Allen to roar for Auburn Tigers

Brandon Allen is looking to blaze his own trail in college with a fastball this summer than reached 91 miles per hour.

That speed and a showcase in south Florida over the summer made the Panther senior something to behold as he worked his way out of a bases loaded jam and got college coaches calling his home even before he finished the inning.

“All the sudden I was at home and the phone started ringing,” said Kelly Allen, Brandon’s mother after the signing. “I didn’t know what was going on, but I got calls from all of these major college coaches.

“The coaches at Florida even called Adam (Allen) to ask them why he didn’t tell them about his little brother.”

Well she later found out her son pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam at a showcase against some of the best prospects in the nation and then went on to pitch three more scoreless innings.

The suitors were many, but Allen chose to stay in region and play for the Tigers in the SEC.

“I love the school and I like the idea of going somewhere close to home so I can drive home every now and then,” Allen said.

But don’t think he got this scholarship on pure athletics.

While playing basketball for four years and varsity baseball for three Allen has maintained a 4.0 GPA and scored a measly 32 on his ACT. The highest you can score on the ACT is a 36 and some guidance counselors will tell you that you get a 10 for just putting your name on the answer sheet.

Yet Allen is an example of the student athlete.

“Being his pitching coach I can tell you he has a work ethic beyond belief,” said Milton baseball coach George Blake. “He is a great kid to coach and this is a great day for Milton baseball.”

Allen will be the first to admit, if you can get him to talk, that he has been flying under the radar.

“Prior to the showcase in Lakeland I had been flying under the radar,” Allen said. “I did really well allowing one hit in three innings of work and no runs.

“I hadn’t really gotten any looks until I played summer ball.”

Then he heard from the likes of Virginia, Florida, and Troy.

Allen also learned a lot about the process watching his older brother Adam go through the recruiting calls before he decided on Florida three years ago.

“I learned a lot from Adam by watching him and talking to him,” Brandon said. “He taught me never to close a door, but I will admit I heard from some colleges I was not interested in.”

Last season the Tigers and head coach Ron Pawlowski finished 31-25 and Allen could come in right away and contribute.

“When I talked to the coaches they explained I had a shot to be a day pitcher coming in or working out of the bullpen,” Allen said.