Allen tosses no-hitter for University in state semis
Logan Allen ended his stellar high school pitching career with a rare no-hit performance in the Florida High School Athletic Association state semifinals three years ago.
Named the Gatorade Florida player of the year earlier in the week, the Orange City University lefthander struck out 10 batters on June 2, 2017, en route to his only prep no-hitter during a 4-0 win against Miami Palmetto.
Allen allowed one runner on a walk in the seventh and final inning at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. He helped himself to the victory when he hit a home run to left field on the first pitch he saw in the first inning.
Allen said he was unaware that a perfect game was in the works until overhearing someone in the stands mention it in the fifth inning.
“Obviously the jinx, it’s a baseball rule,” he said of the moment. “I was just trying to go out there and make pitches and it worked out well.”
The Titans (25-7), playing in the state finals for the second time in three years, lost in the Class 9A championship game 5-0 vs. Timber
Creek (25-7) the next day. That game marked the first state final between Orlando area teams since Lake Brantley defeated Apopka 14-6 for the large-class title in 1997.
Allen’s no-no in the semifinals was the first in an FHSAA state tournament game since Chas Spottswood of Key West no-hit Pensacola Catholic in 2005.
“We didn’t expect that,” said then-University coach Frank Martello. “Obviously the lefty has had a fantastic season and just keeps doing it again game after game, week after week and year after year. He’s a special player.”
Allen, who finished his junior season this spring at Florida International as both a pitcher and position player, finished his senior year at University with a 13-0 record, 150 strikeouts and a 0.35 earned run average in 81 innings.