Lightning Rally from Five Runs Down to Stun River Rats
Sanford, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning erased a five-run deficit with a relentless late-game offensive surge, scoring eight unanswered runs over the final three innings to defeat the Sanford River Rats 12-9 on Thursday night at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
Sanford jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning before extending its advantage to 6-1 through three frames. The Lightning began chipping away in the fourth when Charlie Keller launched a two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to three.
Turner Gross drove in another run with an RBI single in the fifth, but the River Rats answered with a two-run home run from Jake Schincariol and added another run in the sixth to build a commanding 9-4 lead. However, Leesburg refused to go away.
After trimming the deficit to 9-5 in the seventh when Ledger Pleasant scored on a balk, the Lightning exploded in the eighth inning. Gross opened the rally with a solo home run before Keller crushed his second two-run homer of the night to make it a one-run game. Just moments later, Marcello Cortale delivered the biggest swing of the night, blasting a two-run homer to left field to give Leesburg its first lead since the opening inning at 10-9.
The Lightning added two insurance runs in the ninth, drawing back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Gabe Campos and Cory Banasiak to extend the lead to three.
The offense pounded out 14 hits, highlighted by Keller's two-home-run, four-RBI performance. Gross finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, while Cortale added a two-run homer of his own. Andon Gray led the way at the top of the lineup, going 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
After starter Gavin Dicks allowed six runs over three innings, the bullpen helped turn the game around. Josh Cone earned his first win of the season with 2.1 innings of relief, striking out five while allowing just one run. Ryan Perzanowski closed the door over the final two innings, working around four walks to record his first save of the season.
The victory improved Leesburg to 14-6 on the season and completed one of the team's most dramatic comebacks of the summer. The three-game series vs the Sanford continues on Friday, June 26th at 7:00 PM against the River Rats at Pat Thomas Stadium.
Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)
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Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Gray, 2b |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thompson, lf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gross, dh |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Green, ss |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Keller, rf |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|
Campos, cf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Banasiak, c |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Pleasant, 3b |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cortale, eh |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waddingham, 1b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Gray
HR - Gross, Keller 2, Cortale
RBI - Thompson, Gross 2, Keller 4, Campos, Banasiak, Cortale 2, Waddingham
GDP - Banasiak
HBP - Gross
Baserunning
SB - Campos
Fielding
E - Campos
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Baisley, Shapiro 2, Perzanowski
Pitches/Strikes - Dicks 63/38, Baisley 32/17, Shapiro 39/25, Perzanowski 40/20
Groundouts/Flyouts - Dicks 3/1, Baisley 0/3, Shapiro 0/2, Perzanowski 2/1
Batters Faced - Dicks 17, Baisley 7, Shapiro 10, Perzanowski 9
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Marlo, 3b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Seymour, 3b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Upperman, cf |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Weckman, ph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Pynes, c |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Schincariol, lf/1b |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Dobkowski, dh |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Walker, rf/lf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Scott, 2b |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Stafford, 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Meyer, rf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Velez, ss |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Gonzalez, ph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Ercole, eh |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Beal, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Batting
2B - Marlo, Schincariol
HR - Schincariol
RBI - Pynes, Schincariol 4, Dobkowski 2, Walker
GDP - Scott
Baserunning
SB - Upperman 3, Walker
Fielding
E - Marlo
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Kendall |
4.2 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
| Keltz |
2.1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| Romero, L |
1.0 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
| Garcia |
0.2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
| Hair |
0.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pitches/Strikes - Kendall 92/61, Keltz 47/27, Romero 23/13, Garcia 31/13, Hair 2/1
Groundouts/Flyouts - Kendall 6/6, Keltz 2/4, Romero 1/1, Garcia 1/0, Hair 0/1
Batters Faced - Kendall 23, Keltz 11, Romero 6, Garcia 7, Hair 1
Lightning
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Gray, 2b |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thompson, lf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gross, dh |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Green, ss |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Keller, rf |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|
Campos, cf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Banasiak, c |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Pleasant, 3b |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cortale, eh |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waddingham, 1b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Gray
HR - Gross, Keller 2, Cortale
RBI - Thompson, Gross 2, Keller 4, Campos, Banasiak, Cortale 2, Waddingham
GDP - Banasiak
HBP - Gross
Baserunning
SB - Campos
Fielding
E - Campos
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Baisley, Shapiro 2, Perzanowski
Pitches/Strikes - Dicks 63/38, Baisley 32/17, Shapiro 39/25, Perzanowski 40/20
Groundouts/Flyouts - Dicks 3/1, Baisley 0/3, Shapiro 0/2, Perzanowski 2/1
Batters Faced - Dicks 17, Baisley 7, Shapiro 10, Perzanowski 9
River Rats
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Marlo, 3b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Seymour, 3b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Upperman, cf |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Weckman, ph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Pynes, c |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Schincariol, lf/1b |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Dobkowski, dh |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Walker, rf/lf |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Scott, 2b |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Stafford, 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Meyer, rf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Velez, ss |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Gonzalez, ph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Ercole, eh |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Beal, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Batting
2B - Marlo, Schincariol
HR - Schincariol
RBI - Pynes, Schincariol 4, Dobkowski 2, Walker
GDP - Scott
Baserunning
SB - Upperman 3, Walker
Fielding
E - Marlo
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Kendall |
4.2 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
| Keltz |
2.1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| Romero, L |
1.0 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
| Garcia |
0.2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
| Hair |
0.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pitches/Strikes - Kendall 92/61, Keltz 47/27, Romero 23/13, Garcia 31/13, Hair 2/1
Groundouts/Flyouts - Kendall 6/6, Keltz 2/4, Romero 1/1, Garcia 1/0, Hair 0/1
Batters Faced - Kendall 23, Keltz 11, Romero 6, Garcia 7, Hair 1
Scoring Plays
Bottom 1st
Drew Pynes singled up the middle, RBI. Nick Upperman advanced to third. Jordan Marlo scored.
