Overcoming injuries and defections to the team’s starting pitching staff will be vital for Allen Community College’s baseball team to thrive in 2013. AMID THE lost starters, one front-line pitcher remains. BUT THE slick fielding, hard hitting Red Devils likely will go as far as their pitching staff takes them. Allen Community College Allen Community College
The Red Devils lost four starters since the start of the school year, either to injury “or having guys stolen by four-year schools,” head coach Val McLean said.
“We’ve got plenty of numbers when it comes to pitchers, but our quality went way down when we lost those guys,” McLean said.
The Red Devils boast a large number of candidates on the mound.
And in the field, a large infusion of home-grown talent will be counted on.
Allen’s roster features five freshman who were integral parts to Iola High’s Mustang baseball powerhouse of recent years.
“It’s nice to have this much home-grown talent,” McLean said. “All of the guys are going to get a lot of playing time this season.”
The local contingent includes right fielder Jerrik Sigg, who batted .391 with 26 RBIs in 23 games last year for the Mustangs. While Sigg also was a stalwart pitcher in high school, he will be used solely in the field for Allen.
“Jerrik is a good, complete baseball player,” McLean said. “He had a terrific fall for us, and we expect him to do a good job for us.”
Drew Walden, meanwhile, will share starting catching duties. As a high school senior, Walden hit .362 with 11 doubles. He also threw out six would-be base thieves as the Mustang backstop.
“Drew does a very good job defensively,” McLean said, “and he’s continually getting better on offense.”
Clint Heffern will stay at second base, the same position he manned when not pitching last year at IHS. Heffern was a .461 hitter with 26 RBIs and 26 runs in 2012.
“Clint is doing a very good job defensively,” McLean said.
Braden Larson, who hit .433 for Iola, is switching from third base in high school to serve as Allens first baseman.
“I really like how he swings the bat,” McLean said. “He’s hitting really well.”
Tanner Lee, a 6-1, 200-pound right-hander out of Augusta, will serve as the ace of the Red Devil staff. He led Allen last year in strikeouts, and brings an ace’s mentality.
“He throws between 88 and 93 mph, and he had a tremendous fall for us,” McLean said. “He’s a competitor.”
Filling out the rotation will Seth Jones, a 6-5 right-handed transfer from the University of Kansas. Jones throws in the mid to upper 80s and relies on the slider and split-finger fastball.
Hunter Miller, a 230-pound right-hander throws in the mid 80s. “He’s got a good curve,” McLean said.
Gage Dickerson is a prototypical “crafty” lefty, McLean said. He throws in the low to mid 80s and relies on movement and location.
Three others, Geoffrey Bourque, Chase Cunningham and Latta, will be relied upon as midweek starters.
Filling the bullpen will be Jake Johnson (1-4, 7.97 ERA in 2012), Grant McMillan, Logan Bausch, Auston Weldy, Lucas Westervelt (1-0, 5.02), Conor Burnes (0-0 3.86) and transfer Jordan Hicks.
Another KU transfer, Nate Arnold, will serve as Allen’s closer. The sophomore throws 90 mph and above “with a terrific curve,” McLean said. His athleticism leaves McLean with the option of putting Arnold in the lineup as well.
“He’s a terrific defensive catcher,” McLean said. “He will probably catch one game of a doubleheader, then pitch in the other. He’s a great athlete.”
BACKING UP the pitching staff will be a strong defensive squad, McLean said, likely the team’s strongest suit in 2013.
“Drew and Nate Arnold are as good as it gets defensively. Nate also will be one of our best hitters.”
Cody Amerine, who hits and throws from the right side, and left-handed Mason Kellett will platoon at first base.
Heffern will start at second, with Kyle Foster, a semester transfer out of Lee’s Summit, Mo., expected to vie for playing time soon.
Trey Francis also offers premier fielding skills at third base.
Troy Willoughby will start at shortstop, with Tyler Noel also turning heads in recent weeks.
Manning the outfield will be Sigg in right field, Garrett Rasch in center and Tim Lewis in left.
“All three guys are good defensively, and they all three can hit.”
