Bulldogs drop two

from 58.45 Howe Enterprise March 22, 2021

Zone change denied

Dylan Hughs tries to make the tag on Titus Lyons of Pottsboro. Photo by Michelle Carney.

Errors continued to plague the Howe Bulldogs (5-9) on Tuesday night as the defense committed six of them which accounted for seven unearned runs to Pottsboro (7-6) in a 10-0 loss.

Brett Burnett got the start on the mound to begin district play and he 4.2 innings allowing one earned run on eight hits and three walks. He was relieved in the fifth inning by sophomore Matt Hayes who pitched one inning allowing two earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out one.

The Bulldogs offensively were stymied by Barrett Kemp who pitched a complete game 3-hitter with 12 strikeouts. Howe’s three hits came from Luke Lopez, Ryan Hough, and Austin Haley.

The game was scoreless entering the second inning, but an error by Howe led to two unearned runs in the inning. Back-to-back errors in the top of the third inning led to three more runs for Pottsboro to make it 4-0. With two outs in the top of the fifth inning and two runners on base, Kent homered to left on a gargantuan homer that made it 8-0. The Cardinals added two runs in the top of the sixth inning on a triple, single and three walks.

On Friday, Howe completed the series with Pottsboro by traveling north to the lake town and the result was much closer than earlier in the week. The game was decided in the bottom of the seventh inning on a walk-off passed ball that scored the Cardinals’ ninehitter Reid Thompson to give Pottsboro the 2-1 win.

Howe’s Parker Pecina was very good on the mound as he went all 6.2 innings and allowed no earned runs on six hits, walked two and struck out seven hitters. But Pottsboro’s Jackson Lipscomb was even more impressive by allowing no earned runs in his 6.2 innings. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out 11 Bulldogs. Howe’s two hits came from Pecina and Ethan Lopez.

Pottsboro’s first run came in the bottom of the third when Lipscomb scored on a Howe error. Howe tied the game in the top of the seventh Dylan Hughs returned the favor on a hard grounder that was not handled by Pottsboro which allowed Kolby McNutt to score and tie the game. But in the bottom of the inning, Thompson reached on an error, stole second, and moved to third on a ground out. After a walk to the ever dangerous Barrett Kent, Pecina’s pitch got away from the catcher and the winning run came across the plate.

Howe will play Bonham (7-5-1) this week starting at home on Tuesday and on the road on Friday. There has been a total of seven runs scored in the Warriors’ last three games.