He was working on just three days of rest. But with his team’s season on the line, Lake Braddock senior pitcher Joe Infante could have pitched all night in Wednesday’s Northern Region Tournament semifinal against Stone Bridge.
Seven strong innings were all the Bruins needed.
Infante tossed his second straight complete game and his Lake Braddock teammates provided plenty of clutch two-out hits as the Bruins beat Stone Bridge, 6-1, at Madison.
The Bruins (21-4) clinched a Group AAA state tournament berth and advanced to Friday night’s region final against the winner of last night’s second semifinal between Langley and Oakton. It is the first state tournament appearance for Lake Braddock since 1999, the last time it won a region championship.
“We’ve been there before as a program, but none of us have ever made it to the state tournament,” said Lake Braddock senior catcher Ian Smith, who was 2 for 2 with a two-run double in the fourth inning and picked off a Stone Bridge runner. “None of us have even been this far before. But right now all we care about is winning the region final.”
Infante, who pitched a complete game against McLean in Saturday’s first round, worked out of jams in the third and fourth innings with a runner in scoring position in both frames. But otherwise he silenced the Bulldogs’ bats, allowing just three hits and striking out 10. Lake Braddock scored all six of its runs with two outs. The Bruins’ four-run rally in the third inning began with two outs and nobody on base. Eight of Lake Braddock’s nine starters produced at least one hit.
“Our entire lineup is doing the job when it matters,” said Infante, who began the year as his team’s closer. “All they’re really worried about right now is hitting the ball and they’re doing the job for us.”
