Reese, Rodriguez Lead Oakton To Region Semi's
LORTON VA - It was a hot and windy day in Lorton as the Concorde #2 seed Oakton Cougars were set to face the Liberty #1 seed, Stone Bridge Bulldogs. Head Coach Sam Plank had the undefeated Ty Weaver on the mound, while Head Coach Scott Rowland countered with his Sr sidearmer Bart Reese.
Keith Werman grounded out to Jr 1B Patrick Thompson. Bobby McCormick walked. Alfred Rodriguez hit what looked like a tailor made 4-6-3 double play to Jr 2B Collin Pearson, but the ball took a nasty hop for a single. McCormick moved to second on the play. Weaver bowed his neck and got both Keith Wager and Bret Williams looking at strikes to escape unscathed. Sr C Brian Wheaton grounded out. Jr RF Michael Prince grounded out. Jr LF Johnny Bladel singled. Sr SS Mike Stancik grounded out to end the innning.
In the second, Connor Madden led off with a double. Kevin Cortes flew out to Prince, as Madden advanced to third. Adam Henne grounded to Sr 3B Tyler Basso, as Madden had to hold at third. With Luke Willis at the plate, Weaver threw a wild pitch as Madden scored the game's first run. Willis then flew out to Bladel to end the frame. The Bulldogs bounced back in the bottom of the frame. Thompson was called out on strikes. Basso took a 1-1 offering from Reese over the left center wall, his first home run, to tie the score. Pearson singled. With Fr DH J.J. White at the plate, Pearson stole second. White delivered with a single, plating Pearson to give the Bulldogs their only lead of the day. Sr CF Matt Irwin battled for 10 pitches, until finally getting rung up on a questionable call.
To start the third, Werman walked. McCormick singled, with Werman moving to third. With Rodriguez at the plate, Weaver tried to pick off Werman at third. While it appeared he caught Werman napping, Weaver's throw was way too high for Basso as the throw went out of play. Werman scored, as the game was tied at 2. McCormick moved to second on the play. Rodriguez hit a towering pop up, which Pearson couldn't handle for an error. Wager flew out to Bladel. Mc Cormick and Rodriguez moved up 90 feet on a passed ball. Williams hit a sac fly to Prince, plating McCormick. Madden grounded to Basso to end the frame. Prince flew out. Bladel walked. On a hit and run, Stancik grounded out with Bladel moving to second. Then on a controversial play with a 2-2 count, Thompson appeared to be hit on the forearm with a Reese pitch. But the home plate umpired ruled a dropped third strike, as Werman applied the tag for the out. Coach Plank argued to no avail, even trying to show the mark on Thompson's forearm.
In the fourth, Cortez popped out to Pearson. Henne drove a 2-1 pitch over the wall for a home run. Willis grounded to Basso. Werman flew out to Irwin to end the frame. Basso grounded out. Pearson walked. But White hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end any scoring threat.
To start the fifth, McCormick flew out to Irwin. Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by Stancik. Wager flew out to Bladel and Williams popped to Pearson. Wheaton struck out. Prince was hit by a pitch. Bladel flew out. Stancik struck out to end the inning.
In the sixth, Madden singled. Cortez ripped a ball right up the middle, which struck Weaver's left foot, caroming away for an infield single. Weaver was OK on the play. With Henne at the plate, Madden and Cortez pulled off the double steal. Henne struck out. Coach Rowland put on the suicide squeeze with Willis at the plate. The pitch was up and in, as Madden was a dead duck. He was caught in a rundown, tagged out 2-5-1. Cortez was able to move up to third on the play. Willis came through with a single, scoring Cortez making the score 5-2. Werman flew out to Bladel to end the frame. Thompson flew out. Basso struck out. Pearson flew out to end the inning.
In the seventh, Coach Plank decided to bring in his sidearmer, Mike Palmer. McCormick walked. Rodriguez doubled, plating McCormick. Wager laid down a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line for an infield single. He then stole second. Williams hit a sac fly to Prince, scoring Rodriguez making the score 7-2, Oakton. Madden flew out to Prince. Cortez lined out to Thompson to end the frame. The Bulldogs did not go down without a fight in their final inning of the season. White struck out. Irwin flared a single to right center. Wheaton ripped a ball down the thirdbase line, reaching on a Wager infield error. Prince hit the ball on the nose, but it was caught by the center fielder. Bladel battled for eight pitches, eventually walking and loading the bases. Coach Rowland decided to make a pitching change, bringing in Willliams to finish things. But Stancik greeted him with a single on the first pitch, plating Irwin. Patrick Thompson came up, representing the tying run. The Bulldog faithful were hoping for a long ball to send the game into extra innings. On a 1-1 count, Thompson popped a foul near the first base fence. The firstbasemen moved to the screen. The ball glanced off the heel of his glove, and then appeared to touch the screen. But the firstbaseman caught the ball with his throwing hand as the umpires called a catch ending the game.
Congratulations to the Oakton Cougars, who advance to the Northern Region semifinals, facing the Lake Braddock Bruins on Wednesday. The Bulldogs finish their season at 20-4, setting a school record for wins. Congratulations and best wishes to the Stone Bridge seniors who played their final high school game: Collin Pearson, Mike Stancik, Brian Wheaton, Tyler Basso, Mike Palmer, Matt Irwin and Tyler Weaver.
