Lightning Stay Hot and Take Down Squeeze 7-3

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — The Leesburg Lightning continued their strong start to the season Monday night, collecting 14 hits and receiving another dominant performance from their pitching staff in a 7-3 victory over the Winter Garden Squeeze at Horizon Park.

After pushing across a run in the second inning, Leesburg broke the game open with a four-run third. RBI hits from KT Thompson, Hudson Reed and Turner Gross highlighted the rally as the Lightning built a 5-0 advantage before Winter Garden could respond.

The Squeeze chipped away with a run in the third and added two more in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Leesburg answered in the seventh. Reed delivered an RBI double before Charlie Keller added a sacrifice fly to restore the Lightning's four-run cushion.

Leesburg consistently pressured Winter Garden throughout the night, finishing with 14 hits and placing runners on base in nearly every inning. Seven different Lightning players recorded hits.

Cory Banasiak led the offensive effort, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Dylan Green reached base four times, scored twice and stole a base, while Thompson finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Reed drove in two runs, and Gross contributed two hits and an RBI.

On the mound, Ben Clenney earned the win in his first appearance of the season, allowing three runs over five innings while striking out four. The bullpen took over from there and shut the door.

JD Aragort struck out two during a scoreless sixth inning, Carson Henrikson fanned three across two scoreless frames, and Ethon Tesmer worked a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.

With the win, the Lightning improved to 8-1 on the season, while the Squeeze fell to 2-6.

Leesburg returns home Tuesday night to host the defending champion Orlando Snappers at Pat Thomas Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)