Ashburn, Va. — After a lopsided victory at the hands of Briar Woods High School on April 4, the Broad Run High School team put together perhaps their most complete effort of the season in downing the defending VHSL 5A State champion Falcons, 7-2, on April 26.
Broad Run junior starter Anthony Puma – who was hit hard by these same Falcons in that previous contest – scattered just three hits over five innings to get the win this time around. Puma allowed just two runs – one earned – and struck out five. Broad Run sophomore Justin Rebok threw two scoreless innings to close things out for the Spartans.
[adrotate banner=”19″]Broad Run jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third on singles by freshman Connor Hale and junior Luke Lindenfeldar. The score would stay that way until the top of the sixth, when Spartan senior Eric Davis came up with the bases loaded and two outs. With two strikes, Davis ripped a line drive to right off of Briar Woods senior Jake Rayfield – who had come in for Falcon starter – Tyler Woody. Lindenfeldar and senior Royce Bryson added two-out hits to push the Spartans’ lead to 7-0.
The Falcons loaded the bases with no outs in their half of the sixth to chase Puma out of the game. Briar Woods sophomore Nathan Cmeyla greeted the reliever Rebok with a single down the third base line to plate two, but Rebok was able to induce Falcon clean up hitter George Rosales to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to snuff out any chances for a comeback.
“I’m not going to lie. This feels good,” Bryson said. “We blew a lead in the last game and let it get away from us. We respect them and hopefully now they respect us.”
That respect that each team has for one another was sewn years ago, as every starter for both teams got their start playing for Dulles Little League in Ashburn. Many of the players in the contest spent more time as teammates than they have as opponents.
Up next for the Spartans (4-4, 6-6) is a non-district contest in Chantilly against the Chargers on April 30. The Falcons (4-3, 8-4) will be back in action on May 1 as they travel to play the Freedom Eagles.
