Ryan Howard goes back to the minors
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA.>> Ryan Howard was once one of baseball’s most feared sluggers, an MVP and World Series champion, the toast of Philadelphia.
So what’s he doing here, in the sprawling suburbs of Atlanta, a minor leaguer at age 37 , playing alongside a bunch of 20- somethings, enduring bus rides and sparse crowds?
“There’s more in the tank,” he said bluntly. “If you walk away, don’t walk away with something still left in the tank. Then you’re wondering like, ‘Man, what could I have done?’ When I’m done playing, I want to leave it all out on the field.”
Howard c er t a i nly could’ve retired after an inglorious, injury-plagued, pitiable end to his Phillies career, more than con- tent with a legacy that produced enough mementos to fill an entire room in his home. Many people, in fact, just assumed he was done after a rousing, retirementlike send-off before last season’s final game in Philadelphia .
But Howard wasn’t ready to walk away.
“It’s been interesting,” Howard said on a balmy spring afternoon, relaxing in the dugout at Coolray Field, home of the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. “Once you leave the minor leagues, you want to not come back. But it’s the path that I’m on, the journey that I’m on.”
Signed to a minor league deal by an organization that is Philly’s division rival, Howard has impressed the G-Braves with his work ethic, arriving early for games and going through every drill with his younger — in some cases, much younger — teammates.
Before Wednesday’s contest against the Durham Bulls, he took part in two rounds of batting practice and hung out behind the cage with hitting coach John Moses, discussing the nuances of his swing. Howard also fielded ground balls and headed to the outfield to limber up with some strange-looking contortions and gyrations.
“He’s a good human” being, manager Damon Berryhill said. “He works hard, sets a good example for our younger players. He’s been a pleasure to have around.”
Howard is off to a slow start with the TripleA team, hitting just .188 through nine games. He did launch his first homer against the Bulls, a tworun shot that showed he’s still got some juice in that stroke, but hardly anyone saw it.
RAVENA- COEYMANS- SELKIRK 6, LANSINGBURGH 4 >> Jack Kerrigan allowed one run over the final five innings and Ravena scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth in a come-frombehind 6- 4 win over Lansingburgh.
Austin Novak capped the decisive inning with a two-run single with two outs.
Joe Kosowky pitched 5 2/3 innings to get a no decision for the Knights and went 2-for-3 with a double from the plate. Anthony Combs was also 2- for- 4 with two RBIs for Lansingburgh.
ALBANY ACADEMY SCHALMONT4>> Ben Seiler hit two doubles as the Cadets improved to 9-2 in Colonial Council play and 10-2 overall. Danny Moshier and Justin Geary also had three hits for Albany Academy.
E. J. Birch earned the win on the mound and Ryan Pepicelli took the loss for Schalmont (3- 8 league, 3-10 overall). ICHABODCRANE19, CATHOLIC CENTRAL 3 >> John Fratianni led the Crusaders with a 3-for- 3 day at the plate, but it wasn’t enough as the Riders scored nine in the third and eight in the fourth.
COLONIE 9, BURNT HILLSBALLSTON LAKE 1 >> AJ Mazzone hit two doubles to lead the Raiders to a road Suburban Council win. Starter Brett White pitched five innings to pick up the win on the mound.
HOOSIC VALLEY 11, GREENWICH 1 >> Mik eVelucci hit two doubles and drove in three runs to lead the Valley offense. Kody Gillespie and Isaac Carlo had two hits and two runs apiece for Hoosic Valley ( 10-2 Wasaren League, 13- 3 overall).
Jon Miller doubled for Greenwich.
BALLSTON SPA 7, GUILDERLAND 1 >> Lauren Kersch pitched a complete game three- hitter with four strikeouts and three walks for the Scotties (8-2 Suburban Council, 11-2 overall) and Angelina Stile contributed three hits to lead the bats. Gretchen Tesch added two hits for Ballston Spa in the home win.
COLONIE 3, BURNT HILSBALLSTON LAKE 1 >> Lexi Szesnat hit a homer and Sarah Baluch was 2-for- 4 with a double for the Raiders in a Suburban Council win. Maria Tedisco allowed four hits over seven innings to pick up the win in the circle and struck out 10.
Katie Ramos had two singles to lead the Spartans offense. WATERVLIET NAMES 0 >> Jessica Senecal picked up the shutout for the Cannoneers. She scattered five hits in seven innings with four strikeouts and six walks. Meg Murray and Makayla Darmetko both had two hits in the Watervliet win. Tess Urschel went 2-for- 4 with a double for Holy Names.
GREENWICH 4, HOOSIC VALLEY 1 >> Rachel Hall kept her perfect record in the circle (9- 0) with a compmlete game four-hitter. Gabby Wiss had a double and an RBI to lead the Witches ( 10- 0 Wasaren League, 11-1 overall) offense.
Bridget Ryan hit two singles and scored the only Hoosic Valley (6- 4, 8- 4) run on the afternoon. TAMARAC 16, SARATOGA CATHOLIC 0 >> McKenna Ryan went 3-for- 4 with a three-run homer, a double and five RBIs to lead the Bengals at the plate while teammate Gabby Castiglione was 2- for- 3 with three RBIs and Gianna Bucciero was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Jess Heinriches tossed a five-hit shutout in the circle for Tamarac. SARATOGA SPRINGS 9, CBA 0 >> The Blue Streaks continued their dominant run through the Suburban Council with a sweep of the Brothers Thursday. GUILDERLAND7, BALLSTON SPA 2 >> Pete Gonzales earned one of Ballston Spa’s two team points with a marathon 7- 5, 6-7(4), 6- 4 win at No. 1 singles. SCHALMONT4, LASALLE3>> Schalmont won both doubles matches to offset La Salle’s 3-2 advantage after the singles matches.