Lightning Swept By Suns Heading Into The Postseason
LEESBURG, Fla.- The Leesburg Lightning (21-12) were pummelled offensively at home on Saturday night, in a 13-7 loss to the DeLand Suns (13-19) to cap off the regular season.
DeLand was off and running from the top of the first inning, as a two-run opening frame highlighted by a leadoff solo homerun gave the Suns a 2-0 lead over the Lightning and starting pitcher Riley Fitzgerald (Flagler).
The Suns really opened up their lead on the Lightning with six runs in the fourth inning, where Leesburg could just not find a way to get the third out, which extended DeLand’s lead to 8-0.
The Lightning would finally get on the board in the fifth inning, as RBI walks drawn by Brooks Bryan (Troy) and Drew Leinenbach (North Florida) cut the DeLand lead to 8-2.
DeLand immediately responded three runs in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 13-2.
Leesburg was not quite done yet however, as with the run-rule looming, the Lightning posted four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, highlighted by three RBIs that came off walks and HBPs, along with an RBI single from Fitzgerald to cut the lead to 13-6.
One more run in the ninth inning on an RBI single from Joseph Massa (Samford) led to a 13-7 final score and a DeLand win, sweeping the three-game set between the two teams.
Even with the sweep, DeLand missed the playoffs by .5 games behind the Orlando Snappers. However, the Lightning will have the one seed and home-field advantage throughout the Florida League playoffs.
While the Lightning do know they will be playing at home to open the postseason, their opponent has not yet been decided. The Orlando Snappers and the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs will face off in a one-game playoff on Monday at Alfond Stadium in Winter Park to decide who the Lightning will face in their semifinal series.
Game one of the semifinal series for the Leesburg Lightning is set for Tuesday, July 25th at 7 PM against the winner of the play-in game.
(Carter Mansfield, Austin Peay State University)
Carter Mansfield - 07/22/23 11:37pm
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Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Liquori, lf |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Rich, ph/lf |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| De La Cruz, 2b |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
| Moreno, pr/2b |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Bruno, ss |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Becker, cf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| Hairston, 3b |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Robinson, dh |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Mocombe II, dh |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Hughes, 1b |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Wright, c |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Fitts, rf |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Batting
2B - Robinson
HR - Liquori
RBI - Liquori, Rich, De La Cruz 3, Becker 2, Hairston, Robinson 2, Hughes
GDP - Rich
HBP - Bruno, Hughes
Baserunning
SB - Robinson, Mocombe II, Fitts
Fielding
E - Hairston
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Cole |
4.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Smith, W |
2.0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
| Robinson |
0.2 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
| Freshcorn |
2.1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Wild Pitches - Cole 2, Freshcorn
Pitches/Strikes - Cole 52/34, Smith 47/23, Robinson 34/13, Freshcorn 44/22
Groundouts/Flyouts - Cole 3/7, Smith 1/2, Robinson 1/0, Freshcorn 1/4
Batters Faced - Cole 15, Smith 13, Robinson 7, Freshcorn 11
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Fitzgerald, p/dh |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Chapman, 3b |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Bryan, c |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Leinenbach, rf |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mangual, ss |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Furry, cf |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Gerteisen, lf |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Stubbs, 1b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Massa, 2b |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Boully, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Murphy, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Chaffee, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Foster, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Chapman, Stubbs 2
RBI - Fitzgerald, Bryan, Leinenbach, Gerteisen, Stubbs, Massa 2
HBP - Furry, Gerteisen, Stubbs, Massa 2
Baserunning
