Lightning Enter Home Stretch with Win over Dawgs

WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning returned from the Florida League All-Star break with an offensive outburst Thursday night, collecting 15 hits in an 11-6 victory over the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs to open a three-game series.

Leesburg wasted little time taking control. After Matthew Dumas and Andon Gray reached base to begin the game, Charlie Keller crushed a three-run home run in the opening inning to give the Lightning an early 3-0 lead.

The Lightning kept the pressure on in the second, plating four more runs. Dylan Green drove in a run with an RBI single before Preston Murphy lined a two-run single to center. Winter Park also committed a throwing error during the inning that allowed another run to score as Leesburg stretched its advantage to 7-0.

The Diamond Dawgs got on the board with two runs in the third, but Andon Gray answered with an RBI single in the top half of the inning to restore the Lightning's six-run cushion at 8-2.

Josh Cone took over in relief of Bryce Gluckman and provided the turning point on the mound. The right-hander tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three to earn his second victory of the season. Andre Bilbao Jr. followed with a scoreless seventh before Winter Park mounted a late push over the final two innings.

Leesburg added valuable insurance in the eighth. Matthew Dumas scored on a wild pitch before Murphy collected his third RBI of the night with an RBI single to make it 10-2. After the Diamond Dawgs scored twice in the bottom half, the Lightning answered again in the ninth with another run before Winter Park added two more in the bottom of the inning.

The Lightning's offense was led by Dumas, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Murphy finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Keller went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and four RBIs. Jack Waddingham added two hits and scored twice, while Turner Gross and Marcello Cortale also recorded two-hit performances as Leesburg totaled 15 hits and drew eight walks.

With the win, the Lightning improved to 21-8 on the season and took the opener of their three-game series against the Diamond Dawgs. The series continues Friday at Pat Thomas Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)