Lightning Strike Out 18 River Rats in 6-1 Victory
Leesburg, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning rode a dominant pitching performance and timely offense to a 6-1 victory over the Sanford River Rats on Friday night at Pat Thomas Stadium, extending their winning streak while improving to 15-6 on the season.
Sanford struck first in the opening inning on an RBI single by John Dobkowski, but the Lightning answered immediately. Hudson Reed tied the game with a sacrifice fly before Dylan Green lined a two-run single up the middle later in the inning, giving Leesburg a 3-1 lead they would never relinquish.
The Lightning added to their advantage in the fifth inning when Marcello Cortale scored on an RBI double from Andon Gray before Charlie Keller lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1. Leesburg plated its final run an inning later as Cortale reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Dylan Green to cross the plate for a 6-1 cushion.
The story of the night belonged to the pitching staff, which combined for 18 strikeouts while holding the River Rats to just one run. Brandon Reiter struck out eight over 3.2 innings in his start, allowing one run on three hits. Carson Henrikson followed with another outstanding relief appearance, earning the win after striking out eight over 3.1 scoreless innings. Miguel Figueroa added two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh before Andre Bilbao Jr. closed out the victory in the ninth.
Green paced the offense by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Turner Gross finished 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Gray added an RBI double, and the Lightning manufactured runs throughout the evening with three sacrifice flies and aggressive baserunning, including two stolen bases from Cortale.
Leesburg's pitching staff retired 18 Sanford hitters, tying together one of its most dominant performances of the season. After two straight victories against the River Rats, the three-game series will conclude on Saturday, June 27th at 6:30 PM at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)
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Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Marlo, 2b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Upperman, cf |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Weckman, cf |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Pynes, 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Stafford, 1b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Schincariol, lf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Pitman, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. Dobkowski, c |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Garcia, c |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Walker, rf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Beal, rf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Thomas, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Meyer, ph |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Velez, ss |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Scott, ss |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| M. Dobkowski, eh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Ercole, ph |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Gonzalez, 3b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Batting
2B - Gonzalez
RBI - J. Dobkowski
GDP - Meyer
Baserunning
SB - Upperman
Fielding
E - Upperman
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Furey, L |
2.1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| Hershey |
2.2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Rossi |
2.0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Seymour |
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Wild Pitches - Furey
Pitches/Strikes - Furey 40/25, Hershey 49/23, Rossi 25/12, Seymour 8/7
Groundouts/Flyouts - Furey 2/5, Hershey 2/3, Rossi 2/4, Seymour 2/0
Batters Faced - Furey 13, Hershey 12, Rossi 10, Seymour 3
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Gray, 2b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Campos, dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gross, c |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Keller, rf |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Reed, 1b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Green, ss |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thompson, cf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Murphy, eh |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Pleasant, 3b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cortale, lf |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Gray, Gross
RBI - Gray, Keller, Reed, Green 2, Cortale
GDP - Thompson, Pleasant
HBP - Campos, Gross, Green
Baserunning
SB - Gross, Green, Cortale 2
Fielding
E - Gross
Pitching
Pitches/Strikes - Reiter 52/36, Henrikson 50/34, Figueroa 21/12, Bilbao, Jr 6/6
Groundouts/Flyouts - Reiter 2/2, Henrikson 1/1, Figueroa 1/0, Bilbao, Jr 2/0
Batters Faced - Reiter 16, Henrikson 12, Figueroa 5, Bilbao, Jr 4
River Rats
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Marlo, 2b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Upperman, cf |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Weckman, cf |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Pynes, 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Stafford, 1b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Schincariol, lf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Pitman, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. Dobkowski, c |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Garcia, c |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Walker, rf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Beal, rf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Thomas, dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Meyer, ph |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Velez, ss |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Scott, ss |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| M. Dobkowski, eh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Ercole, ph |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Gonzalez, 3b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Batting
2B - Gonzalez
RBI - J. Dobkowski
GDP - Meyer
Baserunning
SB - Upperman
Fielding
E - Upperman
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Furey, L |
2.1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| Hershey |
2.2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Rossi |
2.0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Seymour |
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Wild Pitches - Furey
Pitches/Strikes - Furey 40/25, Hershey 49/23, Rossi 25/12, Seymour 8/7
Groundouts/Flyouts - Furey 2/5, Hershey 2/3, Rossi 2/4, Seymour 2/0
Batters Faced - Furey 13, Hershey 12, Rossi 10, Seymour 3
Lightning
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Gray, 2b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Campos, dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gross, c |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Keller, rf |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Reed, 1b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Green, ss |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Thompson, cf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Murphy, eh |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Pleasant, 3b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cortale, lf |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Gray, Gross
RBI - Gray, Keller, Reed, Green 2, Cortale
GDP - Thompson, Pleasant
HBP - Campos, Gross, Green
Baserunning
SB - Gross, Green, Cortale 2
Fielding
E - Gross
Pitching
Pitches/Strikes - Reiter 52/36, Henrikson 50/34, Figueroa 21/12, Bilbao, Jr 6/6
Groundouts/Flyouts - Reiter 2/2, Henrikson 1/1, Figueroa 1/0, Bilbao, Jr 2/0
Batters Faced - Reiter 16, Henrikson 12, Figueroa 5, Bilbao, Jr 4
Scoring Plays
Top 1st
John Dobkowski singled to third base, RBI. Drew Pynes advanced to second. Jordan Marlo scored.
Bottom 1st
Hudson Reed flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Charles Keller advanced to second on a throwing error by cf. Turner Gross advanced to third. Gabriel Campos scored.
Dylan Green singled up the middle, 2 RBI. Charles Keller scored, unearned. Turner Gross scored.
Bottom 5th
Andon Gray doubled to right center, RBI. Marcello Cortale scored.
