Baseball Recap: Howell Comes Up Short

Howell dropped their record down to 8-5-1 on Thursday, which also ended the team's three-game streak of wins. They fell just short of the Colts Neck Cougars by a score of 6-5. The Rebels were not able to repeat the success they had when they faced the Cougars earlier this season, when they won 11-0.

Howell got a good showing from Kurtis Lovgren, who pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off five hits. Lovgren has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up a single earned run in four consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Ryan Todisco was cooking despite his team's loss, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with two runs and one RBI. Matt Vetrano was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.

As for Colts Neck, their record is now 8-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win they have posted since May 13, 2024.

On Colts Neck's side, Jack Dugo made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing 4.2 innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits. Dugo was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with one run. Those three hits gave him a new career-high.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Ronan Kiely, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. Another player making a difference was Joseph Pignatelli, who went 3-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.

Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Howell will welcome Ocean Township at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. As for Colts Neck, they will be playing at home against Toms River North at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The Mariners have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 7.18 runs per game on average), something the Cougars will no doubt try to take advantage of.