Lightning Force Winner-Take-All Game 3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
SANFORD, Fla. – Facing elimination, the Leesburg Lightning kept their championship hopes alive Sunday night, defeating the Sanford River Rats 13-8 to even the Florida Collegiate Summer League Championship Series at one game apiece.
Leesburg struck first in the opening inning. Matthew Dumas scored the game's first run after Charlie Keller reached on a dropped fly ball that resulted in a sacrifice fly. Preston Murphy followed with an RBI groundout to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead, then added another RBI groundout in the third to extend the advantage to 3-0.
The Lightning pushed the lead to 4-0 in the fourth when Jack Waddingham singled home Dylan Green, but Sanford answered with a six-run bottom half. The River Rats took advantage of a defensive error and a wild pitch before AJ Seymour capped the rally with a two-run home run to put Sanford in front, 6-4.
Leesburg responded immediately in the fifth. Marcello Cortale drove in a run with an RBI single before Green tied the game with an RBI double.
The Lightning regained control in the sixth. Andon Gray lined a two-run single to put Leesburg back in front before Keller launched a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 10-6.
Leesburg added three more runs in the seventh. Cory Banasiak delivered an RBI double before Waddingham followed with a two-run double to make it 13-6.
Sanford scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but Miguel Figueroa shut the door by tossing two scoreless innings to earn the save.
The Lightning finished with 12 hits and drew nine walks, with every starter reaching base at least once. Gray led the offense by going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Waddingham finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Keller drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer. Murphy added two RBIs, and Dumas scored three times while stealing three bases.
Carson Henrikson earned the victory in relief to improve to 5-0 despite allowing five runs over four innings. Figueroa struck out three over the final two innings to secure the save.
With the win, Leesburg forces a winner-take-all Game 3 of the FCSL Championship Series. The 2026 Whiting Cup champion will be decided Monday night at 7 p.m. at Pat Thomas Stadium.
Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)