Howell, Alma earns split with 5A-West for GHS
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Alma baseball coach Brian Fry can’t help but be happy with the progress of his baseball program.
But, he knows things could be even better with a break or two.
Alma shortstop Branson Brogan snagged Ty Holt’s line drive and turned it into a game-ending double play Tuesday to help the Airedales earn a split with the Bulldogs in 5A-West play.
Alma’s 4-3 victory was its first against the Bulldogs since a 2-1 win on March 6, 2018.
The Airedales (11-13, 4-8) are a couple of plays away from being 6-6 in league play or even 15-9 overall.
Alma spent most of Tuesday night playing catchup against the Bulldogs. They spotted Greenwood a 7-0 lead in the first inning of the first game before falling short, 11-8.
In the nightcap, Greenwood took a 2-1 lead in the second on Brady Morgan’s RBI single.
But the Airedales, who trailed 3-1 after five, rallied to tie the game in the top half of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Logan English and Avery Bowerman’s bases-loaded walk.
Brayden Driscoll opened the seventh with an RBI single. One out later, Easton Daily walked and Brogan singled to load the bases for Cash Wilson.
Wilson’s RBI single scored Driscoll with what turned out to be the winning run.
Greenwood (16-8, 8-4) got the tying run on base to open the bottom of the seventh. But after winning pitcher Piercen Howell struck out Morgan, Holt lined a short that Brogan snagged and turned into a game-ending 6-3 double play.
Howell pitched his best game of the season, working 5 ⅓ innings of relief. He struck out six, scattered three hits, and didn’t walk anyone.
Howell (1-2) lowered his earned run average to 2.81, second only to Braden Green’s 2.74.
Daily continued his stellar sophomore season with a pair of hits to keep his batting average well over the .400 mark (.426). Michael Taylor leads Alma with 30 hits and his batting .395 with a team-high 22 RBIs.