Although days away from MLB spring training, baseball season is underway at Allen Community College.
The Red Devils hope to get back above .500 at the Barton Community College Baseball Tournament this weekend after opening 2026 with an 11-3 loss to Iowa Central Community College Saturday, then following the loss with a 13-3 loss to ICCC Sunday.
Allen struggled to manufacture runs in Saturday’s opener until the seventh inning, when sophomore outfielder Marquee Williams, freshman second baseman Cash Messenger and sophomore first baseman Krue Lowe each drove in a run. Williams had a team-leading pair of hits while successful in 2 of 3 at-bats.
Coming off the Iola American Legion 19U’s run at the state tournament, Allen sophomore pitcher Ryan Golden started the season with a strikeout in his limited appearance Saturday while allowing the contest’s only home run in the loss. Freshmen relievers Jacob Doty and Preston Lima tied for the team lead in strikeouts with a pair each.
The Red Devils had a few more hits in Sunday’s follow-up.
Sophomore outfielder Jose Zorilla had a team-leading pair of hits while successful in 2 of 3 at-bats with an RBI. Freshman infielder Cooper Bates accounted for Allen’s other RBI.
On the mound, freshman Doc Needham took the loss after allowing three runs over two innings with a strikeout.
Starting sophomore Miller Tavaglione and sophomore reliever Andrew Smith tied for the team lead in strikeouts with two each.
