Baseball: Basso Brilliant Again vs. Langley

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

With three home games on the schedule this week against tough AAA Liberty District foes, Stone Bridge was looking to get off on the right foot Monday night against Langley.

Thanks to the right arm of starter Tyler Basso, the Bulldogs shutdown the Saxons and got just enough offense to win their third straight game, 2-0.

It was the second straight complete game shutout for Stone Bridge’s senior starter – he blanked Marshall 3-0 last week – and with nine strikeouts on the night, Basso (4-0) now has 37 in 29 innings with only three walks.

The Bulldogs (11-1, 6-0 AAA Liberty) struggled early against Langley starter Barrett Hunter, but broke through for their first run when junior left fielder Johnny Bladel’s single scored freshman designated hitter J.J. White.

The Saxons threatened in the top of the fourth after two Mike Stancik errors left a runner on third with no outs, but Basso responded by locking in on catcher Brian Wheaton and locking up Langley’s hitters. He struck out Chris Sievers, then caught pinch runner Abe Yi between third and home on a suicide squeeze attempt by the Saxons. After a single by Jody Davis, Basso made a great play on a Jack McLindon grounder to escape the inning unscathed.

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Stone Bridge Defeats Langley, 2-0

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Stone Bridge pitcher Tyler Basso throws a pitch in a winning contest against Langley. The Bulldogs won, 2-0. (Joel Richardson)

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Basso, just upon releasing another pitch. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge's Alec Wyhs, No. 19, is tagged out at home on a fielder 's choice in the 5th inning (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge catcher Brian Wheaton makes the tag at home in the 4th. (Joel Richardson)

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Daniel Bergamesca, Langley's second baseman. (Joel Richardson)

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Langley's pitcher Barrett Hunter makes a pitch. (Joel Richardson)

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Langley's shortstop Jack Mclindon makes a play. (Joel Richardson)

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Stone Bridge shortstop Pat Piccolo attempts a throw. (Joel Richardson)

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The Bulldogs got an insurance run in the fifth when Basso reached on an infield error. White singled to move courtesy runner Alec Whys to third but he was gunned down at the plate after trying to score on Stancik’s grounder to short. Ryan Cummings, pinch running for White, alertly scampered to third on the play and then scored on Matt Irwin’s sacrifice fly, giving Stone Bridge the final 2-0 margin.

Basso struck out two of the final three batters he faced to secure the victory for the home team. He allowed only two hits on the night and didn’t issue a walk.

Bladel had two hits, an RBI and a stolen base for the Bulldogs and Irwin had one hit, an RBI and a walk as the Bulldogs managed six hits against Barrett. Langley’s starter took the loss, allowing the two runs in 6 1/3 innings, while walking two and striking out one.

The Bulldogs have a short turnaround as they host district rival Madison in Ashburn on Wednesday. The Warhawks defeated Stone Bridge in last year’s Liberty District championship game 12-2. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Tagged: baseball, high school sports, Stone Bridge High School

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