John Dobkowski grounded out to 3b, RBI. Jake Schincariol advanced to second. Drew Pynes advanced to third. Nick Upperman scored.
Zach Walker grounded out to ss, RBI. Jake Schincariol advanced to third. Drew Pynes scored.
Top 3rd
Kaden Thompson flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Andon Gray did not advance. Jack Waddingham scored.
Bottom 3rd
Jake Schincariol doubled to left center, advanced to third on a fielding error by cf, 2 RBI. Drew Pynes scored. Nick Upperman scored.
John Dobkowski singled to center field, RBI. Jake Schincariol scored, unearned.
Top 4th
Charles Keller homered to right field, 2 RBI. Dylan Green scored.
Top 5th
Turner Gross singled through the left side, RBI. Kaden Thompson advanced to second. Andon Gray scored.
Bottom 5th
Jake Schincariol homered to right field, 2 RBI. Jordan Marlo scored.
Bottom 6th
Tyler Meyer walked. Zach Walker scored on a wild pitch.
Top 7th
Ledger Pleasant scored on a balk, unearned.
Top 8th
Charles Keller homered to right center, 2 RBI. Dylan Green scored.
Marcello Cortale homered to left field, 2 RBI. Ledger Pleasant scored.
Top 9th
Gabriel Campos walked, RBI. Charles Keller advanced to second. Turner Gross advanced to third. Kaden Thompson scored.
Cory Banasiak walked, RBI. Gabriel Campos advanced to second. Charles Keller advanced to third. Turner Gross scored.
All Plays
Top 1st
Andon Gray lined out to 2b.
1 out
Kaden Thompson out at first 1b to p.
2 out
Turner Gross struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Jordan Marlo doubled to left field.
Nick Upperman singled to center field. Jordan Marlo advanced to third.
Nick Upperman stole second. Jordan Marlo did not advance.
Drew Pynes singled up the middle, RBI. Nick Upperman advanced to third. Jordan Marlo scored.
Jake Schincariol walked. Drew Pynes advanced to second. Nick Upperman did not advance.
John Dobkowski grounded out to 3b, RBI. Jake Schincariol advanced to second. Drew Pynes advanced to third. Nick Upperman scored.
1 out
Zach Walker grounded out to ss, RBI. Jake Schincariol advanced to third. Drew Pynes scored.
2 out
Caleb Scott struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 2nd
Dylan Green flied out to cf.
1 out
Gabriel Campos reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Charles Keller out at second 3b to 2b.
2 out
Cory Banasiak singled through the right side. Gabriel Campos advanced to second.
Ledger Pleasant reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Cory Banasiak advanced to second. Gabriel Campos out at third 3b unassisted.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
Sean Stafford struck out looking.
1 out
Adonys Velez struck out swinging.
2 out
Enzo Ercole struck out looking.
3 out
Top 3rd
Marcello Cortale singled through the left side.
Jack Waddingham reached on a fielder's choice to first base. Marcello Cortale out at second 1b to ss.
1 out
Andon Gray doubled down the lf line. Jack Waddingham advanced to third.
Kaden Thompson flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Andon Gray did not advance. Jack Waddingham scored.
2 out
Turner Gross flied out to cf.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Jordan Marlo flied out to lf.
1 out
Nick Upperman singled to pitcher.
Nick Upperman stole second.
Drew Pynes walked. Nick Upperman did not advance.
Jake Schincariol doubled to left center, advanced to third on a fielding error by cf, 2 RBI. Drew Pynes scored. Nick Upperman scored.
John Dobkowski singled to center field, RBI. Jake Schincariol scored, unearned.
