Highlanders Take Liberty District Baseball Crown
The McLean Highlanders overcame a five run deficit by scoring nine runs in the 4th inning, then held on to win 11-8 to claim the Liberty District Title.
Photo By Jason Rufner \ Fairfax Times
McLean's Jordan Ghannam slides home ahead of the throw with the 6th run of a 9 run Highlander 4th inning. McLean won the Liberty district title over Stone Bridge 11-8.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gmaeday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Stone Bridge's Michael Prince hones in on a pitch moments before driving the ball up the middle for one of his four hits on the night for the Bulldogs.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
VIENNA, VA - McLean erased a 5-0 Stone Bridge lead in the 4th inning Monday night, scoring 9 runs in their half of the frame, then held off the Bulldogs for the 11-8 win. The victory was McLean's third over Stone Bridge this year and earned them the Liberty District tile.
Stone Bridge jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Sophomore Spenser Rositano led off with a walk and Sr. Michael Prince (4-5 and 2 RBIs) followed with a single. They both moved up a base on a deep fly to right by Sr. Johnny Bladel. Rositano then scored on a wild pitch and Prince scored on a base hit by Jr. Michael Mattingly.
Stone Bridge went up 4-0 in the second. Sr. Bryce Williams led off with a double and went to third on a sacrifice by Sr. Pat Piccolo. After Rositano was hit by a pitch, Prince singled, scoring Williams and moving Rositano to third. Rositano scored on a balk.
Stone Bridge added another run in the top of the fourth. Rositano doubled and scored on a single by Michael Prince.
In the bottom of the fourth, after Sr. Nick Fialdini retired the 1st nine Highlander batters in order, the McLean hitters found their stroke. Juniors Riley Biero and Chris Russo led off the inning with singles followed by a double down the third base line by Junior Sean Fitzgerald scoring Biero. After Sr. Eric Payne walked to load the bases, Jr. Denis Buckley singled in two more runs to make it 5-3. Sr. Brett Bleiweis sacrificed and then Jr. Jordan Gannaham singled in two more to tie it up 5-5. Jr. Charlie Geiger continued the on slaught with a single and then Jr. Ethan Gaba singled in Gannaham to give McLean a 6-5 lead. Beiro batting for the second time in the inning singled in two more to give McLean an 8-5 lead and Russo completed the scoring with a double scoring Beiro.
Stone Bridge got one back in the fifth. Michael Mattingly got hit by a pitch, Bryce Williams singled and Pat Piccolo doubled scoring Mattingly.
McLean came right back in the bottom of the fifth to score two more to take an 11-6 lead. Denis Buckley walked and Brett Bleiweis was hit by a pitch. Jordan Gannham hit into a fielders choice but the throw on the double play attempt went wide of first scoring Buckley. Gannham scored on a double by Geiger that got lost in the lights.
Stone Bridge made one last attempt in the seventh. Sr. Patrick Thompson and Bryce Williams both got hit by pitches. They both advanced on a wild pitch, and then Piccolo got a base hit scoring the two.
Stone Bridge earned a second seed in the Northern Region tournament, and will play Chantilly, at home, on Friday night. With the victory, McLean gets a one seed and will face Centerville at McLean High School on Friday. Both games are tentatively scheduled for 7:00pm.
