Stone Bridge Nabs 12th Win by Beating Woodson
The Stone Bridge Bulldogs (12-5, 8-3) headed to Fairfax tonight to take on the Woodson Cavaliers (4-9, 3-8). They are in the middle of a three game road trip. The Bulldogs finally got a bit of a breather tonight, as they won going away, 10-4. Jr RHP Tyler Basso was on the mound for Stone Bridge, looking to win his sixth game against no losses. Woodson countered with Jr southpaw Matt Coleman.
While the Bulldogs had an opportunity to have a big first inning, they were able to only scratch out 2 runs. With one out, Jr C Brian Wheaton walked. Jr SS Mike Stancik hit a grounder in the hole, but everyone was safe when the secondbaseman missed the throw from the shortstop. Soph Ricky Davidson, courtesy running for Wheaton, was able to make it to third on the play. Jr CF Jeron Gouveia lined the first pitch he saw right up the middle, scoring Davidson. With Soph 3B Johnny Bladel at the plate, Coleman caught Stancik off guard and ran right at him. They both raced to third, with Stancik apparently sliding under the tag. But the umpire ruled him out. Eventually, Bladel walked. Jr RF Matt Irwin then ripped a 2-2 pitch to right, plating Gouveia. Soph 1B Patrick Thompson walked, loading the bases. But Stone Bridge couldn't push another run across. Basso was able to get out of the bottom of the inning only giving up a two out walk.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the second. While Jr C Bobby McCloud was able to get a one out single, three excellent defensive plays by Wheaton, Bladel and Stancik were able to snuff out any threat.
Stancik led off the third with an infield single up the middle. After a Gouveia flyout, Coleman tried to pickoff Stancik again, but this time his throw to first was wild and Stancik was able to scamper to third. Bladel then ripped an RBI single to left. Irwin followed with another single to left. Thompson reached on an infield single, as Coleman was late getting to first. With the bases loaded, SR DH Chris Martinez reached on a fielder's choice, as Bladel was forced out at the plate for the second out. But Soph LF Michael Prince hit a clutch single up the middle, scoring Irwin and Thompson. Jr 2B Collin Pearson coaxed a walk, reloading the bases. Head Coach Chris Warren made a pitching change, bringing in Joey Carleton. Carleton uncorked two consecutive wild pitches, with Martinez and Prince scoring. The Bulldogs were able to plate 5 runs in the inning. The Cavs were able to get one of the runs back in the bottom of the frame. After a one out walk to Nick Herbst, Basso gave up a single to Jacob Morley and a double Jackson Clement, which scored Herbst. But Basso knuckled down and was able to retire Kevin Dec on a foul out to Thompson, who made a really nice play right against the fence. Basso finished off the Cavs with a K of Max Waizenegger.
Stancik led off the fourth, taking a 2-2 curveball over the left field fence for his first homerun of the season. Bladel doubled to the left center gap with one out, but Stone Bridge couldn't bring him home. Basso cruised with a 10 pitch 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth.
The Bulldogs were able to get singles by both Prince and Pearson, but Prince was picked off second after stealing the base and Pearson was caught stealing to end the inning. Basso ran in to a bit of trouble in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Herbst doubled down the line. Morley reached on an infield error. Clement was intentionally walked. Basso was able to retire Dec on a pop out to Pearson. But Waizenegger ripped the first pitch he saw for a bases clearing double to make the score 8-4, Bulldogs. Brendan Breslin grounded out to Stancik to end the inning.
In the sixth, Stancik laced a one out double down the right field line that Sr RF Ben Halle almost made a great play on. After a rare Gouveia strike out, Bladel picked up his third hit of the game, plating Stancik. Bladel moved to second on a wild pitch. Irwin then took a 2-2 pitch backside for a single (his third hit of the game), plating Bladel. In the bottom of the inning, Basso retired the side in order on a strikeout, a comebacker and a nice play by Irwin in right.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the seventh. With Basso's pitch count up, Head Coach Sam Plank brought in JR sidewinder Mike Palmer. Palmer worked his magic by striking out Herbst. After Morley stroked a single to center, he was able to get Clement to pop up to Thompson and finished the game by getting Dec to ground out, unassisted to Thompson.
Stone Bridge rapped out 16 hits tonight, with four Bulldogs (Stancik, Bladel, Irwin and Prince) each picking up 3 hits. Basso goes to 6-0 on the season, scattering 5 hits over 6 innings, while walking 3 and striking out two. Stone Bridge finishes their three game road trip this Friday, May 4. They head to Alexandria to take on Thomas Jefferson. The Colonials have scored some big wins recently, defeating both Langley and Madison by one run last week. First pitch is at 6:30PM.
(boxscore attached)
