Championship Pool - Game #2

Lightning Baseball vs. Florida Sun Devils @ Aynor High School

Tuesday July 26, 2005

On Tuesday, the Lightning 13’s were matched up against the Florida Sun Devils at Aynor High School. Michael Amaral (Tewksbury, MA) got the start for the Lightning as the Lightning offense, once again, stepped up and provided a sizable cushion for the pitching staff.

The Lightning attacked the opposition from the first pitch on as the first three batters of the game, Connor Lyons (Bedford, NH), Chris Splinter (Middleton, MA), and Jason Federico (Wakefield, MA) all singled. Adding to the hit parade, Evan Bunker (Topsfield, MA) stepped up to the plate and crushed a three-run homer to left center capping a four run first inning. Bunker would finish the game with four runs batted in and two runs scored.

Working with the lead, Amaral battled the Sun Devils hitters working into the 5th inning and allowing three earned runs before giving way to Dan Lane (Weston, MA). Lane also battled, as the Sun Devils would not go quietly and scored four runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to 11-7 going into the final frame. Bunker, who often served as the team’s closer throughout the year, relieved Lane in the sixth inning as he contained the free-swinging Sun Devils for the remainder of the game.

The Lightning offense provided a large cushion in the top of the seventh as six more runs crossed the plate, expanding what would be the final score to 17-7. Lyons (3 for 6, 3 RBI’s, 2 Runs Scored) supplied the biggest blow with a 2 out, bases clearing triple. Other notables included Lynch (3 for 3, 3 RBI’s, 1 run scored), Ladd (2 for 4, 2 RBI’s, 3 Runs Scored), and Federico (3 for 5, 2 RBI’s, 3 Runs Scored).