BASEBALL: Two tough losses for Trinity on way into GIAA playoffs

Trinity’s baseball team finished up its regular season earlier this week with games against Citizens Christian and Edmund Burke Academy. 

The Crusaders fell in both games, to CCA 15-0 on Monday and 2-1 on a walk-off hit against EBA on Tuesday, to end their regular season at 17-6 overall. Trinity looks to be locked in as the No. 4 seed for the state tournament, beginning next weekend, though official brackets won’t be announced until Monday. 

Nothing went right in Monday’s contest as the Crusaders struggled in all facets of the game. They would manage just three hits, commit five errors and give up runs in all five innings of the loss.

The Patriots got three in the first and one in the second. They would blow the game wide open in the third with a seven-spot. Another run in the fourth and three more in the fifth would end it.

Ben Helton, Braden Underwood and Cruz Giles had the only three hits for the Crusaders.  

Tuesday’s game was a much stronger performance. 

It looked like the Spartans would get on the board early against Crusader starter Ben Helton. They got back-to-back singles to open the bottom of the first. After a pop out, an intentional walk loaded the bases.  Helton would get out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.

Nathan Sumner doubled with on out in the Crusader second, but he would not advance as the next two batters struck out.

Trinity finally got on the board in the third. Jakob Sahli ripped a ground ball to third that got by, allowing him to advance to second. After he advanced to third on a wild pitch, Helton would drive him home with a sac fly to make it 1-0.

The Spartans would threaten again in the sixth with a pair of singles to lead off the inning. Both runners moved up on a sac bunt. But a lineout to third would result in a double play to end the threat again.

The seventh inning had to feel like a bit of deja vu for Helton. He was on the mound against Edmund Burke during last year’s state quarterfinal, when a dramatic walk-off (by the same 2-1 final) propelled the Spartans to the series win.

An error to lead off the inning followed a pair of walks – one intentional – that would load the bases with no one out. He would got a pop up to shallow center for the first out. Matthew Hood came up next and ripped the first pitch he saw toward the left center gap for a two-run walk-off single.

Underwood, Sumner and Carson Shepherd had the only three Crusader hits in the game. Helton went six and a third, allowing seven hits and one earned run. He walked five and struck out five.

Despite the struggles the last two game, Trinity has enjoyed a banner year offensively.  The Crusaders end the regular season with a team batting average of .338 and 49 extra base hits.  

Helton and Asher Evans have been catalysts at the top of the order all year long. Helton is hitting .300, scored 28 runs and drawn a team best 20 walks. Evans is hitting .434 with 23 RBIs and lead the team with 34 runs and 21 stolen bases.

The middle of the order has been potent for most of the season. Braden Underwood hit under .200 in a platoon role last season, but has emerged as the three-hole hitter this season.  He is hitting .407, has six doubles, a homer and 25 RBIs.

Cleanup hitter Carter Lee has had an even bigger resurgence this year. After going just 2-for-25 last season, the junior is hitting a robust .429 this season. He has six doubles, two homers and a very impressive 38 runs driven in.

Sumner missed the early part of the season recovering from ankle surgery, but has emerged as one of the Crusaders top hitters down the stretch. He is hitting a team best .463, with four doubles, a homer and 13 RBIs in just 15 starts.

Tripp Mascaro emerged late last season as an eighth grader and didn’t disappoint in his freshman campaign. He is hitting .319, with seven doubles, two homers and 26 driven in.

Carson Shepherd has been the anchor near the bottom of the order with a solid .350 average. He has a homer, 13 RBIs and 22 runs scored.

Cesar Rodriguez has been excellent in his utility role again with a .407 average in his 36 plate appearances.

Sahli and Giles have also been solid starters, with a combined seven extra base hits and 27 runs scored.

The pitching staff was excellent for most of the season as well. Kolbi Grooms has been outstanding all year with 6-1 record and 1.75 ERA over seven starts. He has 35 strikeouts in 28 innings.

Lee has pitched a team-high 29.2 innings with a 3-2 record in his seven starts. He has 29 strikeouts and a 3.07 ERA.

Helton has made six starts and is also 3-2.  He has a 2.78 ERA and 27 Ks in 22.2 innings.

Rodriguez has been the top arm out of the pen with a team high nine appearances. He is 2-1 with a save and a 4.07 ERA after a rough outing on Monday. He has 28 strikeouts in 18.2 innings.

Sumner and Cooper Dasher have both also provided late-season help to the staff.

Sumner has logged 8.1 innings in his seven appearances. He has a save, 15 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA.

Dasher has one win over his four appearances. He has a 2.63 ERA and 12 Ks over 8 innings since his return from injury.