“We’re going to be OK offensively, and we have a good defensive unit,” McLean said. “We’re just going to have to be real intelligent with our pitching staff. “Tanner can dominate hitters, but some of our other guys will only be able to pitch a couple innings at a time.
As for the Jayhawk Conference and Region VI competition, McLean figures Cowley “always puts a good team out there, and Neosho County is a good club. Our goal is to get in the upper half of the conference. If our pitching clicks, we could be there, too. But this is such a strong conference, any game is tough.”
Allen opens the 2013 season with a weekend series at Seminole (Okla.) Junior College.
2013 Baseball Schedule
Feb. 16 — Seminole (Okla.) Jr. College, 1 p.m.
Feb. 17 — Seminole (Okla.) Jr. College, noon
Feb. 19 — Evangel University, 1 p.m.
Feb. 21 — Oklahoma Wesleyan Univesity, noon
Feb. 23 — Murray State College Tournament
Feb. 24 — Murry State College Tournament
Feb. 25 — Evangel University, 3 p.m.
Feb. 28 — Oklahoma Wesleyan University, 3 p.m.
March 2 — Kansas City, Kan., 2 p.m.
March 3 — Kansas City, Kan., 2 p.m.
March 5 — Brown Mackie, 3 p.m.
March 8 — Johnson Co., 4 p.m.
March 9 — Johnson Co., 1 p.m.
March 11 — Ottawa University, 2 p.m.
March 15 — Cowley, 4 p.m.
March 16 — Cowley, 2 p.m.
March 20 — Ottawa University, 4 p.m.
March 23 — Coffeyville, 1 p.m.
March 24 — Coffeyville, 1 p.m.
March 27 — St. Mary’s University, 2 p.m.
March 29 — Independence, 2 p.m.
March 30 — Independence, 2 p.m.
April 3 — Butler, 3 p.m.
April 6 — Labette, 2 p.m.
April 7 — Labette, 2 p.m.
April 10 — Butler, 3 p.m.
April 13 — Highland, 1 p.m.
April 14 — Highland, 1 p.m.
April 16 — Brown Mackie (Salina), 3 p.m.
April 20 — Neosho Co., noon
April 21 — Neosho Co., 2 p.m.
April 23 — Kansas Wesleyan University, 3 p.m.
April 27 — Fort Scott, 1 p.m.
April 28 — Fort Scott, 1 p.m.
Bold denotes home games
2013 Baseball Roster
Name Pos. B/T Hometown
Cody Amerine 1B R/R Lecompton
Nate Arnold C/OF/P L/R Pittsburg
Logan Bausch P R/R Hoyt
Geoffrey Bourque P R/R Kansas City, Mo.
Conor Burns P/DH R/R Carbondale
Chase Cunningham P/DH R/R Urich, Mo.
Gage Dickerson LHP R/L Conway Spgs, Mo.
Kyle Foster INF R/R Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Trey Francis 3B/SS/2B R/R Manhattan
Layton Gray P R/R Clay Center
Clint Heffern 2B R/R Iola
Jordan Hicks P L/R Derby
Jake Johnson P R/R Lawrence
Seth Jones P R/R Osawatomie
Mason Kellett 1B/LHP L/L Henryetta
Braden Larson 3B/1B R/R Iola
Jarred Latta P R/R Iola
Tanner Lee 1B/P R/R Augusta
Tim Lewis OF L/L Lawrence
Grant McMillan P R/R Chanute
Hunter Miller R/R Baxter Springs
Tyler Noel SS/OF R/R Portsmouth, Ohio
Shane Pokorney P R/R Wellsville
Samuel Powell C R/R Sedan
Garrett Rasch CF R/R Mannford, Okla.
Montana Samuels 1B R/R Lawrence
Jerrik Sigg OF R/R Iola
Cole Slusser OF R/R Topeka
Justin Vander Tuig LHP L/L BaldwinCity
Drew Walden C R/R Topeka
Auston Weldy P R/R Mount Vernon, Mo.
Lucas Westervelt P R/R Baxter Springs
Troy Willoughby SS R/R Lawrence
Local talent fills Red Devil baseball roster
