Lightning Pitching Staff Silences River Rats in 12-0 Win
Leesburg, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning turned in one of the most complete performances of the season Saturday night, combining dominant pitching with a relentless offensive attack to shut out the Sanford River Rats, 12-0, at Pat Thomas Stadium.
The Lightning pitching staff was nearly untouchable throughout the seven-inning contest, allowing just three hits while striking out 11 batters. Ethan Priest set the tone from the outset, tossing four scoreless innings and allowing only two hits while striking out five. Despite working around four walks, Priest repeatedly escaped trouble and kept Sanford off the scoreboard.
Andre Bilbao Jr. followed with a scoreless fifth inning before Miguel Figueroa earned the win with a clean sixth inning that included two strikeouts. Cody Clymer slammed the door in the seventh, striking out three of the four batters he faced to complete the combined shutout.
Offensively, Leesburg wasted little time taking control. The Lightning capitalized on walks, errors, and aggressive baserunning to build an early lead before breaking the game open in the middle innings.
KT Thompson continued his outstanding season, reaching base three times while scoring four runs, collecting two hits, driving in a run, and stealing three bases. Charlie Keller delivered another big night at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Preston Murphy added a double and two RBIs, while Marcello Cortale chipped in with a double and an RBI.
Turner Gross reached base three times and scored twice, while Dylan Green, Hudson Reed, Jack Waddingham, and Ledger Pleasant all crossed the plate as the Lightning offense generated 12 runs on nine hits.
Leesburg also put pressure on Sanford's defense throughout the night. The River Rats committed four errors, while Lightning baserunners stole five bases and consistently advanced into scoring position.
The Lightning scored six runs in the first four innings before adding four more in the fifth and two additional runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Sanford never mounted a serious threat, managing only three hits and leaving seven runners on base.
With the win, the Lightning improve to 7-1 on the season as they’ll have an off day on Sunday before heading on the road to take on the Winter Garden Squeeze at Horizon High School on Monday, June 8th at 6:00 PM.
Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)
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Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Thomas, lf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Schincariol, 1b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Ercole, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Upperman, dh |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Donatucci, ss |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Gonzalez, ss |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Pynes, c |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| J. Dobkowski, c |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Walker, 1b/lf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Fulks, lf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| M. Dobkowski, eh |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Beal, rf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Meyer, rf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Marlo, 3b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Garcia, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Weckman, cf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Seymour, 2b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Batting
2B - M. Dobkowski
GDP - Marlo
Baserunning
SB - Thomas, Weckman
CS - Donatucci
Fielding
E - Thomas, Walker, Marlo 2
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Vargas, L |
4.0 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
| Romero |
1.0 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
| Hair |
1.0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Wild Pitches - Vargas, Romero, Hair
Pitches/Strikes - Vargas 72/34, Romero 33/16, Hair 32/21
Groundouts/Flyouts - Vargas 4/5, Romero 0/1, Hair 1/0
Batters Faced - Vargas 20, Romero 9, Hair 7
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Green, ss/dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Banasiak, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thompson, dh/cf |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Reed, 3b |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Keller, rf |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cortale, cf/lf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Waddingham, 1b |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Gross, eh |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Campos, lf/2b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Murphy, c |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Pleasant, 2b/ss |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Keller, Cortale, Murphy
RBI - Thompson, Reed, Keller 3, Cortale, Murphy 2
Baserunning
SB - Thompson 3, Reed, Murphy
Fielding
E - Green
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Priest
Pitches/Strikes - Priest 77/43, Bilbao, Jr 20/10, Figueroa 10/7, Clymer 16/13
Groundouts/Flyouts - Priest 2/3, Bilbao, Jr 0/2, Figueroa 0/1
Batters Faced - Priest 17, Bilbao, Jr 4, Figueroa 3, Clymer 4
River Rats
