Third Time's the Charm

Bulldogs Blank Madison, Earn First Liberty District Tourney Title

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

After watching from their dugout as Madison celebrated AAA Liberty District tournament championships each of the last two seasons, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs took out two years of frustration in a 10-0 rout of the Warhawks in Monday's title game at Langley High School.

Senior Tyler Weaver threw a masterful 76-pitch, one-hit shutout and the Bulldogs battered Madison for 12 hits as they cruised to their first Liberty District title in three years in the league. Stone Bridge (19-3) was winless in six games against the Warhawks coming into this season but split the season series en route to its first Liberty District regular season title.

“I told these guys at the beginning of the season, 'There are going to be a lot of firsts this year,'" Stone Bridge coach Sam Plank said. “Winning the regular season for the first time, winning the tournament for the first time, beating Madison for the first time. We've played them so tough over the last couple years, we've just found a way to lose to them at the end of the game.”

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Stone Bridge senior pitcher Tyler Weaver delivers a fastball to Madison left fielder Ricardo Perez. Weaver pitched a one-hit shutout as the Bulldogs won their first AAA Liberty District tournament championship. (Matt Brooks)

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The Stone Bridge Bulldogs celebrate their first AAA Liberty District tournament title after defeating Madison 10-0 Monday night at Langley High School. (Matt Brooks)

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The Stone Bridge Bulldogs are all smiles after beating Madison 10-0 to claim their first AAA Liberty District championship. (Matt Brooks)

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This time it was the Warhawks who hurt themselves early with multiple miscues in the field that led to Stone Bridge runs. Madison -- which had won five of the previous six Liberty District tournament titles -- committed four errors on the night, including three in the first two innings that allowed the Bulldogs to jump out to a 3-0 lead.

Back-to-back infield errors brought junior right fielder Michael Prince across home plate on Mike Stancik's RBI grounder to third in the first inning and Prince came through again in the second with his second double down the left field line to score two more. The Bulldogs got three more in the next frame on a two-run double by senior center fielder Matt Irwin and a sacrifice fly from catcher senior Brian Wheaton.

That was more than enough for Weaver, who only faced three over the minimum of 21 batters in seven innings and benefited from two double plays turned by his infield. Junior catcher Alex Jacquez had the only hit off the 6-foot-8 hurler and only one Warhawks base-runner reached second base all night.

“It's a lot more comforting knowing I've got runs to work with,” Weaver said. “It gives me more confidence on the mound to throw strikes and go out there and do what I do.”

After squeaking by McLean with a 2-0 victory in Friday's semifinal, the Bulldogs' bats are heating up at just the right time heading into the first round of the AAA Northern Region tournament. Six Stone Bridge hitters had at least one hit on Monday, with Prince and Irwin leading the way with three each, while eight of the Bulldogs' nine hitters scored. Stone Bridge will be a No. 1 seed in the regional tournament and will host a first-round game Friday.

“You want to get hot late, that's for sure, because we have the pitching and defense,” Plank said. “If we can score some runs, we have a chance to make a little run in the region.”

Tagged: baseball, Stone Bridge High School

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