Big Weekend Puts Spartans in the Midst of Playoff Race

In one of their busiest three-day stretches of the season, the Howell Spartans (11-9) finished their five-game weekend with a record of 3-2.

With two wins against East Coast Connection and one win against the always dangerous Colts Neck Braves, pitching lead the way for the Spartans as four of the five starters went the distance with complete games.

Rest was scarce this weekend for Howell, as the squad played double headers on Saturday and Sunday, going from the early afternoon well into the evening.

After Joe Quinones threw a gem Friday night, where he fanned 12 ECC batters in a Spartans' win, Craig Ebinger took the mound in Saturday's first game.

He was just as good -- if not better than his teammate from the night before -- allowing just four hits over the seven inning game, striking out five batters, walking two and only claiming responsibility for one earned run.

Mike Denlinger opened up the scoring for Howell, when his RBI single to right field score Quinones in the top of the third to give the Spartans the lead.

Dan Avella, Vinny Avella and Travis Escalante all belted home runs, helping Howell cruise to the victory.

Howell was not as lucky in game two of Saturday's double header, as starting pitcher Mike Gerstein lasted just 2/3 of an inning, allowing six runs on three hits, walking three batters and hitting three more.

Dan Avella worked nicely in relief, surrendering one run over his 4.1innings of work, striking out three batters, walking three and allowing four hits.

Vinny Avella pitched the final two innings of relief, striking out two, walking two and allowing no hits.

Tom Roman drove in a run on a ground out in the second inning and Escalante scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning, but it was not enough as the Spartans would fall, 7-2.

In Sunday's first game, against a very strong Braves team, Paul Lepore was magnificent on the mound, going seven strong innings, striking out nine batters, walking just one -- the leadoff batter of the game -- and allowing one earned run.

The Spartans, however, were hampered by two first-inning unearned runs, falling 3-1 to the Braves.

Escalante drove in the lone Howell run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a single that scored Vinny Avella.

In the second game on Sunday, the Spartans connected for nine runs in the fifth inning to mercy Colts Neck, 13-2.

Damian Csakai opened up the huge fifth inning with a two-RBI single with the bases loaded. Quinones then drove in two runs of his own with a double down the right field line.

Dan Avella drove in two runs with a single in the next at-bat, and Chris Dole walked with the bases loaded.

Escalante and Roman scored on a throwing error to cap off the big inning for Howell.

Tom Abair pitched all five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits over the five innings. He also struck out five batters and walked three more.

Despite ending the weekend on a positive note, the Spartans still expected better play overall.

"We're not happy," Howell head coach Don Ebinger said, "We wanted to win four games, and we wanted to sweep [Sunday], that first loss hurt."

Pitching was the obvious reason for the Spartans' success and it will be needed if they are going to make a deep playoff run.

"We live off our pitching and we knew that would be the case coming in to this weekend," Ebinger said, "The last game showed us that we have one of the most talented hitting teams, we just need to do it every game."

This week, Howell will have four games. On Monday, they will be in Clune park taking on the Lacey Lions.

"We'll see [if this game starts our hitting]," Ebinger said after their 13-2 win over Colts Neck.