The 2019 Trinity Christian varsity baseball team is preparing for another run at the state Final Four. The Conquerors reached the semifinal in Class 4A in 2018, and head coach Gil Morales says he is “ready to take his team even further” and repeat Trinity’s state championship from 2015.
2018 REVIEW
The 2018 Conquerors had a record of 21-9. After a tough start, Trinity flourished to the #1 seed in District 2 and finished as the district runner-up. Trinity avenged its district championship loss to Providence with a thrilling seesaw affair and an eventual 11-8 win at Providence in the regional final to advance to the Final Four.
In the semifinal, the Conquerors fell 2-1 to Clearwater’s Calvary Christian, a team that had won 60 consecutive games over two years and ended that streak as the state runner-up in the title game.
The Conquerors made regional appearances or better in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.
RETURNING PLAYERS
Trinity lost four players, most notably University of Arkansas recruit Tyler Isenberg, to graduation. This year’s team returns 13 regulars, mostly seniors, making the 2019 roster one of the most-experienced in TCA Baseball history.
Coach Morales described the experience he has on this year’s roster. “We have 13 returning starters from last year’s Final Four team,” said Morales. “We are led by our pitching staff and defense. With Dylan Simmons and Justin Parrish with the most returning innings, I expect them to keep us in games.
Offensively, we return Matt Crump, who led our team in hitting last season (over .400). Conner Aldrich (2B) and Bryan Muniz (SS) return as our middle-infield combo who last year turned over 35 double plays as an infield unit.”
PROSPECTS
The Conquerors have two of the top five senior prospects in the Jacksonville area. After Bolles LHP Hunter Barco, Trinity’s Dylan Simmons (RHP/1B, Florida State) rings in at #2 and Austin Thomas (RHP, Miami FL) sits at #3. Providence infielder Tyler Callahan and catcher Nathan Hickey are #4 and #5, respectively.
Since 2016, Trinity has had four players drafted by Major League teams. In 2016, the Cincinnati Reds selected outfielders J.C. Flowers (who chose to play at FSU) and Todd Lott (Louisiana Lafayette); two years ago, the New York Mets drafted shortstop Austin Martin (Vanderbilt) and the Cleveland Indians picked pitcher A.J. Labas (LSU).
Including Isenberg last year, the Conquerors have had 22 men play college baseball since Coach Morales came to Trinity in 2012.
TOUGH OPPONENTS
The season begins on February 22 and 23 with games in Plant City against two of the state’s toughest opponents in 8A Plant City and 7A Brandon. The Conquerors will also battle top-notch teams such as Nease, Clay, Stoneman Douglas, Trinity Catholic, American Heritage, and Ridgeview.
Coach Morales has also scheduled two of the top three teams in the Jacksonville area: at Providence on March 29 and home vs. Bolles on April 26.
The first home game is against Baldwin on March 12. Most of the home games will stream live on Facebook: TCA Conquerors Athletics.
From April 3-5, the Conquerors will make their second trip to Las Vegas to participate in the annual Bishop Gorman Invitational, where Trinity was 2-2 in 2018 playing against three of the toughest teams in the nation and one from Canada.
This year’s Class 4A-District 2 includes the following teams:
| · Andrew Jackson |
| · Baldwin |
| · Bishop Snyder |
| · Crooms Academy |
| · Duval Charter |
| · Episcopal School of Jacksonville |
| · Interlachen |
| · Providence School |
| · Trinity Christian Academy |
The 2019 tournament will run from May 6-10 at Bishop Snyder High School.
Story Courtesy of Raymond S. Bureau, Trinity Christian Academy
