James Madison Warhawks 2007 Game Summaries

by Jim Gilbert

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Stone_Bridge_Away /   McLean_Away /    Oakton_Away /    Jefferson_Home /   South Lakes_Away     /  Suncoast_Riviera_Beach_FL_ /   Centreville_VA_in_Orlando /   Palm_Beach_Gardens_FL /  Olympia_HS_Orlando_FL  /  Marshall_Home  /   Woodson_Away /          Langley_Away  /  Stone_Bridge_Home   /    McLean_Home   /  Jefferson_Away  /   South Lakes_Home     /  Marshall_Away  /   Woodson_Home /  Langley_Home  / McLean_in_District_Tourney_semifinal /   Stone_Bridge_District_Tourney_Championship     /   Washington_&_Lee_Regional_Tourney  /   Lake_Braddock_Regional_Tourney  /    Oakton_Regional_Semifinals   /

Game Summaries

2007 Warhawks Game Summaries

Madison defeats Stone Bridge in extra innings to open 2007 campaign

The Madison Warhawks hit the road for their 2007 season opener against the Stone Bridge Bulldogs, on a breezy, chilly March evening.  Madison sent Sr. lefthanded ace Jason Farley to the mound against Stone Bridge So. righthanded starter Nick Fialdini.

Kyle McIntyre (Jr. DH) led off the top of the 1st by drawing a walk.  Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) then lined out to left and David McIntyre (Sr. CF) hit a fly ball to right center for the second out.  Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B) drilled a two-out single back up the middle, moving K. Mcintyre up to second base.  Moniri and McIntyre both advanced on a Fialdini wild pitch, but were stranded when Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) took a called third strike to end the Warhawks’ threat.  In the home half of the 1st, Farley had a three-up, three-down inning, with Alex Andrews (Sr. C) holding on to a bobbled third strike foul tip off the bat of Collin Pearson for the first out (the umpires conferred to make sure they got the call correct), followed by a Brian Wheaton ground out to Moniri at first, and Farley freezing Mike Stancik with a change-up for called strike three.

Leading off the Madison half of the 2^nd inning, Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) hit a tapper back to the pitcher for the first out.  Brian Smith popped out down the right field line and Alex Andrews struck out.  Farley again had a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the 2^nd, inducing a first-pitch Jeron Gouveia ground ball to Moniri at first for out number one, and striking out Matt Irwin and Chris Martinez to retire the side.

Colin Flaherty (Jr. RF) opened the Warhawks’ half of the 3^rd inning by lining out to right field.  K. McIntyre then dropped a single into left field, but was then caught stealing by Bulldogs’ catcher Brian Wheaton’s throw. Tison then lined out to short for the third Madison out.  Farley quickly got two outs to start the bottom of the 3^rd, striking out Pat Thompson and getting Johnny Bladel to hit yet another ground ball to Moniri at first base for the unassisted out.  Tyler Basso became Stone Bridge’s first base runner of the game when he pushed a bunt base hit to the third base side of the mound, but the inning ended with Pearson grounding to Conlon at short, who flipped to Tison at second for the final out.

Fialdini had settled in nicely by the time Madison came to bat in the 4^th inning, and promptly struck out D. McIntyre and induced Moniri to ground out to the third baseman.  Sams then delivered the Warhawks’ third hit of the evening, doubling to the fence in right center, but was left on base when Conlon struck out.  Stone Bridge made some noise in their half of the inning, beginning with a lead-off single by Wheaton, and a walk issued to Stancik to put two Bulldogs runners on.  Farley erased the lead runner on a Gouveia come-backer to the mound for the first out, but a misplayed Irwin bunt again loaded the bases.  Stone Bridge scored the first run of the game when Stancik scored on a past ball, and the threat was kept alive as Martinez was hit by a pitch to reload the bases.  Farley worked out of the jam, however, getting a called third strike on Thompson and still another unassisted putout by Moniri on a Bladel grounder to first to end the rally with just one run allowed.  Stone Bridge led 1 – 0 after four.

Brian Smith drew a walk to open the Warhawks’ 5^th, but was then caught off first by a Wheaton throw behind the runner.  Andrews then grounded out to second and Flaherty reached base on an infield error on his ground ball to the left side.  Flaherty then stole second and K. McIntyre drew a walk to put a second Madison runner on base.  Tison then grounded out to second for the third out.  Farley kept the Bulldogs under control in the bottom of the 5^th, sandwiching strikeouts of Basso and Wheaton around a first-pitch groundout to short by Pearson.  Stone Bridge led 1 – 0 after five.

In the top of the 6^th, Stone Bridge junior righthander Tyler Weaver came on in relief of Fialdini.  D. McIntyre hit a fly ball out to center, and Moniri followed by drawing a walk.  In his Warhawks varsity debut, sophomore Casey Turner entered as a pinch runner for Moniri and promptly to second on a balk.  Sterling Sams again delivered the big hit and put Madison on the board by driving in Turner with a line shot triple down the right field line.  After Conlon grounded out to short, Smith drew a two-out walk to put runners on the corners. Sams then came in to score on a wild pitch with Smith advancing into scoring position at second.  Madison could not push more runs across, as Andrews grounded out to short, but now led 2 – 1 in the middle of the 6^th.  Farley held the Bulldogs in check in their half of the sixth, getting Stancik to line out to right field and stranding Gouveia at second after a base hit by striking out Irwin and inducing a Martinez fly out to left to end the inning.  Madison led 2 – 1 after six.

While the Warhawks managed to get a base runner on in the top of the 7^th, they could not generate any insurance runs, as Flaherty struck out, K. McIntyre walked and advanced to second on an overthrown attempt to catch him off first, Tison struck out, and D. McIntyre hit a fly ball out to left center.  Senior righthander Sam Gilbert came on in relief of Farley in the bottom of the 7^th, in search of the season’s first save.  Gilbert induced a ground ball to Smith at third, who had to make a quick throw to first and Moniri made a great scoop to record the out.  After Bladel reached on an error, Basso moved him to third with a single that snuck just inside the first base bag.  Bladel scored on Pearson’s ground ball to short, which Conlon converted to the second out be forcing Basso at second.  The inning ended when Wheaton lined out to Conlon at short.  Stone Bridge had the equalizer and the score was tied 2 -2 after seven.

Moniri opened the extra frame by grounding out to short.  Sams then reached base on a fielding error on his grounder to the right side of the infield and advanced to second on Conlon’s base hit bunt to the right side.  Sams headed for third on a fumbled pick-off attempt at second base and scored the go-ahead run when Stancik’s throw eluded Basso, the third baseman.  Conlon moved to second on the play.  Smith then singled on a hot grounder to the left side on which there was no play.  Andrews moved the runners up to second and third with a ground out to short.  Flaherty then hit a rising line drive that Basso went up the ladder to just barely snag and end the Madison threat.  Junior righthander Jesse Jeter took the mound for Madison in the bottom of the 8^th.  Jeter earned the save by getting Stancik to ground out to Smith at third base, firing strike three past Gouveia and catching Irwin looking at strike three to lock down the win for the Warhawks.  Final score: Madison 3, Stone Bridge 2

Jason Farley went 6 solid innings in a no-decision, recording 9 strike outs and giving up 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 run (none earned). Sam Gilbert pitched 1 inning, yielding 1 hit and 1 run (unearned), and picking up the win.  Jesse Jeter picked up the save with his 1 inning of work, 2 strikeouts and no runs allowed.  Sterling Sams delivered 2 extra base hits, while Kyle McIntyre, Arman Moniri, Rich Conlon and Brian Smith added 1 hit each.  “Well, we got we wanted”, said Warhawks Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand.  “We were a little uptight tonight, which was expected the first time out.  But make no mistake, Stone Bridge over there is a young team and they are testing it; they came to play.  We made some mistakes, but I am proud of all our pitchers and I was glad to see Sterling Sams step it up and deliver the big hit.  Bottom line: We got the W, coming back from down 1 – 0 in a tough environment.  In the end, it doesn’t matter if you win 13 – 2 or 3 – 2, we’ll take it.  So now we’ll go back to work and try and get better.”

The Warhawks’ 5-game road trip to open the season continues Friday, March 23, with a game at McLean against the Highlanders.

Warhawks Bats Come Alive in 16-3 Win at McLean 

In a chilling, misty rain, the Madison Warhawks (1 – 0) visited the Highlanders of McLean High School (0 – 1) in the second Liberty District match-up for each team.  Madison started hard-throwing junior righthander Jesse Jeter against McLean senior righty Andrew Stowe, as the Warhawks aimed to avenge their lone District from last year.

