Reston National Shuts Out Bridgewater To Keep State Championship Run Alive

Fueled by excellent pitching and two players who hit home runs, Reston National vaulted into the semifinals of the Virginia Little League State Championships with a 5-0 victory over Bridgewater at Freedom Park in Leesburg on Monday.

The team of 11- and 12-year-old all stars, the first Reston Little League Majors team to make it this far in the postseason since 1998, was coming off a three-hour, 46-minute in 100-degree heat on Saturday (a 19-18 victory) and a 20-8 loss to Loudoun South on Sunday.

Those games were pool play, where Reston National went 2-1.

Monday's quarterfinal game was single elimination, and coach Jeff Grammes said Bridgewater was the team to beat in the bracket. Most of Bridgewater's players won the Virginia State Championship as 10 year olds two years ago.

Patrick Francisco pitched all six innings for Reston National, allowing one hit and striking out eight.

"We used the same recipe we have used to get to this point," said Reston National manager Jeff Grammes. "Phenomenal pitching, fanatastic defense and very good hitting. We have a very solid, very mentally tough team."

Reston began building its lead in the first inning, when Brenden Grammes hit a three-run homer. Catcher Johnny Micka added a lead-off homer in the third. It was Micka again in the fourth, when he hit and RBI single to make the score 5-0.

Reston will play Poquoson in the semifinals Tuesday night at Freedom Park.