Howland’s fast start triggers a victory against Springfield

April 28, 2012 at 12:09a.m.

NEW MIDDLETOwN

The Howland baseball team got off to a fast start Friday against Springfield and didn’t look back, winning 8-1.

Howland (16-5) scored a run the first inning without a hit. The visiting Tigers added two runs in the second, another in the third, three runs in the fourth, and plated the final run in the sixth.

Meanwhile, the Springfield Local Tigers (11-3) tallied their only run in the third inning of the non-conference game.

“The game plan was starting pitching and defense,” Howland coach Jason Stanford said.

Howland starting pitcher Kurtis Kuszmaul (2-0) “did an extremely good job of throwing first-pitch strikes,” Stanford said.

Kuszmaul, a sophomore, lasted four innings, struck out two and did not walk a batter. He gave up Springfield’s only run.

“I just tried to pound the strike zone,” Kuszmaul said. “That worked out well. My team helped out a lot, and turned ground balls into double plays.”

Howland turned two double plays in the four innings Kuszmaul worked the mound.

In the fifth inning, junior Jacob Froats took over for Kuszmaul on the mound. He struck out four batters in his three innings, walked one and earned a save.

“I just hit my spots,” Froats said.

While the pitchers kept Springfield batters frustrated, Howland batters pounded nine hits, compared to only five for Springfield.

“We were able to put a couple of runs on the board early in the game, and we let the rest happen,” Stanford said.

The main cog in Howland’s offense was center fielder Kenny Pozega, a senior who slapped a double and a triple, walked twice, stole two bases, scored three runs, and knocked in a run.

It was Pozega who crossed the plate with the game’s first run after walking in the first inning, and stealing second and third base. He scored on an error.

“Kenny does a very good job at the top of the lineup,” Stanford said. “He’s got great speed, and we use it to our advantage.

Pozega said he’s been “struggling at the plate a bit. I’ve been working with coach.”

Springfield Local coach Matt Weymer said his team seemed oddly “awestruck” by the Howland squad. “We came out a little flat, and that’s rare for us. I don’t know why.”

Junior Joey Shiver, senior Corey Hickman, senior Kyle Hickman, and junior Ryan Fleming were credited with RBIs for Howland.

Fleming smacked a double in the second inning to drive in the game’s second run, and crossed the plate on Pozega’s triple.