Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Stone Bridge shows off seniority
As Stone Bridge athletic director Dave Hembach surveyed the three Senior Night contests taking place at his school May 2, he liked what he saw.
His unbeaten varsity soccer team turned a late 1-0 lead into a 3-0 victory against Langley, thanks to the strong play of senior goalkeeper Matt Miscione.
The first-place baseball squad jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead on W.T. Woodson, finishing off the Cavaliers 5-1 behind a complete game from senior Tyler Basso.
Stone Bridge's softball squad defeated Woodson 4-0, with seniors knocking in three of the Bulldogs' runs. Cassie Phillips, a senior next year, tossed a no-hitter.
Coach Mike Skinner lauded his softball players after the win, which keeps the Bulldogs tied for first place in the Liberty District (through action of May 5).
"We did the little things," said the first-year coach, whose team began the season 1-4 but won 11 of their next 13 games. "We played a solid, fundamental game."
Lauren Wolz extended her team-leading RBI total with a fourth-inning two-out double to the base of the 225-foot left field wall, a blast that would have left nearly every other field in the district.
"Pretty much every time there's somebody on base, she comes up big," Skinner said of his senior first baseman.
Phillips followed with an RBI single, providing herself with all the run support she would need. The Bulldogs manufactured a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on Amanda Adams' sacrifice fly and Michelle Mocabee's groundout.
Phillips allowed just one baserunner, walking none and striking out two.
"I was focusing on mixing up my pitches and keeping them off balance," she said, adding that she mixed a fastball, curve, change-up and screwball over both sides of the plate.
Skinner credited his battery, Phillips and senior catcher Kayla Lechler, for their pitch selection.
"They kept [the Cavaliers] out on their front foot, so they didn't hit the ball too hard," he observed.
"My defense played very well for me today," Phillips said.
Skinner spoke of his team's defensive strength up the middle, including senior Natalie Driskill, who recorded three assists and a putout.
"She's a machine over there," Skinner said. "Anything hit to the left side, it's an out."
Winning on the pitch
With his boys' soccer team holding the slimmest of margins deep into the second half, Matt Miscione faced Langley striker Daren Flitcroft, who had been awarded a free kick. Flitcroft's attempt was a Beckham-like bender that Miscione stopped with a fully extended dive, preserving the lead and igniting an eruption from the partisan onlookers.
Less than a minute later, the Bulldogs found the back of the net for a 2-0 cushion.
"That kinda gave us some breathing room," said fourth-year coach Randy May, recounting an earlier goal, which was nullified by an off-sides call. "That's the nature of the game."
The 3-0 district victory was an important one for Stone Bridge, whose roster features 11 seniors, including four-year starters Caleb Robertson and Ronnie Shaban, and a plethora of three-year starters.
"This has been a special group of kids," May said, noting that he has taught several of his players in the classroom as well as on the pitch. "We'll be like [Thomas] Jefferson. We'll be losing a lot of leadership, so we have some younger kids who'll have to mature quickly."
Shaban will miss the final two regular-season contests and the district tournament opener as his club team is playing in Germany.
Pitching for the win
Woodson starter Colin Dempsey plunked the first three Bulldog hitters he faced in Friday's baseball game, then issued a walk and a two-run single before being removed.
A run-scoring error gave the home team a four-run first inning, which Tyler Basso made stand up.
"Once we got the lead I felt pretty comfortable," said coach Sam Plank, noting that Basso has not allowed more than three runs in a game this season.
The Bulldogs, with seven seniors, have secured a berth in the Northern Region tournament.
"We're like a family," Plank said. "When you get a special group like that, you want to play as long as possible."
Basso, who recently committed to play baseball for Plank's alma mater, West Virginia University, agreed.
"We're a unified team," Basso said while fending off the playful jibes of teammates. "We like to goof around a lot, but we work hard in practice and it carries over to the field."
Basso went the distance for his sixth victory, allowing the Cavaliers two hits and a walk while striking out eight. He lowered his ERA to 0.93, including a 27-inning scoreless stretch earlier in the year. His fastball reached the mid-80s in the final inning.
"When he steps on the mound I feel at ease," Plank said. "You know he's gonna hit his spots. It's nice to see guys that work their tail off and it pays off."
You must be logged in to post a comment.