Lightning Win Another at Home, Defeat Monarchs 5-2

LEESBURG, Fla. - The Leesburg Lightning (2-1) defeated the Orlando Monarchs (1-2) on Tuesday night at Buddy Lowe Field at Pat Thomas Stadium, 5-2, in the first game ever between the two teams. This is the Monarchs first season in the Florida Collegiate Summer League.

 

“It always feels good to play well in front of your fans,” Leesburg assistant coach Rich Billings said. “I don’t think that we necessarily played up to our potential, but we played well enough to win. We scored more runs than they did and we did it in front of a great crowd.”

 

Mike Clutterbuck (Macomb CC) threw five dominant innings to pick up the win for the Lightning. Clutterbuck scattered two hits over his five innings and did not give up a run. He struck out five and only walked two.

 

“I hate to say it, but I’m used to throwing like that,” Clutterbuck said. “I’m not the type of guy to give up runs. I throw with confidence. When runners do get on base, I know that they’re going to have a tough time scoring. It was good to get a win today.”

 

Trey Norris (Polk State) came in for the ninth inning and picked up his first save of the season, setting the Monarchs down 1-2-3 on just seven pitches.

 

The losing pitcher for the Monarchs was Matthew Mitchell (Grambling State). He gave up five runs on seven hits in five innings, although only one of those runs was earned. Orlando committed four costly errors in the ballgame which led to four unearned runs.

 

The Lightning were the first team to get on the board, as they scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Two of the three runs were unearned.

 

Shortstop Jake Cavendar (Point University) reached on a walk to lead off the inning. Catcher Andrew Kawam (Macomb CC) hit an infield single, but an errant throw allowed Cavendar to advance to score and Kawam to advance to second base. The next batter, shortstop Kyle Teaf (South Florida) also hit an infield single, but an errant throw from first to third to try to pick off Kawam allowed Teaf to advance to second and allowed Kawam to score. Teaf scored on a single from Brett Moreland (Flagler).

 

Leesburg extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kawam reached on walk to start the inning. Teaf laid down a bunt to move Kawam to second base, but an errant throw allowed Kawam to get all the way to third base and Teaf got to second. Kawam came home on a single from Matt Singletary (Polk State) and Teaf scored when Moreland grounded into a double play later in the inning.

 

The Monarchs scored a run in both the seventh and eighth innings to cut the lead to 5-2.

 

In the seventh inning, right-fielder Austin Lueck (South Florida) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, took second base on a passed ball, advanced to third base on a passed ball and then scored on sacrifice fly from first baseman Devin Raftery (State College of Florida).

 

The Monarchs’ run in the eighth inning was scored by Deandre Lankford (Seminole St. College). Lankford got an infield single, advanced to second base on a passed ball and scored on a single from designated hitter Albert Lefran (Lake Sumter CC).

 

The Lightning are back in action at the DeLand Suns on Wednesday night. First pitch is at 7 p.m.