Playing with heart

Both Howards are highly thought of at West, as this award can attest. Ryan transferred there from Viewmont his senior season; Bozz went and played there all four of his high school years because he liked the school and the program. Former athletic director Marce Wilson previously told the Morning News he was impressed how Ryan Howard came into his senior season "with more heart, even though he had a bad heart. He made a great sacrifice at a young age."

West coach Bill Groves earlier this year had great praise for Ryan's little brother, as well.

"Bryce did a great job for us," Groves said. "He's a bulldog out there. He just fights and fights. That's the type of guy we want out there."

Bryce and other Panthers still adhere to a motto given to them by Ryan. The mantra is written in Bryce's hat: "Strike first, strike fast, strike hard."

"When I am out there and struggling a little bit, I just take off my hat and look at what I have written there," said Bryce Howard after pitching an 11-strikeout, three-hit gem against rival East this spring. "It is a saying I got for my brother (Ryan) . . . He is a great guy, and he has helped me a lot."

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E-mail: jody@desnews.com