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Thomas, lf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Schincariol, 1b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Ercole, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Upperman, dh |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Donatucci, ss |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Gonzalez, ss |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Pynes, c |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| J. Dobkowski, c |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Walker, 1b/lf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Fulks, lf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| M. Dobkowski, eh |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Beal, rf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Meyer, rf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Marlo, 3b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Garcia, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Weckman, cf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Seymour, 2b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Batting
2B - M. Dobkowski
GDP - Marlo
Baserunning
SB - Thomas, Weckman
CS - Donatucci
Fielding
E - Thomas, Walker, Marlo 2
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Vargas, L |
4.0 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
| Romero |
1.0 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
| Hair |
1.0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Wild Pitches - Vargas, Romero, Hair
Pitches/Strikes - Vargas 72/34, Romero 33/16, Hair 32/21
Groundouts/Flyouts - Vargas 4/5, Romero 0/1, Hair 1/0
Batters Faced - Vargas 20, Romero 9, Hair 7
Lightning
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Green, ss/dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Banasiak, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thompson, dh/cf |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Reed, 3b |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Keller, rf |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cortale, cf/lf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Waddingham, 1b |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Gross, eh |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Campos, lf/2b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Murphy, c |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Pleasant, 2b/ss |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Keller, Cortale, Murphy
RBI - Thompson, Reed, Keller 3, Cortale, Murphy 2
Baserunning
SB - Thompson 3, Reed, Murphy
Fielding
E - Green
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Priest
Pitches/Strikes - Priest 77/43, Bilbao, Jr 20/10, Figueroa 10/7, Clymer 16/13
Groundouts/Flyouts - Priest 2/3, Bilbao, Jr 0/2, Figueroa 0/1
Batters Faced - Priest 17, Bilbao, Jr 4, Figueroa 3, Clymer 4
Scoring Plays
Bottom 1st
Charles Keller advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hudson Reed advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kaden Thompson scored on a wild pitch.
Marcello Cortale flied out to lf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Charles Keller advanced to third on a throwing error by lf. Hudson Reed scored.
Bottom 2nd
Gabriel Campos out at first p to 1b to ss to 1b, picked off. Turner Gross scored on the throw.
Bottom 3rd
Hudson Reed flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Kaden Thompson scored, unearned.
Bottom 4th
Preston Murphy doubled to left center, 2 RBI. Turner Gross scored, unearned. Jack Waddingham scored, unearned.
Bottom 5th
Charles Keller doubled down the 1b line, 2 RBI. Kaden Thompson scored. Dylan Green scored.
Jack Waddingham advanced to second on a wild pitch. Charles Keller scored on a wild pitch.
Bottom 6th
Kaden Thompson reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, RBI. Cory Banasiak out at second ss to 2b. Ledger Pleasant advanced to third. Preston Murphy scored, unearned.
Kaden Thompson advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ledger Pleasant scored on a wild pitch, unearned.
Charles Keller singled to right center, RBI. Kaden Thompson scored, unearned.
All Plays
Top 1st
Michael Thomas struck out looking.
1 out
Enzo Ercole struck out swinging.
2 out
Dominic Donatucci walked.
Drew Pynes struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Dylan Green flied out to cf.
1 out
Kaden Thompson stole second.
Hudson Reed stole second. Kaden Thompson stole third.
Charles Keller advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hudson Reed advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kaden Thompson scored on a wild pitch.
Marcello Cortale flied out to lf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Charles Keller advanced to third on a throwing error by lf. Hudson Reed scored.
2 out
Jack Waddingham grounded out to 1b unassisted.
3 out
Top 2nd
Zach Walker singled to left center.
Michael Dobkowski walked. Zach Walker advanced to second.
Ethan Beal flied out to rf.
1 out
Jordan Marlo grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b. Michael Dobkowski out on the play.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
Turner Gross singled to center field.
Gabriel Campos walked. Turner Gross advanced to second.
Preston Murphy flied out to rf. Turner Gross advanced to third.
1 out
Gabriel Campos out at first p to 1b to ss to 1b, picked off. Turner Gross scored on the throw.
2 out
Ledger Pleasant lined out to 2b.
3 out
Top 3rd
Braeden Weckman fouled out to 2b.
1 out
AJ Seymour struck out swinging.
2 out
Michael Thomas singled up the middle.
Michael Thomas stole second.
Michael Thomas advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Enzo Ercole grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Dylan Green grounded out to p, bunt.