Kyle McIntyre (Jr. RF) walked to open the top of the 1^st inning.  After Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) flied out to center, K. McIntyre was forced at second in the fielder’s choice on Arman Moniri’s (Sr. 1B) infield ground ball.  Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) hammered an 0 – 2 fastball for a line drive homer that plated Moniri, giving Madison a two run lead.  Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) reached base and advanced to second on errors, and was then driven in by Brian Smith’s (Sr. 3B) single through the infield.  Jason Farley (Sr. DH) lined out to the outfield to end the Warhawks’ at bat.  In the home half of the 1^st, Jeter walked the first batter, Ryan Blackwell, then recorded three straight outs, as DH Patrick Tawil flied out to second, Andrew Morgan took strike three and Tyler Thompson flied out to right.  Madison led 3 – 0 after one.

Stowe hit David McIntyre (Sr. CF) with a pitch to start the 2^nd inning.  Alex Andrews (Sr. C) moved D. McIntyre to second base with an infield single, and both runners moved up a base on a throwing error.  D. McIntyre scored from third on a wild pitch, with Andrews moving up a base.  K. McIntyre then dropped a single over the infield to score Andrews. Tison’s infield groundout moved K. McIntyre into scoring position and Moniri’s sharp single through the infield put runners at the corners with one out. Moniri was forced at second for out number two and K. McIntyre scored as Sams reached base on a fielder’s choice.  After hitting Conlon with a pitch, Stowe escaped further damage by recording the third out on a swinging strike out.  In McLean half of the 2^nd inning, Jeter faced just four batters, getting Quinn Pippin to ground out to Tison at second, walking Stowe, but stranding him by inducing another ground out to second by Kendall Wilkins and a fly ball third out to Sams in left by Denis Buckley.  The Warhawks led 6 – 0 after two innings.

After Farley and D. McIntyre opened the top of the 3^rd with singles, Andrews walked to load the bases, but Stowe escaped further damage by getting K. McIntyre to ground into a 1 – 2 – 3 double play, and stranding D. McIntyre and Andrews at third and second when Tison grounded out to end the Warhawks’ threat.  Jeter set down the Highlanders in order in the bottom of the inning, inducing James Pascoe to ground out to Smith at third, striking out Blackwell, and ending the frame with a ground out to Tison at second.  After a scoreless 3rd, Madison held the lead 6 – 0. 

Sean Fitzgerald took the mound in relief for McLean in the Madison half of the 4^th and was greeted with Moniri’s first-pitch, lead-off single through the infield.  Moniri was then forced at second as Sams reached on a fielder’s choice.  Conlon’s laced triple to the outfield corner scored Sams, and Conlon came in to score on a wild pitch.  Fitzgerald then retired Smith and Zepp on infield grounders to end the top half of the inning.  The Highlanders broke through in the bottom of the 4^th, with a lead-off Morgan single.  After Morgan moved to second on a passed ball, Thompson’s sharp groundout to Tison, on a nice diving stop up the middle, moved Morgan to third.  Pippin walked to put runners at the corners and, when Pippin stole second, Morgan scored an unearned run on the throw down and McLean was on the board.  After Stowe took strike three for the second out, Wilkins doubled, scoring Pippin.  Jeter shut down the rally by firing strike three past Buckley.  After four full innings: Madison 8, McLean 2.

The Warhawks staged a two-out rally in the visitors’ 5^th, after D. McIntyre and Colin Flaherty (Jr. C), who had taken over for Andrews behind the plate, grounded out sharply to opposite sides of the infield. K. McIntyre lined a double to the outfield fence, and was driven in by Tison’s laser double over the outfield.  The catcher’s errant throw on Tison’s steal of third allowed him to score, but Madison could add no more runs as Moniri ground out retired the side.  Sam Gilbert (Sr. P) took over pitching duties for the Warhawks in the bottom of the 5^th.  After Pascoe’s roller cleared the infield for a hit, he advanced to second on a passed ball as Blackwell took strike three.  Pascoe scored an unearned run on Tawil’s single just inside the third base bag.  The threat died when, after walking, Morgan was forced out at second and Blackwell took a called third strike to end the frame.  Madison led 10 – 3 at the end of 5.

Sams stayed hot to open the Madison half of the 6^th, with a towering lead off homer, for his third RBI of the night.  John Zabel relieved Fitzgerald for McLean, inducing Casey Turner (Jr. 2B, Tison to SS), in his first varsity at bat, to ground sharply to short for the first out.  Andrew Schrock (Jr. 3B, for Smith) stroked a double down the line in his varsity debut, but was stranded as Zabel recorded his first K and induced Alex Jacquez (So. DH) to ground out to short for the third Warhawks out.  Gilbert faced five Highlanders batters in the bottom of the inning, but allowed no scoring, striking out David Roffman, allowing a Pippin single, hitting Wilkins with a pitch, striking out Corey Cannon and getting Kaiser to fly out to centerfield.  After six innings, the Warhawks held an 11 – 3 lead.

The Warhawks came to the plate in the top of the 7^th inning hungry for more, and Flaherty led off with a single to the outfield and, after a Madison strikeout, moved to second as Tison reached base on a fielding error.  Madison introduced two more newcomers to the varsity in their inaugural at bats, as David Fathalakhani (Jr. 1B, for Moniri) walked to load the bases and Paul Gongaware (Jr. LF, for Sams) singled up the middle to score Flaherty.  Tison came into score after the throw home got away from McLean catcher James Bodson, as Fathalakhani and Gongaware advanced to third and second, respectively, before the dust settled.  Kendall Wilkins came in to relieve Zabel, and walked Turner to reload the bases with Warhawks.  Schrock cleared the bases with his second straight double to the outfield corner, picking up 3 RBI.  Wilkins capped Madison’s scoring at 16 runs by striking out the final two Warhawks batters.  Southpaw Ted Williams (Jr. P) took over for Gilbert and looked sharp in his varsity premier, striking out Fitzgerald, Nicolas Vanderhyne and, after Tawil doubled, Pippin to end the game.  Final score: Madison 16, McLean 3

Jesse Jeter picked up the win, going 4 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, recording 4 strikeouts and allowing 3 walks.  Sam Gilbert pitched a solid 2 innings, allowing one run (unearned), on 3 hits, striking out 3 and walking 1.  Ted Williams pitched 1 inning, struck out 2, allowing 1 hit and no runs.  Sterling Sams led the offense, going 2 for 4, clouting 2 homers and 4 RBI, followed closely by Andrew Schrock, who was 2 for 2, ripping 2 doubles and driving in 3.  Others picking up RBI were K. McIntyre (2 for 4), Brig Tison (2 for 5), Arman Moniri (2 for 4), Rich Conlon (1 for 2, triple), Brian Smith (1 for 3) and Paul Gongaware (1 for 1). The Warhawks scored their 16 runs on a symmetrical 16 hits, and committed no errors.

Commenting on the win, Warhawks Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand said, “A great job; I thought we were much more relaxed tonight, having gotten the opener out of the way.  We came ready to play and did the things we have worked on since the first day of practice.  I really like their club over there; [McLean Head Coach] John [Thomas] does a nice job and they’re going to win some games. I liked our approach at the plate tonight and I thought we made some plays.  That’s Madison baseball, and we’re excited to get it on track.”

The Warhawks next travel across town to take on rival Oakton, in a rare Saturday contest, on March 24^th

Warhawks defeat Cougars 7-5 at Oakton in 11 Inning Thriller

Having avenged their only 2006 regular season loss the night before, The Madison Warhawks (2 -0) took aim at the opponent that ended Madison’s 2006 22 – 2 campaign in the Northern Region Quarterfinals, the eventual Virginia AAA State Championship Runner-up Oakton Cougars (0 – 1) in a non conference game.  The crowd that turned out on a cool, misty Saturday afternoon at Oakton High School for this battle of cross-town rivals might have missed the better part of the early NCAA basketball Elite Eight game, but they were treated to an extra-inning, playoff-atmosphere game between two excellent Virginia high school baseball programs.  Madison senior righthander Brad Wimmer squared off against Oakton’s junior righty Kevin Wager to get the backyard brawl started.

The Warhawks drew first blood in their opening at bat, when Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B) blasted a two-out solo home run, after a lead-off strike out and a Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) infield pop out.  Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) grounded out to end the top of the 1^st inning.  Wimmer took the mound for Madison in the bottom of the inning with a 1 – 0 lead, but the Cougars struck back.  With two runners on (Connor Madden, hit by pitch, and Keith Werman, walk), Wager singled through the right side of the infield to score Madden and move Werman to second.  Wimmer induced Alfredo Rodriguez to ground out to third, but Werman and Wager advanced and were scored when Bret Williams singled up the middle.  Wimmer escaped further damage by getting Mark Stier to bounce into a 1 – 6 – 3 double play.  After one inning, Oakton led 3 – 1.