Charles Keller flied out to rf down the rf line, sacrifice fly, RBI. Turner Gross advanced to third. Andon Gray scored.
Bottom 6th
Marcello Cortale reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, RBI. Ledger Pleasant out at second ss to 2b. Preston Murphy advanced to third. Dylan Green scored.
All Plays
Top 1st
Jordan Marlo singled to center field.
Nick Upperman singled through the left side. Jordan Marlo advanced to second.
Drew Pynes reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Nick Upperman out at second 3b to 2b. Jordan Marlo advanced to third.
1 out
Jake Schincariol struck out looking.
2 out
John Dobkowski singled to third base, RBI. Drew Pynes advanced to second. Jordan Marlo scored.
Zach Walker grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Andon Gray flied out to cf to left center.
1 out
Gabriel Campos hit by pitch.
Turner Gross singled through the left side. Gabriel Campos advanced to second.
Turner Gross advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gabriel Campos advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Hudson Reed flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI. Charles Keller advanced to second on a throwing error by cf. Turner Gross advanced to third. Gabriel Campos scored.
2 out
Dylan Green singled up the middle, 2 RBI. Charles Keller scored, unearned. Turner Gross scored.
Kaden Thompson reached on a fielder's choice to second base. Dylan Green out at second 2b to ss.
3 out
Top 2nd
Michael Thomas struck out looking.
1 out
Adonys Velez struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b.
2 out
Michael Dobkowski struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
Preston Murphy fouled out to c.
1 out
Ledger Pleasant grounded out to 3b.
2 out
Andon Gray flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 3rd
Miguel Gonzalez struck out swinging.
1 out
Jordan Marlo flied out to rf.
2 out
Nick Upperman struck out swinging, reached first on a throwing error by c.
Nick Upperman stole second.
Jake Schincariol flied out to cf to left center.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Gabriel Campos flied out to cf to left center.
1 out
Turner Gross doubled down the 3b line.
Jack Hershey replaces Liam Furey at pitcher.
Hudson Reed flied out to cf. Turner Gross advanced to third.
2 out
Dylan Green popped up to ss.
3 out
Top 4th
John Dobkowski struck out swinging.
1 out
Zach Walker struck out looking.
2 out
Carson Henrikson replaces Brandon Reiter at pitcher.
Michael Thomas struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Kaden Thompson struck out looking.
1 out
Preston Murphy singled to pitcher.
Ledger Pleasant grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b. Preston Murphy out on the play.
3 out
Top 5th
Adonys Velez lined out to lf.
1 out
Michael Dobkowski struck out looking.
2 out
Miguel Gonzalez doubled to right field.
Jordan Marlo struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Marcello Cortale stole second.
Andon Gray doubled to right center, RBI. Marcello Cortale scored.
Gabriel Campos grounded out to 2b up the middle. Andon Gray advanced to third.
1 out
Turner Gross hit by pitch.
Turner Gross stole second.
Charles Keller flied out to rf down the rf line, sacrifice fly, RBI. Turner Gross advanced to third. Andon Gray scored.
2 out
Hudson Reed struck out looking.
3 out
Top 6th
Nick Upperman singled to first base.
Drew Pynes struck out looking.
1 out
Nick Upperman advanced to second on a passed ball.
Jake Schincariol struck out swinging.
2 out
Nick Upperman advanced to third on a passed ball.
John Dobkowski struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Luke Rossi replaces Jack Hershey at pitcher.
Jaden Garcia replaces John Dobkowski at catcher.
Dylan Green hit by pitch.
Kaden Thompson flied out to lf.
1 out
Dylan Green stole second.
Ledger Pleasant walked. Preston Murphy advanced to second. Dylan Green advanced to third.
Marcello Cortale reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, RBI. Ledger Pleasant out at second ss to 2b. Preston Murphy advanced to third. Dylan Green scored.
2 out
Marcello Cortale stole second.
Andon Gray grounded out to ss.
3 out
Top 7th
Ethan Beal replaces Zach Walker at pinch hitter.
Ethan Beal struck out looking.
1 out
Tyler Meyer replaces Michael Thomas at pinch hitter.
Tyler Meyer grounded out to ss up the middle.
2 out
Caleb Scott replaces Adonys Velez at pinch hitter.
Caleb Scott struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 7th
Braeden Weckman replaces Nick Upperman at center field.
Sean Stafford replaces Drew Pynes at first base.
Ethan Beal replaces at right field.
Caleb Scott replaces at shortstop.
Gabriel Campos singled to pitcher, bunt.
Turner Gross flied out to rf.
1 out
Charles Keller flied out to lf.
2 out
Hudson Reed fouled out to 1b.
3 out
Top 8th
Miguel Figueroa replaces Carson Henrikson at pitcher.
Enzo Ercole replaces Michael Dobkowski at pinch hitter.
Enzo Ercole singled up the middle.
Miguel Gonzalez struck out looking.
1 out
Jordan Marlo grounded out to 1b unassisted. Enzo Ercole advanced to second.
2 out
Sean Stafford struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 8th
AJ Seymour replaces Luke Rossi at pitcher.
Dylan Green singled to third base.
Kaden Thompson grounded into double play ss to 1b. Dylan Green out on the play.
2 out
Preston Murphy grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Top 9th
Andre Bilbao Jr replaces Miguel Figueroa at pitcher.
Cooper Pitman replaces Jake Schincariol at pinch hitter.
Cooper Pitman grounded out to 3b.
1 out
Jaden Garcia singled to right field.
Ethan Beal singled up the middle. Jaden Garcia advanced to second.
Tyler Meyer grounded into double play ss to 1b. Ethan Beal out on the play.
3 out
