Weaver, Bulldogs Clip Madison In 2-1 Nail Biter
ASHBURN, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs were looking to get the perverbial monkey off their back tonight against the Madison Warhawks. In six prevoius tries, they were winless against Madison. Head Coach Sam Plank put Sr RHP Ty Weaver on the hill, while Coach Pudge Gjormand countered with Andrew Shrock.
Things were shaky for Weaver in the first. Kyle McIntyre reached on a hit by pitch. Casey Turner singled sharply up the middle. With the Warhawks best hitter, Brig Tison at the plate with two on and no out, it was looking like the Warhawks were getting off to a fast start. But Tison lined to Sr 2B Collin Pearson, who stepped on second, doubling off McIntyre. Ted Williams hit a grounder to the right side. Thompson grabbed it, tossed to Weaver covering first. But Weaver missed the ball for an error.
Turner aggressively tried to score on the play, but Pearson alertly picked up the ball and fired a strike to Sr C Brian Wheaton who applied the tag as the Bulldogs escaped the jam with no damage. Jr RF Michael Prince led off with a ground out. Sr CF Matt Irwin singled. Jr LF Johnny Bladel doubled, as Irwin scampered around the bases for the first run of the game. Sr SS Mike Stancik walked. Bladel and Stancik moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. The wild pitch was big, as Bladel was able to score on a Wheaton RBI groundout. Sr 3B Tyler Basso walked. Thompson reached on a hit by pitch. But Pearson flew out to end the threat.
In the second, Alex Jacquez singled in the hole. Shrock flew out to Prince. Ricardo Perez hit a comebacker, Weaver wheeled and threw to Stancik getting the force on Jacquez. He made a clean hard slide into Stancik, breaking up the double play. Weaver struck out David Fathalakhani to end the frame. Shrock dominated Stone Bridge in the second, getting Fr DH J.J. White, Prince and Irwin all out on strikes.
Matt Zepp tried to reach on a bunt to start the third. Basso made a nice play, throwing him out. McIntyre walked. Turner reached on a fielders choice, as Basso fielded it and threw to Pearson at second for the force on McIntyre. Tison grounded out to Stancik to end the inning. Both Bladel and Stancik grounded out. Wheaton struck out as the Bulldogs went down in order for the second straight inning.
In the fourth, Williams popped out to Stancik. Jacquez reached on a hit by pitch. Shrock popped out to Pearson. Perez hit a grounder up the middle. Stancik was able to flag the ball down and flip to Pearson for the out to end the inning. Basso grounded out to start the inning. Thompson singled. Pearson popped out. White singled, with Thompson moving to third on the play. When Madison tried to get Thompson, White alertly took second on the throw. Prince struck out to end the threat.
In the fifth, Fathalakhani led off with a walk. Zepp hit another ball up the middle with Stancik flipping to Pearson for the force. Turner flew out to Irwin to end the inning. The Bulldogs had a golden chance in the fifth. Irwin struck out. Bladel walked. Stancik ripped a double, but Bladel had to hold at third. Wheaton worked a full count walk. With the infield drawn in, Basso hit a grounder to first and the Warhawks were able to get Bladel forced at home for the second out. Thompson struck out to end the inning.
Madison was able to cut the lead in half in the sixth. Tison singled. He stole second. PH Colin Flaherty popped out to Pearson. Weaver tried to pick off Tison at second, but was called for a balk as his cleat got caught on the pitching rubber. Jacquez hit a bounding ball to Stancik, who was able to throw him out but Tison scored on the play. Shrock singled. But Weaver knuckled down and got Perez on strikes. Pearson led off with a triple. But then White, Prince and Irwin all struck out as the Bulldogs could not push across an important insurance run.
In the seventh, Weaver got Fathalakhani on strikes, but then Zepp singled. Weaver was tiring, so Coach Plank brought in the Sr submariner Mike Palmer to shut down the house. He did so by getting McIntyre to fly out to Baldel. He finished in fine fashion by throwing a nasty breaking ball to Turner for a strike out.
Weaver moves to 4-0 on the season, and Palmer picks up his second save. Stone Bridge moves to 12-1, and 7-0 through the first round of the Liberty district play. They now hold a two game lead over Madison and are in the driver's seat as they head towards a big game this Friday, April 18. The Bulldogs will host the McLean Highlanders, who they beat 6-3 on March 23 in McLean. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30PM.
