The Leesburg Lightning Keeps The Offense Hot in Historic Home Opener Victory, 25-3
It was a historic night in Leesburg for the Lightning, scoring a team record 25 runs in the team's win over the Sanford River Rats.
The offensive outpour began in the 2nd inning for Leesburg, posting a 6 spot in the bottom half of the inning off of four RBI singles from Riley Fitzgerald, Ryan Jenkins, Jordy Oriach, and Keeton Burroughs, who came in for Orlando Pena following the 1st inning.
Three scoreless innings from Indian River State right-hander Jace Trautner catapulted the Bolts into the 4th, only allowing two hits through three.
The Sanford River Rats would see some production from the bats, kicking off the top of the 4th with a leadoff homer by one of two extra hitters for the River Rats, Jalen Hairston. This would lead to two more runs coming into score later in the inning, but it came at no prevail.
Between the 4th and 5th inning, the Lightning would tally 19 runs, including 4 that came off of walks and a stand-up triple from Drew Clymer. In this stretch, the Lightning would not only break the team's single-game run record but also its single-game walks record, finishing with 17 free passes for Leesburg. The 5th inning also saw the Lightning bat around the order twice, happening three times in total during the contest.
Zach Mizrahi, Tyler Donay, and Max Meyer would come in late in the game for the final 2.2 innings of work against Sanford, only allowing 1 hit and striking out three batters combined to shut the door on the River Rats in the 7th, taking the first two contests of the weekend series.
Jordy Oriach put together another strong performance, finishing 3-4 in the contest with 2 RBIs following a multi-hit performance in the season opener.
"I'm just seeing the ball really well, man. It's just there's nothing to it. I just see the ball, react, and that's basically all from me." Oriach said post-game.
Keeton Burroughs, Drew Clymer, James Strom, and Riley Fitzgerald would also finish with multi-hit performances, grabbing multiple RBIs in the lopsided victory.
"Yeah, we didn't do much wrong tonight, which was good to see," said Head Coach Rich Billings. "I was really proud of our guys, not just the way they played, but I think the professionalism that they showed tonight was really, really impressive. That probably stood out as much as anything to me, but we got to clicking on all cylinders tonight, and we got rolling."
It was a great home opener for the Lightning, one that Head Coach Rich Billings greatly appreciated.
"It was impressive," said Billings. "The fans never cease to amaze me. You know, when you think you've seen it all, they show up, and they fill the place more than you thought they could fill it. And that was really nice for our guys to see that and to feel the support from the community. You tell them what it's going to be like, and that exceeded every expectation that I had and probably that they had as well. So that was really nice. We appreciate the fans, and hopefully they'll come and pack it again."
The Lightning will get another chance to Pack the Pat on Saturday night when the team welcomes back the Sanford River Rats for the final game of this 3-game opening set for the 2024 season. First pitch is at 7 p.m. EST.
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Batting
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
Williamson, dh |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Rose, 2b/rf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Hairston, dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Puckett, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Riegel, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Lopez, rf |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Sowers, 2b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Cole, lf |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Alana, ss |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Demetree, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Saleeba, 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Harper, ph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Hart, c |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Santana, cf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Shaw, cf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Santana
HR - Hairston
RBI - Hairston, Saleeba
HBP - Williamson, Cole
Baserunning
SB - Saleeba
CS - Williamson
Fielding
E - Alana
Pitching
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Burgess, L |
1.2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
Halkis |
1.1 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
Martinez |
1.0 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
Prybylla |
0.2 |
4 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
Prieto |
1.1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
Wild Pitches - Burgess 3, Martinez 2, Prybylla 3
Pitches/Strikes - Burgess 50/23, Halkis 41/21, Martinez 41/24, Prybylla 46/19, Prieto 26/10
Groundouts/Flyouts - Burgess 1/1, Halkis 1/3, Martinez 2/0, Prybylla 1/0, Prieto 3/1
Batters Faced - Burgess 11, Halkis 12, Martinez 8, Prybylla 11, Prieto 10
Batting
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
Santiago, 2b |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
Jenkins, ss |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Denton, ph/dh |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Oriach, rf |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
Priest, dh |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
Pena, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Burroughs, 3b |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
