This time, things were different for the Stone Bridge High baseball team in its Liberty District tournament title game meeting against reigning two-time defending champion Madison.
The postseason finals game, played on Monday night at Langley High School, was won in dominant fashion by top seeded Stone Bridge, 10-0. The Bulldogs, under coach Sam Plank, received an outstanding outing from senior right handed pitcher Ty Weaver, who allowed just a single hit while walking two and striking out one in the complete game gem.
"He had control and he hit his spots," said Stone Bridge junior first baseman Patrick Thompson, of Weaver’s outing. "They just hit balls right to us most of the night."
Stone Bridge committed just two errors on the night behind Weaver.
<b>STONE BRIDGE</b> (19-3) took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, then added two more in the second and three in the third to surge ahead 6-0. The Bulldogs effectively put the game away with a four-run fifth inning to make it 10-0. For the night, Stone Bridge knocked around 13 hits.
Right fielder Michael Prince and center fielder Matt Irwin led the Bulldogs at the plate with three hits apiece. Two of Prince’s hits were doubles, while Irwin also had a two-bagger.
Thompson had a triple for the Bulldogs. Also for the winners, left fielder Johhny Bladel and shortstop Mike Stancik both had a pair of hits.
Prince, with his pair of doubles, earned Team MVP honors following the title game victory.
Madison High starting pitcher Matt Zepp, a right hander, lasted just two innings in taking the loss. Relief pitchers used by the Warhawks were Andrew Schrock and Ted Williams.
At the plate, Madison’s lone hit came from clean-up hitter and catcher Alex Jacquez, who hit a single to start off the second.
The Liberty District tournament title was the first ever for regular season champion Stone Bridge, which reached the tourney finals by defeating No. 4 McLean in a semifinals round game.
"We worked hard for this all season," said Prince, a senior. "All the work we’ve done the last three years has paid off."
Madison, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, was a semifinals winner over Langley, 4-3. But in the finals, the Warhawks, who are coached by Mark Gjormand, fell hard to the Bulldogs.
"Madison has always been the top dog in the district," said Stone Bridge’s Thompson, who had seven put-outs at first base. "Now, we’re starting to emerge."
Weaver, with the playoff decision, improved to 8-0 on the season.
"He pitched great and handled himself well on the mound," said Prince.
During the regular season, the two teams split a pair of games with Stone Bridge winning 2-0 and Madison winning 6-3. Madison’s Zepp, a senior, had been the winning pitcher in the Warhawks’ victory on May 8.
This Thursday night, Stone Bridge will host T.C. Williams in a first round game of the 16-team Northern Region tournament. Game time is 7.