Zach Walker grounded out to 1b unassisted. John Dobkowski advanced to second.
2 out
Caleb Scott struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 4th
Dylan Green singled up the middle.
Charles Keller homered to right field, 2 RBI. Dylan Green scored.
Gabriel Campos lined out to lf.
1 out
Cory Banasiak struck out looking.
2 out
Ledger Pleasant flied out to rf.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Logan Baisley replaces Gavin Dicks at pitcher.
Sean Stafford struck out swinging.
1 out
Adonys Velez struck out swinging.
2 out
Enzo Ercole flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 5th
Marcello Cortale grounded out to p.
1 out
Jack Waddingham grounded out to 2b.
2 out
Andon Gray singled up the middle.
Kaden Thompson singled to first base. Andon Gray advanced to second.
Turner Gross singled through the left side, RBI. Kaden Thompson advanced to second. Andon Gray scored.
Christopher Keltz replaces Brian Kendall at pitcher.
Dylan Green flied out to lf.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Jordan Marlo singled up the middle.
Jordan Marlo advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Nick Upperman popped up to 2b. Jordan Marlo did not advance.
1 out
Drew Pynes lined out to cf to left center. Jordan Marlo did not advance.
2 out
Jake Schincariol homered to right field, 2 RBI. Jordan Marlo scored.
Joshua Cone replaces Logan Baisley at pitcher.
John Dobkowski flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 6th
Charles Keller flied out to cf.
1 out
Gabriel Campos stole second.
Cory Banasiak lined into double play 2b. Gabriel Campos out on the play.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Zach Walker singled to right center.
Zach Walker stole second.
Caleb Scott struck out looking. Zach Walker did not advance.
1 out
Tyler Meyer replaces Sean Stafford at pinch hitter.
Zach Walker advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Tyler Meyer walked. Zach Walker scored on a wild pitch.
Adonys Velez struck out swinging. Tyler Meyer did not advance.
2 out
Enzo Ercole struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 7th
Jake Schincariol replaces at first base.
Zach Walker replaces at left field.
Tyler Meyer replaces at right field.
Ledger Pleasant singled through the left side.
Marcello Cortale popped up to 2b. Ledger Pleasant did not advance.
1 out
Ledger Pleasant Failed pickoff attempt, advanced to third on a throwing error by p.
Ledger Pleasant scored on a balk, unearned.
Jack Waddingham grounded out to 2b, RBI.
2 out
Andon Gray singled to right center.
Kaden Thompson grounded out to 1b unassisted.
3 out
Bottom 7th
Jordan Marlo struck out looking.
1 out
Nick Upperman singled up the middle.
Drew Pynes struck out looking.
2 out
Nick Upperman stole second.
Jake Schincariol fouled out to rf.
3 out
Top 8th
Turner Gross homered to left field, RBI.
Fabian Romero replaces Christopher Keltz at pitcher.
Charles Keller homered to right center, 2 RBI. Dylan Green scored.
Cory Banasiak grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b. Gabriel Campos out on the play.
2 out
Marcello Cortale homered to left field, 2 RBI. Ledger Pleasant scored.
Jack Waddingham flied out to rf.
3 out
Bottom 8th
Ryan Perzanowski replaces Joshua Cone at pitcher.
John Dobkowski grounded out to p.
1 out
Caleb Scott grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b. Zach Walker out on the play.
3 out
Top 9th
Tyler Garcia replaces Fabian Romero at pitcher.
AJ Seymour replaces Jordan Marlo at third base.
Andon Gray singled to right field.
Kaden Thompson reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Andon Gray out at second 3b to 2b.
1 out
Turner Gross hit by pitch. Kaden Thompson advanced to second.
Dylan Green struck out looking.
2 out
Charles Keller was intentionally walked. Turner Gross advanced to second. Kaden Thompson advanced to third.
Gabriel Campos walked, RBI. Charles Keller advanced to second. Turner Gross advanced to third. Kaden Thompson scored.
Cory Banasiak walked, RBI. Gabriel Campos advanced to second. Charles Keller advanced to third. Turner Gross scored.
Joshua Hair replaces Tyler Garcia at pitcher.
Ledger Pleasant popped up to 1b.
3 out
Bottom 9th
Tyler Meyer struck out swinging.
1 out
Miguel Gonzalez replaces Adonys Velez at pinch hitter.
Ethan Beal replaces Enzo Ercole at pinch hitter.
Ethan Beal struck out swinging.
2 out
AJ Seymour walked. Miguel Gonzalez advanced to second.
Braeden Weckman replaces Nick Upperman at pinch hitter.
AJ Seymour did not advance. Miguel Gonzalez advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Braeden Weckman walked. AJ Seymour advanced to second. Miguel Gonzalez did not advance.
Drew Pynes lined out to rf.
3 out