SB - Furry
Fielding
E - Mangual
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Murphy 2
Pitches/Strikes - Fitzgerald 36/24, Boully 46/26, Murphy 36/21, Chaffee 24/15, Foster 37/24
Groundouts/Flyouts - Fitzgerald 1/4, Boully 0/2, Murphy 2/3, Chaffee 2/0, Foster 1/3
Batters Faced - Fitzgerald 11, Boully 12, Murphy 12, Chaffee 8, Foster 10
Suns
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| Liquori, lf |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Rich, ph/lf |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| De La Cruz, 2b |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
| Moreno, pr/2b |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Bruno, ss |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Becker, cf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| Hairston, 3b |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Robinson, dh |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Mocombe II, dh |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Hughes, 1b |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Wright, c |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Fitts, rf |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Batting
2B - Robinson
HR - Liquori
RBI - Liquori, Rich, De La Cruz 3, Becker 2, Hairston, Robinson 2, Hughes
GDP - Rich
HBP - Bruno, Hughes
Baserunning
SB - Robinson, Mocombe II, Fitts
Fielding
E - Hairston
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Cole |
4.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Smith, W |
2.0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
| Robinson |
0.2 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
| Freshcorn |
2.1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Wild Pitches - Cole 2, Freshcorn
Pitches/Strikes - Cole 52/34, Smith 47/23, Robinson 34/13, Freshcorn 44/22
Groundouts/Flyouts - Cole 3/7, Smith 1/2, Robinson 1/0, Freshcorn 1/4
Batters Faced - Cole 15, Smith 13, Robinson 7, Freshcorn 11
Lightning
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Fitzgerald, p/dh |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Chapman, 3b |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Bryan, c |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Leinenbach, rf |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mangual, ss |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Furry, cf |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Gerteisen, lf |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Stubbs, 1b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Massa, 2b |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Boully, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Murphy, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Chaffee, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Foster, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Chapman, Stubbs 2
RBI - Fitzgerald, Bryan, Leinenbach, Gerteisen, Stubbs, Massa 2
HBP - Furry, Gerteisen, Stubbs, Massa 2
Baserunning
SB - Furry
Fielding
E - Mangual
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Murphy 2
Pitches/Strikes - Fitzgerald 36/24, Boully 46/26, Murphy 36/21, Chaffee 24/15, Foster 37/24
Groundouts/Flyouts - Fitzgerald 1/4, Boully 0/2, Murphy 2/3, Chaffee 2/0, Foster 1/3
Batters Faced - Fitzgerald 11, Boully 12, Murphy 12, Chaffee 8, Foster 10
Scoring Plays
Top 1st
Corey Robinson doubled to left center, RBI. Chase Bruno advanced to third. Juan De La Cruz scored.
Top 4th
Logan Hughes singled to right field, RBI. Kency Mocombe II advanced to third. Corey Robinson scored.
Alex Rich walked, RBI. Ahmad Fitts advanced to second. Logan Hughes advanced to third. Kency Mocombe II scored.
Juan De La Cruz singled up the middle, 2 RBI. Alex Rich advanced to second. Ahmad Fitts scored. Logan Hughes scored.
Joseph Becker singled to right field, 2 RBI. Chase Bruno advanced to second. Juan De La Cruz scored. Alex Rich scored.
Bottom 5th
Brooks Bryan walked, RBI. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to second. Joseph Massa advanced to third. Drew Stubbs scored.
Andrew Leinenbach walked, RBI. Brooks Bryan advanced to second. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to third. Joseph Massa scored.
Top 6th
Ahmad Fitts scored on a wild pitch.
Jalen Hairston singled through the left side, RBI. Joseph Becker advanced to second. Chase Bruno scored.
Corey Robinson singled through the right side, RBI. Jalen Hairston advanced to third. Joseph Becker scored.
Top 7th
Alex Rich grounded into double play 2b to 1b. Ahmad Fitts out on the play. James Wright advanced to third. Logan Hughes scored.
Juan De La Cruz singled up the middle, RBI. James Wright scored.
Bottom 7th
Tyler Gerteisen walked, RBI. Michael Furry advanced to second. Hector Mangual advanced to third. Andrew Leinenbach scored.
