Weaver, Bulldogs Get First Win at McLean

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Saturday, March 29, 2008

For the first time this season, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs were unable to crack double-digits in the runs column. For the first time in 2008, the team faced a legitimate threat in the seventh inning. And on a brisk, blustery Friday night, the Bulldogs achieved another first.

In their AAA Liberty District opener at McLean, Stone Bridge held onto to an early 6-0 lead to notch a 6-3 victory - its first ever at McLean.

"Every time we've played at McLean, every game has been one run," Stone Bridge coach Sam Plank said. "Last year in the playoffs, I think it was two runs. But we've never won here, so it was important for us to come here and play well. We know we're going to be fighting every out when we play these guys because they scrap. But we did what we had to do."

Senior ace Tyler Weaver was nearly untouchable through six innings, yielding just one single and one walk to the Highlanders. The six-foot-eight righty showed impeccable command and control, striking out eight of the first 21 batters he faced.

"I just came out and hit my spots tonight," Weaver said. "They're a tough team so I just came out and gave it my all. I felt confident out there and pitched well for us."

Weaver (2-0) showed signs of fatigue in the seventh: He walked the lead-off hitter and gave up singles to two of the next three batters he faced. Plank wanted to give him the opportunity to finish the shutout, but Quinn Pippin's two-run double brought the Highlanders within three runs at 6-3 and Weaver's night was over. Side-armer Mike Palmer struck out Sean Fitzgerald on four pitches to end the game and pick up the save.

"He stayed focused," Plank said of Weaver, who threw 101 pitches in total. "We probably should have gotten him out of there, but we wanted to give him a chance to get that shutout. As always McLean made it difficult."

With Pippin on the hill for the Highlanders, the Bulldogs (6-0) didn't get a run on the board in through the first two innings - another first after five blowouts in the Alexandria City Baseball Championship at West Potomac - but it wasn't long after before they broke through for a four-run third.

Centerfielder Alec Wyhs smashed a lead-off triple to the base of the right field wall and Collin Pearson drove in the first run of the game on a misplayed ground ball to short. Michael Prince knocked in Pearson with a single to right field before scoring himself. Johnny Bladel came across for the fourth run of the inning when Stone Bridge catcher Brian Wheaton won his game of pickle with the right side of McLean's infield.

The Bulldogs got two more in the fifth on Tyler Basso's two-run bloop single to shallow center field. His two RBI led a patient Stone Bridge offense that forced Pippin into six full counts and 89 pitches through only 4 2/3 innings of work. The senior hurler allowed all six runs - five earned - on five hits and struggled with his control all night, walking seven while striking out only two.

Weaver struck out six different Highlanders, and whiffed both Erik Payne and Kendall Wilkins twice. Pippin led McLean with two RBI and second baseman Chris Russo had two hits.

Stone Bridge faces Thomas Jefferson in its home opener on Tuesday. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 69-11 through their first six games, they own a 56-18 advantage in hits and their pitchers have a 53-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

"We just got to keep winning on the road and take care of our home field," Plank said. "Our motto for the season is one game at a time. We've got to keep climbing up the ladder. Every game we play in our district is huge. There's a lot of good teams and we've got to be ready to play every night."

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

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