Madison landed more blows of its own in their half of the 2^nd inning, as Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) walked and was moved to second by Brian Smith’s (Sr. 3B) sharp single through the infield. Jason Farley (Sr. DH) then singled to load the bases, and David McIntyre (Sr. CF) reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Conlon and moving Smith to third; Farley was forced out at second.  On the second pitch to Alex Andrews (Sr. C), D. McIntyre took off for second but pulled up short on a quick throw from the Oakton catcher, and was awarded second base after interference was called on the Cougars in the ensuing run-down. Smith came in to score during the diversion and Madison had tied the game at three apiece. Andrews popped up to the outfield for the second out and, after Kyle McIntyre (Jr. RF) was hit by a pitch, D. McIntyre was forced out on Tison’s ground out.  Oakton went right back to work in the bottom of the frame, as Bobby McCormick drew a lead-off walk and Chris Page reached on a fielder’s choice and both runners were safe on a throwing error.  Mike Uffleman moved the runners up to second and third with a ground out to Wimmer, who took the out at first.  Madden plated McCormick with a ground out to Tison at second, and Page moved to third base.  Wimmer worked out of the jam by getting Werman to fly out to left, but Oakton was back on top after two innings, 4 – 3.

The Warhawks put runners on yet again in the top of the 3^rd. Moniri reached base when his fly ball to the outfield was dropped, but was then forced out on the fielder’s choice on a Sams’ ground ball.  Wager then got Conlon to ground into a 6 – 4 – 3 double play to hold Madison scoreless for the inning.  Wimmer similarly held his ground in the Cougars’ half of the 3^rd, striking out Wager and, after Rodriguez doubled and Williams was hit by a pitch, inducing a slick 4 – 6 – 3 double play to close out the first scoreless inning of the game.  The score after three: Oakton 4, Madison 3.

Smith led off the Madison 4^th with a double roped to the outfield fence.  After Farley flied out for the first out, Oakton got the second by cutting down the lead runner on D. McIntyre’s infield grounder.  D. McIntyre moved into scoring position by stealing second and alertly came in to score by running all-out on Andrews’ floating two-out liner over the infield that was dropped.  Colin Flaherty (Jr. PR), courtesy running for Andrews, was picked off on Wager’s quick move to first, but the Warhawks had again pulled even with the Cougars, at 4 – 4.  Farley relieved Wimmer on the mound for Madison in the bottom of the 4^th, and struck out the first two batters he faced, McCormick and Page, both swinging. After Uffleman singled, Madden was hit by a pitch and Werman walked to load the bases, with two outs.  Farley ended the threat by firing strike three past Wager.  It was all tied after 4, 4 – 4.

The Warhawks struck again in the top half of the 5^th.  K. McIntyre reached on an infield throwing error and moved to second on Tison’s shot that was deflected for an infield single.  Madison loaded the bases when Moniri’s infield bouncer was mishandled, leaving all runners safe.  Sams delivered the lead run with a line out deep to the outfield.  With one out, Casey Turner (Jr. PR, running for Moniri) stole second.  The runners were stranded, however, when Conlon grounded out and, after Smith was walked intentionally, Farley lined out.  Madison had taken the lead 5 – 4.  After getting the first out on a Rodriguez fly ball to K. McIntyre in right field and yielding a double to Williams, Farley was treated to another highlight-reel play from the 5 – 3 combination of Smith and Moniri.  Smith dived to his left to snare Stier’s hard grounder, and Moniri elevated to snag Smith’s rising throw, landing on the bag just in time to get the out call on a bang-bang play at first.  Farley then got McCormick to hit a tapper back to the mound for the third out.  Madison led after five innings 5 – 4.

Bart Reese took the mound for Oakton in the top of the 6^th to try to hold the line against the Warhawks, and had a three up, three down inning, with two ground outs, D. McIntyre and K. McIntyre, and a strikeout.  The Cougars scratched out the equalizer in the home half of the 6^th, with Page reaching base on a hit by pitch and advancing to second on a balk call.  Uffleman moved Page to third on his chopper near the third base line, which was fielded by Farley who took the out at first.  Page then scored the tying run on Madden’s slow groundout to Smith at third.  After Werman laid down a bunt single, Farley induced a Wager ground out to third to end the 6^th with the score tied at 5.

The pitchers took over for the next four innings, with neither team able to mount any real offensive threat as the game ended the regulation 7^th inning tied at 5 all, and moved deep into extra innings. Reese and Williams, who took over for Reese in the top of the 8^th, held the Warhawks to just two hits in the 7^th through 10^th innings.  Madison managed to move a runner to third with two outs in the 9^th, but could not cash in.  Meanwhile, Farley was cruising for Madison, setting down the Cougars in order in each of the 7^th through 10^th innings, striking out three and relying on the Warhawks’ solid defense for the rest.

In the decisive 11^th inning, Andrews led off by lining out deep to the outfield.  K. McIntyre walked and moved to second on Tison’s perfectly placed bunt single.  With two on and one out, Moniri came through with the clutch go-ahead RBI, singling sharply through the infield and scoring K. McIntyre from second.  Tison then stole third and Oakton elected to intentionally walk Sams to load the bases, hoping for a double play ball to end the rally. Conlon foiled the strategy by driving a sacrifice fly deep to the outfield to score Tison with the insurance run.  Smith grounded out to end the Madison half of the 11^th, with the Warhawks enjoying a two-run cushion.  Farley again took the mound to face the Cougars’ 7, 8 and 9 hitters in the bottom half of the 11^th.  McCormick led off with a double down the right field line, giving Oakton a runner in scoring position with none out.  Adam Henne, pinch hitting for Page took called strike three for the first out.  Uffleman’s ground out to Conlon at short gave Madison out number two, but moved McCormick to third base.  There he would stay, however, as Farley induced Madden to line out to K. McIntyre in right to end the heavyweight bout, with Madison the winner.  Final score: Madison 7, Oakton 5.

For the Warhawks, Brad Wimmer pitched three innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits, with 1 strikeout and 2 walks.  Jason Farley picked up the win, pitching 8 gutty innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, striking out 7 while walking just 1 batter.  Leading the Madison offense were Arman Moniri (2 for 5, home run and 2 RBI), Brig Tison (3 – 5, double) and Brian Smith (2 – 5, double). Other Warhawks contributing RBIs were Sterling Sams, Rich Conlon and David McIntyre.  Madison’s 7 runs came on 9 hits, and the Warhawks committed just 1 error, in a tough, exciting contest.

Commenting on the hard-fought win over close rival Oakton, Madison Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand said, “I’m just real proud of our guys.  We maybe weren’t at our best today, but they came to play.  You know, [Oakton Head Coach] Scott [Rowland] always has his guys ready to roll.  They are tough and only a mile away, so we know each other real well.  But you are just really going to have to knock our guys out to beat us.  We took some haymakers from them today, no doubt, and I thought we really did a much better job of keeping our energy level up and not pressing when the game was tight, even after we left some guys on base.  Jason [Farley] is a tough kid, and he gave us every bit of it today when we needed it.  The bottom line is our guys battled today, and are starting to show me that they’re developing their own character, and that’s what it takes to win a playoff-type game like this one. Things are starting to come together a little bit, and that’s exciting.”

The Warhawks next host Thomas Jefferson on Tuesday, March 27^th, in a match-up switched from Jefferson due to ongoing renovations at their field.

Madison Defeats Jefferson 12-3 In Home Opener

In the home opener for the Warhawks (the game was relocated from Thomas Jefferson, due to ongoing renovations of the Colonials’ field), Madison rapped out 15 hits on the way to a 12 – 3 victory over the Thomas Jefferson Colonials “TJ”.  Warhawk Nation turned out in force to support the Warhawks, 3 – 0 heading into the game and ranked No. 4 in the nation in the March 25^th Easton Sports High School Poll.  Senior righthander Sam Gilbert got the start for Madison, opposite Colonials senior righthander Jon Seidman.

Gilbert put together a one-two-three top half of the inning, sandwiching strikeouts of John LaBarge and Seidman around an Alex Radcliffe ground out to short to retire the side on a thrifty 12 pitches.  In the home half of the 1^st, Kyle McIntyre (Jr. CF) led off with a ground out.  Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) drilled a double down the line, the moved up to third base on David McIntyre’s (Sr. DH) ground out.  Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) put the Warhawks’ first run on the board scored Tison with a single.  Sams stole second, but was stranded when Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) grounded out to end the inning.  Madison led after one inning, 1 – 0.

