sfoggi posted on June 18, 2011 20:26
LEESBURG, Fla. (June 18, 2011) – Winter Haven used a five-run fifth to snap a four-game losing streak as the Loggerheads defeated the Leesburg Lightning, 9-6, at Pat Thomas Stadium-Buddy Lowe Field.
The Loggerheads handed the Lightning only their second loss of the season, with the first dating back to June 10, as the Lightning fell 8-1 to Sanford. Winter Haven now improves to 5-6 on the season, while Leesburg drops to 9-2.
“ I was fired up when the guys put up a five spot in response to Leesburg’s four runs; that combined with a zero following the fourth inning. It was a pivotal point in the game,” said Head Coach Nick Vera.
Justin Burgess (Montevallo) and Sam Halpern (Barry) had the hot bats for Winter Haven as they each notched three hits and a pair of runs. Burgess added two stolen bases, while Halpern drove in four runs and a stolen base.
Winter Haven was quick to get on the board with three runs in the opening frame and a lone run in the third, 4-0. Halpern drove in Andrew Sterling (Dickinson College) and Cody Slaughter (Brown) on a bases clearing double in the first. Halpern then scored on a Sean O’Grady (Benedictine College) ground-rule double.
In the third, Halpern plated Burgess after the left fielder reached on a double, advanced to third on a stolen base, and crossed the plate on a Halpern RBI single.
After keeping the Lightning scoreless through three, Leesburg put up a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth to knot up the score at 4-all.
The bats would come alive for the Loggerheads in the fifth inning and would give Lightning relief pitcher David Lucroy (East Carolina) a run for his money, as the right-handed pitcher was charged with the loss.. Shortstop Drew Leonard (Millsaps College) led off the fifth reaching first on a costly Lightning error. Sterling followed with a fielder’s choice, advancing Leonard. Burgess then loaded the bases with an infield single.
What sounded like a jaw cracking hit-by-pitch, Slaughter took the pitch driving in Leonard from third. With the bases loaded once again and Halpern at the plate, Sterling scored the Loggerheads sixth run of the night on a wild pitch, advancing Slaughter and Burgess. Burgess would then score on another Halpern RBI single.
Winter Haven’s five-run fifth would cap off the scoring for the Loggerheads. Leesburg would manage to score two more runs with a lone run in the sixth and a final run in the ninth.
Right-hander Matt Fishman (Quincy, 1-1) picked up the win for Winter Haven tossing 2 2/3 innings in relief.
Winter Haven will wrap up their four-game road swing in Winter Park as the Loggerheads face the Diamond Dawgs on Sunday, June 19. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.