HoweEnterprise.com
April 12, 2021
Pitching, pitching, pitching
Junior Parker Pecina struck out 14 Blue Ridge Tigers on Friday. Photo by Carla Burnett.
Sophomore Matt Hayes struck out 11 Blue Ridge Tigers on Tuesday. Photo by Michelle Carney.
Every baseball guru will tell you that the game is completely controlled by pitching. The Howe Bulldogs (7-13) dominated in that area this week as their pitching staff combined for 28 strikeouts in 14.2 innings against Blue Ridge. On Tuesday, the Bulldog offense helped out with 10 runs on 10 hits to win 10-5 and Friday saw the pitchers’ duel go into extra innings as Howe pulled out a 2 -1 win in the eighth inning. The two district wins were the first for Howe and the first since the final district game in 2019 thanks to last season’s district schedule seeing only one game due to COVID.
seemingly out of reach, but Hughs came in to relieve Hayes in the seventh and the Tigers scored four earned runs on three hits and two walks.
On Tuesday, Sophomore Matt Hayes struck out 11 hitters in six innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits and four walks. He exited the game with the Bulldogs leading, 10-1 after throwing 104 pitches. Fellow sophomore Ryan Hough drove in two runs on two doubles. Luke Lopez also drove in two runs and Austin Haley, Dylan Hughs, and Kaleb McNutt each had two hits. Howe’s first run came in the second inning when McNutt singled home Hughs. Moments later, sophomore Carson Daniels scored on an error. In the third inning, Hughs doubled home Haley and Ethan Lopez reached on an error that scored Hughs. Howe put a 5-spot on the board in the sixth inning to put the game
On Friday, Parker Pecina took to the hill and dazzled Howe fans by allowing only three hits in 7.1 innings, striking out 14 and walking none. He allowed no earned runs. With 117 pitches into the game and leading, 2-1, he handed the ball to Daniels to finish the win and he was able to strike out Tiger leadoff hitter Darland for the game’s final out. Howe was also held to three hits on the evening which two of them came from Hughs. The other came from Ethan Lopez. Pecina drew Howe’s only walk in the game. Howe took a 1-0 lead when Ethan Lopez doubled home Hughs in the top of the fourth. Blue Ridge tied in the bottom half of the inning. The eventual game-winning run came in the top of the eighth when Hughs doubled home Hough who reached on an error. Howe will travel to Bells on Tuesday and finish the 2-game series with the Panthers at home on Friday.
Howe vs. Blue Ridge Howe at Blue Ridge
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