Allen splits with Pratt to open 2024

Several Allen Community College baseball players took the field Thursday for a season-opening baseball doubleheader against Pratt. The Red Revils split the twin bill, winning 13-3 and losing 10-6.

February 2, 2024 - 2:40 PM

Allen Community College’s Cade Schupp (12) is greeted by his Red Devil teammates Thursday after blasting a first-inning home run in the season-opener against Pratt. Allen won the first game, 13-3, before falling, 10-4, in the nightcap. Photo by Richard Luken

Allen Community College got a jump on Punxsutawney Phil this week.

While the famed groundhog emerged to predict an early spring — attendants said he did not see his shadow — the Red Devils already were in action.

Allen hosted Pratt Community College for a doubleheader Thursday and another Friday to open the 2024 season.

The Red Devils claimed the first game of Thursday’s twin bill, 13-3, before Pratt rallied in the sixth and seventh innings to claim game 2, 10-4. (Note. Due to press deadlines, Friday’s scores were unavailable.)

Allen Community College’s Garrett Rusch (4) applies the tag , but not in time to record an out against Pratt Community College baserunner Drew Bugner Thursday. The Red Devils split their season-opening doubleheader, winning 13-3 and losing 10-6.Photo by Richard Luken / Iola Register

But more importantly than the outcome, Red Devil head coach Clint Stoy was able to get 24 players into the games in some capacity.

“The whole goal of the first four games is to get everybody on the roster a chance to play, just to get the nerves out,” Stoy noted. “This was the first college game for a lot of those guys, and there were some nerves out there.”

Not so in the opener, where sophomores Cade Schupp, Garrett Rusch and Carson Shepherd all went deep for ACC.

Schupp’s 3-run blast in the second inning was the backbreaking blow, capping a seven-run frame.

That was all Red Devil right-hander Saul Bolivar needed. Bolivar limited Pratt to three hits over five innings, with four strikeouts.

Allen’s Saul Bolivar delivers a pitch in the Red Devils’ season-opener against Pratt Thursday. Bolivar allowed three hits over five innings in ACC’s 13-3 victory. Photo by Richard Luken

Schupp went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while Rusch had a single and a home run. He also scored three runs.Gabe Glenn added a single and double. Colton Ayres, Cale Clark and Caleb Horsey all had singles for ACC.

STOY allowed the youngsters to take over in the nightcap, with 18 players taking the field in some capacity.

And it was going well, as Allen held a 4-2 lead through five innings.

But the Red Devils came up empty on a chance to extend the lead with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth.

Pratt rallied to tie the score in the sixth and erupted for six in the top of the seventh to earn the win.

Anthony Talpa hit an early solo home run for Allen to give the offense a spark. Parker Martin, Jake Galloway and Kyle Kleweno all had singles.

Brayden Thompson pitched three innings of one-hit, one-run ball with seven strikeouts.

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