(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club continues to attract talented players from big name colleges. Recently the Honkers signed two promising University of Tennessee freshmen.  Jared Allen [pictured], a 6’1”, 220-pound outfielder, and David Horne, a 6’3”, 215-pound right-handed pitcher will switch their colors from orange and white to teal and black this summer in Rochester.

Allen, a Delano, Tennessee native, will attempt to be the most feared and hard hitting “Jared Allen” in Minnesota this season (Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen), and with the numbers he put up in high school, that task may prove to be manageable.  As just a young seventeen-year-old, Allen will be undoubtedly the youngest Honker on the team, but that doesn’t mean he is any less dangerous at the plate.  In his senior year at Polk County High School, Jared hit .514 with 14 homeruns and 62 RBIs on his way to capturing All State First-Team honors.  At the 10th annual Tennessee VS Georgia All-Star Game in 2011, Allen led Tennessee to an 18-4 victory, while collecting four hits.  Allen hit 2 singles, a double, and a triple to win the game’s MVP award.  As just a freshman this season at Tennessee, Allen is projected to be the starting right fielder on opening day.

Horne played his high school ball at Columbia Central High School, whom he helped lead to back-to-back Class AAA state tournaments in his junior and senior year, including a runner-up finish in 2011.  Horne finished his junior season with a 9-1 record, recording 68 strikeouts on the mound.  He also hit .381 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs.   After a monster junior year, Horne returned in his senior year to hit .356 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs, earning first-team All-Mid State honors, and a spot on his fourth consecutive All-District squad.  After former Tennessee head baseball coach Todd Raleigh recruited Horne in 2010, he expressed his excitement for the young power pitcher by describing him as a “two way player with a lot of upside.”