WINTER PARK, Fla. -- The Leesburg Lightning (12-17) played a rare Sunday game against the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (26-3) at the friendly confines of Pat Thomas Stadium. 

As they do so often, the Diamond Dawgs scored first. A sacrifice fly from Luke Reidy (Rollins) put the Dawgs up 1-0 in the first inning. A second inning homer from Gerardo Miranda (North Alabama) doubled the Winter Park lead. After two, the Dawgs held a 2-0 advantage.

The third inning was a huge one for the Lightning, as the Bolts completely flipped the momentum of the game. Nick Lewis (Valdosta State) started the run barrage with a two-run double that tied the game. After an error and a walk brought two more runs home, Robbie Scott (North Florida) singled down the right field line, scoring Cedeno and Backus, that gave the Lightning a 4-2 lead. Parker Pillsbury (Chipola) followed with a two-run double and gave the Lightning a 6-2 advantage. The six runs scored in the third inning tied the season record for runs scored in an inning by the Lightning, as the Bolts had a six run inning at Winter Garden in June.

A walk by Wyatt Elbe (Maryville) and a fielder’s choice RBI from Scott added two runs to the Lightning’s total. Leesburg led 8-2 after five,

After a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly that made it 10-2 Lightning, Pillsbury roped a single that scored two runs, giving Pillsbury his third and fourth RBIs of the day. 

The Lightning would not score any more runs, but it was already enough. The Lightning won the game via the mercy-rule, 12-2, in seven innings.

Lightning starting pitcher Josh Hancock was excellent, allowing just two runs while striking out eight in six full innings of work. Stephen Wilmer was great in relief of Hancock, striking out one batter in a scoreless, hitless inning. 

Lightning manager Rich Billings said the Lightning’s performance speaks to the team’s character. “It says a lot about them,” Billings said. “It’s a character win. When you’ve lost to a team eight times in a row, you get tired of losing to them. We were finally able to put some pressure on their pitching staff. We made them make some plays and took advantage of some of their mistakes, as opposed to it being the other way around. We hit the ball well and had great at bats. Our pitching was phenomenal, both Hancock and Wilmer. It was a great win.”

Jaxon Peebles (Alabama)