Bulldogs, Warhawks Set For Primetime Bout
GAME:
# 1 Stone Bridge (11-1) vs # 3 Madison (8-3)
TIME:
6:30pm First Pitch
MEDIA:
Gameday Radio Network
Live Coverage Starts at 6:00pm at GamedayMagazine.com
ANNOUNCERS:
Andy Hayes - Play By Play
Jim Wheaton - Color Commentary
ASHBURN, VA - There are some games that are just meant to be played every year, and Wednesday's showdown between top ranked Stone Bridge and its nemesis Madison is one of them. The Bulldogs are riding high, sitting atop the Liberty District standings alone with an impressive 11-1 record. Fresh off a solid 2-0 win over Langley, Stone Bridge enters tonight's contest against Madison with the hopes of ending more than a few bad memories. The Bulldogs are yet to beat the Warhawks in baseball, and Madison would like nothing more than to keep that winless streak alive.
Madison is again playing at a high level just in time to play Stone Bridge. The Warhawks are 8-3, but have put together a string of wins, including a 10-0 thumping of Langley last Friday night, and a 10-4 thrashing of South Lakes on Monday. Let's take a look at the key aspects of this crucial Liberty District Showdown.
Key Match-Up:
Presented By: Diamond Sports Training
Stone Bridge Ace vs Madison Lineup
Stone Bridge will throw their ace Ty Weaver, who has been dominant at times this season on the mound. Weaver (6'7) has a commanding fastball and good control of his off-speed pitches. Weaver will face his stiffest test of the season against a lineup that rarely shows a weakness. Led by Collin Flaherty and Brig Tison, the Warhawks can hit for power, and they are averaging 9.5 runs per game. Flaherty and Tison both homered against Langley last Friday night. If Weaver is to be successful, he must keep the ball low and away from Madison's big hitters.
Madison's Ace vs Stone Bridge Lineup
Madison will give the ball to their ace Jesse Jeter to counter Weaver. Jeter has been dominant against the Bulldogs, having won every contest he has pitched against them. When the tall right hander is on his game, very few lineups sniff a hit, and that could again be the case for Stone Bridge on Wednesday. However, Jeter hasn't been invincible this season to date, his late inning meltdown against W.T Woodson led to a Warhawk defeat, and Stone Bridge is hoping they will see something similar Wednesday night.
Nuggets Of The Game:
Presented By Chick-fil-A
For Madison:
Adjust To Stone Bridge's Speed
Pitch Bulldogs Inside
Play Sound Defensively
For Stone Bridge:
Capitalize On Warhawk Mistakes
Shake Jeter's Confidence Early
Avoid Giving The Big Inning
Why Madison Will Win This Game:
The Warhawks have dominated Stone Bridge through the years in one key aspect, mentally. They believe they are supposed to beat the Bulldogs every time they play, and they usually perform at their best when the two teams meet one another. With Jesse Jeter on the mound, Madison is as good as anyone in the state, and I'm certain head coach Mark Gjormand likes his chances knowing his Ace is ready for Wednesday's showdown.
Why Stone Bridge Will Win This Game:
The 2008 Bulldogs have started this spring on a terror, winning 11 of 12 games and doing so by playing great defense, and throwing the ball extremely well on the mound. Stone Bridge has a stout lineup that at any time can become lethal. Johnny Bladel and Tyler Basso are swinging the hottest bats to date, but the big game atmosphere should bring out the best in seniors Mike Stancik, Brian Wheaton, Matt Irwin, and Collin Pearson. If Stone Bridge scores early and Weaver throws the ball in the right spots to the Madison hitters, the Bulldogs can easily win this game.
What's On The Line?
Winning for the first time would be nice for Stone Bridge, but there is much more on the line than just a streak ending in this one. The Bulldogs are hoping to give Madison their second defeat in the Liberty District, which would put them two games behind, and essentially 3 games behind with the head to head tie breaker. In previous years, it has been Stone Bridge who has been fighting for playoff spots, but if the Bulldogs win Wednesday night, Madison could very well find themselves in that position the rest of the way.
Expert Prognostication:
Fans could very well witness a glimpse of the regional championship later this spring. Stone Bridge struggled mightily at the plate against Langley's Barrett Hunter on Monday, and Hunter is no Jesse Jeter. The Bulldogs also made several crucial mistakes in the field and on the base paths that kept the Saxons in the game. If they repeat those miscues on Wednesday, the Warhawks will breeze to a victory. Madison appears to be peaking at the right time, scoring 20 runs in their last two contests. The Warhawks always show up for the big games, at least when the other team isn't named the Cougars. With all of this being said, the stars seem to be aligning for the Bulldogs this season, and for that matter, this entire school year. This game will be close because of the two pitchers, but the Bulldogs will squeak one out in the final at bat. Stone Bridge 4 - Madison 3.........
Weather Forecast:
Clear, High of 68 and Low of 37 degrees with a Light Wind