In the top of the 2^nd, Gilbert again stayed in the strike zone and set down the side in order, getting Patrick Yaroch to line out to left, striking out Mike Mensing and inducing a Drew Pyrak ground out to Brian Smith (Sr. 3B) at third.  The Warhawks struck again in the bottom of the inning.  After Smith grounded out to lead off, Jason Farley (Sr. 1B) singled through the infield and moved up to third on Alex Andrews’ single.  With runners at the corners, Colin Flaherty (Jr. RF) hit a roller to third, and reached on a fielder’s choice, loading the bases with all Madison runners  safe.  After Seidman recorded the second out with a strikeout, Tison delivered Farley and Andrews with a two-out single.  Flaherty and Andrews moved up to third and second, and were driven in by D. McIntyre’s double. The rally ended when Sams flied out to the outfield.  After two full innings, the Warhawks held a 5 – 0 lead.

Gilbert worked another efficient inning in the TJ half of the 3^rd, retiring John Vandesand (fly ball to center), Doug Ross (ground out to short) and Tom Warner (fly ball to center), on just 9 pitches.  In the Madison 3^rd, Smith followed a Conlon lead-off walk with a single through the infield, putting runners on first and second.  After a strike out, Andrews lined a single that plated Conlon.  TJ secured the second out by catching Smith attempting to score on multiple run-down, attempted double steal, and the third on a strikeout.  The score after three: Madison 6, TJ 0.

 In the visitor’s 4^th, TJ finally broke through against Gilbert, with LaBarge and Radcliffe putting together back-to-back singles.  With two on and no outs, Gilbert got Seidman looking at strike three, but yielded another single to Yaroch, which drove in the Colonials’ first run.  On the same play, however, Radcliffe was cut down at third attempting to advance on the throw home.  Gilbert induced out number three on a Mensing ground out to Tison at second.  Madison responded in the home half of the inning against TJ reliever Ryan Stumvoll, as K. McIntyre led off with a single, followed by walks to Tison and D. McIntyre to load the bases with Warhawks.  Sams then hit a sacrifice fly to score K. McIntyre.  Conlon followed with an infield single, hitting a hard shot off the glove of Stumvoll and beating the shortstop’s throw to first.  Tison came in to score on the play.  With runners on first and second and one out, Smith doubled down the line, driving in D. McIntyre and moving Conlon to third.  The runners were stranded when Farley and Andrews flied out to end the frame.  After four full innings, the Warhawks’ lead was 9 – 1.

Brad Wimmer (Sr. P) took the mound to start the 5^th inning, and kept the economical Madison pitching going with a 6-pitch, one-two-three inning, setting down the Colonials’ Pyrak, Vandesand and Ross on consecutive infield grounders.  Ross’ grounder, however, was a knuckler to shortstop that Conlon charged, snagged barehanded and side-armed to Farley at first, who stretched to scooped the low throw for a snazzy 6 – 3 put-out.  In the Warhawks’ half of the 5^th, Flaherty led off by legging out an infield single and K. McIntyre reached on a throwing error.  With two on and none out, Tison grounded out to second, advancing the runners to second and third.  Flaherty was tagged out attempting to score on a past ball for out number two, and pinch hitter David Fathalakhani (Jr. DH) flied out to the infield to close out a scoreless 5^th inning for both teams.  Madison led 9 – 1 after five innings.

Madison sent lefty Ted Williams (Jr. P) to the hill for the Colonials’ 6^th.  Warner and LaBarge led off with back-to-back walks, and Radcliffe advanced the runners on a come-backer to Williams, who took the out at first.  Yaroch singled, driving in Warner, and LaBarge scored on a throwing error.  Yaroch was stranded at second, when Williams induced a Mensing ground out to short.  Paul Gongaware (Jr. LF) led off the Warhawks, reaching base after being hit by a pitch and advanced to second base as Casey Turner (Jr. 2B) reached on a throwing error.  Andrew Schrock (Jr. 3B) stroked a double up the gap (his third double in three at bats this season), driving in Gongaware and Turner.  After Matt Zepp (Jr. 1B) flied out to the outfield, Alex Jacquez (So. C) singled through the infield. Brian Foy (Jr. PR) entered for his first varsity action, pinch running for Jacquez.  Warner moved to the mound for TJ in relief of Warner and walked Flaherty and Brandon Lomax (Jr. CF, his first varsity at bat).  Schrock scored from third on a passed ball, but Madison could add no further, as Maxfield Brennan (Jr. PH), taking his inaugural varsity turn at bat for Tison, and Fathalakhani could not reach base.  After 6 innings, the Warhawks had extended their lead to 12 – 3.

Zepp moved to the mound for Madison to close out the Colonials’ final at bat, setting down TJ in order with a Pyrak fly out to the infield, a Vandesand unassisted ground out to first base, and a strikeout to end the game.  Final score: Madison 12, TJ 3.

Sam Gilbert picked up the win for the Warhawks, throwing 4 efficient innings (44 pitches), allowing 1 earned run on three hits, walking no one and striking out 4.  Brad Wimmer and Matt Zepp each pitched a scoreless inning, allowing no hits and no walks.  Ted Williams went one inning, allowing 2 earned runs on 1 hit and 2 walks, and striking out 1.  Offensively, Madison was led by Brig Tison (2 for 3, a double and 2 RBI), David McIntyre (1 for 2, a double, 2 RBI), Sterling Sams (1 for 2, 2 RBI), Andrew Schrock (1 for 1, a double, 2 RBI), Brian Smith (2 for 3, a double, 1 RBI), Alex Andrews (2 for 3, 1 RBI), and Kyle McIntyre (2 for 4).  The Warhawks’ 12 runs came on 15 hits, and the defense committed no errors.

Madison Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand said of the effort, “I thought we did a nice job tonight.  It started off with Sam [Gilbert]; he was on tonight.  He pounded the strike zone with good pop, and the defense was sharp behind him.  We didn’t want to give up those runs late the way we did, but overall I thought we did a pretty good job and a lot of guys contributed, so that’s good.  So now, we go to South Lakes for another away game, and try to keep it rolling.”

Madison next travels to South Lakes on Thursday, March 29^th, for a 7:00 pm start against the Seahawks.

Madison Shuts Out South Lakes 10 – 0

The Warhawks took their 2007 campaign back on the road Thursday, to take on the South Lakes Seahawks, on clear but chilly evening.  In the Liberty District match-up was the pre-Spring Break finale for both clubs as they each prepared to head south for out-of-district tournaments over the break, Madison sent senior ace lefty Jason Farley to the mound to take on senior righthander Brian Crawford.  The pitchers controlled the early part of the game, each holding the opponent scoreless for the first three innings.

Crawford kept the Warhawks off the board in the top of the 1^st, using an effective breaking ball to get Kyle McIntyre (Jr. CF) to fly out to the outfield and Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) to ground out.  After yielding a two-out single to Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B), Crawford exited the inning by getting Sterling Sams (Sr. DH) to ground out.  In the Seahawks’ 1^st, Farley retired the side in order, getting ground out by Mike Boyle, to Tison at second base, and Noah Sweet, to Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) at short, and firing strike three past Tommy Flynn, to end a scoreless first inning.

In the Madison 2^nd, Crawford and the Seahawks defense again contained the Warhawks attack.  Conlon was robbed of a base hit on a nice running catch of his hot liner to the outfield, and, after Brian Smith (Sr. 3B) singled through the infield, the South Lakes defense turned David McIntyre’s (Sr. LF) line out to the outfield into a snappy double play, catching Smith off first.  In the home half of the inning, John Huppi led off with a single up the middle.  Scott Reed then laid down a sacrifice bunt, then reached base when the play could not be made.  When Huppi tried to advance to third on the throw, however, Moniri cut him down with a strong throw across the diamond.  With one out and one on, Farley closed out the inning by getting Conor Zagurski on a called third strike and inducing a ground out to the mound by Tommy Gately.  After two, the score remained 0 – 0.

The Warhawks again failed to get to Crawford and the Seahawks in the top half of the third. Alex Andrews (Sr. C) grounded out to lead off, followed by Colin Flaherty’s single to the outfield.  Flaherty moved up to third on K. Mcintyre’s groundout, but was stranded there when Tison grounded out to end the at-bat.  The Seahawks got the lead-off batter on board when Paul Kirchner walked, but Farley took control from there, striking out Bobby Clinage, and getting Boyle and Sweet to ground out to second and short, respectively, to end the third straight scoreless inning.

Madison opened the scoring in the visitors’ 4^th.  Lead-off batter Moniri was hit by a pitch and Casey Turner (Jr. PR), running for Moniri, advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was thrown out attempting to take the next base.  Sams and Conlon walked and moved up a base on Smith’s bunt single.  With the bases loaded with Warhawks, D. McIntyre walked to push Sams across for the first run of the game.  After Andrews lined out, Flaherty singled to drive in Conlon, leaving the bases loaded.  K. McIntyre was hit by a pitch to force in another run, and the top of the 4^th ended with Tison lining out to the outfield.  Farley set down South Lakes in order in the bottom of the 4^th, getting Flynn to line out to K. McIntyre in center field, and inducing Huppi and Reed to ground out to end the inning.  After four full innings, Madison led 3 – 0.

