By Ken Hansard
Last season, Andover High School senior Brooks Allen, who pitches and plays second base for the Trojans, was named second team all-league (AVCTL Division II) at second base. He was also a member of the third team Wichita All-Metro squad. Those are some nice accolades, but when asked what his focus was for this coming season, Allen simply answered, “My goal for this season is to just have fun and win a lot of games.”
The Trojans last season compiled a record of 8-13 culminating in a gut wrenching extra inning walk-off loss to Great Bend in the regional championship. Allen, along with a strong nucleus of senior leaders, would like to help Andover to advance to the next level. “We have a great group of seniors that has lots of varsity baseball experience.
Last season we lost in the regional championship game. My hope this year is that we can take the next step and win regionals. I feel really good about the roster we have.”
Along with being a vocal leader for the less experienced Trojans, Allen envisions his function with the team as someone who can model consistency and effort, “I see my role as someone who is reliable on defense and who gets on base consistently. At times last season I struggled with fielding. During the offseason, I was able to work on it, and I have become a lot more reliable when balls are hit to me.”
Allen, who tried swimming for the Trojans for the first time this year, has not yet decided what he wants to do next year, but he would like to continue to play baseball at the collegiate level.
