Weaver's Arm Dominates Highlanders, 6-3
McLEAN, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs travelled to McLean on a chilly night for their Liberty District opener, hoping to stay unbeaten. Sr RHP Ty Weaver, who pitched a gem on Monday against West Potomac, was on the hill for the Bulldogs. Sr RHP Quinn Pippin was on the bump for the Highlanders.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the first. Sr 2B Collin Pearson struck out. Jr RF Michael Prince grounded out and Jr LF Johnny Bladel grounded out as well. Weaver cruised in the first, inducing a grounder to Jr 1B Patrick Thompson and a grounder to Sr 3B Tyler Basso. Weaver then gave up a single to right, with the runner advancing to second on a misplayed ball. He struck out the next McLean hitter to end the scoring threat.
In the second, Sr SS Mike Stancik led off with a groundout. Sr C Brian Wheaton had a great at bat, coaxing a full count walk. Jr courtesy runner Pat Piccolo stole second. Thompson flew out for the second out. Basso reached first on a hit by pitch. Stone Bridge wasn't able to cash in as Sr CF Matt Irwin flew out to end the inning. Weaver put McLean down in order with 2 K's and a comebacker.
The Bulldogs were able to break through in the third. Jr DH Alec Whys led off with a triple. Pearson was safe on an infield error, with Whys scoring and Pearson moving to second. Prince singled in Pearson. Bladel walked on four pitches. Pippin then tried to pick off Bladel, but the throw wasn't handled by the first baseman, with Prince moving to third. Then the Bulldogs pulled the double steal, with Prince scoring and Bladel moving to second. Stancik flew out. Wheaton then picked up his second walk of the game. With Thompson at the plate, he hit a sky high pop up at the plate. The umpire called the infield fly rule, but the catcher couldn't handle the ball, and Bladel and CR Piccolo advanced a base. Basso was intentionally walked to load the bases. An error by Pippin allowed Bladel to score and Piccolo move to third. Piccolo and Basso tried the double steal and this time it didn't work, with Piccolo thrown out at the plate. Weaver worked himself into a bit of a jam in the bottom of the frame. After a groundout to Pearson, the next hitter singled to right. Weaver hit the next batter. He then picked up a K for the second out. A questionable call on a force tag allowed McLean to load the bases. But Weaver got a fly out to Prince to end the inning.
Irwin led off the fourth trying for a bunt single. He was out on a very close play. Whys struck out. Pearson singled. But he was caught stealing to end the inning. Weaver had another 1-2-3 inning, getting 2 strikeouts and a grounder to Stancik.
Prince grounded out to lead off the fifth. Bladel reached on a full count walk. Stancik also walked on a full count. Wheaton singled up the middle, but Bladel was thrown out at the plate trying to score, Stancik moved to third on the throw. Thompson walked, loading the bases. Basso delivered an RBI single, plating Stancik and Piccolo. Irwin walked, loading the bases again. But Whys struck out to end the frame. Weaver got the lead off hitter on a K and the second hitter on a comebacker. He then walked the next hitter. Basso made a nice play on a pop up, with the wind creating havoc on any fly ball this evening.
Stone Bridge went down in order in the sixth. Pearson grounded out, Prince grounded out. Bladel ripped a shot off the pitcher's leg, reaching first. But he was picked off to end the innning. Another 1-2-3 inning for Weaver, picking up a strikeout, a fly to Bladel and a grounder to Stancik.
Stancik led off the seventh with his second walk of the game. Wheaton tried to sacrifice him, but Stancik was forced at second. Courtesy runner Piccolo moved to second when another pickoff attempt was not handled by the firstbaseman. Thompson struck out. With Basso at the plate, Piccolo advanced to third on a wild pitch. Basso reached on another hit by pitch. Basso stole second. But Fr PH J.J. White flew out to end the inning. Weaver appeared to run out of gas in the seventh. He gave up a lead off walk. He then gave up a single. He got the next hitter to fly out to right. Another single loaded the bases. He got the next hitter to ground to Basso, who got a force out at second, but the Highlanders scored their first run of the game. The next hitter doubled to the gap, scoring two more runs. Head Coach Sam Plank then went to the pen, bringing in Sr RHP Mike Palmer. Palmer got then next hitter out on a beautiful 1-2 sinker for the K to end the game.
The Bulldogs move to 6-0 on the season and win their first Liberty opener in three tries. The Bulldogs have their home opener on Tuesday, April 1 as they face the Thomas Jefferson Colonials. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30PM.
