Championship Pool - Game #3

Lightning Baseball vs. Central Florida Bomb Squad @ Myrtle Beach High School

Wednesday July 27, 2005

A showdown between two of the top teams within the tournament took place on Wednesday as the Lightning took on the undefeated (5-0) Central Florida Bomb Squad at Myrtle Beach High School.

In the bottom of the first, the Bomb Squad got the early lead after a solo home run to deep left field by the number three hitter (Tilson). The Lightning wasted no time in answering as Gavin Mahoney (Winthrop, MA) drove in Geoff Lynch (Georgetown, MA) with an RBI single in the top of the second. Ladd battled through the fourth inning as two hits, a fundamental sacrifice bunt, and a defensive miscue led to two runs for the Bomb Squad. In the fifth and sixth innings, the Lightning fought back with a run in each frame to make it a 3-3 ball game.

Greg Ladd (Danvers, MA) went five innings for the Lightning (allowing three runs and scattering six hits) before giving way to Evan Bunker (Topsfield, MA). In the bottom of the sixth, the Bomb Squad managed to have runners on first and second with one out by means of a fielding error and a base hit. With the infield playing in, the Bomb Squad attempted a failed suicide squeeze by popping up to first base which began the 3-5 inning ending double play.

With one out in the top half of the seventh, Connor Lyons (Bedford, NH) was hit by a pitch and Chris Splinter followed with a walk. Jason Federico (Wakefield, MA) stepped up to the plate and delivered a double to the gap scoring Lyons while Splinter scored on the next play on a groundout by Bunker giving the Lightning their first lead of the game 5-3. In the bottom of the seventh, Bunker retired the leadoff hitter but the next three batters reached based safely by means of a base on balls, a base hit, and a perfectly placed bunt single. After hitting the next batter with a pitch, the number four hitter (Bartlett) stepped up and ended the game with a one out, two run double to deep right field as the respected Bomb Squad defeated the Lightning 6-5.