1 out
Kaden Thompson singled to third base, advanced to second on a throwing error by 3b.
Kaden Thompson stole third.
Hudson Reed flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Kaden Thompson scored, unearned.
2 out
Charles Keller grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Top 4th
Dominic Donatucci walked.
Dominic Donatucci out at second p to 1b to ss to p to 2b, caught stealing. 1 out
Drew Pynes flied out to rf.
2 out
Zach Walker reached first on a fielding error by ss.
Michael Dobkowski walked. Zach Walker advanced to second.
Ethan Beal struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Marcello Cortale struck out swinging.
1 out
Jack Waddingham reached first on a muffed throw by 1b, assist by 3b.
Jack Waddingham advanced to second on a passed ball.
Gabriel Campos struck out swinging.
2 out
Preston Murphy doubled to left center, 2 RBI. Turner Gross scored, unearned. Jack Waddingham scored, unearned.
Preston Murphy stole third.
Ledger Pleasant grounded out to ss.
3 out
Top 5th
Andre Bilbao Jr replaces Ethan Priest at pitcher.
Jordan Marlo flied out to rf.
1 out
Braeden Weckman stole second.
AJ Seymour flied out to lf to left center. Braeden Weckman advanced to third.
2 out
Michael Thomas struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Fabian Romero replaces Gabriel Vargas at pitcher.
Dylan Green singled up the middle.
Kaden Thompson singled to left field. Dylan Green advanced to second.
Hudson Reed struck out swinging.
1 out
Charles Keller doubled down the 1b line, 2 RBI. Kaden Thompson scored. Dylan Green scored.
Marcello Cortale flied out to lf to left center. Charles Keller advanced to third.
2 out
Jack Waddingham advanced to second on a wild pitch. Charles Keller scored on a wild pitch.
Gabriel Campos struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 6th
Miguel Figueroa replaces Andre Bilbao Jr at pitcher.
Dylan Green replaces at designated hitter.
Kaden Thompson replaces at center field.
Marcello Cortale replaces at left field.
Gabriel Campos replaces at second base.
Ledger Pleasant replaces at shortstop.
Nick Upperman replaces Enzo Ercole at pinch hitter.
Nick Upperman flied out to 1b.
1 out
Miguel Gonzalez replaces Dominic Donatucci at pinch hitter.
Miguel Gonzalez struck out swinging.
2 out
John Dobkowski replaces Drew Pynes at pinch hitter.
John Dobkowski struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Jake Schincariol replaces Michael Thomas at first base.
Nick Upperman replaces at designated hitter.
Miguel Gonzalez replaces at shortstop.
John Dobkowski replaces at catcher.
Zach Walker replaces at left field.
Joshua Hair replaces Fabian Romero at pitcher.
Ledger Pleasant singled to left center. Preston Murphy advanced to second.
Cory Banasiak replaces Dylan Green at pinch hitter.
Cory Banasiak reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Ledger Pleasant advanced to second on a throwing error by 3b. Preston Murphy advanced to third.
Kaden Thompson reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, RBI. Cory Banasiak out at second ss to 2b. Ledger Pleasant advanced to third. Preston Murphy scored, unearned.
1 out
Kaden Thompson advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ledger Pleasant scored on a wild pitch, unearned.
Hudson Reed struck out swinging.
2 out
Charles Keller singled to right center, RBI. Kaden Thompson scored, unearned.
Marcello Cortale doubled to left center. Charles Keller advanced to third.
Jack Waddingham struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 7th
Cody Clymer replaces Miguel Figueroa at pitcher.
Ben Fulks replaces Zach Walker at pinch hitter.
Ben Fulks struck out looking.
1 out
Michael Dobkowski doubled to left center.
Tyler Meyer replaces Ethan Beal at pinch hitter.
Tyler Meyer struck out swinging.
2 out
Jaden Garcia replaces Jordan Marlo at pinch hitter.
Jaden Garcia struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 7th
Ben Fulks replaces at left field.
Tyler Meyer replaces at right field.
Jaden Garcia replaces at third base.
3 out
