The Community R-6 Trojans had one more thing to celebrate at the end of their baseball Final Four season.

In the Trojans’ first Final Four season since 2001, they had three all-state players in their ranks for Class 1. Mason Carroll was named as a first team pitcher while seniors Gavin Allen and Ayden Meranda earned first team designated hitter/utility and second team outfielder, respectively. The trio had already been named all-district along with Eli Johnson, who was an all-district honorable mention, and Carroll, Allen and Meranda were each first team Central Activities Conference players.

Allen is one of two Trojans playing college baseball next year as he will play for William Woods University in Fulton while Meranda is committed to playing at Culver-Stockton College in Canton. For several years, Allen has been a pillar in Community’s program as he was the definitive senior leader in the dugout this season. 

At the plate, Allen was a tough out as he hit .506 with 39 hits, 29 runs, 25 RBI, 25 stolen bases, 10 doubles and three home runs while only striking out eight times in 77 at-bats. On the mound, Allen struck out 125 hitters in 69⅔ innings, walking 22 and allowing 13 earned runs to finish with a 1.31 ERA and 7-4 record.

“It’s not easy to be one of the best players on the team and the best teammate,” head coach Joel Krato said after Allen pitched his final game as a Trojan at the state Final Four. “It’s very easy for him to be on the mound and say, ‘Why can’t you catch the ball? I catch the ball.’ It could’ve been that way, but he never did that. That’s part of the reason we had so much success because he made it fun for everybody.”

Carroll provided Community with the second prong of an intimidating pitching duo this year and expects to be the top option on the mound next season for the Trojans. He struck out 123 in 82⅓ innings, walking only nine and allowing 14 earned runs to finish with a 1.19 ERA and 10-2 record.

At the plate, he provided No. 3 hitter Allen with some protection in the cleanup spot as he hit .338 with 24 RBI, 22 hits, 12 runs, five doubles and four home runs. 

“He mixes up his pitches well, and he’s very confident in four pitches,” Krato said after Carroll struck 10 in a 7-3 victory against Silex this season. “He knows what he wants to do, he sets kids up and he usually can locate a majority of the time all four pitches, which is incredible for a high school kid.”

Meranda made some highlight grabs in the outfield this year, finishing with a .838 fielding percentage, and sparked the Trojan offense from the leadoff spot. He hit .405 with 32 hits, 32 runs, 18 RBI, 18 stolen bases, 12 walks and eight doubles.

In the postseason, Meranda also showed some toughness as he played with a broken hand, beginning with the Trojan’s second district game against Higbee. He eventually adjusted and hit his first career home run and came through with a two-out run scoring hit in a state quarterfinal game against Sacred Heart.

“I’ve never even heard him complain about his hand,” Krato said following the Sacred Heart victory. “He said, ‘Coach, it’s broken, but if I can swing, would you let me play?’ I’m like, ‘Sure, I’ll let you play. You’re a senior. You can make your own decisions. You’ve earned the spot to be out there with a broken hand.’”

Johnson provided Community with some pop in its order, hitting about .304 with 21 hits, 21 runs, 14 RBI, 10 stolen bases and six doubles, and some security from behind the plate as he finished with a fielding percentage of .987 fielding percentage and threw out 10 baserunners.

“Staying inside while I’m batting (has helped me),” Johnson said after a 8-0 win against Sturgeon, which is when he hit his home run. “I’ve been watching a lot of videos and getting help from my coaches and teammates, making my confidence good.”