The Warhawks opened their half of the 5^th looking for more against Mike Boyle, on in relief of Crawford for South Lakes.  Moniri walked and Sams was hit by a pitch to put two on with none out.  Conlon reached on an error on his sacrifice bunt attempt and Moniri came around to score.  Smith’s double plated Sams and  Conlon, and Madison had two in and one on, with no outs.   After D. Mcintyre flied out, Smith was awarded third base on balk, and Andrews walked and then stole second to put runners on second and third with one out.  Flaherty walked to load the bases and Smith then scored on a passed ball, with Andrews taking third behind him.  K. Mcintyre then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Andrews.  After Tison walked, Moniri singled to score Flaherty.  The threat ended when Sams grounded out.  Righty Jess Jeter (Jr. P) took over for Farley on the mound to face the Seahawks’ half of the 5^th.  After Zagurski reached base on an error, Jeter retired the rest of the side in order, striking out Gately and Kirchner, and getting Clinage an a ground out that showed off the Warhawk leather, as Conlon was forced to charge from short and sidearm the throw to Zepp, who made a nifty scoop of the short hop assist to end the inning.  The score after five: Madison 9, South Lakes 0.

Ian Hostetler took over pitching duties for the Seahawks in the top of the 6^th and recorded two quick outs, as Conlon grounded out and Andrew Schrock (Jr. 3B) flied out.  After Alex Jacquez (So. PH) walked and stole second, Andrews also walked to occupy first base.  Jacquez took third on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch, with Andrews moving to second on the error.  Flaherty singled to move Andrews to third, but the threat ended with a final Warhawk strikeout.  Jeter quickly made quick work of the bottom half of the 6^th with an 11-pitch, one-two-three inning, striking out Boyle and Sweet and getting Flynn to line out to Conlon at short for the final out.  Final score: Madison 10, South Lakes 0.

Jason Farley recorded the win (2 – 0), pitching 4 scoreless innings, striking out 3, and allowing 1 hit and 1 walk.  Jesse Jeter followed with two lock-down innings, striking out 4, and allowing no hits and no walks.  Madison’s 10 runs came on 8 hits, with the offense led by Brian Smith (3 for 3, a double, 1 RBI), Colin Flaherty (3 for 3, 1 RBI), and Arman Moniri (2 for 2, 1 RBI).

Commenting on the game, Warhawks’ Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand said, “I thought we were solid tonight.  Another cool night and we had to stick with it and play because they made a lot of nice defensive plays to keep us off the board for a while.  Their starter, Crawford did a nice job of keeping us off balance.  But we stuck with it, really executed the short game tonight and made some plays of our own on defense.  I was real happy with our pitching tonight, from Jason [Farley] and Jesse [Jeter]; they set the tone.  So we’re excited to head down to Orlando and keep building on what we’ve done so far.”

The Warhawks head south to Orlando on Saturday for the Lake Highland Prep Orlando National Classic spring tournament, schedule to be determined.  Follow the action by returning to the web site periodically during the week of April 2^nd – 6^th.

Madison returns to Liberty District action on Tuesday, April 10^th, with a 6:30 pm home game against the Marshall Statesmen

Warhawks Open Orlando Tourney with 9 – 4 Win over Suncoast

The Madison Warhawks took the field under sunny skies and, for the first time this season, temperatures above 70 degrees, in their first game of the 2007 Orlando National Baseball Classic spring tournament, against the Chargers of Suncoast High School (Riviera Beach, FL).  The migratory members of Warhawk Nation significantly outnumbered Suncoast supporters in the wooden folding seats of Tinker Field, in the shadow of Orlando’s Citrus Bowl stadium. Madison sent senior righthander Brad Wimmer to the hill to take on the Chargers’ freshman righty Clayton Culler.

Suncoast opened the scoring in the first frame, getting two runs ono one hit, a Madison error, a sacrifice bunt and two ground outs.  In the Madison half of the 1^st, Kyle McIntyre (Jr. CF) led off with a single, and came in to score on Brig Tison’s (Jr. 2B) triple to the outfield corner.  Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B) then scored Tison with a ground out.  Although Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) would reach on a dropped third strike, the Warhawks could do no further damage and the first inning ended with the score tied at 2.

Wimmer allowed the Chargers no runs on one hit in the top of the 2^nd, and Madison took the lead in the bottom half of the inning.  Jason Farley (Sr. DH) and Alex Andrews (Sr. C) led off with back-to-back singles, and Colin Flaherty (Jr. RF) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Tison then grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate Farley with the go-ahead run, but Culler worked out of the jam to end the inning without further scoring.  After two full innings, the Warhawks led 3 – 2.

The Suncoast 3^rd saw the Chargers add two runs on two hits to retake the lead 4 – 3, but Madison struck right back in their half of the 3^rd.  Conlon walked and stole second, moving into scoring position and crossing the plate on Farley’s single to the outfield.  Farley, who had taken second on a fielding error, then stole third base and scored as the catcher’s throw down got away.  After Flaherty reached on an error, Jarrett Gish came on to relieve Culler, and promptly walked K. McIntyre.  Flaherty and K. McIntyre then both moved up a base on a double steal.  They were stranded, however, and the inning ended with Madison having retaken the lead 5 – 4. 

Wimmer pitched another scoreless inning in the top of 4^th, allowing two hits and striking out one.  Gish kept the Warhawks off the scoreboard in the home half of the 4^th, allowing one hit and two baserunners, but no runs.  The score after four innings: Madison 5, Suncoast 4.

Sam Gilbert (Sr. P) took over on the mound for the Warhawks to face the heart of the Chargers’ batting order to open the 5^th inning.  Gilbert allowed two hits, struck out one and allowed no runs, making the final put-out himself at the end of a 2-5-1 rundown on the third base line.  In the Madison 5^th, the bats came alive and the Warhawks scored four runs on five hits, beginning with Andrews’ triple down the line.  After Flaherty reached on an error, K. McIntyre scored Andrews with an infield single.  Flaherty scored from second on Tison’s lined single to the outfield, and K. McIntyre and Tison moved up to second and third on K. McIntyre’s stolen base.  Moniri then drove in the pair of runs with a laced single to the outfield.  After Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) singled to put two Warhawks on with no outs, the rally fizzled and the inning ended with Madison on top 9–4.

Southpaw Ted Williams (Jr. P) took over pitching duties for the Warhawks and worked a scoreless, one-two-three top of the 6^th.  Tate Rowan came on in relief for Suncoast and also retired the side in order to send the game into the final inning with Madison leading 9 – 4.

Williams closed the door on the Chargers and the win in the top of the 7^th, setting down the side in order (2 strikeouts) to end the contest.  Final score: Madison 9, Suncoast 4.

Brad Wimmer worked 4 innings to earn the win, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits, striking out 2 and walking no one.  Sam Gilbert pitched one inning, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out one.  Ted Williams went two scoreless innings, striking out 2 and giving up no hits and no walks.  The offense was paced by Brig Tison (2 for 4, triple, 3 RBI), Arman Moniri (2 for 3, 2 RBI), Kyle McIntyre (2 for 4, 1 RBI), Alex Andrews (2 for 3, triple) and Sterling Sams (1 for 3, 1 RBI). Madison scored its 9 runs on a total of 11 hits and committed one error.

Madison Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand said, “Well it was great to be out here on our first hot day to play.  I don’t think we were at our best today and maybe the weather had something to do with that.    But our pitchers, Brad (Wimmer), Sammy (Gilbert) and Teddy (Williams), kept us in it and then Teddy really pitched the way you should with a five-run lead; good stuff. We made some plays when we had to and then Arman (Moniri) and Brig (Tison) really got things started for us at the plate today, and we all got more aggressive at the plate toward the end.  So that’s exciting and we look forward to getting back at it again tomorrow.”

Pitchers: Wimmer (W, 4 IP), Gilbert (1 IP), Williams (2 IP)

Madison Wins Second Game in Orlando vs Centreville, VA  16 - 0

On a sunny, hot Florida Tuesday, two Virginia Northern Region teams met in Orlando, as the Madison Warhawks met the Centreville Wildcats in a second round game in the Orlando National Baseball Classic.  Warhawk and Wildcat partisans gathered under the awning of Tinker Field to cheer on their boys. Madison tabbed junior righthander Jesse Jeter for the start, facing the Wildcats’ No. 1 senior lefty Cory Hall.

