The Lightning Win 5th FCSL Title, Defeat The Suns, 3-2

(Leesburg, Fla.)- The Leesburg Lightning were able to get out an early lead and never look back, clinching the team's 5th league championship over the DeLand Suns, 3-2.

Leesburg would score all three of their runs in the top of the 1st, including one coming off of eventual MVP Logan Chapman on an RBI-double, to put ahead Leesburg 3-0.

The Bolts would get a big boost of confidence on the mound from incoming Lipscomb starter Jace Trautner, who had held DeLand to two hits for the first five innings of the ballgame, striking out six batters.

The Suns would have chances throughout the ballgame to inch back towards the lead, but in the 6th, DeLand would strike, driving in two runs, including one off a Mathew Farner RBI-single, to put Leesburg up 3-2 late.

However, Nick Vieira would carry the Lightning home to the league title, striking out seven batters to help the Bolts go back-to-back.

For the Leesburg Lightning, the 5th title ties the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs and the Sanford River Rats for the most in league history. This is also the first title won in an even year, having won every title in an odd season.

This win also signifies the first back-to-back championship since 2013-2014 when the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs became the first to win consecutive titles in the league's history.

Head Coach Rich Billings also clinches his third league title as headman for the club.

"As the season goes on, everyone meshed together really good," said Championship Series MVP Logan Chapman. "As the season kept going on, we meshed as a team together, and everyone had each other's back. Everyone had each other's back, and that's what helped us, you know, win a bunch of ball games and stay in a bunch of ball games."

"It's a pretty historical thing, and just being able to do this, it's pretty special," said Head Coach Rich Billings. "Yeah, that's kind of what we talked about at the end. I mean, not only to accomplish what they accomplished, to win a championship, but to do it with so much class, uh, that's what these guys did. I mean, they did it all summer long. They never they were never mouthy or arrogant. They just showed up every day and competed. They left it on the field and they were the same. Whether they got beat or whether they won, they still handled themselves with so much class and character. So I was just so proud of them for that."

It was truly a special season for the Leesburg Lightning. The team saw it's highs and lows, but continued to fight in every ball game they competed, which truly showcased the type of team they were.

To be able to close out the season with a championship just makes the journey sweeter for everyone involved.

BOLTS UP!

Dylan Spaulding (University of South Florida)

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