Thompson's 3-Run Homer Paces 14-3 Win
ASHBURN, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs were looking to get back on track this week after losing their first Liberty game last week to McLean. The had to wait an extra day, as the field at TJ was unplayable due to the heavy rains earlier in the week. On a beautiful night in Alexandria, Head Coach Sam Plank put Ty Weaver on the hill seeking his fifth win, while TJ coach Dave Gardziel countered with Kyle Gaarder.
The Bulldogs didn't waste much time getting on the board. Sr C Brian Wheaton led off with a single. Sr 3B Tyler Basso laid down a beautiful bunt single, with courtesy runner Pat Piccolo moving to second. Jr LF Johnny Bladel reached on a fielder's choice, forcing Basso at second. With Sr SS Mike Stancik at the plate, Bladel got caught in a pickle between first and second. Piccolo was able to score while Bladel was tagged out. Stancik singled. Jr RF Michael Prince reached on an infield error. With Jr 1B Patrick Thompson at the plate, Stancik and Prince pulled off the double steal. It really didn't matter, as Thompson deposited a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a four run lead. It was Thompson's third home run of the season. Sr 2B Collin Pearson grounded out to end the frame. J. B. Vande Sand struck out. Tom Rudelius grounded to Pearson. Ale Radcliffe walked. Jeff Seibach grounded to Pearson to end the inning.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the second. Jr DH Bryce Williams flew out. Sr CF Matt Irwin struck out. Wheaton lined out to end the frame. Weaver struck out Tom Woodruff. Mason Freedman flew out to Prince. Ryan Stumvoll struck out to end the second.
Basso led off the third with a single. He moved to second on a balk. Bladel walked. Stancik walked, loading the bases. Prince reached on a fielder's choice, Stancik forced at second and Basso scoring on the play. Thompson hit a sac fly with Bladel scoring. Pearson singled, plating Prince. Williams singled, with Prince moving to third. Coach Gardziel brought in Chris Kilgore to pitch. Irwin promptly singled, scoring Pearson. Wheaton flew out to end the innning. TJ picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the frame. Matt Callahan popped out to Stancik. Beau Pritchett struck out. Vande Sand reached on a Pearson throwing error, he moved to second when the ball went into the dugout. Rudelius singled, with Vande Sand scoring, but Wheaton made a nice play on the throw to home. Rudelius tried to move to second on the throw in, but Wheaton fired a strike to Pearson at second, gunning down Rudelius.
In the fourth, Basso struck out. Bladel popped out. Stancik walked. With Prince batting, Stancik stole second. Prince flew out to end the frame. Radcliffe reached first on an infield throwing error by Basso. Siebach struck out. Irwin made a nice play on a sinking line drive by Woodruff for the second out. Weaver K'd Freedman to end the inning.
Thompson picked up an infield single. Pearson singled, with Thompson moving to second. Williams popped out. Irwin popped out. Wheaton popped out to end the threat. Stumvoll led off with a double. Callahan struck out. Stumvoll moved to third on a wild pitch. Pritchett hit a comebacker to Weaver for the out, with Stumvoll having to hold at third. Vade Sand walked. Rudelius lined out to Prince to end the threat.
The Bulldogs pushed across 6 runs in the sixth. Basso grounded out. Bladel singled. Stancik picked up his third walk of the game. Prince doubled, Bladel scored and Stancik moved to third. Thompson doubled, plating Stancik and Prince. Piccolo pinch hit for Pearson and struck out. Pinch hitter Alec Whys walked. Fr. J.J. White pinch hit for Irwin and was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Russell Moore pinch hit for Wheaton. He singled and drove in Whys and Thompson. Jr Brad Koch pinch hit for Basso and walked, reloading the bases. Bladel walked, forcing in White. Stancik grounded out to end the inning. As the bottom of the sixth started, all of the starters re-entered the game for the Bulldogs. Radcliffe led off with a double. Siebach singled with Radcliffe holding a third. Coach Plank decided to limit Weaver's pitch count and brought in Jr RHP Taylor Tice in from the pen. Woodruff singled, scoring Radcliffe. Freedman grounded to Thompson, with Siebach moving to third. Stumvoll singled, plating Siebach. Tice got Callahan on a strike out. But Plank decided to give another Bulldog some work and brought in Jr LHP Ryan Cummings. He got Pritchett to ground out to Basso and end the game by the 10 run rule.
With the win, the Bulldogs move to 13-2 on the year and are now 8-1 in Liberty district play. They continue to hold on to first place. Stone Bridge returns home tomorrow night, April 24 as they will host the South Lakes Seahawks. First pitch is set for 7:00PM.
