BASEBALL: Trinity topples Thomas Jefferson

The Trinity Crusaders hosted Thomas Jefferson Academy Thursday in a non-region tilt. Again, the Crusaders got stellar pitching and the offense pounded out 12 more hits as they rolled to another easy win 11-1.

The Jaguars got on the board in the top of the first with a single and an error to lead briefly at 1-0.

Ben Helton led off the bottom of the inning with a double. Walks to Asher Evans and Carter Lee would then load the bases for Nathan Sumner, who came through with a two run single to make it 2-1.

Tripp Mascaro would walk to reload the bases and a free pass to Jakob Sahli ran the score to 3-1. An RBI groundout by Carson Shepherd and a throwing error on a steal attempt pushed the Crusader lead to 5-1 after one full inning of play.

Mascaro got another rally going in the third when he led off with a single. After a sac bunt, Shepherd would come through with an RBI to make it 6-1. An error on a pickoff attempt later in the inning widened the lead to 7-1.

Doubles by Lee and Mascaro in the the fourth plated a single run and made it 8-1.

Shepherd would double leading off the fifth, but then two quick outs were made. 

Evans reached on an error to extend the inning and make it 9-1. Back-to-back doubles from Braden Underwood and Lee would plate two more runs to make it 11-1 and end the game via mercy rule.

Lee, Underwood, Mascaro, and Shepherd had two hits each to lead the offense. Helton, Evans, Sumner and Cruz Giles also hit safely for the Crusaders.

Kolbi Grooms went all five innings to earn the win, allowing just two hits and no earned runs. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

Trinity (12-2 overall) travels to Brentwood Friday for a rematch to start off a two-game road trip leading into spring break, which the Crusaders will begin after a visit to Savannah to face St. Andrew’s on Monday.