Timely hitting and effective pitching turned into a successful weekend for Allen Community College baseball.
The Red Devils took three of four over Labette, sweeping a doubleheader at Parsons Friday, 6-4 and 12-5.
The Cardinals rebounded to take the opener Saturday, 8-4, but Allen’s Josh Fluett ended the series by pitching seven shutout innings in ACC’s 4-0 victory.
The series marked the most successful foray for Allen yet in Jayhawk Conference play. Allen (16-12) jumped out of conference for four games against Baker’s junior varsity Thursday and Saturday.
“Any time you win a series in conference, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s a good weekend,” Red Devil head coach Clint Stoy said.
Fluet’s pitching was a nice pick-me-up after Labette had broken through in a comeback win earlier in the day.
“That’s his third or fourth outing in a row that’s been really good,” Stoy said. “He’s really been commanding his fastball and hasn’t had to throw a lot of offspeed stuff. It’s been working for him, throwing strikes.”
His seven-inning stint was the longest of the season. He struck out six, while scattering four hits with no walks.
His only real trouble came in the top of the seventh, when a pair of Cardinal batters hit soft flares over the infield to put runners on first and second with two outs.
Fluet ended the jam with a strikeout. It was the only time Labette put a runner in scoring position.
Jack Neil came on in relief and was equally as effective, striking out three in two scoreless innings, while allowing one hit.
The game ended on an odd note. Labette’s Jake Woodmansee singled with one out, and attempted to steal second as Austin den Hoed batted. But den Hoed whiffed for strike three, and Woodmansee was called out for interfering with the fielder as the throw came in from the catcher for the final out of the game.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils broke what had been a scoreless pitchers duel in the fifth.
Fraai Roangeraud walked to lead off the frame. Rhett Yaggers sacrificed him to second, and Christian Altamirano ripped the first pitch he saw back up the middle for an RBI single.
The fun continued in the sixth, when Nathan Bach singled and Ayden Blachowicz doubled to put runners on second and third. Tanner Strickland followed with a two-out, two-run single.
Josh Prinner capped the scoring in the eighth. He doubled, stole third and then scampered home when the catcher’s throw eluded Labette’s third baseman.
