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A perfect Monday night saw the defending 5A State Champion Briar Woods Falcons begin their 2018 postseason run with a Potomac District quarterfinal matchup against Broad Run. A tight game would see Briar Woods rally from an early 2-0 deficit to win the game 4-2 and advance to Wednesday’s District semifinal.

Broad Run got the bats going right away against Falcon starter Wilson Ayers (Navy), scoring two runs in the top of the first. The first run came across when Luke Lindenfelder drew a one-out walk and stole second base. He then scored from second as Anthony Puma reached on errant throw that just pulled the first baseman off of the bag. After an out and another walk, freshman Connor Hale delivered an RBI single to right to give Broad Run the early 2-0 lead.

Hale took the mound in the bottom of the first and gave up singles to Eric Falconer and Nathan Cmeyla sandwiched around a bunt to put runners on the corners with one out. George Rosales (Fairleigh Dickinson) drove in a run with a fielder’s choice and after one, Broad Run led the game 2-1.

The second inning passed rather quietly and in the top of the third, Broad Run was able to load the bases, but could not score any tack on runs as Ayers got a strikeout to end the inning with the bases loaded. In the bottom of the third, Cmeyla delivered a one-out double to put two runners in scoring position for the Falcons, but Hale got Rosales to strikeout and Ayers on a swinging bunt to end the threat and preserve the lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brandon Hamm led the inning off with an infield single and a walk put two on with no outs. After a bunt put the runners into scoring position, Hale got a groundout that did not score a run for the second out. With two outs, Falconer picked up his second hit of the night with a two-run single to right-center, giving Briar Woods a 3-2 lead. After a walk, Justin Rebok would come in to pitch and get the last out of the inning.

Ayers responded with a clean fifth inning courtesy of a tailor-made double play. Rebok allowed the Falcons to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth, but got Nick Famiglietti to line out to center to end the inning with the score still 3-2. Ayers was replaced in the top of the sixth as junior Kraig Broecker came in to work with the one run lead and fired a perfect inning.

The Falcons would add another run in the bottom of the sixth when Falconer drew a leadoff walk and then was bunted down to second base for Cmeyla. Cmeyla picked up his third hit of the night with an RBI triple to right-center, extending the lead to 4-2.

In the seventh, Broecker allowed a 2-out infield single to Lindenfelder, but otherwise shut the door to earn the save and send the Falcons to the District semifinals.

For Broad Run, Hale took the loss going 3.2 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 1 K while also going 1-2 at the plate with a BB and an RBI. Lindenfelder was 1-3 with a BB, SB, and a run. Quinn Stromberg was 1-2 with a BB.

For Briar Woods, Ayers earned the win with 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 5 BB, 6 K. Broecker got a save with 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Falconer was 2-3 with a BB, 2 R, 2 RBI. Jake Rayfield (CNU) was 1-1 with a BB and 2 SAC. Cmeyla was 3-4 with a 2B, 3B, and an RBI.

 

 

Scouting Notes

Broad Run

-2021 LHP Hale was 79-81. CB 70-72.

-2020 3B Stromberg again showed barrel ability and some batspeed.

-2020 RHP Rebok was 76-79, touched 81. CB 65-69.

 

Briar Woods

-2018 LHP Ayers sat 87-89 early, touching 90 three times. Fastball settled into 84-87 in the third. Slider was 76-79.

-2018 C Rosales was 79 on throw downs and pops between innings were 1.93-2.03. Threw a 2.19 in game that should have been an interference call. 

-2019 RHP Broecker was 76-77. CB 66-69.

-Cmeyla looked comfortable playing out of position at second. Bat is going to be outstanding

-Falconer could be a good late get, has speed in the outfield and gets good routes. Has power and good approach using the whole field as well.

-2020 3B Nick Famiglietti made three very good plays at third, two to his backhand and one to gloveside. Good rhythm in the field, has batspeed as well at the plate.

For full scouting notes and videos, watch for the VA/DC Scout Blog post for this game later this week.

 

 

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