Rebels Make An Important Statement

The Howell High School's baseball team had enough.

After losing seven of their last eight games, the Rebels  (4-9) made a statement with a five-run first inning against the Marlboro Mustangs on Friday afternoon.

Will Riepe drove in Joe Raccuglia, Brian Blood blasted a two-run home run, and Jesse Terranova hustled around the base-paths for the five-run first inning that essentially put the game away, as Howell toppled visting Marlboro, 7-1.

"That's the game we knew we could play all year long," Rebels head coach Eric Johnson said, "It's a big win to get in that situation."

Howell pitcher Mark Doyle was outstanding, tossing a complete game three hitter, and allowing just one unearned run.   He struck out four batters and walked two.

"I can't say enough about him," Johnson said of Doyle. "That was the best pitching outing we've gotten out of him in two years."

Howell padded its lead in the fourth inning when Nikhil Porecha's infield single eventually turned into a run to give the Rebels the 6-1 advantage.

Porecha advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on Riepe's ground out to short.

Terranova added an RBI in the fifth inning, belting a triple to right field. The senior was impressive on the day, going 3-for-3 with a single, double, and triple with two RBI.

"We can play with anybody," Johnson said.   "We're not a team that can beat anybody by showing up, but we definitely can hang with anyone in the Shore Conference."

Raccuglia opened the bottom half of the first by ripping a double to right-center field, and after Riepe unsuccessfully attempted a sacrifice bunt, nailed his first RBI into right field.

Jack McCabe, who was pinch running for Riepe in the first inning, scored on Blood's home run.

Blood went 2-for-3 and made a couple outstanding plays defensivley, keeping Doyle's outing in tact for much of the game.

After Doyle walked the lead-off batter in the third inning, the Rebels turned a 5-4-3 double play, with a great scoop from third basemen Brody High and a terrific turn from Blood to get out of trouble.

Howell will play Saturday in the Monmouth County Tournament at 10 a.m. against Freehold Boro. A win pits the Rebels vs. Wall at 2 p.m.

"Baseball can be simple when you do what you're suppposed to do," Johnson said "No one is going to look forward to playing Howell."