Madison jumped out to a 4 – 0 lead in the top of the 1^st inning, on four hits and four runs batted in, from Kyle Mcintyre (Jr. CF), Brig Tison (Jr. 2B, RBI), Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B), Rich Conlon (Sr. SS, RBI), and David McIntyre (Sr. DH, Sac Fly RBI).  Jeter set down the Centreville side in order on three fly balls, and the game headed into the 2^nd inning with Madison leading 4 – 0.

The Warhawks added two more runs in the visitors’ 2^nd, on four hits and two runs batted in, by Alex Andrews (Sr. C), K. McIntyre (a double smoked to the outfield wall), Tison (RBI) and Moniri (RBI).   After Jeter walked the lead-off hitter, the Warhawks turned a nifty 4-6-3 double play to erase the runner.  Jeter secured the third out on a fly ball.  After two full innings, the Warhawks led 6 - 0

In the top of the 3^rd, the Warhawks added another run on two hits and one RBI, by Brian Smith (Sr. 3B) and D. McIntyre (RBI).   Jeter pitched another scoreless frame in the bottom of the 3^rd, allowing two hits, but striking out two and picking a runner off first for the second of the three outs.  The score after three: Madison 7, Centreville 0.

Madison broke the game open in the top of the 4^th, pushing across nine more runs, on nine hits and nine runs batted in, provided by Tison (2 hits, 1 RBI), Moniri (RBI), Sterling Sams (Sr. LF, 2 hits, 1 RBI), Smith (RBI), Collin Flaherty (Jr. RF, 2 RBI), K. McIntyre, Matt Zepp (Jr. 1B, double, 3 RBI).  Southpaw Ted Williams (Jr. P) took over from Jeter to face the Wildcats’ half of the 4^th, and allowed one hit, while striking out one to preserve the shutout.  After four, Madison led 16 – 0.

That would be all the scoring in the game, as the Warhawks rapped out two more hits, but could not cross the plate again in the top of the 5^th inning.  Zepp moved to the mound for Madison to face the Wildcats’ half of the frame, and locked down the shutout, getting a strikeout, the defensive gem of the game for out number two.  With one out and no one on, Andrew Schrock (Jr. 3B) showed big time range and agility, laying out for a hot ground ball in the hole towards shortstop, getting quickly to his feet and firing to first, where David Fathalakhani (Jr. 1B) made a nice scoop of the short-hop throw.  A final ground out ended the game.  Final score: Madison 16, Centreville 0.

Three Madison pitchers combined for the shutout, with Jesse Jeter working 3 innings for the win, giving up no runs on 2 hits, striking out 2 and walking one.  Ted Williams pitched one inning, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out one.  Matt Zepp pitched a scoreless final inning, striking out 1 and walking 2.  10 different Warhawks had base hits, with the offense led by Brig Tison (4 for 4, double, 3 RBI), Arman Moniri (3 for 3, 3 RBI), Matt Zepp (1 for 1, double, 3 RBI), Collin Flaherty (2 for 3, 2 RBI), David McIntyre (2 for 4, 2 RBI), Kyle McIntyre (3 for 4, double, 3 runs scored), and Sterling Sams (2 for 4, 1 RBI). Madison scored 16 runs on a total of 21 hits and committed one error.

Madison Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand said, “I was really, really pleased with our effort today.  It’s hard to play back to back games, much less a 1:00 pm game the next day, but I could tell from the minute we got to the field that we were ready to play.  We knew we had to be at our best because we know Centreville is a good ball club, playing really well lately and beating Dr. Phillips [High School, Orlando, FL] yesterday.  We saw their No. 1, but our guys did a great job of attacking at the plate, and when you get twenty-something hits and the other guys make no errors, you know you’re doing something right.  I thought Jesse [Jeter] was awesome today, pounding the strike zone and being real efficient with his pitch count, and Teddy [Williams] and Matt [Zepp] came in behind him and pitched the way they should.  So we get to come back tomorrow and play a real good Palm Beach [Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, FL] team and that should be fun.  We’ll be ready.”

Pitchers: Jeter (W, 3 IP), Williams (1 IP), Zepp (1 IP)

Warhawks Edge Palm Beach Gardens 4 -3 in Thrilling Comeback

Two heavyweights met in a semi-final game of the Orlando National Baseball Classic, as the Madison Warhawks (ranked #4 nationally in the Easton Sports High School Baseball poll and #19 nationally in the Baseball America High School Baseball poll) squared off against the Palm Beach Gardens Gators of Palm Beach Gardens, FL (ranked # 12 nationally in the Easton Sports poll and #4 nationally in the Baseball America poll, and the #1 Class 6A team in Florida).  A sizeable crowd turned out to supplement the vocal presence of Warhawk Nation and the Gator supporters under the awning at Orlando’s Tinker field.  Madison senior lefty ace Jason Farley took the ball for the home team Warhawks, against 6’ 2” righthander Matt Baran for the Gators.

The pitchers and defense dominated the first three scoreless innings.  Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) set the defensive tone immediately in the Gators’ half of the 1^st, diving to his left to snare Andy Mee’s sharp lead-off grounder for the first out.  Farley recorded the next two outs on an Alex Godshall ground out and a Derek Scjnoha line out to center.  In the home half of the inning, Baran set the side down in order on two strike outs and an Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B) fly out.  No score was recorded at the end on one inning.

In the top of the 2^nd, Nick Rickles grounded out to second for the first out.  Ryan Wisneski hit a single up the middle to give Palm Beach Gardens the first base runner of the day.  The Warhawks snuffed out the threat, however, as Farley induced a Be Carhart grounder to Madison’ Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) at short, who scraped the bag at second and fired to Moniri at first to complete the double play.  Baran again held Madison in check in the bottom of the 2^nd.  After Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) reached on a hit by pitch, Conlon moved Sams into scoring position on his ground out.  The Gators then closed out the inning by doubling up Sams on Brian Smith’s (Sr. 3B) infield line out.  The game remained scoreless through two.

In the visitors’ 3^rd, Palm Beach Gardens again put a runner on base, but could not score.  After Alex Wood grounded out to second and Farley struck out Sam Kimmel, Taylor Motter lined a two-out single to right.  Farley got the final out when Mee lined out to left.  The Warhawks still could not solve Baran in their half of the third, as Farley and David McIntyre grounded out and the Gators got out number three on a strikeout.  The score after three innings: Palm Beach Gardens 0, Madison 0.

Palm Beach Gardens landed the first punches in the top of the 4^th inning, scoring three runs on two hits.  Godshall led off with a double to the left center gap and Scjnoha walked to put two Gators runners on with no outs.  Rickles delivered the first run with a single to right.  With runners on first and second, the Warhawks got the first out when Sjnoha started for third and Rickles followed toward second.  Alex Andrews (Sr. C) threw down to Smith at third and Madison apparently had the lead runner.  Sjnoh made it back to second, however, and the Warhawks had to settle for getting the trailing runner, Rickles, as he tried to return to first, leaving a runner in scoring position.  After Wisneski reached on a walked, the runners moved up on a double steal and Sjnoha scored on a throwing error, with Wisneski moving to third.  Carharts chopper to Farley behind the mound scored Wisneski as Madison recorded out number two.  Farley put out the fire by inducing a Wood ground out to second.  The Warhawks still could not get anything going against Baran in the bottom of the fourth, as Kyle McIntyre (Jr. DH) and Tison grounded out and Moniri lined out sharply to the infield.  After four full innings, Madison trailed 3 – 0.

After giving up a lead off single, to Kimmel to open the 5^th inning, Farley and the Warhawk defense locked things down, cutting down the lead runner on Motter’s bunt back to the mound, and getting Mee to fly out and Godshall to line out to right to retire the Gators.   The Warhawks chipped away at the Palm Beach Gardens lead in the bottom of the 5^th, scoring two runs on three hits.  Sams led off with a single through the infield and Conlon followed with another single, and Madison had something going with two runners on and no outs.  After two strikeouts, D. McIntyre was hit by a pitch to load the bases with Warhawks, with two outs.  After falling behind Baran 0 – 2, Collin Flaherty (Jr. RF) pulled Madison back into the game dropping a single behind the infield to score Sams and Conlon.  Although K. McIntyre’s tapper to third ended the inning, the Warhawks had climbed back into the game and trailed just 3 – 2 after five full innings.

