Some steely pitching from Johnson County kept Allen Community College’s bats at bay Saturday.
The visiting Cavaliers wiggled off the hook twice in the middle innings of Saturday’s nightcap, and then a two-run eighth and one-run ninth gave Johnson County some insurance in a 5-1 victory.
The opener turned Johnson County’s way early, with a nine-run first to set the tone in what became a 17-3 victory.
“Congrats to Coach Eric Horner and Johnson County,” Allen head coach Kirk Doyle said. “They played the game hard with respect and set the bar. That said, we are not off to the start we prepared for. The blame starts and stops with me. It’s pretty simple. Be better. Get smarter.”
But there were some key takeaways.
The pitching of Allen’s Ryan Golden and Jace Arnold kept the Red Devils in the second game until the final pitch.
Golden, a Crest High graduate, got the nod and pitched brilliantly for three innings, until Allen failed to record an out on a bunt attempt, leading to two Cavalier runs.
Allen threatened twice before striking through in the bottom of the sixth when Marquee Williams reached on a leadoff single, and Bjarne Reinhardt poked an opposite field single to put runners on first and third.
Logan Martin followed with a perfectly placed squeeze bunt. The bunt was so good, in fact, it became an RBI single.
But Johnson County summoned Hudson Byrd to relieve starter Denton Miller. He responded with a pickoff play and strikeout to end the threat.
Golden allowed two hits over the first three innings. Arnold pitched the next five, allowing just two hits with a pair of strikeouts. Brodie Gleason pitched a hitless ninth inning.
Williams and Krue Lowe each had a pair of singles for Allen. Reinhardt, Martin, Gavin Richardson and Grayson Roberson each had a single.
IN GAME 1, Johnson County followed its nine-run first with a seven-run second inning to put things out of reach.
Allen found its offense in the bottom of the fifth when Cooper Bates had an RBI single. Reinhardt, Martin and Richardson also had singles.
Luke Brodrick had a strong pitching stint in relief, striking out four over two innings, while allowing two hits. Carter German struck out three over 1.2 innings, allowing three hits. Manuel Toro and Brannock Blankenship each allowed five hits on the mound.
I am proud of our “role-players,” subs who stepped up and answered the call,” Doyle said.
