COLBY — Clint Stoy had a hunch it would be tough to come back in their Region VI playoff series against Colby.
One day after dropping a 14-13 slugfest that ended with a Colby walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th — “one of the top-five games I’ve ever been a part of as a player or coach,” he said — a drained Allen Community College squad returned to the diamond Thursday for a win-or-go-home scenario.
The Red Devils fell behind early, then absorbed a seven-run body blow in the fourth inning to trail 9-0.
But as has been their modus operandi all season, Allen fought back, scoring seven runs over two innings to make it a game again.
But in the end, the beleaguered pitching staff ran out of bullets as Colby prevailed, 17-7.
The loss drops Allen to 26-26 at the season’s conclusion.
“It’s not how we wanted the season to end, but there’s no quit in these guys,” Stoy said.
A ferocious south wind that kicked up a dust storm played a role in the proceedings, with each fly ball an adventure in itself.
The Red Devils had runners on base in every inning, but had three rallies wiped out with double plays.
But Colby soon took advantage of Mother Nature’s gusty behavior.
Colby’s Hagen Barcello broke open the scoring with a two-run shot in the bottom of the third, before the Trojans hit high gear in the fourth, with John Vulcano, Jake Ticer and Blake Labuda going deep.
Ayden Blachowicz put ACC on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the sixth, scoring Nathan Bach. Rhett Yaggers followed two batters later with a two-run single to make it 9-3.
Colby responded with three runs to widen the gap, but Allen put forth its final charge in the seventh.
Levi Bennett and Bach hit back-to-back doubles before Tanner Strickland hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to 12-7.
But a double play — Allen’s fourth of the contest — ended that rally.
Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Colby’s Brayden Cust, whose grand slam on a 3-2 pitch expanded the lead to 16-7. Vulcano hit a solo shot, his second of the day, for the final CCC tally.
