with a single and after two strikeouts, Dufek singled up the middle to put DelGuidice into scoring position. Taylor singled through the left side to score DelGuidice. Berset kept the action going with a double up the middle to score Dufek.

In the regular season series versus Sanford, the Lightning were ahead, 5-3, but Sanford has been sitting comfortable with the number two seed in the Florida Collegiate Summer League in front of third place Leesburg.

But Leesburg dominated the playoffs with a solid bullpen and a strong defense.

"We have struggled all year defensively except for the last two games we have had a combined one error," Viola said. "When you put the ball over the plate and make the pitches and you make plays, you are going to be in a good position."

The Lightning will face the FCSL defending champs, the Clermont Mavericks, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Monday at 5 p.m. in a one-game battle for the FCSL championship.

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