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Music crack Peanuts in 'Peach Series' opener

• After losing his fiancee in a car acident less than two months ago. Peanuts pitcher Chris Howell made his first start of the year, giving up seven runs without recording an out in a 10-0 South Georgia loss to the Macno Music.

Paul Dehner Jr.

MACON — South Georgia Peanuts starting pitcher Chris Howell walked on to the patio behind the away dugout at Luther Williams Field on Thursday night after an awful outing. He had just allowed seven runs, walked four and never recorded an out before being pulled as the performance buried the Peanuts in an ugly 10-0 defeat — the team’s third in a row.

But strolling into a small group of family members anxiously awaiting his arrival, his head wrapped in a backward Tennessee Volunteers hat, he shared embraces.

Howell has had bad days recently — but this was not one of them.

Just before spring training, Howell broke three ribs in a car accident which forever changed his life. The crash killed Howell’s passenger — his fiancée.

Finally healthy and still mourning life’s brutal blow, he was activated for the first time this year before the game and returned to the mound to do what he loves to do: play baseball.

And while Thursday may have been the worst outing he can remember, as well as the worst night of the season for the Peanuts, it was Howell’s return to what was normal life before being tragically flipped upside down more than a month ago.

“I felt like I really progressed,” Howell said. “Emotionally, everything I go through is mind-boggling. I know I am missing one in the stands. But being out there and having all the guys behind you showing their support for you is great. This was a big step.”

As the seven-batter first inning progressed, the step was harder and harder to watch for anyone who knew of Howell’s plight.

He threw 39 pitches, 22 of which were balls.

After walking Music leadoff hitter Andrew Shaver, Howell fell behind Carlos Arroyo before the left-hander launched a home run well over the wall in right field for a 2-0 lead.

A single and two walks followed to load the bases for Mike DeVeaux, who took advantage when Howell mistakenly left a fastball over the plate, depositing it over the right field wall for a grand slam.

Now down, 6-0, Howell walked his fourth batter — who would later score — as Pat Ford finally was warm enough to enter the game in relief.

Howell exited to supportive pats on the back from his teammates.

“It was sad to watch,” manager Wally Backman said.”I knew he had a lot of things going through his mind. He was lights out at the tryout. I feel sorry for the kid.”  

Compounding the mental issue was a mechanical issue. Howell worked with pitching coach Buddy York in days prior to the start and ditched his overhead motion and reverted to a sidearm approach he hadn’t used since his college days in Tennessee.
“He’s looser that way,” York said.

Considering the situation, Howell wanted to use what he thought would allow him to just throw strikes and help the team.

“I just wanted to give us an opportunity to win,” he said. “Am I going to throw like that all year? No.”

When his next start will be still is under debate after Thursday. Backman said he will sit down with Howell and figure out where to go from here. That may involve sending Howell home temporarily to find focus.

“We may have to re-evaluate the mental side,” Backman said. “I think he needs to clear his head.”

While Howell’s rough, but brief stint all but deciding the first of the three-game “Peach Series,” it wasn’t helped out by the Peanuts worst offensive night of the season.

It was not only the first time they had been shut out, but the first time the team was held below four runs.

South Georgia won, 4-1, in the third game of the year at Charlotte County.

Now, the Peanuts just seem to be reeling a bit after starting the year 13-1.

The three game losing streak represents the first bit of adversity in the young season, though the Peanuts still are in first place with Aiken also losing, 4-0, against Bradenton on Thursday.

The squad has exuded confidence since opening day, something Backman doesn’t believe will waver after being outscored, 32-12, in the last three days.

“I would hope not,” said Backman, who will send Damas Garcia to the mound for tonight’s game at 7 p.m. “What we did at the start of the season was not a fluke. We surrounded the young guys with veterans like Doc (Brooks), (Jon) Zeringue and (Steve) Garrabrants. Somebody has got to pick up the slack. All 23 guys have to play well if you’re going to win.”

But even on this night, for one of those 23 guys, losing wasn’t that big of a deal.

“I’ve got a lot of growing up to do,” Howell said. “But just being out there with the guys brought me comfort.”

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