Watson's Arm Not Enough to Carry Rebels Past Lions

With their game against Jackson Liberty on Thursday morning, the Howell Rebel baseball team had a chance to make a statement with a non-divisional win as they look to turn their season around.

And even with ace Dan Watson on the hill, the Rebels could not find the offense they needed as they fell 5-2. 

The game could have been much worse, especially in the home half of the first inning, as Watson gave up two walks and a single before the first out was recorded. It was then that the senior showed why he is one of the most dominant pitchers in the conference as he not only struck out the next three batters, but also retired the side in order by himself in the second inning to keep the game scoreless.

Watson attributed his early struggles to "nerves," but was glad he was able to turn things around. "I wasn't locating the ball well and then coach came out to me and motivated me really well and I got the next three batters out." While he was disappointed with the loss, Watson said, "I had a little struggle during the rest of the game, but it was a good game overall."

Unfortunately, starting in the third inning the Lions started to creep onto the board. They got their run with a single, a hit batter and a ground ball, but that was enough to put them in the lead. In the end, the game came apart in the fourth inning thanks to three singles and back-to-back errors to make it a 4-0 lead. 

For the Rebels, offense was few and far between, making any rally that much more difficult. While Joe Raccuglia and Kyle Conrad got his team's first hits in the top of the first, they were two of of only five hits the team picked up heading into the top of the seventh inning.

The Howell squad put together two straight hits for the only time in the game in the top of the fifth inning before Raccuglia knocked in the team's first run of the contest on a fielder's choice to second. 

In the top of the seventh the local team gave a last minute rally one last chance and scored their second run of the game to at least cut into the lead. Brian Blood picked up a two out single and went to second on a single by Raccuglia. Carmine Palummo then knocked in the run on a bloop single to right to bring the game to its final score.

In the end, Watson said the game just came down to the Lions getting what he called, "the key hits." He added, "They had a lot of key hits and we didn't and that's basically the story of the game." 

The senior is also not ready to throw in the towel on the season either with plenty of games still to go. "I love these kids to death and hopefully we can pull something out, but right now we're struggling."

Coach Eric Johnson said his team was simply unable to convert on opportunities that could have turned the tide of the game. "We just didn't hit the ball today. We struck out too many times and not putting the ball in play," he said. "When we had opportunities we didn't come through. We left runners on base and we gave runs away. It's kind of a simple formula when you're not doing those things."

With the team now six games below the .500 mark, the coach said the team definitely has some work to do. "It's such a shame because our record could very easily be the opposite. We really have given a lot of games away." As for what needs to be done to change the team's fortunes, the coach said, "We've got to kind of go back to the drawing board and figure things out for the rest of the season."

The team is scheduled to return to action on Monday morning when they will welcome the Mustangs of Brick Memorial back to town.