Lightning Win 5-0 Over Storm in Bad Weather Brawl IV

By, Zack Smolen

Leesburg, FL – Both teams might have had their playoff positioning locked, but the Saturday afternoon clash between the Leesburg Lightning (18-5) and the Leesburg Storm (11-11-2) as both squads were playing for bragging rights and came to play hard. In the end, it was the big brother Lightning who came out on top, winning the season series three games to one with a 5-0 victory to close the door on the 2020 regular season. 

The Lightning arms were on full display at Pat Thomas Stadium, with Zach Chappell (UNF) leading the way with his best outing of the season. In four shutout innings, Chappell surrendered just two walks and a single hit while striking out five in his final outing before the playoffs. “I just went out there and I was prepared,” Chappell said of his performance, “I went in today and was talking to my catcher and I was like ‘dude, today’s the day.’”

Connor Gleeson (Gardner Webb), Tyler Tipton (Florida Gulf Coast) and Will Ohme (UNF) worked a combined three innings of no-hit baseball and helping put a bow on the one-hit shutout.  

Starting catcher Luke Harper (North Alabama) put an exclamation point on the year before the playoffs with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Lightning the only run they would need all game. “He’s here every single day in the morning when the Storm are playing,” said Lightning manager Matt Swiderski,” He gets here early, gets more work in than he should, asks questions and there’s just not enough good things to say about that kid. He deserves every bit of that home run, and it was great to see him happy!”

Jalen DeBose (FAU) picked up another big hit for the Lightning with a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tommy Seidl (Harvard) followed him up with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-0.

Though they took the loss, there were a lot of positives for the Storm in the ballgame. Tyler Vermillion (Charleston) gave his best effort of the year, spinning four solid innings of one-run baseball while scattering a pair of hits and walk and registering three strikeouts. Jeff Mejia (Maine) walked in the top of the third to reach base for the twentieth game in a row. He got on safely in every game he played for the Storm this season, and claimed the Florida League batting title with a staggering .451 average.

Speaking of league leaders, Mejia’s teammate Alex Freeland (UCF) ended the summer with the most triples in the circuit, contributing two, while Alejandro Figueredo of the Lightning amassed the top RBI total with 21. 

Both teams will gear up for the playoffs by resting Sunday before returning to action. The Storm will host the Seminole County Snappers at Pat Thomas Stadium on Monday and the Lightning will play the winner of that single-elimination match at home on Tuesday for the semifinal game.

Zack Smolen - 08/01/20 8:15pm

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