Bulldogs Bite Colonials in Liberty Baseball Fight
Provided By Gameday Bulldog Baseball Insider
The Stone Bridge Bulldogs (13-5, 9-3) travelled to Alexandria Friday night to finish up their three game road trip, taking on the Thomas Jefferson Colonials (8-9, 4-8) in Liberty District action. The Colonials have been riding high lately, knocking off Madison and Langley the week before. For this important match-up, the Bulldogs trotted out 6-7 Jr pitcher Tyler Weaver, while TJ countered with Sr southpaw Mike Mensing on the bump.
The Bulldogs got things going quickly, as Jr 2B Collin Pearson laid down a perfect bunt single. Unfortunately, for the Bulldogs, Mensing has a great pickoff move. He nailed Pearson 1-3-6, caught stealing for the first out. Jr SS Mike Stancik ripped a 2-0 pitch to left for a single with two outs, but was left stranded in the inning. Weaver set the Colonials down in order in his half of the first, getting two groundouts to and a popup in the inning.
Stone Bridge got their first really good scoring chance in the third. With one out, Jr 3B Tyler Basso doubled to the left center gap. Pearson walked on four pitches. Jr RF Matt Irwin laid down bunt single to load the bases for Stancik, but the Colonial pitcher induced a pop up on the first pitch, for the infield fly rule call, but the ball dropped between the first and second basemen. With the out call to Stancik, by the rule, Basso tried to catch the Jefferson infield napping and attempted to score. But Colonial's Tom Warner picked up the ball and fired a strike to catcher Drew Pyrak at the plate, tagging out Basso to end the inning. In the bottom of the third, Weaver gave up his first hit of the game, a sharp single to center by Jon Seidman. Warner sacrificed him to second. But Weaver escaped unscathed, as he induced a comebacker, and then finished the inning with a strikeout of Alex Radcliffe on 3 pitches.
Stone Bridge was able to knock out Mensing in the 5th inning, whne Soph LF Michael Prince legged out an infield single to lead things off, and moved to 2nd on the sacrifice bunt by Basso. Irwin lined a 1-2 pitch to right, scoring Prince for the first run of the game. Stancik sliced a double down the right field line, scoring Irwin all the way from 1st. Jr CF Jeron Gouveia was then hit by a pitch, putting runners on 1st and 2nd for Soph DH Johnny Bladel, who smacked a 1-0 pitch to deep center field, short hopping the wall for a double, scoring both Stancik and Gouveia. Mensing was done for the night, as Head Coach Randy Lightle brought in Seidman in relief, but the damage was done.
In the Bulldog 6th, Basso reached on a two out, four pitch walk. With a 2-1 count, Pearson sliced a double to left, scoring the fleet footed Basso all the way from 1st. In the bottom of the 6th, Jefferson threatened, but couldn't score. With two outs, Patrick Yaroch singled sharply to center. Mensing followed with a four pitch walk. But Weaver was determined to keep TJ from scoring. He reared back and struck out Pyrak to end the inning.
The Bulldogs made some hay in the seventh, but couldn't score. Gouveia picked up a one out infield single. After a Bladel strikeout, Jr C Brian Wheaton and Sr Chris Martinez walked. But Stone Bridge wasn't able to get the two out hit this time. Prince grounded out to end the inning. Weaver finished strong, retiring the side in order on a ground out and two strikeouts.
The Bulldogs head into the final week of the regular season tied for second place in the Liberty District with the Langley Saxons. These two teams meet in a critical game on Tuesday, May 8 in Ashburn. A Stone Bridge win locks up second place and an automatic Northern Region tournament berth.
Besides the importance of the actual game, Tuesday night is special for two more reasons. It is Senior Night, as the Bulldogs will honor their lone graduating player, Chris Martinez. It will also be Youth Baseball Night. Youth Baseball players, in uniform with a paying adult, will be admitted free. As an extra special treat, youth players with be allowed on the field with the Bulldogs during the playing of the National Anthem. Youth players wishing to participate in the festivities should arrive by 6:00 PM. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.
NOTEABLE PERFORMANCES
Stone Bridge
Collin Pearson - 2-3, 1 RBI
Matt Irwin - 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Mike Stancik - 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
John Bladel - 1-3, 2 RBI
Tyler Basso - 1-1, 1 run scored
Thomas Jefferson
Patrick Yaroch - 1-3
John Seidman - 1-2
Line Score
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StoneBridge Varsity 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 - 5 10 1
Thomas Jefferson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 0
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LOB - SB 7, Jefferson 5
2B - Collin Pearson, Mike Stancik, John Bladel, Tyler Basso,
SB - Jeron Gouviea
