VALLEY — Kason Howell and Trey Woodham were nearly unhittable for Auburn Orange on Monday.
The two pitchers combined to strike out nine and allow only one hit in Auburn’s 10-0, four-inning win over Opelika American in the first round of the Dixie Youth AAA (9-10) All-Star District 10 tournament at the Valley Sportsplex.
Howell started off the game by getting Opelika’s leadoff hitter to pop out.
The other five batters he faced were not so lucky: Howell struck them all out.
Auburn coach Jonathan Knight said pitch calling is easy when Howell’s on the hill: “Fastball, fastball, fastball.”
“When Kason Howell is on, it’s hard for anybody to touch him,” Knight said.
Woodham picked up where Howell left off, giving up a hit and striking out four over the final two innings to seal the win.
Auburn’s bats provided more than enough support for the duo, putting up 10 runs on five hits in the first two innings.
Rowdey Jordan led off the game with a walk and stole second before Howell singled him home. Then Andrew Naismith singled Howell home, scored on an error, and Woodham came home on a Will Green sacrifice fly to give Auburn a 4-0 lead after one.
The script was almost the same in the second, as T.J. Scott and Tyler Rabren led off with walks and came around to score on a ground out and a fielder’s choice. Then Jordan and Howell rapped RBI singles, followed by an RBI triple by Naismith that turned into a de facto home run when the relay throw got away.
“We started out the way we needed to start,” Knight said. “We wanted a fresh start after we came from (sub-districts), and we got it tonight.
“The bats were hot and the pitching was on.”
Howell and Naismith were each 2-for-2 with two RBI, and Jordan had a hit, an RBI and two runs. Woodham, Scott and Rabren also scored runs, while Green, Hunter Harper and Turk Petitt added RBI.
Zack Nixon rapped out Opelika’s only hit — a single down the left-field line in the third.
Opelika American will play Auburn Blue at 6 tonight in the consolation bracket. Auburn Orange plays Tallassee tonight at 7:30 in the second round.
“We have to realize that we have to work hard every night, and can’t come out and half-heartedly play the game,” Knight said. “We have
to be ready every game, because anybody out here can beat us.”
dmorrison@oanow.com | 737-2568
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