Strom, 1b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Clymer, dh/lf |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
Kelly, lf/ss |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Stubbs, c |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Stapleton, c |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Fitzgerald, cf |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Burroughs
3B - Clymer
RBI - Santiago, Jenkins, Denton, Oriach 4, Burroughs 4, Strom 3, Clymer 3, Fitzgerald 2
GDP - Stubbs
HBP - Denton, Oriach, Strom, Clymer
Baserunning
SB - Santiago 2, Jenkins, Clymer, Fitzgerald
CS - Santiago
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Hutsell
Pitches/Strikes - Trautner 47/23, Hutsell 24/12, Mizrahi 6/3, Donay 12/7, Meyer 21/13
Groundouts/Flyouts - Trautner 3/3, Hutsell 3/0, Mizrahi 1/1, Donay 1/1, Meyer 1/0
Batters Faced - Trautner 12, Hutsell 9, Mizrahi 2, Donay 3, Meyer 5
River Rats
Batting
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
Williamson, dh |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Rose, 2b/rf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Hairston, dh |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Puckett, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Riegel, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Lopez, rf |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Sowers, 2b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Cole, lf |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Alana, ss |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Demetree, ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Saleeba, 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Harper, ph |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Hart, c |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Santana, cf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Shaw, cf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Santana
HR - Hairston
RBI - Hairston, Saleeba
HBP - Williamson, Cole
Baserunning
SB - Saleeba
CS - Williamson
Fielding
E - Alana
Pitching
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Burgess, L |
1.2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
Halkis |
1.1 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
Martinez |
1.0 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
Prybylla |
0.2 |
4 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
Prieto |
1.1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
Wild Pitches - Burgess 3, Martinez 2, Prybylla 3
Pitches/Strikes - Burgess 50/23, Halkis 41/21, Martinez 41/24, Prybylla 46/19, Prieto 26/10
Groundouts/Flyouts - Burgess 1/1, Halkis 1/3, Martinez 2/0, Prybylla 1/0, Prieto 3/1
Batters Faced - Burgess 11, Halkis 12, Martinez 8, Prybylla 11, Prieto 10
Lightning
Batting
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
Santiago, 2b |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
Jenkins, ss |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Denton, ph/dh |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Oriach, rf |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
Priest, dh |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
Pena, 3b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Burroughs, 3b |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
Strom, 1b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Clymer, dh/lf |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
Kelly, lf/ss |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Stubbs, c |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Stapleton, c |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Fitzgerald, cf |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Burroughs
3B - Clymer
RBI - Santiago, Jenkins, Denton, Oriach 4, Burroughs 4, Strom 3, Clymer 3, Fitzgerald 2
GDP - Stubbs
HBP - Denton, Oriach, Strom, Clymer
Baserunning
SB - Santiago 2, Jenkins, Clymer, Fitzgerald
CS - Santiago
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Hutsell
Pitches/Strikes - Trautner 47/23, Hutsell 24/12, Mizrahi 6/3, Donay 12/7, Meyer 21/13
Groundouts/Flyouts - Trautner 3/3, Hutsell 3/0, Mizrahi 1/1, Donay 1/1, Meyer 1/0
Batters Faced - Trautner 12, Hutsell 9, Mizrahi 2, Donay 3, Meyer 5
Scoring Plays
Bottom 2nd
Drew Stubbs grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b. Trent Kelly out on the play. Drew Clymer advanced to third. James Strom scored.
Riley Fitzgerald singled to second base, RBI. Drew Clymer scored.
Ryan Jenkins singled through the left side, RBI. Gabriel Santiago advanced to third. Riley Fitzgerald scored.
Jordy Oriach singled to center field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Ryan Jenkins advanced to third. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Keeton Burroughs singled to right field, 2 RBI. Collin Priest advanced to third. Jordy Oriach scored. Ryan Jenkins scored.
Top 4th
Jalen Hairston homered to right center, RBI.
Anthony Saleeba reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, RBI. Diego Alana out at second ss to 2b. Anthony Cole advanced to third. Xavier Lopez scored.
Anthony Saleeba advanced to third on a wild pitch. Anthony Cole scored on a wild pitch.
Bottom 4th
Jordy Oriach singled up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI. Ryan Jenkins scored. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Keeton Burroughs doubled down the rf line, RBI. Collin Priest advanced to third. Jordy Oriach scored.
James Strom grounded out to 2b, RBI. Keeton Burroughs advanced to third. Collin Priest scored.
Keeton Burroughs scored on a wild pitch.
