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Howland defense steps up late to fend off Girard rally
By Brian Dzenis
HOWLAND
Girard had two prime opportunities to rally late against Howland on Friday, but the Tigers responded each time.
The home side converted a timely double play and escaped a bases-loaded situation in the seventh inning with minimal damage to beat the Indians, 6-3.
Down 6-2 in the fifth, Girard (7-8) had runners at first and second with one out when Indians first baseman David Blackmon singled to left field. Howland left fielder Dylan Keller fielded the ball as Girard’s Tyler O’Dell began his dash home from second and Austin Claussell followed from first. Keller found cutoff man Frank Rappach, who beat O’Dell home with his throw to catcher Nick Badanjek.
Badanjek then threw to third, where Michael Massucci tagged out Claussell at third to complete the 7-6-2-5 double play.
“The momentum was in our favor all game and that play made it even more so,” Howland starter Hayden Parker said. “We were in our spots and made it happen.”
Girard coach Aaron Alejars didn’t regret the aggressive call.
When I sent him, I knew the (left fielder) had a cannon, but that’s the dice I was willing to roll,” Alejars said. “I had one of my fastest runners on base, it was a wet outfield — tough terrain — and he didn’t come up with one earlier in the inning before.
“The left fielder made the play, but I wanted to roll the dice with that situation.”
Parker did everything he could to limit Girard’s scoring opportunities. He threw five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven. He helped his own cause with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
“Our defense this year has been standing out so much and I felt like I didn’t have to do a whole lot,” Parker said. “I didn’t have to have so many strikeouts or have to try to do too much.”
When Parker was relieved in the seventh for Massucci, Girard saw one last opportunity to get back in the game. The Indians loaded the bases with one out. Claussell popped out, then a Girard scored on a wild pitch. Blackmon was the tying run at the plate with runners at second and third, but Massucci struck him out to kill the rally.
Girard starter Matt Miles gave up four earned runs on eight hits and three walks across four innings.
Howland’s runs came in spurts of two runs coming in the first, third and fourth innings. Dylan Beasom went 2 for 4, including a double and two RBIs. Leadoff hitter Zach Campbell scored three runs and Keller, Badanjek and Rappach each hit an RBI single for the Tigers (7-3).
“We were aggressive on the basepaths and our hitters put the ball in play when we needed to,” Howland coach Justin Drapp said.
Claussell had three hits for Girard. Miles and Anthony Graziano knocked home a run each in the top of the fourth. Howland has won four of its last six games. Drapp is in his first season with the Tigers and Parker offered a glowing review.
“We feel like he has more confidence in us than [what we’ve had] in the past,” Parker said. “He’s excited to be here every day and that makes a difference for sure.”