Softball: Stone Bridge Comeback Falls Short as Great Bridge Outlasts Bulldogs, 10-9, in AAA State Finals

By Owen Gotimer 
Viva Loudoun College Intern 
Chantilly (June 9, 2013) – For the second time in school history, Stone Bridge High School fell shy of collecting the Bulldogs first VHSL AAA state softball title after coming up just one run short of a come from behind victory against Great Bridge, falling 10-9 at Westfield High School Sunday.

“I guess the only way it could have been a little better is if we could have got one right there and given ourselves a chance,” Bulldogs coach Billy Rice said.

Stone Bridge fought back from an 8-run, fifth inning deficit to pull within one run in the seventh.

“The Stone Bridge kids are awesome,” Great Bridge coach Kirk Clayton said. “That is a fantastic team. They had us pretty scared there at the end. They just came back: hitting, hitting, hitting, hitting.”

With one out and two runners aboard in the final frame, Stone Bridge cleanup hitter and starting pitcher Kelly McDaniel stepped up to the plate and ripped a line drive at the third baseman who caught the ball before throwing to second to double off the runner ending the Bulldogs magical season at 28-2.