The pitchers regained control in the 6^th, with Farley setting down the Gators in order, with the help of two nice running catches by D. McIntyre going first to his right and then to his left to settle under Scjnoha and Rickles fly balls, and then coming in to grab Wisneski’s sinking liner.  Baran responded with a one-two-three inning of his own, getting a strike out, a Moniri fly ball and a Sams ground out to end the 6^th, with the score still Palm Beach Gardens 3, Madison 2

Farley held his ground again in a scoreless top of the 7^th, getting Carhart to ground out to short, Wood to ground out to second and Kimmel to ground out to first, and the Warhawks headed into their final at bat trailing 3 – 2.  Conlon led off with a first-pitch double to the outfield corner to give Madison life, in the form of a crucial base runner in scoring position.  Smith reached base with a hard-earned base on balls, the only walk Baran allowed on the day, to put two Madison runners on with no outs.  Farley then reached on a fielder’s choice on his infield chopper, which forced Smith at second, but moved Conlon up to third.  D. McIntyre stepped to the plate with runners on the corners and one out.  After battling Baran to a two-ball, two-strike count, and with Farley on the move, McIntyre lined a double in the gap that perfectly split the converging outfielders, scoring Conlon from third and Farley from first to deliver Madison the win in thrilling fashion.  Warhawk players poured out of the dugout to greet the runners and McIntyre, and the Madison fans erupted in a roar of approval from the stands.  Final score: Madison 4, Palm Beach Gardens 3.

 This game was a superb exhibition of top quality high school baseball, with excellent defense on display by both teams, timely hitting by both the Gators and the Warhawks, and tough, stellar pitching by each of Baran and Farley.  Both pitchers went the distance for their clubs, with Farley earning the well-deserved win for the Warhawks, giving up 3 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits, striking out 1 and walking 2, in seven innings of work.   Collin Flaherty (1 for 2, 2 RBI) and David McIntyre (1 for 2, 2 RBI including the games winner) delivered the big hits for the Warhawks, with help from Rich Conlon (2 for 3, double, 2 runs scored) and Sterling Sams (1 for 2, 1 run scored). Madison scored its 4 runs on 5 hits and committed one error.

An emotional Mark “Pudge” Gjormand, Madison Head Coach, said after the big win, “Awesome, awesome team win.  This [Palm Beach Gardens] is as good a team as we’ve played since I’ve been at Madison.  Both teams are obviously nationally ranked for a reason.  I’m just real proud of our guys.  That’s why we work hard all year, to play this type of game.  That’s why we’re Madison Warhawks.  That was a great team win; I can’t mention one guy.  Everyone in this dugout is as important as anyone on the field.  We stuck with it, we pounded the rock, and we got water.”

Pitcher: J. Farley (W, 7 IP)

Madison plays next at Tinker Field in the tournament championship game on Friday, April 6^th, at 7:00 pm.

Madison Drops Tournament Finals to Olympia HS of Orlando, FL 10-9

The Madison Warhawks clashed with the Titans of Olympia High School (Orlando, FL) Friday night in the championship game of the Orlando National Baseball Classic, in breezy, chilly conditions at Orlando’s Tinker Field.  Both teams came into the game hot, with Madison at 8 – 0 and fresh off a big win over nationally ranked Palm Beach Gardens (FL), and Olympia riding a 5-game winning streak, including a tournament semi-final win over a very tough Pasco (FL) team.  The visiting Warhawks sent junior righthander Jesse Jeter to the mound against the home team Titans’ senior southpaw Ryan Countryman. 

 Countryman pitched a scoreless top of the 1^st, getting Madison’s Kyle McIntyre (Jr. DH) to ground out, following a strike out with a two-out walk to Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B) and a Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) ground out to retire the side.   In the bottom of the 1^st, the Titans landed the first blows of the match, scoring 4 runs on 4 hits.  After a lead-off walk issued to Brett Butler, Brad Miller drove in Butler with the first run with a triple to the centerfield fence.  Nick Kukuchi followed with a single, plating Miller.  Chris Taladay added another single, with Kukuchi moving to third and then scoring on a throwing error.  Taladay, who had moved to third on the error then scored on Junior Rivera’s ground out for out number one.  After a Lamar Byrd ground out, and a Mike Grimes single, Jeter finally escaped the inning by getting Jabari Henry to fly out to short.  Olympia had jumped out to a 4 - 0 lead after just one inning.

 The pitchers settled in a bit with a scoreless 2^nd inning.  In the visitors’ half, Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) led off with a fly ball to the outfield, Brian Smith (Sr. 3B) grounded out and, after Collin Flaherty (Jr. RF) drew a two-out walk, D. McIntyre lined out sharply to center to end the Warhawks’ frame.  Jeter opened the home half with a lead off strike out of  A.J. Mackey and, after allowing a Butler single, retired the side on a Miller chopper to the mound and a Kukuchi ground out to first.  After two Olympia still led 4 – 0.

 In the 3^rd inning, Madison finally struck back against Countryman.  After Alex Andrews (Sr. C) drew a lead-off walk, K. McIntyre singled, and moved to second as Andrews was cut down trying to take third on the play.  Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) then walked to give the Warhawks two on with one out.  Moniri delivered yet another clutch hit, lacing a double up the gap and driving in K. McIntyre and Tison, and putting Madison back into the game.  Sams added to the total, singling in Moniri to draw the Warhawks within one run, at 4 – 3.  After Conlon singled to give Madison runners on first and third with one out, Smith grounded out, and Countryman avoided further damage by getting the third out on a strikeout.  The Titans clawed one back from Jeter in the bottom of the 3^rd, getting a run on two hits.  After Taladay took strike three, Rivera singled and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Byrd then grounded out, moving Rivera up to third base, to be driven in by Grimes’ single through the infield.  After Henry walked to give Olympia two runners, Jeter ended the threat by inducing a Mackey ground out to short.  At the end of three full innings, Olympia led 5 – 3.

 The Warhawks would claim the lead in the top of the 4^th, touching Countryman for 4 runs on 3 hits and two walks.  D. McIntyre stroked a lead off double to the outfield fence to put a runner in scoring position.  After Andrews grounded out, Countryman issued back-to-back walks to K. McIntyre and Tison, to load the bases with Warhawks.  Moniri stepped in and delivered yet again, driving in two with a single through the infield.  Though Tison was tagged out going for the extra base at third, Madison had tied the score at 5 – 5.  The Warhawks were not done yet, however, as Moniri stole second and Sams was hit by a pitch to put two on with two out.  Conlon came through with a two-run single to the gap, as Kukuchi’s throw from the outfield went astray and allowed Sams to follow Moniri across the plate.  Smith then grounded out to third to end the rally with Madison back on top 7 – 5.  There was no quit in Olympia, however, as they counterpunched in the bottom of the inning, as Butler led off with a triple and scored on Miller’s sacrifice fly to left.  Jeter induced back-to-back fly balls by Kukuchi and Taladay to close out the frame.  After four, Madison held a 7 – 6 lead.

The bats cooled off a bit, as the next two innings would conclude with no further scoring.  Jason Farley (Sr. RF) led off the Warhawks’ 5^th with a single through the infield, stole second and was moved to third on D. Mcintyre’s sacrifice fly to the outfield.  Madison could not punch the run in, however, as Patrick Lothrop came on in relief of Countryman and induced Andrews and K. McIntyre to ground out to retire the side.  Jeter held the Titans scoreless in the bottom of the 5^th, with some memorable help from the Madison infield defense.  Leading off, Rivera smoked a grounder between third and short, that Smith went horizontal to snag on one hop, then popped up to gun down the runner for a sparkling out number one.  After Byrd chopped out to the mound and Grimes singled, Jeter closed out the 5^th by getting Henry to fly out to left.  At the end of five, Madison still led 7 – 6.

 After issuing a lead-off double to Tison in the top of the 6^th, Lothrop kept the Warhawks from getting any insurance runs.  Although Tison made it as far as third base on a passed ball, the Titans’ drawn-in infield smothered ground outs by Moniri and Sams, and Conlon’s drilled liner went directly to an Olympia outfielder to end the threat.  In the Titans’ 6^th, Mackey’s lead off chopper was snared by a leaping Jeter for the first out.  After Butler flied out to right and Miller walked, Jeter ended the inning and his night by inducing a Kukuchi tapper back to the mound.  Heading into the 7^th and final frame, Madison held on to its 7 – 6 lead.

