By Dan Sousa
LoudounPrepSports.com Senior Content Editor
Ashburn (Nov. 18, 2008) - Stone Bridge High School senior Johnny Bladel, one of the best pure hitters to play for the Bulldogs since the school opened in 2000, officially signed Monday to play NCAA Division I baseball next year at James Madison University.
Bladel's signing ceremony was attended by family and friends including just about every member of the Stone Bridge football team which is playing at Edison this Friday in the AAA Northern Region Division 5 title game. Bladel was a member of the 2007 team that won the state football title and this year he has had a central role as a receiver and a back-up quarterback, stepping in for starter Patrick Thompson, when he was injured.
In 2008 for the Bulldogs baseball team, Bladel a school record .471 while driving in a school record 27 RBIs. He was named the Liberty District's co-Player of the Year and he made the All-Northern Region first team and was named to the Washington Post's All-Met second team. He was also named first team all-state by VirginiaPreps.com and received other accolades including being named by Rise Magazine as one fo the Top 40 players in the DC Metro Area, selected by Impact Baseball as one of the Top 25 Juniors in Virginia, ranked No. 19 by Perfect Game in Virginia and selected to the 2008 and 2009 Under Armour Top 250 Preseason All-American team.
Bladel led the team last season in 10 offensive categories including hits (33), runs scored (22), and slugging percentage (.743). In 2007 he was first team all-district while hitting .418 and again leading the team in many offensive categories including hits (33), runs scored (21) and slugging (.582). Bladel was also a perfect 11 for 11 in stolen base attempts last season as he helped the Bulldogs to the regional playoffs.