Bottom 5th
Ty Denton walked, RBI. Gabriel Santiago advanced to second. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to third. Drew Stubbs scored.
Ty Denton advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gabriel Santiago advanced to third on a wild pitch. Riley Fitzgerald scored on a wild pitch.
Jordy Oriach singled to left center, RBI. Ty Denton advanced to third. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Collin Priest walked. Jordy Oriach advanced to second. Ty Denton scored on a wild pitch.
Keeton Burroughs advanced to second on a balk. Collin Priest advanced to third on a balk. Jordy Oriach scored on a balk.
James Strom singled up the middle, RBI. Keeton Burroughs advanced to third. Collin Priest scored.
Drew Clymer tripled to right center, 2 RBI. James Strom scored. Keeton Burroughs scored.
Riley Fitzgerald singled to left center, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Trent Kelly advanced to third. Drew Clymer scored.
Riley Fitzgerald advanced to third on a wild pitch. Trent Kelly scored on a wild pitch.
Gabriel Santiago grounded out to 3b, RBI. Riley Fitzgerald scored.
Keeton Burroughs walked, RBI. Collin Priest advanced to second. Jordy Oriach advanced to third. Ty Denton scored.
James Strom hit by pitch, RBI. Keeton Burroughs advanced to second. Collin Priest advanced to third. Jordy Oriach scored.
Drew Clymer reached on a fielding error by ss, RBI. James Strom advanced to second. Keeton Burroughs advanced to third. Collin Priest scored, unearned.
All Plays
Top 1st
Camden Williamson hit by pitch.
Camden Williamson out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. 1 out
Matt Rose singled up the middle.
Jalen Hairston flied out to cf.
2 out
Stewart Puckett walked. Matt Rose advanced to second.
Stewart Puckett out at first c to 1b, picked off.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Gabriel Santiago out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. 1 out
Ryan Jenkins advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Jordy Oriach advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Jenkins advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Collin Priest struck out looking.
2 out
Orlando Pena flied out to rf.
3 out
Top 2nd
Keeton Burroughs replaces Orlando Pena at third base.
Xavier Lopez grounded out to 1b unassisted.
1 out
Anthony Cole struck out swinging.
2 out
Diego Alana grounded out to ss.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
James Strom singled through the right side.
Drew Clymer singled to center field. James Strom advanced to second.
Drew Clymer advanced to second on a wild pitch. James Strom advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Drew Stubbs grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b. Trent Kelly out on the play. Drew Clymer advanced to third. James Strom scored.
2 out
Riley Fitzgerald singled to second base, RBI. Drew Clymer scored.
Riley Fitzgerald stole second.
Niko Halkis replaces Brady Burgess at pitcher.
Ryan Jenkins singled through the left side, RBI. Gabriel Santiago advanced to third. Riley Fitzgerald scored.
Jordy Oriach singled to center field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Ryan Jenkins advanced to third. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Keeton Burroughs singled to right field, 2 RBI. Collin Priest advanced to third. Jordy Oriach scored. Ryan Jenkins scored.
James Strom grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Top 3rd
Anthony Saleeba flied out to 2b.
1 out
Preston Hart flied out to rf.
2 out
Manny Santana doubled down the lf line.
Camden Williamson walked.
Matt Rose reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Camden Williamson out at second ss to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Drew Clymer hit by pitch.
Trent Kelly flied out to rf.
1 out
Drew Clymer stole second.
Drew Stubbs flied out to lf.
2 out
Riley Fitzgerald flied out to cf.
3 out
Top 4th
Mason Hutsell replaces Jace Trautner at pitcher.
Jalen Hairston homered to right center, RBI.
Stewart Puckett grounded out to 1b unassisted.
1 out
Anthony Cole hit by pitch. Xavier Lopez advanced to second.
Diego Alana singled to pitcher. Anthony Cole advanced to second. Xavier Lopez advanced to third.
Anthony Saleeba reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, RBI. Diego Alana out at second ss to 2b. Anthony Cole advanced to third. Xavier Lopez scored.
2 out
Anthony Saleeba stole second.
Anthony Saleeba advanced to third on a wild pitch. Anthony Cole scored on a wild pitch.
Preston Hart struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Gabriel Santiago singled through the left side.
Gabriel Santiago stole second.
Ryan Jenkins stole second. Gabriel Santiago stole third.