Drew Stubbs hit by pitch, RBI. Tyler Gerteisen advanced to second. Michael Furry advanced to third. Hector Mangual scored.
Joseph Massa hit by pitch, RBI. Drew Stubbs advanced to second. Tyler Gerteisen advanced to third. Michael Furry scored.
Riley Fitzgerald singled to second base, RBI. Joseph Massa advanced to second. Drew Stubbs advanced to third, out at home 2b to 1b to c. Tyler Gerteisen scored.
Bottom 9th
Joseph Massa singled to shortstop, RBI. Drew Stubbs scored.
All Plays
Top 1st
Jeff Liquori homered to center field, RBI.
Juan De La Cruz singled up the middle.
Chase Bruno singled to left center. Juan De La Cruz advanced to third.
Joseph Becker flied out to lf.
1 out
Jalen Hairston struck out swinging.
2 out
Corey Robinson doubled to left center, RBI. Chase Bruno advanced to third. Juan De La Cruz scored.
Kency Mocombe II lined out to ss.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Riley Fitzgerald grounded out to 3b.
1 out
Logan Chapman doubled to right center.
Brooks Bryan lined out to lf.
2 out
Andrew Leinenbach grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Top 2nd
Logan Hughes popped up to c.
1 out
James Wright grounded out to 3b.
2 out
Ahmad Fitts singled to right field.
Alex Rich replaces Jeff Liquori at pinch hitter.
Ahmad Fitts stole second.
Alex Rich lined out to 1b.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
Alex Rich replaces at left field.
Hector Mangual struck out swinging.
1 out
Michael Furry hit by pitch.
Michael Furry stole second.
Michael Furry advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Tyler Gerteisen struck out swinging.
2 out
Drew Stubbs flied out to ss.
3 out
Top 3rd
Riley Fitzgerald replaces at designated hitter.
Bryan Boully replaces at pitcher.
Juan De La Cruz struck out swinging.
1 out
Chase Bruno popped up to 1b.
2 out
Joseph Becker flied out to 3b.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Joseph Massa flied out to rf.
1 out
Riley Fitzgerald flied out to ss.
2 out
Logan Chapman flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 4th
Jalen Hairston struck out swinging.
1 out
Corey Robinson singled to center field.
Corey Robinson stole second.
Kency Mocombe II singled through the right side. Corey Robinson advanced to third.
Kency Mocombe II stole second.
Logan Hughes singled to right field, RBI. Kency Mocombe II advanced to third. Corey Robinson scored.
James Wright struck out looking.
2 out
Ahmad Fitts walked. Logan Hughes advanced to second.
Alex Rich walked, RBI. Ahmad Fitts advanced to second. Logan Hughes advanced to third. Kency Mocombe II scored.
Juan De La Cruz singled up the middle, 2 RBI. Alex Rich advanced to second. Ahmad Fitts scored. Logan Hughes scored.
Chase Bruno walked. Juan De La Cruz advanced to second. Alex Rich advanced to third.
Jack Murphy replaces Bryan Boully at pitcher.
Joseph Becker singled to right field, 2 RBI. Chase Bruno advanced to second. Juan De La Cruz scored. Alex Rich scored.
Jalen Hairston grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Brooks Bryan flied out to cf.
1 out
Andrew Leinenbach reached on a throwing error by 3b, advanced to second on the error.
Hector Mangual grounded out to 3b.
2 out
Andrew Leinenbach advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Michael Furry flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 5th
Corey Robinson popped up to 2b.
1 out
Kency Mocombe II flied out to rf.
2 out
James Wright grounded out to 3b.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Will Smith replaces Sam Cole at pitcher.
Tyler Gerteisen struck out swinging.
1 out
Drew Stubbs doubled to right center.
Riley Fitzgerald walked. Joseph Massa advanced to second. Drew Stubbs advanced to third.
Logan Chapman struck out swinging.
2 out
Brooks Bryan walked, RBI. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to second. Joseph Massa advanced to third. Drew Stubbs scored.
