Early Inning Struggles Hamper Howell Spartans

Falling into a quick 4-0 deficit over the first two innings, the Howell Spartans were unable to climb back, falling 5-3 Thursday night to the first-place Wall Angels (20-7) at Oak Glen Park.

Mike Gerstein surrendered three runs in the first inning of the Jersey Shore Baseball League game — due in large part to two hit batsmen —and a two-out run in the second inning to fall behind by four runs.

"They [Wall] don't make mistakes," Howell head coach Don Ebinger said, "We got behind, put ourselves in a hole, but we did have guys on base."

Gerstein, otherwise, kept Howell in the game over his five innings of work, allowing five runs on seven hits, hitting three batters, walking two more and striking out five.

The Spartans left runners on base in the last five innings, stranding a runner in scoring position in four of the final five innings, which ended up being the difference-maker in the game.

"We didn't get that extra hit, so you have to tip your hat to them. It was a good baseball game, and they beat us," Ebinger said.

Joe Quinones put Howell on the board with a two-run triple to right field in the bottom of the third inning.

Joe Blood produced the Spartans' first hit with a double down the right field line, and two batters later Damian Csakai walked.

After Csakai stole second, Quinones belted the triple to right field, scoring both Blood and Csakai.

After an Angels run in the top of the fourth, Howell was back at it, adding a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

Joe Sandomierski belted a one-out triple to center field and would later score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tom Roman.

Travis Escalante, who walked earlier in the inning and stole second base, advanced to third base on the sacrifice fly, but was stranded there.

Csakai would be left on second base in the bottom of the fifth inning, after he grounded into a fielder's choice and stole second base. Anthony Sandomierski lead off the fifth inning with an infield single to short stop.

The seventh inning provided the same result — after a one-out single from Anthony Sandomierski to right field, Csakai grounded into a fielder's choice at second base.

He then stole second base and was left stranded there.

Quinones pitched the final two innings of relief, allowing one hit, walked two batters, and struck out three without allowing a run.

He escaped a jam in the seventh inning, with runners on second and third. After allowing a leadoff single and walk, Quinones fanned the final two batters he faced with runners on second and third.

"We had our opportunites. If one of our big guys gets a hit, we could be talking about an entirely different game," Ebinger said.

Still having not clinched a playoff berth, Howell will look to come up with a big win on Sunday night, when it hosts Lacey at 6 p.m.

"We are going to win," Ebinger said, "We're going to have a good pitcher on the mound, come out and play well, and definitely come away with a big win, and then play in the playoffs on Tuesday."