BASEBALL: Trinity takes care of Brentwood to complete sweep

Trinity faced off with Brentwood on Thursday looking to secure the No. 2 spot in the region and maintain its top-4 state ranking. The Crusaders were able to do just that as they got solid pitching again, and took advantage of several Eagle miscues to come away with a 7-3 win.

After a scoreless top of the first, Trinity looked to get things going in the bottom with an infield single by Asher Evans and a bunt single by Kolbi Grooms put two on with no one out. 

Brentwood pitcher Riley Helton, who really deserved a far better fate, proceeded to strike out the three- and four-hole hitters. He then got Jakob Sahli to hit one to third. The hard grounder was snagged cleanly, but the throw sailed over the first baseman’s head, allowing both runners to score to make it 2-0.

Asher Evans gave up a leadoff triple in the second, but then snagged a liner and doubled the runner off at third. That would turn out to be a huge play in the frame as the Eagles loaded the bases on a pair of walks sandwiched around a single.  Leadoff man Ethan Daniel then chopped a double just inside the bag at third to plate a pair and make it 2-2.

Trinity took the lead back in the fourth. Back-to-back errors with one out brought up Jasper Dean, who hit one back through the middle that hit the pitching rubber. Brentwood shortstop Abe Williams made a nice play off the carom, but his flip to second would be dropped and the bases were loaded.  

Asher Evans then hit a grounder to Williams at short. This time his flip was handled for an out at second, but the throw to first got away, and two runs scored to make it 4-2. The only Crusader hit of the inning was a leadoff single by Tayt Evans, but he was caught stealing.

Trinity added some insurance in the sixth. Andrew Helton singled with one out. Dean came up next and bunted courtesy runner Jude Evans over. Asher Evans followed with a single to score his younger brother and make it 5-2.  

Grooms would come up next and reach on another Brentwood error to push the lead to 6-2. Carter Lee followed with a double to score Grooms and make the score 7-2.

Brentwood would get an unearned run in the seventh, but could get no closer as the final was 7-3.

Asher Evans and Grooms led the offense with two hits each. Lee, Helton and Tayt Evans also hit safely for the Crusaders.

Asher Evans got the win on the hill as he went five innings, scattering seven hits and allowing two runs. He walked three and struck out three. Helton earned the save as the pitched the final two frames. He allowed two hits, with a walk and a strikeout.

Trinity (9-4) will travel to Charleston, S.C. next week for three games in the Hanahan Invitational, the first on Monday against Chesapeake, Virginia’s Greenbriar Christian.