They didn't play a perfect game, throwing one ball away and letting another slip under a glove. They ran themselves out of one inning and never applied the finishing punch.

But Madison is perfect for a reason. And once again the Warhawks showed why. When they needed the big hit, or out, they got it.

Madison beat Lee, 3-1, Monday night to win its first Liberty District baseball tournament title since 1998. The Warhawks had lost in the final the past two seasons, a stat that pushed the seniors to finally win one.

2002 Northern Region Baseball Brackets
Northern Virginia Coach's Top 10

The Warhawks (22-0) host South Lakes (10-10-1), the fourth seed from the Concorde District, in the first round of the Northern Region Tournament at 7 p.m. Friday. Lee (13-9) hosts Centreville, the Concorde's third seed, at 2 p.m. Friday.

``It was ugly,'' Madison coach Mark Gjormand said. ``But we lost ugly last year.''

After the win, Madison's players celebrated in a low-key manner, jogging onto the field to exchange shakes, smiles and pats on the back. It was more than just another game. It wasn't the game they ultimately want.

``There's a lot more we want to accomplish,'' Madison senior right fielder Allan Wimmer, who had three hits, said. ``This is just one step.''

One step in a season that turned magical long ago, with national rankings and lots of publicity. Such is life when you're the first Northern Region team to be 22-0 since Robinson in 1978. But it also increases expectations.

``It's good to win,'' Madison senior shortstop B.T. Good said. ``But this isn't the one we really want. It's coming.''

Most of the players returned from last season when they lost to Langley in the district final. Pat Brown certainly remembered. He allowed only two hits, but unearned runs caved in Madison in that game.

Monday night, Brown pitched six innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight. He allowed his first earned run of the season in more than 40 innings pitched. That paled to winning a district championship.

``I wanted this game real bad,'' Brown said. ``It feels good to get this out of the way. We're pretty pumped up about it, but we'll do our big celebration at regionals or states if we get there.''

Josh Canova pitched a perfect seventh for the save, striking out two batters. Lee sophomore Kenny Moreland pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and striking out three.

Brown escaped jams in the fifth and sixth innings after allowing only one hit through the fourth. But Lee's Zach Fettig tripled and scored leading off the fifth and Chad Horn later singled with two outs.

A strikeout ended the threat. That's how the sixth inning ended, too. Ricky Davis reached on a fielding error and later advanced to third on a throwing error with one out. But Brown whiffed the next two batters, one looking.

``You could hear them yelling and screaming because they were really getting going,'' Brown said. ``I wanted to end that.''

``I don't worry about Pat,'' Gjormand said. ``I don't try to figure out how he does it, but he's a very, very tough competitor. Pat picked us up. He wasn't going to lose this one.''

Madison did all of its damage early. The Warhawks scored twice in the first inning and once in the second, taking advantage of Lee miscues.

Good led off the bottom of the first with a walk, stole second and eventually scored on a throwing error. Catcher Matt Foley, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on Wimmer's double to left center.

``B.T. set the tone,'' Gjormand said. ``He's such a great leadoff hitter. He needs to continue being the best leadoff guy if we're going to go places.''

One inning later, Johnny Ayers reached on an error, stole second and scored on a throwing error.

``The sign of a great team is the ability to take advantage of another team's mistakes,'' Lee coach Dave Gardziel, an assistant coach at Centreville last season, said. ''Madison did that early and we weren't able to recover. But we go into regionals knowing we can compete with the best in the area.''

The Warhawks failed to get key hits in the third with Wimmer on third. They also didn't do it in the fourth when Andrew Baird singled and stole second. He took third on Ayers' bunt single.

However, a miscommunication resulted in a squeeze bunt. Baird, not expecting it, broke late and was tagged out. Lee freshman shortstop Kevin Moreland ended the inning with a diving catch of a line drive.

The Lancers, though, couldn't do more than just threaten, leaving Madison to maintain its perfect mark.

``There's no way to describe it,'' Brown said. ``We've got to keep winning. We like this feeling.''