News

Leesburg,FL- The Winter Garden Squeeze and Leesburg Lighting played game 2 of their 3 game series on Monday night at Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg, the Squeeze won this one by a final score of 4-2. The atmosphere coming into the game was great, the crowd showed up showing pride and support for their Lightning, but Nick Durgin (Stetson) was able to calm and quiet them down. As he was lights out in his 5 innings pitched performance letting up 1 unearned run on 4 hits and 5 strikeouts. 

When asked about what he was trying to focus on mechanically and his approach, he said "Just trying to get extended, stay behind the ball....first pitch strikes and getting ahead was big... I was just trying to be aggressive and let them swing at pitches, I really wanted to get some pitches out of the zone on 0-2,1-2 pitches and to try to play to contact." 

On the mound for the Lightning was Ryan Brown, he went 4 innings, gave up 2 earned runs on 4 hits, walked 3, and struck out 4. The first run was charged in the top of the 3rd when Aj Llorente (Louisburg) hit an RBI single that brought in Zackary Stokes (West Florida) that broke open the scoring for both teams. Both runs were let up in the 3rd Michael Young (Pensacola State) scored on a wild pitch.

The Lightning had back to back innings in the 5th and the 6th where they scored one run, tying the game at the time. The first run came in the top of the 5th inning when Andrew Stubbs (Georgia Gwinnett) scored on an error committed by the catcher. The tying run came in the 6th inning when Maika Niu hit an RBI single good enough to bring Cade Sadler (Northwest Florida) in for the score. 

The scoring wrapped up in the top of the 7th inning, Todd Clay (Pensacola State) scored on a ball that was hit to the shortstop by Young which gave the Squeeze the lead, and ultimately win the game. The insurance run came when Sebastian Burgos (Fort Hays state) drew a bases loaded walk making the score 4-2. 

Jack Bellah (West Florida) secured the win for the Squeeze pitching 3 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 2 strikeouts. Noah Ward (Volunteer state CC) secured the save pitching just the ninth inning but striking out 2 of the 4 batters he faced, while waking 1. 

The Squeeze and Lightning will be back at Pat Thomas Stadium tomorrow night again at 7pm for the closing game of the series.

Christian Rapoza (Full Sail University)