Basso Throws 2 Hitter, Bulldogs Down Saxons
ASHBURN, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs started a critical three game homestand this evening, hosting the Langley Saxons in Ashburn. Tyler Basso was on the hill for Stone Bridge, while Langley countered with Barrett Hunter.
Basso struck Daniel Bergamesca to start the game. Michael Klein was called out on strikes. Geremy Mahn grounded out to Sr 2B Collin Pearson. Sr SS Mike Stancik grounded out. Sr CF Matt Irwin singled. He was caught stealing on a pitch out. Jr LF Johnny Bladel flew out to end the first.
Eddie Gonzales reached on a hit by pitch. Chris Sievers reched on an infield error by Jr 3B Pat Piccolo. Basso got Jody Davis out on a called third strike. Jack McLindon singled sharply to right, but Gonzales had to hold at third. With Langley threatening, Basso bowed his neck and struck out both Graham Dubow and Clay Rainie to end the frame. Sr C Brian Wheaton grounded out. Jr RF Michael Prince grounded out. Jr 1B Patrick Thompson walked. Pearson grounded out to end the inning.
Basso had a 1-2-3 third inning, as Bergamesca flew out to Prince, Klein grounded to Piccolo and Mahn flew out to Irwin. Basso singled to start the third for the Bulldogs. Fr DH J.J. White hit what appeared to be a double play ball. But everyone was safe as the throw to the secondbaseman was dropped. Courtesy Runner Alec Whys was able to move to third on the play. Stancik struck out. With Irwin at the plate, Whys was picked off of third for the second out. Irwin then walked. Bladel singled, plating White for the first run of the game. Wheaton popped out to end the inning.
Basso was able to escape a huge jam in the fourth. Gonzales hit a sky high pop up which was dropped by Stancik for an error, Gonzales making it to second. Head Coach Jeff Ferrell then pinch ran Abe Yi for Gonzalez. With Sievers at the plate, Wheaton caught Gonzales napping and threw down to Stancik for a pick off. Stancik took his eye off the ball and Yi moved to third on the error. Basso was in a jam, man on third and no out. He buckled down and struck out Sievers. It was a dropped third strike, Wheaton made the throw down to Thompson as Yi had to hold at third. Head Coach Sam Plank guessed right on a suicide squeeze. Basso threw to Piccolo at third as Yi broke for home. Piccolo threw to Wheaton who applied the tag for the second out of the inning and it looked like the Bulldogs would dodge a bullet. Davis singled through the hole. Then Basso made a great play on a McLindon grounder to retire the Saxons. Stone Bridge went down in order, Prince grounded out. Thompson flew out and Pearson grounded out.
Dubow hit a shot off of Basso's glove, but Stancik stayed with it and gunned him down at first. Basso got Rainie on a K, and then Irwin made an outstanding diving play in center to rob Bergamesca of a hit. Stone Bridge picked up a big insurance run in the fifth. Basso was safe on a Gonzales error. White singled with courtesy runner Whys moving to third. With the infield drawn in, Stancik hit a one hopper to short, Whys broke on the play and was thrown out at the plate. Pinch runner Ryan Cummings was able to make it all the way to third on the play. Irwin hit a sac fly to plate Cummings. Bladel singled with Stancik moving to third. Wheaton lined out to end the inning.
Basso continued to dominate in the sixth. He got Klein to pop to Pearson, Mahn flew out to Prince. Gonzales grounded to third to end the frame. Prince popped out. Thompson was hit by a pitch. Pearson singled, with Thompson having to hold at second. The Saxons then brought in Joey Zarella to relieve Hunter, to face the left handed hitting Basso. He got the job done as Basso hit a grounder to second who tagged Pearson and threw to first for the double play.
In the seventh, Basso got Sievers on a called third strike. Davis hit a shot off of Basso's foot, but the ball caromed perfectly to Piccolo who threw him out at first. Basso finished in grand fashion, as McLindon was called out on strikes to end the game.
Basso moves to 4-0 on the season, picking up 9Ks in the process. He has had two complete game shutouts in a row (shutout Marshall 3-0 on April 8th), with a miniscule 0.24 ERA on the year. Basso has struck out 37 in 29 innings, while only walking 3. The Bulldogs move to 11-1, 6-0 in Liberty district play. The Bulldgos next game is on Wednesday, April 16 as they host district rival Madison. First pitch is 6:30PM.
*The Madison Game Will Be Broadcast Live Worldwide Online Right Here at GamedayMagazine.com........
