Logan Allen named Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year
Zach Dean
zach.dean@news-jrnl.com
University pitcher Logan Allen may be gearing up for his final high school start this Friday, but he's still not done taking home some hardware.
In its 32nd year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company named Allen its 2016-17 Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year on Tuesday. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character, distinguishes Allen as Florida's best high school baseball player.
Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year, Allen joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including major league stars Derek Jeter, Jon Lester, David Price, Clayton Kershaw, Rick Porcello and Kris Bryant. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound lefty is committed to FIU, and has led the Titans to a 24-6 record and a regional championship. Allen, who is scheduled to start in Friday's 9A state semifinal against Miami-Palmetto, is 12-0 with a 0.38 ERA, and has struck out and 140 over 74 innings.
The senior has been unhittable in the postseason, going 3-0 with three complete game shutouts. At the plate, Allen is hitting a team-high .448 with 19 RBIs and 14 doubles.
He was also as a member of the USA Baseball's 18U National Team that won gold at the COPABE Pan American Championships in Mexico last summer. As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Allen will also be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support.