Stone Bridge Secures Region Berth

Bulldogs Shut Out Madison to Finish Second

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Friday, May 8, 2009

The moist infield dirt stuck to the bottom of cleats and the wet grass turned would-be groundouts into infield singles. The field conditions for Stone Bridge's regular-season finale against Virginia AAA Liberty District rivals Madison on Friday night in Ashburn certainly were not ideal, but they were far better than what the Bulldogs were forced to deal with on the very same field two days prior.

With torrential rain ruining the playing surface and eventually resulting in injury, the Bulldogs persevered through a hotly-contested matchup with Langley that was called after five innings. Tempers flared as the umpire ended the game just as the Saxons were getting back into the game. Langley trailed 8-7 in the top of the sixth inning when the umpire called it, reverting back to the 8-3 score that was on the board at the start of the frame.

On senior night, conditions were far better and the Bulldogs took complete advantage, pounding out nine hits and taking advantage of five walks and three hit batsmen to jump all over the visiting Warhawks. Behind a stellar pitching performance from senior Nick Fialdini and strong defensive play behind him, Stone Bridge claimed a 10-0 mercy rule victory in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a second-place finish in the district regular season and an automatic return trip to the AAA Northern Region tournament.

"It took a long time to get this field ready," Stone Bridge Coach Sam Plank said. "But it sure was nice playing on dirt tonight."

Playing without their star, senior outfielder Johnny Bladel who was suspended one game for arguing balls and strikes in Tuesday's win, the Bulldog offense was patient and opportunistic at the plate. They got on the board in the home half of the first when sophomore second baseman Spenser Rositano singled to lead-off, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Michael Prince, went to third on an errant pick off throw and scored on sophomore J.J. White's sacrifice fly to center.

Fialdini worked three scoreless innings, striking out four of the first 13 batters he faced, and in the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs (16-4, 11-3) blew the game wide open. Senior shortstop Pat Piccolo drew a leadoff walk against Madison junior right-hander Dan Cate. Then senior catcher Brad Koch reached on a bunt single and Rositano drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Prince drove in Piccolo on an RBI fielder's choice that was nearly turned into a double play. White walked to reload the bases and that was it for Cate.

His replacement, senior Gavin Hilburn, didn't fare much better. Junior third baseman Taylor Lambke singled to left to drive in a run and junior first baseman Michael Mattingly followed with an RBI walk. Senior Patrick Thompson grounded out to bring home another run and senior Bryce Williams singled to short to load the bases once again. Hilburn proceeded to hit Piccolo and Koch in their second plate appearances of the inning, bringing home two more runs and Rositano's ensuing two-run single brought an end to Hilburn's night. When sophomore Eli Facenda finally got Prince to ground out to him to end the inning, the Bulldogs had sent 12 men to the plate in the inning and held a commanding 9-0 lead.

"It's a great feeling as a pitcher when you have an offense that's scoring runs behind you," Fialdini said. "It's a lot easier going out there each inning knowing that you have extra runs to work with."

Fialdini – who was 0-2 against the Warhawks (12-6, 8-5) coming into the game – cruised the rest of the way, working two perfect innings in which he threw a total of 16 pitches. After giving up a single to Madison senior catcher Alex Jacquez in the top of the sixth and then hitting Scott Bernier, he calmly induced a fly ball to right field to end the threat. The Bulldogs sealed their 10-run victory in the home half of the inning on Mattingly's RBI single to left.

Rositano had two hits, two RBI a walk and a run scored to lead the Bulldogs' nine-hit attack. Prince and Koch also had two hits and Mattingly finished with two RBI with a single and two walks. Since a 4-2 loss to McLean on April 21, Stone Bridge has outscored its opposition, 56-6. The Bulldogs have now won 11 of their last 12.

Fialdini was brilliant for the home team, giving up three singles, walking two – one intentionally, hitting one batter and striking out four while only throwing 72 pitches. His continued dominance coupled with the emergence of Bladel as the team's No. 2 starter will make or break the Bulldogs' regional tournament chances.

"The guys really stepped up and wanted to come out here and get the win for Johnny tonight," Plank said. "It's tough when you don't get to play on your senior night but these guys responded.

"Our whole goal has been to be ready for May and here we are. We've won 11 of 12 and we're playing our best baseball at the right time. I think we've finally become a team the last few weeks and that has made all the difference for us."

But even with their spot in the playoffs now assured, Fialdini said he wouldn't mind a rematch with top-seeded McLean in the Liberty District tournament final. The league has no regular-season champion, so the winner of the tournament wins the district. The Bulldogs defeated Madison in last season's title game and would like nothing more than two avenge their two losses to the Highlanders while retaining their crown.

"It would be great to come out and meet McLean in the final," said Fialdini, who was the hard-luck loser in the Bulldogs' 4-2 loss to the Highlanders last month. "I would love to see them again."

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks