Baseball Round-up April 7-14: Potomac Falls Takes Control in Dulles District but Suffers First Loss on Season to Heritage

(Apr. 16, 2010) - In recent years the AA Dulles District baseball race has come down to a Broad Run vs. Potomac Falls match-up and 2010 appears to be no different. The Panthers, who advanced to the state playoffs last year, grabbed the upper hand by scoring eight unanswered runs in a 10-5 win over the Spartans in Sterling on April 9.

In a seesaw battle at Panther Park, Potomac Falls pulled out a come-from-behind victory over Broad Run. The Panthers were down twice in this game but battled back to win the contest on a cold, blustery night behind the pitching of Ryan Miller and Stephen Fisher.

The Spartans opened the scoring in the first when Shane Vlastic led off with a single, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Ryan Johnston to take a 1-0 lead. The Panthers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning when Ben Sweger hit a single to left and scored on Miller’s single to left. Miller was then knocked in by Sam Bass’ double to right.

Both pitchers, Taylor Clarke for Broad Run and Miller for Potomac Falls breezed through the second before the Spartans exploded for four runs in the 3rd. Johnny Meier, Johnston and Zach Rawson all hit singles to highlight the inning. With Broad Run up 5-2 the Panthers came back again scoring two runs in their half of the inning with the big blow being a triple by Thomas Rea to score Sweger and a safety squeeze by Ryan Mahoney to score Rea.

With the score 5-4, the Spartans loaded the bases with one out in the fourth when the game’s pivotal moment happened. With Miller on the mound and his pitch count approaching 80, he induced Johnston to hit a comebacker that he fielded cleanly, threw home for the force out and then catcher Harrison Kee completed the double play by gunning Johnston out at first. The double play ended the inning and the Panthers pounced on the opportunity by scoring three runs on singles by Michael Lascomb, Taylor Jernigan, Rea and a double by Jackson Rogers to take a 7-5 lead.

Fisher then entered the game in relief of Miller for the Panthers and proceeded to strikeout four of the 10 batters he faced over the last three innings for the save. Potomac Falls added three insurance runs in the fifth on a double by Miller and a triple by Fisher.
R H E
Broad Run 5 4 0
Potomac Falls 10 11 2
Follow the jump for complete coverage of the past week ...


While the Panthers improved to 6-0 with a win over Dominion on April 13, their unbeaten mark fell the next night when they lost to AAA Heritage, 4-3, in a non-district contest.

In that game, the Pride scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to hand the Panthers their first lost of the season. Anthony Zarobila pitched a complete game victory for Heritage.

The Panthers scored twice in the fourth on hits by Colin Deely, Rogers and Sweger and added another run in the fifth on hits by Mahoney and Matt Hoover. With his pitch count rising, Coach Terango removed Rogers who had only given up three hits to go with his eight strikeouts at the start of the sixth inning.

Fisher was greeted roughly by the Pride as Dietrich and Mayflower led off with hits before Gershaw walked to load the bases. Clayton then followed with a 2-RBI single to center before Zarobila followed with a single to tie the game. Clayton then scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Offensively for the Pride:
Clayton 2-3, R, HP 2 RBI
Zarobila 2-3, BB, 2 SB, K
McCullock 0-1, 3 BB, K
Verdi 0-4, 4K
Klemm 0-3, HP, K
Dietrich 1-3, 2b, R, K
Mayflower 2-3, R
Martinez 0-2, HP
Gershen 1-2 R, K, SB

The Pride open up their Cedar Run district schedule on Friday at Osbourn
The Panthers will host Bridgeport today with a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 14
Kettle Run 8, Loudoun County 1
The Skinny: The Raiders bats were silent Wednesday night as Loudoun County was limited to only 4 hits and left 10 runners on base and lost to Kettle Run in Nokesville in a non-district contest.
The Raiders' lone run came in the top of the second inning when the Raiders took advantage of a Cougar error to place Nick Fisher on base. A walk and two sacrifice at bats allowed the runner to score. All other scoring threats came up empty.

Starter Tyler Saleck held the Kettle Run out of the run column until the bottom of the 5th inning when the Cougars put together a run of hits and long fly balls to score 3 runs. It was all the runs they would need. Nick Collins finished the game on the mound giving up 5 more runs. The Raiders' overall record stands at 4-5. Their next game will be this Saturday afternoon at home as they take on Bridgeport (WV). Game time is 1 PM.

Heritage 4, Potomac Falls 3
The Skinny: See above

Osbourn Park 5, Loudoun Valley 2
The Skinny: Vikes drop a Cedar Run District contest. (Looking for a Valley fan that wants to report highlights)

Jefferson (W.Va.) 11, Freedom 8
The Skinny: Freedom fell behind early 6-0 but battled back to take the lead 8-6 after 4 innings. Freedom surrendered the lead for good in the top of the 5th inning allowing 4 runs. Mark Muhlenberg started for Freedom and lasted 4.1 innings. He was relieved by Zack Newell and Brendan Shockley. Freedom's offense was lead by Sophomore Matt Malacane who went 3-4 with 4 rbi's and 2 runs scored. Junior Matt Murphy also added two hits and drove in 3 runs. Freedom's next game is this Friday at home against Broad Run.

George Mason 10, Dominion 0 (5)
The Skinny: Titans blanked in non-district game against the Mustangs.

Broad Run 8, Park View 0
The Skinny: The Broad Run Spartans improved their record to 6-2 on the season with an 8-0 win over the Park View Patriots in Ashburn tonight. With the win the Spartans district record now stands at 2-1.

Senior Shane Vlasic improved his record to 4-0 on the season on the mound for Broad Run. In six innings of work, Vlasic struck out 11, allowed 1 hit, and walked none. Conor Jessop threw a scoreless seventh inning for the Spartans striking out 1 batter.

Offensively, four Spartans had 2 hits apiece. Vlasic singled and doubled, Junior Ryan Johnston had two hits, Freshman AJ Powell singled and doubled, and Junior Nick Richardson has two singles on the night.

The Spartans will be back in action this Friday at Freedom High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm.

Tuesday, April 13
Briar Woods 17, Freedom 7 (5)
The Skinny: The Falcons made it three in a row with a 17-7 (5 inning) win over the Freedom HS Eagles. Pitcher Sean Harding (So.) made it 3 complete games in a row for the Falcon pitching staff, as he battled both the Freedom batters and the elements on a very wet and sloppy night. The Falcon offense produced 10 hits, including a 3-for-4 night with 4 RBI’s by Kyle Haufler (Sr.), and a 2-for-3, 3 RBI performance by Logan Harris (Sr.). Seven of the 9 Falcon starters got at least 1 base hit, and the defense overcame 4 errors committed in some very challenging conditions to secure the win for the Falcon’s third consecutive Dulles District win, in a 5-day span.

The Falcons bring their Dulles District record to 3-1, with their next game scheduled for this Friday, when they travel to play the Park View Patriots.

Loudoun County 6, Heritage 5
The Skinny: After losing the last three games by a combined four runs, the Raiders got back to winning ways with a close victory over cross-town rival Heritage. With the scored tied at 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning, Junior Ryan Wigfield stepped in to relieve starter Kris Pratt on the mound. He limited the Pride's batters to only one hit, while striking out two, and thus preventing the Pride from scoring in the 1 and 2/3 innings he pitched.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Kris Pratt led off the inning with a walk to get a runner on the base. Junior JJ Levan came in to pinch run for Pratt and advanced to 2nd base on wild pitch. Senior Nick Veschi was then intentionally walked. Junior Matt Slack then hit the first pitch he saw into left field, allowing Levan to score from 2nd base, and allowing the Raiders to avenge their earlier season loss to Heritage. Slack finished with 2 RBIs in the game, as did Nick Collins who was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI singles.

Heritage's Evan McDaniel gets the No Decision in his 1st start of the year, going 3 innings and giving up 1 earned run, striking out 1, walking 1, and hitting 3 batters while scattering 5 hits. Tyler Dietrich pitched strong in relief for the Pride, going 3 innings, giving up 1 run, 1 hit, and 2 walks while striking out 3. Two defensive mistakes hurt the Pride, accounting for 4 unearned runs.

Offensively for the Pride:
Tyler Dietrich 2-3, BB, R,
Nick Clayton 1-1, 2BB, HP
Zarobila 1-3, BB
Verdi 1-4, 2k, 2b
Klemm 1-3, BB
Martinez 2-3, R, Sac
Gershen 1-3, 2b, 2k

Park View at Broad Run PPD (make-up 4.14)
The Skinny: True story -- in the offseason they hold submarine races in the Spartans outfield.

Potomac Falls 12, Dominion 2 (5)
The Skinny: The Panthers and Titans were locked in a 2-2 duel until Potomac Falls exploded for 10 runs in the 5th inning to beat Dominion in a rain soaked game in Sterling. The Panthers improved to 6-0 with a 3–0 District record.

The Panthers scored one in the 1st when Ryan Miller’s double to left scored Ben Sweger who had walked. Dominion came right back when Kasra Ekbatani took Taylor Jernigan’s 3rd pitch over the left field fence for a homerun to tie the game. The Titans added another in the 1st on a single by Ryan Doyle followed by an infield error.

Potomac Falls tied the game in the 3rd when Thomas Rea led off with a single, stole second and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch before scoring on Miller’s groundout. At this point the rain started falling harder and both teams went quietly in the 4th.

In the 5th, the rain stopped and the Panthers started, sending 15 batters to the plate and having nine straight reach base. In the inning, Michael Lascomb had 2 hits and 3 RBI’s and Sweger, Rea, Ryan Mahoney, Miller, and Harrison Kee all had RBI’s. This ended the evening for Ryan Doyle, the Titans pitcher and Rob Ricciuti came in to end the inning.

Stephen Fisher came in for the Panthers and promptly shut down the Titans on 10 pitches to pick up another save and end the game after 5 innings. The Panthers travel to Heritage tomorrow to face the Pride.
Runs Hits Errors
Potomac Falls 12 8 1
Dominion 2 2 3

Stone Bridge 2, Langley 1
The Skinny: When Langley High School came to a cold and rainy Ashburn tonight, the last thing expected was a pitchers’ duel but that was what happened. The Bulldogs started Steve Putnick on the bump, as the Saxons countered with left hander Rob Hood. The game did not disappoint with an exciting 2-1 Bulldog victory in regulation. The Bulldogs jumped to an early lead with Ty Mocabee’s two run single to right center, after lead off hitter Spencer Rositano laid down a beautiful bunt on the wet third base grass and two hole hitter Spencer Brookbank was hit by a pitch. That would prove to be all the Bulldogs needed. Putnick settled in nicely going six innings, giving up four hits, one run in the third, and striking out nine Langley batters. Hood was equally impressive as he silenced the Bulldog bats for the next five innings, striking out nine batters.

The Stone Bridge defense came up big in the fourth. With a runner on second, Saxon batter Connor Greening hit a bloop single to left. Shortstop Ty Lighton came up throwing with a laser to Bulldog catcher JJ White, as Saxon runner Carl Hollinger tried to score from second. White applied the tag in a bang bang play for the second out of the inning. The inning ended with a lazy fly ball to right. Sid Harvey came in relief of Putnick in the seventh, with the one run lead. He looked strong, striking out two Saxons batters, to get his first save of the season. The Bulldogs play away games at Marshall on Friday and McLean next Tuesday.

Notre Dame 9, Fredericksburg Christian 7
The Skinny: NDA currently stands at 8-6 on the season and is ranked No. 8 in Virginia (Division III private schools).

Monday, April 12
Briar Woods 4, Loudoun County 3
The Skinny: The Falcons avenged an extra innings loss to the Loudoun County Raiders with a 4-3 win at Raiders Stadium. Thomas Lechler (So.) threw an impressive complete game win in his first ever Varsity start. The Falcon defense backstopped Lechler with their best game of the young season, punctuated by a brilliant leaping catch by Shortstop Kevin Wood to rob the Raider’s Slack of a base hit in the 6th. Five Falcon hitters garnered 6 hits, including a 2-for-3 night by third baseman Austin Frattali (Sr.).

Friday, April 9
Briar Woods 9, Dominion 3
The Skinny: The Falcons started their roll with a 9-3 win over the Dominion HS Titans on a cold and windy night. Southpaw Pitcher David Phillips (Jr.) delivered an 11 strikeout, complete game performance to dominate the Titan hitters, and Catcher Logan Harris (Sr.) smashed his first career Home Run in the 1st inning to spark the Falcon offense. Six different Falcon batters recorded 8 hits, including 2 each by Harris and Phillips. The Falcon defense surrendered 2 unearned runs early, but rallied behind a strong pitching performance to hold down the Titan offense the rest of the way. (Dominion fans: we need reports on the Titans -- email VivaLoudoun)

Park View 8, Loudoun County 7
The Skinny: Raiders rally in 4th and 5th innings to take the lead, but Patriots rally in bottom of 7th taking advantage of two fielding errors, a bunt and a single to win it on a windy night in Sterling. Fernandez gets the win in relief for PV. Pratt gets the loss in relief for LC. (Patriot baseball fans: VivaLoudoun needs some game highlights from you ... email today!)

Potomac Falls 10, Broad Run 5
The Skinny: See above

Westfield 9, Loudoun Valley 7
The Skinny: Vikes tough schedule continues with loss to Bulldogs.

Fairfax 7, Stone Bridge 4
The Skinny: Stone Bridge concluded their third game of the week against Liberty District opponent Fairfax High School with a 7-4 loss. The Bulldogs split the first two games with a tough 6-3 loss Tuesday night to Madison, and a come from behind 10-7 win against Chantilly. The Fairfax game was a pitchers duel for the first five innings, with the Bulldogs taking a 2-1 lead at the end of five. Stone Bridge pitcher Spencer Brookbank was outstanding, often up in the count early, baffling the Rebel Pride hitters. Brookbank went six innings giving up three earned runs and striking out nine Fairfax batters. The Bulldogs fell in the top of the seventh, after surrendering three runs in the top of the inning. Bulldog hitters Tyler Mocabee and Dillon Berger both stepped up at the plate going 2-3 for the night. JJ White, Sid Harvey, Mocabee, and Berger each had RBI’s for Stone Bridge. Langley travels to Stone Bridge Tuesday in another Liberty District contest.

Thursday, April 8
Potomac Falls 11, Loudoun Valley 1 (5)
The Skinny: The Panthers continued their torrid hitting against the Vikings scoring 11 runs in a 5 inning game. Jackson Rogers went the distance for Potomac Falls giving up 1 earned run on 4 hits.

Ben Sweger started the game with a triple to rightfield. After Thomas Rea was hit by a pitch, the Panthers pulled off a double steal with Sweger scoring and Rea moving to second. Ryan Miller then hit an RBI single to left to score Rea before Sam Bass followed with a walk. Tyler Caldwell then drilled a triple to left scoring both runners and giving the Panthers a 4 0 lead.

The Panthers tacked on a run in the second on singles by Sweger and Mahoney before a sacrifice fly by Ryan Miller scored Sweger. They added another run in the 3rd when Michael Lascomb walked, was sacrificed to 2nd and scored on a double by Jackson Rogers.

The Vikings got their lone run in the 2nd on a double by Andrew Creamer followed by a single by Dan Fleming. Potomac Falls scored 3 runs in the 4th when Lascomb cleared the bases with a 3 RBI double to leftfield. The Panthers ended the game in the 5th on a single by Rogers followed by 4 consecutive walks to plate the final 2 runs.

Highlights: Jackson Rogers (3-3 batting & 5 innings, 4 hits, 5 K’s, 1 run), Ben Sweger (2-3) & Michal Lascomb (1-2, 3 RBI’s)

Runs Hits Errors
Loudoun Valley 1 4 0
Potomac Falls 11 10 1

Manassas Park at Dominion (need score)
The Skinny: Did these two teams play ... if a tree falls in the forest ...

Wednesday, April 7
Centreville 10, Loudoun Valley 0 (5)
The Skinny: Vikes playing top competition and struggling a bit.

Stone Bridge 10, Chantilly 7
The Skinny: Bulldogs with non-district win.

Stonewall Jackson 6, Loudoun County 4
The Skinny: Raiders fall in non-district action.

Briar Woods 5, Fairfax 4
The Skinny: Falcons start a winning streak!

Herndon 8, Broad Run 5
The Skinny: Spartans suffer first defeat on season.