It might have been bedtime for many in attendance late Monday, but that didn’t mean the little things should be given a rest.

Community R-6 vs Higbee Photo Gallery

Community R-6’s Gavin Allen outdueled Higbee’s Derek Rockett in a low-scoring affair that saw Allen match a career-high with 16 strikeouts and Rockett closely followed with 16 punchouts. The Trojans edged Higbee 2-0, advancing to the championship game at 5 p.m. today after Allen induced a groundout by Rockett with the bases loaded to end the game.

Rockett had hit a single in his previous at-bat and now was stepping up with the bases juiced after Allen surrendered two singles in a span of four batters — after giving two singles prior to that point — and a hit by pitch. The pressure was on for the Trojan ace, and the senior was up for the challenge against “possibly the best hitter” Community (16-5) has seen all year, according to head coach Joel Krato.

“Their best hitter came up to bat, and he got a single off of me off a curveball,” Allen said. “I figured he wouldn’t be sitting curveball first pitch again, threw the curveball, located it and (shortstop) Mason Carroll made the play.”

Krato said that exact situation crossed his mind before the game, and he even consulted Allen of what he would do in the scenario. Krato said he considered giving Rockett the Barry Bonds treatment and intentionally walk him with the bases loaded, since Community was ahead by two runs, but reconsidered when he remembered who was on the mound. 

“What would you do, right?” Krato said. “You let the senior and say, ‘Look man, you’re our guy. Go win the game.’ That’s what he did.”

Krato said he considered the Bonds option before bringing in today’s championship starting pitcher Carroll with his fresh arm because Allen finished three pitches away from the maximum 105. Once the number is reached, that means Community would essentially be forced to refill the tank with a new arm, but Allen made that decision unnecessary.

For most of the game, defense was unnecessary as the Trojans only put two balls in play, including a single by Carroll and a groundout by Shane Woodson that scored the first run of the game in the second inning. 

“It’s the little things that’s going to make the difference,” Krato said. “It’s the passed ball, it’s the great jump by Gavin and steals third, they throw it into left and we score. Then we put the ball in play with two strikes and score a run from third. We didn’t do anything crazy. What did we do? We wore pitches, we took tough at-bats, we attacked the strike zone so we didn’t do anything crazy. We just took extra bases when they gave them to us.”

Krato said those scenarios are what the Trojans practiced on Saturday because the game like Monday’s, before it finally started, seemed like runs would be at a premium and passed balls would loom large.

Allen helped create the second run with his legs in the third inning as he was aware that Community needed to excel in those moments. In last year’s district quarterfinals, Higbee (15-3) defeated the Trojans 4-0 after Rockett struck out 19. 

“Our goal was just to put the ball in play or get on by any means,” Allen said. “I got to second thanks to Mason Carroll getting a hit. The two innings before, it was first and second with Brant Cope up to bat, and I wanted to steal, but with Brant being a lefty, it’s not really blocking the catcher from throwing. But (this time), he had the same pattern and then I just took off. I figured I steal the base and he could make a bad throw or I’m out, but it’s a play you’ve got to risk there.”

There weren’t many bad throws from Allen to his catcher Eli Johnson behind the plate. Allen did walk three hitters and hit a batter but had Higbee helpless with the fastball early in the game and then baffled by his offspeed pitches late, which helped him set a season-high and match his personal-best 16 he recorded in a 4-3 win against Wellsville-Middletown in last year’s opening game. The bottom line is everything was working for him.

“Fastball was working really well with me and set up my curveball, slider and splitter well,” Allen said. “I didn’t throw my splitter all too much, but whenever I did, I could locate it. Fastball was going fast and it set up my offspeeds to throw them off the timing.”

“He has that intangible skill that you can’t teach or coach,” Krato said. “He wants to be great. It makes fun to coach him because he’s willing to rise to a level you’re willing to put him. I am insanely hard on that kid. I used to make that kid cry his freshman year, but it was because of that moment right there. You’re going to be put in pressure, and if you can’t handle it, you’re not going to be what I think you can be.”

Krato said the Trojans are now set up to face “the giant” they couldn’t quite slay earlier in the season in Central Activities Conference rival Cairo (12-6), who defeated Wellsville 8-0 on Monday. After considering using Carroll against Higbee but ultimately favoring the senior Allen in Monday’s high-pressure do-or-die game, Krato said he is glad to be able to rely on Carroll against a team the Trojans led 4-1 before losing 5-4 in extra innings at Cairo’s ballpark.

“We need to put more balls in play,” Krato said. “The Cairo (pitchers) are good, but I don’t know if they’re (Carroll). We were up 4-1 at their place and didn’t make things happen. Now we have a chance at redemption.”