 The Warhawks extended their cushion in the visitors’ half of the 7^th.  Smith led off with a double to put a runner in scoring position.  After Farley flied out, D. McIntyre walked and Andrews singled to load the bases.  Titans lefty Taylor Hammond came on in relief of Lothrop, and proceeded to walk K. McIntyre pushing Smith across with an insurance run.  Tison then gave Madison a three-run margin with a sacrifice fly to score D. McIntyre, and Moniri grounded out end the Warhawks’ offensive night, with a solid 9 – 6 lead.  Sam Gilbert (Sr. P) came on in relief of Jeter and yielded a single to Taladay that just squeaked past a diving Moniri to put the first Titans runner on.  Rivera followed with a double down the left field line to score Taladay.  The Warhawks switched pitchers to the left-handed Farley and Byrd greeted him with a single to score Rivera, and the Madison lead was down to one run, 9 – 8.  The surging Titans got a little help from the swirling breeze as Grimes knuckling line drive fell safely out of the outfielder’s glove, and Olympia had two on with no outs.  With momentum shifting in their favor, the Titans pulled even, as Henry’s single to the left center gap drove in Byrd with the equalizer.  Sams hustled to run down the hit and hold the two runners at first and second.  Mackey’s sacrifice bunt to third moved the runners up to second and third, and an intentional walk to Butler loaded the bases with Titans.  With the infield in, Farley induced Miller to hit a grounder to Moniri, who got the force out at home, and it looked like the Warhawks might escape to extra innings.  It was not to be, however, as a hit batter pushed across the winning run for tournament champion Olympia. Madison took the runner-up trophy and its first loss of the season.  Final score: Olympia 10, Madison 9.

Jesse Jeter battled the hot Titans’ bats (13 hits total) for 6 innings, giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits, striking out 2 and walking 3.  Sam Gilbert faced 2 batters, yielded 2 hits and was charged with 2 earned runs.  Jason Farley pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up 3 runs (none earned) on 2 hits and 1 walk.  Offensively, the Warhawks were led by Arman Moniri (2 for 4, double, 3 RBI), Rich Conlon (2 for 4, 2 RBI), Brig Tison (1 for 2, 1 RBI), Sterling Sams (1 for 3, 1 RBI), Kyle Mcintyre (1 for 2, 1 RBI), David McIntyre (1 for 2, double) and Brian Smith (1 for 3, double).  The Warhawks scored their 9 runs on 11 hits, but committed 3 errors, in their loss to the streaking Tita

Following the loss, Mark “Pudge” Gjormand, Madison Head Coach, said, “I don’t think that we were at our best tonight for a championship contest.  We started out a little lethargic tonight, and I mean all of us - coaches and players.  But you know what, our guys did a real nice job of battling back, taking the lead and putting us in a position to win the game.  From there you just have to tip your hat to them [the Olympia Titans].  They’re a hot team, they’ve won a bunch straight, and they earned it tonight.  All in all, it’s been a really good week for us.  We’re going to learn from this one, go back home, and keep getting better.”

Pitchers: Jeter (6.0 IP), Gilbert (0.0 IP), Farley (L, 0.67)

Congratulations to Arman Moniri and Brig Tison as both were honored on the 2007 Orlando National Classic All-Tournament Team!

Brig Tison was also selected as the Tournament's Outstanding Defensive Player!

Warhawks Hold Off Statesmen 4-2

On yet another chilly night for baseball, the Madison Warhawks hosted the cross-town rival Marshall Statesmen in a return to Liberty District action.  A large home crowd comprising Warhawk Nation and a Vienna Cub Scout Pack filled the stands on the Madison side to support senior left-handed ace Jason Farley and the Warhawks against Marshall junior righty Nate Whittington and the Statesmen.

Marshall jumped out to a 2 – 0 lead in the top of the 1^st inning, on three base hits and a Warhawk error.  After alead-off ground out by Nutter, Brian Whittington singled through the right side of the infield.  Brian Goss moved B. Whittington up with a single up the middle.  Andrew Schroth reached on a fielder’s choice and Goss was safe at second on an error and B. Whittington came in to score on the play.  Steve Pacheco then walked to load the bases for Marshall and, after Kevin Williamson swung through strike three, Daniel Blakely singled to right to score Goss.  With the bases still loaded with Statesmen, Farley fired strike three past Zamir Ahadzada to end the threat.  Down 2 – 0 in the bottom of the 1^st, the Warhawks struck right back against N. Whittington. Kyle McIntyre (Jr. CF) led off with a walk.  After Brig Tison (Jr. 2B) flied out to the outfield, K. McIntyre stole second and Arman Moniri (Sr. 1B) walked to fill first base.  Sterling Sams (Sr. LF) followed with a single to plate K. McIntyre with the first Madison run.  With runners on first and second, Rich Conlon (Sr. SS) laced a double up the gap, scoring Moniri and moving Sams to third.  Brian Smith (Sr. 3B) hit a sacrifice fly to score Sams and David McIntyre (Sr. DH) stroked a double to the outfield fence to score Conlon. Alex Andrews (Sr. C) grounded out to end the 1^st inning with Madison in the lead 4 – 2. 

With the scoring completed for the game, the pitchers settled into a battle that would keep hanging zeroes on the scoreboard.  Farley worked a scoreless 2^nd, issuing a lead off walk to Aaron Gooding, but erasing him when Andrews gunned Gooding down after Nutter looked at a third strike.  B. Whittington grounded back to Farley to retire the Statesmen in the 2^nd.  N. Whittington matched Farley’s scoreless second, getting Collin Flaherty (Jr. RF) on a towering fly out to the infield, K. Mcintyre on a fly out, and, after yielding a two-out single to Tison, seeing Tison gunned down attempting to steal second.  After two, Madison held the 4 – 2 lead.

In the Marshall 3^rd, Farley induced Goss to ground out to first base and struck out Schroth for out number two.  After Pacheco reached base on an error and stole second, Williamson walked, but the Statesmen were retired as Blakely was called out for interfering with Andrews throw down behind the runner at second.  N. Whittington continued to hold down the Warhawks attack in the home half of the 3rd, mixing in his curve ball and getting two quick outs on fly balls by Moniri and Sams.  After a two-out walk to Conlon and a single by Smith, Conlon stole third base, but was stranded there as D. McIntyre grounded out to end the inning.  The score remained Madison 4, Marshall 2 after three innings.

After Farley induced an Ahadzada line out to short to start the top of the 4^th, back-to-back walks put two Marshall runners on with one out.  Farley pitched out of the jam, however, striking out B. Whittington for out number two and getting Goss to ground out to short to end the frame.  In the Warhawks’ 4^th, Madison loaded the bases put could not push any runs across.  N. Whittington induced a lead-off ground out by Andrews.  After Flaherty walked, K. McIntyre singled sharply through the infield, moving Flaherty to second.  Tison then walked to load the bases with Warhawks, but a Moniri line out and a Sams ground out put down the uprising, and the 4^th ended with Madison still on top 4 – 2.

Farley had settled in by the top of the 5^th, and concluded his outing with another scoreless frame, inducing ground outs by Schroth and Pacheco and, after Williamson fisted a two-out single through the right side, striking out Blakely to close out the Statesman 5^th.  N. Whittington responded with a one-two-three bottom half of the 5^th, retiring Conlon on a ground out, Smith on a long fly driven to the deep part of the outfield that was just snagged by the Marshall outfielder before he crashed into the fence, and D. McIntyre on a hard hit line out to the outfield.  After five, Madison held on to its 4 – 2 lead.

Brad Wimmer (Sr. P) took over for Farley in the top of the 6^th inning, with with a save opportunity on the line, and retired side in order, getting Ahadzada to ground out to short, inducing a Gooding tapper back to the mound, and striking out Nutter for the third out.  N. Whittington continued to work his way through the Warhawks batting order in the bottom of the 6^th. After a lead off ground out by Andrews, Flaherty reached on a throwing error.  K. McIntyre flied out for the second out and, after Flaherty successfully stole second, he was thrown out attempting to get the extra base at third.  The 6^th inning ended with Madison still on top 4 – 2.

Wimmer closed out the Statesmen in the top of the 7^th to earn the save.  After a lead-off fly out to second by B. Whittington, Goss singled and advanced to third on a misplay in the outfield, but would get no further, as Wimmer struck out Schroth and induced a tapper back to the mound by Pacheco to end the game.  Final score: Madison 4, Marshall 2.

Jason Farley went 5 innings to pick up the win, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, striking out 6 and walking 5.  Brad Wimmer earned the save with 2 innings of scoreless work, yielding one hit and no walks, and striking out 2.  The Warhawks attack was led by Rich Conlon (1 for 2, double, 1 RBI), David McIntyre (1 for 3, double, 1 RBI), Brian Smith (1 for 2, 1 RBI) and Sterling Sams (1 for 3, 1 RBI).  The Warhawks’ 4 runs came on 6 hits, and Madison committed 3 errors.

Madison Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand commented, “Back to the cold weather and it seemed to slow us down a bit.  I thought their guy, Nate Whittington, did a nice job of keeping us off balance tonight.  But what I did like was the way we came right back in the first to take back the lead; that showed a good approach at the plate.  It was also good to see Brad [Wimmer] come out strong and throw well to get the save.  We need to keep getting better, but we’ll take the win.”