ORLANDO, Fla- For the first time since 2019, the Leesburg Lightning will not be headed to the Florida League championship series. Despite the struggles throughout the season, the team was able to get back on course and eventually force a game three against one of the best rosters in the league.
 
First inning struggles came back to haunt Leesburg as Starting RHP Austin Peddycoart (Southeastern U) struggled to get out of the frame unscathed. The damage started with an RBI double followed by a single that plated another run giving Orlando a quick 2-0 lead. A wild pitch from Peddycoart then brought home two more runs due to a throwing error from C Cole Bullen (UF) which allowed a runner from second to score as well. With the lead up to 4-0, the Snappers got a two-run homer that extended their advantage to 6-0. 
 
RHP Steven Rojas (Pasco-Hernando St) was the first arm out of the bullpen for Leesburg in the 2nd, tossing a 1-2-3 frame before he got some run support in the bottom of the inning.
 
After 2B Ryan Jenkins (Carson-Newman) reached first on an error by the shortstop, extra hitter Riley Fitzgerald (Lake Sumter St) knocked him in with an RBI groundout to make it 6-1. 
 
In the 3rd, Rojas hit the leadoff batter to start the inning and later allowed that run to score after an RBI single made it 7-1. RHP Lucas Perez (Florida Southern) came on to get the final out in the inning and induced a popup to send things to the 4th. 
 
Perez struck out the second batter of the inning after a leadoff walk but issued another free pass before he gave way to RHP Carson Henrikson (Hillsborough CC). Henrikson was able to strand both runners by getting back-to-back punch outs to end the frame. The righty finished his night allowing just one run over the next three innings while striking out a total of 4 batters. 
 
Leesburg was able to keep chipping away at the lead later in the 6th starting with back-to-back singles from RF Charlie Keller (Ball St) and 1B James Strom (Southeastern U). Jenkins then brought home Keller with an RBI single before Bullen knocked in Strom with a double to make it 7-3. Fitzgerald and extra hitter Ledger Pleasant (St. Johns River St) were able to bring home two more with consecutive RBI groundouts that put the score at 7-5. 
 
With trouble brewing in the 7th, RHP Lex Sanchez (USF) came on to relieve Henrikson and allowed a sacrifice fly that made it 8-5 before he closed out this inning. 
 
The Lightning had an opportunity in the 8th with two on and two out but the team failed to cut into the deficit as they left both runners stranded. 
 
With just 3 outs left, the Leesburg offense was shut down in the 9th with a 1-2-3 frame sending Orlando to the FCSL championship series this weekend. 
 
The Lightning wraps up their season with a record of 19-16 as they miss the championship series for the first time since 2019. 
 
Coach Billings had nothing but great things to say about his players this summer and how proud he is of the progression they made during the season. 
 
“I think the thing I’m probably the most proud of is that a lot of these guys came in here this summer and they didn’t know where they were going after this,” said Billings. “A lot of guys in the portal, some guys that were trying to figure out what the next step was and almost every guy that we had this summer that was in that situation found a place to play. I take a lot of pride in that and I take that very seriously. I'm so happy for all of them because their career is able to continue so that means more to me than anything.”

The Lightning look ahead towards next summer as Coach Billings will begin to scout potential players for the new season in the next couple of months. Be sure to check the Lightning website for updates on the 2026 season and until next time, Bolts Up!
 
Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)