WINTER PARK, Fla. (June 8, 2011) - In a battle from start to finish, the Leesburg Lightning (5-0) defeated the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (4-1) by a score of 9-6.

 

“We took a lead into the ninth,” said Austin Chubb (Florida Southern). “You couldn’t ask for more than that.”

 

David Lucroy (Umatilla High School) picked up his first win of the season for the Lightning in a relief appearance. He tossed two scoreless innings and only allowed one base runner, via walk.

“Give Leesburg credit,” said Head Coach Kevin Davidson.

 

The Lightning amassed 17 hits, 10 of those against Diamond Dawgs starter Jeremy Strawn (State College of Florida), who threw six innings and allowed four earned runs. It was a tight game early, with four different lead changes through the first six innings as both teams traded blows back and forth all night long.

 

“They had 17 hits against some of our best arms, and took advantage of the base paths,” said Davidson.

 

In the bottom of the first inning, Winter Park jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead. Right fielder Ted Blackman (St. Petersburg Community College) led off the inning with a single. Todd Hankins (Seminole State Community College) followed that with a single down the left field line advancing Blackman to third. Blackman then scored on a Michael Danner (Polk State College) fielder’s choice, while Hankins advanced to second base. Hankins then moved over to third on a Chubb fly ball to right. With two outs on the board, B.J. Zimmerman (State College of Florida) drove Hankins in on a RBI single to right.

 

Leesburg then responded by opening up the top of the second inning by scoring two runs on three consecutive singles. In the third inning, Winter Park took back the lead as Chubb reached base on an error, followed by a Zimmerman single; both runners advanced on a passed ball. Then, with one out, Dustin DeMuth (Indiana University) hit a ground ball to the short stop, which allowed Chubb to score from third.

 

The Lightning had another early answer in the top of the fourth inning scoring two more runs to take back the lead, 4-3. Thomas Sicking (Texas Pan-American) led off the inning with an infield single. On the next at-bat, Tyler Kellman (Lake Sumter Community College) popped up a bunt attempt, but reached base despite the effort of a Zimmerman dive. Catcher Nick Octavi (Harford Community College) then moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and was followed up on a Jacob Tillotson (Florida) single, which drove in Sicking. Leesburg scratched across the next run on a safety squeeze by Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic University).

 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Diamond Dawgs knotted things up at 4-all as Chubb crossed the plate on a Mike Reed (Auburn University) one-out RBI single after reaching on a double to right center.

 

The Diamond Dawgs would then gain complete control of the game in the sixth. With one out, Albert Lefran (Nova Southeastern University) drew a walk. Omar Cotto (University of Southern California) would then replace Lefran at first and would proceed to steal second, his fourth of the season. Blackman then broke the deadlock with a single to center field, and Cotto scored despite running through a stop sign given by Coach Davidson at third base.

 

“I have to admit I had a bad start on that,” said Cotto. “But something just triggered me, and I knew it had to be a perfect throw to get me.”

 

Blackman advanced to second base on the throw home and moved to third on a passed ball. He eventually scored on a wild pitch, making things 6-4 in favor of Winter Park.

 

In the top of the eighth inning, Leesburg took back a run. Chris Waltermire (Polk State College) came into the game with two outs and a runner on first. After giving up two hits, and allowing a run to score, he hit Albaladejo to load the bases. Matt Kimbrel (Shelton State Community College) entered the game looking for a four out save, and got the out he needed to get out of the late inning jam. Kimbrel was drafted yesterday in the 32^nd round by the Atlanta Braves.

 

The Lightning tied the game and delivered the knockout blow in the top of the ninth inning. They scored four runs, as five of the first seven batters in the inning reached base safely.

 

“I thought Kimbrel threw the ball well, they just took advantage of some pitches that caught a little too much of the plate,” said Chubb.

 

Kimbrel was delivered his first loss of the season. Winter Park went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to end the game. Leesburg is now in sole possession of first place.

 

“They had a good game,” said Cotto. “I thought we played a good game too, but luck just wasn’t on our side.”

 

Winter Park will hit the road tomorrow (June 9) afternoon as they square off against the Sanford River Rats in a rematch of opening night. Drew Packard (Villanova University) will get the start for the Diamond Dawgs with first pitch slated for 7 p.m.