sfoggi posted on July 14, 2011 19:10
ORLANDO (July 14, 2011) - Fresh off of leading the North squad to a victory in the Florida Collegiate Summer League All-Star Game, Head Coach Dave Therneau and the Leesburg Lightning battled the Orlando Freedom at Orel Hershiser Field.
After three days off, the Lightning looked rejuvenated and started the rout of the Freedom early, as Leesburg would win handily 8-0.
In the first inning, shortstop Jacob Tillotson (Santa Fe) drove the first pitch he saw for a leadoff single and then moved to second on a grounder by Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic). Zane Evans (Georgia Tech) came up and sent the first pitch he saw well over the left field fence for a two-run blast. And before the Freedom starter’s pitch count hit double digits, the Lightning took a two run lead.
They continued to pour on the offense in the fourth inning. Leesburg batted around the order hitting three doubles, two walks and Evans once again made the headline hit of the inning taking a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left centerfield. The multi home run game is the first by any Lightning player and the first in the Florida League this season. By the end of the fourth inning, the Lightning led 8-0 and Evans had driven in four runs.
“I got a cutter that didn’t move much,” said Evans. “Just had a couple good pitches to hit.”
Nic Kovacs (Lake Sumter CC) looked incredible on the mound. He put the Freedom down in order the first two innings and had great defense behind him from the start. Tillotson made a nice diving catch to rob the Freedom of their fifth hit in the seventh inning.
Christian Coburn (College of Central Florida) picked up an assist when he threw out Freedom leadoff hitter Anthony Coronia (Tampa) when he tried to stretch a single into a double.
Kovacs would go seven innings and would strikeout seven. He fooled the Freedom hitters all night and induced nine groundouts and four fly balls. He didn’t walk a batter and didn’t allow a run to score, showing every reason why he was selected to the All-Star roster.
“Zane (Evans) was calling inside all night and I was hitting my spots,” said Kovacs. “I got them to hit a lot of groundballs and they couldn’t hit me tonight.”
Tillotson and Chase Durham (Howard College) finished with three hits each and combined for three doubles and three runs.
The big win has the Lightning primed for a showdown with the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs for first place in the Florida League standings. After the two teams scheduled doubleheader last week was rained out, they’ll square off to play two crucial games tomorrow at Pat Thomas Stadium starting at 5:00 p.m.
“I told the guys I want to win two games tomorrow,” said Therneau. “As a competitor, you always want to win, but I want to dominate for 14 innings tomorrow night.”
The teams will play two seven-inning games and with only a few weeks left in the regular season, these two games could shape out the playoff rankings. Leesburg fans are encouraged to come out and give the Lightning the always-needed home field advantage.
Nick Beardi (Medaille College)