Jordy Oriach singled up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI. Ryan Jenkins scored. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Sebastian Martinez replaces Niko Halkis at pitcher.
Jordy Oriach advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Keeton Burroughs doubled down the rf line, RBI. Collin Priest advanced to third. Jordy Oriach scored.
James Strom grounded out to 2b, RBI. Keeton Burroughs advanced to third. Collin Priest scored.
1 out
Keeton Burroughs scored on a wild pitch.
Drew Clymer struck out swinging.
2 out
Trent Kelly grounded out to 1b unassisted.
3 out
Top 5th
Manny Santana grounded out to 2b.
1 out
Camden Williamson singled to center field.
Zach Mizrahi replaces Mason Hutsell at pitcher.
Matt Rose flied out to cf.
2 out
Jalen Hairston grounded out to 1b unassisted.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Matt Rose replaces at right field.
Jacob Riegel replaces Stewart Puckett at third base.
Michael Sowers replaces Xavier Lopez at second base.
Kalayo Shaw replaces Manny Santana at center field.
Drew Stubbs singled to third base.
Riley Fitzgerald walked. Drew Stubbs advanced to second.
Gabriel Santiago walked. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to second. Drew Stubbs advanced to third.
Andrew Prybylla replaces Sebastian Martinez at pitcher.
Ty Denton replaces Ryan Jenkins at pinch hitter.
Ty Denton walked, RBI. Gabriel Santiago advanced to second. Riley Fitzgerald advanced to third. Drew Stubbs scored.
Ty Denton advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gabriel Santiago advanced to third on a wild pitch. Riley Fitzgerald scored on a wild pitch.
Jordy Oriach singled to left center, RBI. Ty Denton advanced to third. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Collin Priest walked. Jordy Oriach advanced to second. Ty Denton scored on a wild pitch.
Collin Priest advanced to second on a passed ball. Jordy Oriach advanced to third on a passed ball.
Keeton Burroughs advanced to second on a balk. Collin Priest advanced to third on a balk. Jordy Oriach scored on a balk.
James Strom singled up the middle, RBI. Keeton Burroughs advanced to third. Collin Priest scored.
Drew Clymer tripled to right center, 2 RBI. James Strom scored. Keeton Burroughs scored.
Drew Stubbs struck out swinging.
1 out
Riley Fitzgerald singled to left center, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Trent Kelly advanced to third. Drew Clymer scored.
Riley Fitzgerald advanced to third on a wild pitch. Trent Kelly scored on a wild pitch.
Gabriel Santiago grounded out to 3b, RBI. Riley Fitzgerald scored.
2 out
Luis Prieto replaces Andrew Prybylla at pitcher.
Jordy Oriach hit by pitch. Ty Denton advanced to second.
Collin Priest walked. Jordy Oriach advanced to second. Ty Denton advanced to third.
Keeton Burroughs walked, RBI. Collin Priest advanced to second. Jordy Oriach advanced to third. Ty Denton scored.
James Strom hit by pitch, RBI. Keeton Burroughs advanced to second. Collin Priest advanced to third. Jordy Oriach scored.
Drew Clymer reached on a fielding error by ss, RBI. James Strom advanced to second. Keeton Burroughs advanced to third. Collin Priest scored, unearned.
Trent Kelly flied out to lf.
3 out
Top 6th
Ty Denton replaces at designated hitter.
Drew Clymer replaces at left field.
Trent Kelly replaces at shortstop.
Tyler Donay replaces Zach Mizrahi at pitcher.
Jacob Riegel grounded out to ss.
1 out
Michael Sowers lined out to 2b.
2 out
Anthony Cole struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Travis Stapleton replaces Drew Stubbs at catcher.
Travis Stapleton grounded out to 3b.
1 out
Riley Fitzgerald grounded out to p.
2 out
Ty Denton grounded out to ss.
3 out
Top 7th
Robbie Demetree replaces Diego Alana at pinch hitter.
Max Meyer replaces Tyler Donay at pitcher.
Robbie Demetree struck out swinging.
1 out
Jacob Harper replaces Anthony Saleeba at pinch hitter.
Preston Hart singled to third base. Jacob Harper advanced to second.
Kalayo Shaw grounded out to ss. Preston Hart advanced to second. Jacob Harper advanced to third.
2 out
Camden Williamson struck out swinging.
3 out