Banasiak Sends Leesburg Fans Home Happy in 5-4 Win

Leesburg, FL – It was a game for the ages, ending in spectacular fashion for the Leesburg Lightning as they defeated the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs, 5-4, in walk-off fashion.

It was a slow start for the Lightning offense, as the top of the order struggled in the first inning. However, in the top frame, starting pitcher Ethan Priest was able to escape trouble with a strikeout after giving up an RBI double.

The second inning saw the Lightning get on the board after a sacrifice fly from shortstop Dylan Green scored Turner Gross to make it a one-run game.

After Priest's start, Head Coach Rich Billings turned to one of his experienced pitchers in Lucas Perez. Perez recorded five strikeouts in his outing, while Carson Henrikson came in behind him and added four of his own as he pounded the strike zone with a fastball that was working to perfection.

After falling behind, 4-1, in the top of the sixth, Leesburg had to find answers offensively to get back into the game. Following a single by Marcello Cortale, third baseman Hudson Reed stepped to the plate after striking out and grounding out in his first two at-bats. Reed proceeded to bring the energy back into Pat Thomas Stadium with a towering two-run home run to left field, making it a one-run game and giving the Lightning a fighting chance.

The Diamond Dawgs' pitching staff did everything it could in the later innings, with Nick Burgos preventing the Lightning from generating any opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings.

Cody Clymer came in to pitch for Leesburg in the top of the ninth and limited any further opportunities for the Diamond Dawgs. Clymer recorded one strikeout in his short outing to give the Lightning bats one last opportunity.

Dylan Green led off the ninth inning with a single to put a speedy runner on base. Green was followed by first baseman Jack Waddingham, who fought through a tough at-bat against relief pitcher Daniel Irizarry and worked a walk, putting two runners on base for Ledger Pleasant. Pleasant laid down a bunt to move the runners to second and third, setting the stage for Cory Banasiak.

Once Banasiak got a fastball to hit, he made the most of it, driving home Dylan Green to win the game for the Lightning.

Leesburg improved to 2-0 on the season and will take its winning ways to Alfond Stadium on the campus of Rollins College in Winter Park for another matchup with the Diamond Dawgs on Sunday, May 31, at 6:00 p.m.

Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)