HIGHLAND — Allen Community College’s softball season came to a quiet end Saturday, at the hands — or arms, to be more specific — of Highland Community College.
Highland pitchers shut out the Red Devils on a combined five hits over two games in a doubleheader sweep, 10-0 and 8-0, in the Region VI, Division II playoffs.
The losses end Allen’s season at 9-30.
“We knew going in that Highland was going to be a beatable team, but we would have to play the best we have all season,” Allen coach Jamie Amerine said. “Then we committed some costly errors in the first inning.”
The Scotties set the tone for the day in the first inning of Saturday’s opener. After retiring Allen in order of the top of the frame, Highland erupted for six in the bottom of the inning. The lead grew to 8-0 by the bottom of the second and 10-0 by the end of the fourth.
“We tried everything we could to pitch around their home run hitters, but it didn’t matter where we pitched it, they were able to get good contact,” Amerine said. “We got good swings at the plate, and we played aggressively.”
Allen twice had two runners on base, but in both cases, they were left stranded. Lauren Poertner reached on a one-out error and Taylor Easum singled in the second inning before Highland’s Paige Crawford struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Stormie Bush and Paige Rothwell had singles in the top of the fifth, but they were left on base when Annie Gentry’s line drive was snared by the Highland third baseman.
Mary Reilly struck a one-out double in the fourth, but also was left stranded.
Audra Nelson was saddled with the loss, allowing eight hits with a strikeout.
Highland’s damage in the second game was contained to the second and third innings, but it was plenty for starter Taylor Hatfield. Hatfield shut down Allen on a single hit, Rothwell’s fourth-inning single.
The Red Devils were without the services of leading hitter Maecy Charleston, who was unavailable because of a family wedding.
“We knew for a year she wasn’t going to be with us at regionals,” Amerine said. “I don’t think it hurt us because we were able to adjust our outfield.”
Kaitlyn Rash started for Allen, allowing 10 hits.
“This definitely wasn’t the season we had hoped for in terms of victories, but our record didn’t indicate how we played,” Amerine said. “The start was tough because of the weather, having to go in and out and in and out. We played probably only about half as many games as we normally would. But I saw improvement with several girls. We’ll continue to work over the summer to get better and gear up for next year.”
Red Devils’ season ends with sweep
