Justin Steel’s RBI Single Caps Two-Out Rally in Seventh to Give Howell a Win Over Freehold Township

By Matt Morton - Shore Sports Network contributor

HOWELL -  Trailing Freehold Township by two runs going into the bottom of the seventh inning on Monday, Howell pulled out a 4-3 thriller thanks to three straight RBI singles with two outs.

Junior James Wynne sparked the beginning of the rally by drawing a one-out walk on four consecutive pitches with Howell trailing 3-1 in its final at-bat. Senior Connor Boyle then worked his way out of a 1-2 count and joined Wynne on base with a walk of his own. With runners on first and second, junior Connor Fey delivered his second RBI single of the day to cut the lead to 3-2 with two outs. Senior Rob Napolitano then sent a line drive out to left field that was misplayed and allowed Boyle to score from third to tie the game and put runners on second and third with junior designated hitter Justin Steel coming up.

Steel kept up his hot hitting and smacked his third hit of the ball game for a walk-off single up the middle to score junior pinch runner Brian Chaballa from third for the win.

Prior to the seventh inning, the game had been a pitchers' duel between Howell’s Austin Kroeger and Freehold Township’s Ralph Gambino. Kroeger went the distance, allowing three earned runs and four walks in a complete-game victory. The senior southpaw also picked off two runners on his way to picking up the win. Kroeger also limited scorching hot Freehold Township senior catcher Joe Silvestrone to a 1-for-3 day at the plate with a single, walk, and a stolen base.

On the mound for the Patriots, Gambino, a sophomore, was dealing through his six innings pitched as he struck out seven and walked four in a no-decision.

“This wasn’t our first time we’ve been down in games where we had to come back,” Napolitano said. "We came in pretty confident going into this inning knowing we had to put hits together to put runs on the board.”

The walk-off was Howell’s second walk-off win of the year as Fey went deep in the bottom of the ninth in a win against Freehold Boro last week. The Rebels were led by Fey’s 3-for-4 day with three singles and two RBI. Steel also was a large factor for the Rebels offense, as he went 3-for-4 as well with a double, two singles and the game-winning RBI.

Senior Kyle Fenton led the way for the Patriots offensively in the loss with a two-run home run over the left field wall in the third inning.