A Quiet Night for the Lightning Offense Was the Difference Maker in a 5-1 Loss to the Snappers

Leesburg, Fla- The bats scored a season low 1 run in the Lightning's first game against the Snappers. Coming into last night, Leesburg had put up at least 4 runs in every game to start the season.
 
RHP Tanner Walker quickly found himself in some 1st inning trouble starting with an RBI single from Rashad Robinson who would end up having a 3-hit night. The Lightning would get their first out against the next batter William Walburn but would have to trade a second run in the process. A sacrifice fly then brought home another run to make it 3-0 Orlando with the Leesburg bats coming up. 
 
A scoreless bottom of the first for the Snappers defense was followed by a rain delay that lasted almost an hour and a half.
 
After the delay, both starting pitchers were relieved and gave way to the bullpens, starting with LHP Sebastian Miller for the Lightning. The lefty would pitch a clean 2nd inning before giving way to RHP Carson Henrikson. 
 
Fast-forward to the 4th, Henrikson found himself in some trouble when a single plated another run for Orlando which extended the lead to 4-0. The Snappers would add on in the 5th after a sacrifice fly made it 5-0. 
 
Both Snappers relievers, Billy Batson and Joey Wittig kept the Lightning bats quiet through 8 combined innings of relief. 
 
Wittig allowed just one run in the 7th when 3B Reid Snider knocked in a run with an RBI single to make it 5-1 going into the final two frames. With the hit, Snider capped off his first 3 hit game of the season. 
 
Leesburg would string together a small rally in the 9th after a two out single from 1B James Strom was followed up by a walk from extra hitter Juan Orozco. With the team still down to its last out, Wittig was able to get a groundout from RF Charlie Keller to give the Snappers a 5-1 victory. 
 
With so many high scoring games to start the season, Coach Billings touched on how frustrating it was to only get one run from his offense.
 
“It was a little frustrating to watch, a lot of guys just trying to do way too much,” said Billings. “The deeper we get into the game, the more guy’s press, the more they’re trying to hit the ball further, they’re trying to hit it harder, their swings get longer and bigger and you just can’t play the game that way. We just weren’t able to get anything going offensively.”
 
Leesburg will play a make-up game on Wednesday June 11 after the Monday matchup against Orlando was postponed. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at The First Academy.

Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)

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