Andrew Leinenbach walked, RBI. Brooks Bryan advanced to second. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to third. Joseph Massa scored.
Hector Mangual struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 6th
Ahmad Fitts singled up the middle.
Ahmad Fitts advanced to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Alex Rich struck out looking.
1 out
Juan De La Cruz fouled out to c.
2 out
Ahmad Fitts scored on a wild pitch.
Chase Bruno singled to third base.
Joseph Becker walked. Chase Bruno advanced to second.
Jalen Hairston singled through the left side, RBI. Joseph Becker advanced to second. Chase Bruno scored.
Jayson Chaffee replaces Jack Murphy at pitcher.
Corey Robinson singled through the right side, RBI. Jalen Hairston advanced to third. Joseph Becker scored.
Kency Mocombe II grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Michael Furry grounded out to 3b.
1 out
Tyler Gerteisen hit by pitch.
Drew Stubbs fouled out to 1b.
2 out
Joseph Massa hit by pitch. Tyler Gerteisen advanced to second.
Riley Fitzgerald flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 7th
Logan Hughes singled through the right side.
James Wright singled to right center. Logan Hughes advanced to second.
Ahmad Fitts singled up the middle. James Wright advanced to second. Logan Hughes advanced to third.
Alex Rich grounded into double play 2b to 1b. Ahmad Fitts out on the play. James Wright advanced to third. Logan Hughes scored.
2 out
Juan De La Cruz singled up the middle, RBI. James Wright scored.
Liam Moreno replaces Juan De La Cruz at .
Chase Bruno hit by pitch. Liam Moreno advanced to second.
Daniel Foster replaces Jayson Chaffee at pitcher.
Joseph Becker reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Chase Bruno out at second 3b to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 7th
Liam Moreno replaces at second base.
Ty Robinson replaces Will Smith at pitcher.
Logan Chapman singled to left field.
Brooks Bryan struck out swinging.
1 out
Andrew Leinenbach reached on a fielder's choice to third base. Logan Chapman out at second 3b to 2b.
2 out
Hector Mangual walked. Andrew Leinenbach advanced to second.
Michael Furry walked. Hector Mangual advanced to second. Andrew Leinenbach advanced to third.
Tyler Gerteisen walked, RBI. Michael Furry advanced to second. Hector Mangual advanced to third. Andrew Leinenbach scored.
Drew Stubbs hit by pitch, RBI. Tyler Gerteisen advanced to second. Michael Furry advanced to third. Hector Mangual scored.
Kevin Freshcorn replaces Ty Robinson at pitcher.
Joseph Massa hit by pitch, RBI. Drew Stubbs advanced to second. Tyler Gerteisen advanced to third. Michael Furry scored.
Riley Fitzgerald singled to second base, RBI. Joseph Massa advanced to second. Drew Stubbs advanced to third, out at home 2b to 1b to c. Tyler Gerteisen scored.
3 out
Top 8th
Jalen Hairston reached on a throwing error by ss.
Corey Robinson flied out to cf.
1 out
Kency Mocombe II struck out swinging.
2 out
Logan Hughes hit by pitch. Jalen Hairston advanced to second.
James Wright struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 8th
Logan Chapman grounded out to 2b.
1 out
Andrew Leinenbach struck out swinging.
2 out
Hector Mangual flied out to lf.
3 out
Top 9th
Ahmad Fitts struck out looking.
1 out
Alex Rich flied out to 2b.
2 out
Liam Moreno singled to left field.
Chase Bruno flied out to cf.
3 out
Bottom 9th
Michael Furry flied out to cf.
1 out
Tyler Gerteisen flied out to rf.
2 out
Drew Stubbs doubled down the 3b line.
Drew Stubbs advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Joseph Massa singled to shortstop, RBI. Drew Stubbs scored.
Riley Fitzgerald fouled out to 3b.
3 out
