Bulldog Seniors Lead Stone Bridge to 5-1 Win
ASHBURN, VA - The Stone Bridge Bulldogs were back in Ashburn for their final regular season home game on a beautiful Friday evening. Before the game against the Woodson Cavaliers, Stone Bridge honored their 7 graduating seniors: Collin Pearson, Mike Stancik, Brian Wheaton, Tyler Basso, Mike Palmer, Matt Irwin and Ty Weaver. After the ceremony, the Bulldogs got down to business with recent WVU commit Tyler Basso on the hill and Head coach Chris Warren countered with Colin Dempsey.
Kirk Lewis led off with a fly out to Jr RF Michael Prince. Brendan Breslin grounded out to Jr 3B Pat Piccolo. Jacob Morley grounded to Piccolo as well. Sr C Brian Wheaton grounded out. Basso reached first base on a hit by pitch. Jr LF Johnny Bladel was hit by pitch as well. Sr SS Mike Stancik reached first on the next pitch, getting plunked by Dempsey. With the bases loaded, Jr 1B Patrick Thompson picked up the first RBI of the game by receiving a four pitch walk, plating courtesy runner Spencer Rositano. Prince singled, scoring Bladel and Stancik. Coach Warren had to make an unexpected pitching change, bringing in Joe McGillicuddy. Sr 2B Collin Pearson flew out, with the runners holding. Piccolo hit a grounder to the shortstop. He played the ball leisurely and tried to force Prince at second. But Prince hustled beating the force, Piccolo reaching first on a fielder's choice. Sr CF Matt Irwin reached on an infield error with Thompson scoring on the play. Wheaton flew out to end the frame.
Jack Dunn grounded to Stancik to start the second. Max Waizenegger flew out to Bladel, who made a nice diving catch. Bobby McCloud grounded to Pearson to end the frame. Basso hit a high fly to left which the LF dropped for a two base error. Bladel singled, but courtesy runner Rositano had to hold at second. With Stancik at the plate, Coach Sam Plank called for the double steal. Breslin gunned down Rositano at third for the first out of the inning, Bladel moving to second. Stancik picked up an infield hit, Bladel moving to third. Stancik stole second. But Thompson popped out and Prince grounded out to end the scoring threat.
In the third, Connor Finnerty flew out to Prince. Wyatt Moore was called out on strikes. Dylan Robeson grounded to Thompson, who flipped to Basso covering on the play. Pearson grounded out. Piccolo singled. Irwin popped out. Wheaton grounded out to end the inning.
In the fourth, Lewis struck out. Breslin walked. Morley laced a double to the right field gap, with Breslin scoring on the play. But Morley tried to take third on the throw home. Wheaton alertly cut the throw in front of the plate and fired to Piccolo, who applied the tag to Morley for the second out of the inning. Dunn struck out. Basso grounded out. Bladel flew out. Stancik grounded out to end the frame.
To start the fifth, Waizenegger popped out to Thompson, who made a nice catch right in front of the Woodson dugout. McCloud struck out. Finnerty was called out on strikes. Thompson singled. Prince singled through the hole on a beautifully executed hit and run. Thompson held at second. Pearson reached on a fielder's choice, Prince forced at second and Thompson moving to third. Piccolo singled, plating Thompson. Irwin struck out. With Wheaton at the plate, Coach Plank called for another double steal. Pearson was called out at third to end the inning.
Basso cruised in the sixth. Moore grounded to Pearson. Robeson lined out to Pearson. Colin Madsen struck out. Wheaton flew out. Rositano, batting for Basso, struck out. Bladel reached on an infield single. Stancik grounded into a fielder's choice with Bladel forced at second.
With only 74 pitches thrown, Basso re-entered the game looking for the complete game win. He didn't disappoint. Breslin struck out. Morley reached on an infield error. Dunn picked up only the second Cavalier hit, singling to right. Waizenegger was called out on strikes. The game ended as McCloud grounded to Pearson, who flipped to Stancik and forcing Dunn out.
Basso moves to 6-1 on the season, with an incredible 0.93 ERA and an astounding 57 Ks in 45 innings pitched. It was his third complete game of the season. The Bulldogs move to 16-2 on the year and 11-1 in Liberty district play. With tonight's win, the Bulldogs have already secured a bid to the Northern Region tournament. With a win on Monday night, they will also clinch the Liberty regular season crown. Stone Bridge finishes the regular season on the road with two games. On Monday, May 5 they will head to Langley to take on the Saxons. First pitch scheduled for 6:30PM. Their final regular season game will be in Vienna, as they will face the Madison Warhawks on Friday, May 9. First pitch scheduled for 7:00PM.
