Bulldogs Fall At Home, Lose First Of 2008 5-2
ASHBURN, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs were looking to extend their unbeaten streak to 9 as they faced the Thomas Johnson Patriots (Frederick, MD) in their final non-district game on a beautiful, sunny day in Ashburn. Jr RHP Nick Fialdini was on the hill against PHP Matt Conway.
Danny Foit reached first on a hit by pitch. After Fialdini struck out Jeff Geiser, Brandon Kline took an 0-1 offering over the right field fence for a two run bomb. Frank Zier struck out and Zach Walther flew out to Jr LF Johnny Bladel. The Bulldogs went down in order in the first, with Sr 2B Collin Pearson and Jr RF Michael Prince striking out and Bladel flying out.
In the second, Ian Hahn walked. John Desando flew out to Prince. Brett Boyle walked. Matt Lawrence lined out to Pearson who made a great leaping play to end the threat. Sr SS Mike Stancik led off with a walk. Sr C Brian Wheaton flew out. With Jr 1B Patrick Thompson at the plate, Stancik stole second. Thompson eventually walked. Sr 3B Tyler Basso popped out. Sr CF Matt Irwin ripped a single scoring Stancik and cutting the lead in half. But Pearson struck out to end the inning.
Foit reached on a fielding error by Stancik to start the third. Geiser walked. Kline doubled, plating Foit. Zier grounded out to Pearson, with Geiser scoring on the play. Walther hit a sac fly to deep center, scoring Kline. Hahn struck out to end the frame. The Bulldogs had a golden chance in the third, but could not get the clutch hit. Prince walked on four pitches. Bladel singled moving Prince to second. Stancik popped out. Wheaton flew out. Thompson walked. But Basso flew out to end the inning.
Head Coach Sam Plank made a pitching change in the fourth, bringing in Sr RHP Michael Palmer. Desando doubled. Boyle walked. Palmer got Lawrence on a called third strike. Wheaton then tried throwing behind Desando at second, but his throw was wide with Desando to third and Boyle to second. Palmer bore down and got Foit on a called third strike and Geiser popped out to Pearson to end the threat. Irwin walked on four pitches. The Patriots made a pitching change, bringing in Frank Zier. Irwin stole second. He struck out Jr DH Alec Whys and Pearson. Prince popped out to end the fourth.
Palmer walked Kline to start the fifth. But Zier hit into a Pearson-Stancik-Thompson double play. Walther lined out to Palmer to end the inning. The Bulldogs had another scoring opportunity go by the wayside in the fifth. Bladel and Stancik both walked. Wheaton flew out to deep right, with Bladel advancing to third. With Thompson up, Stancik stole his second base of the game. But Thompson and Basso both struck out to end the inning.
In the sixth, Palmer induced both Hahn and Desando into groundouts to Stancik. He then walked Boyle. Lawrence hit a comebacker to end the inning. Irwin picked up his second hit of the game to lead off the sixth. Fr J.J. White pinch hit for Whys. On a pickoff play, the Patriots firstbaseman was called for obstruction, moving Irwin to second. White grounded out, sending Irwin to third. Pearson struck out. Prince was safe on an infield error, with Irwin scoring. Bladel flew out to end the inning.
Bladel came on in the seventh to pitch, with Whys moving out to left. Foit grounded to Basso. Geiser walked. Kline picked up his third hit of the game, singling to right with Geiser stopping at second. Both players moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. Zier hit a sharp grounder to Thompson, who alertly threw home as Geiser tried score. Wheaton applied the tag for the second out. Basso made a fine play on a grounder to end the frame. Stancik led off with a single. Wheaton was hit by a pitch. Thompson struck out. Both Stancik and courtesy runner Pat Piccolo moved up 90 feet on a passed ball. Basso struck out. Irwin grounded out to end the game.
Some key numbers in this game for the Bulldogs: only 4 hits, 10 strikeouts and 12 men left on base. It's tough to win with those stats. Stone Bridge resumes Liberty district play on Tuesday, April 8. The Bulldogs will host the Marshall Statesmen, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30PM.
