Prospect-packed Trinity Christian pursues breakthrough in FHSAA baseball semifinals
They've got the track record. One glance at the won-lost record will tell you that.
They've got the talent. Their list of future college baseball players stretches from Gainesville to Tallahassee to Charlottesville to College Park and beyond.
They're going to be dangerous, really dangerous. But is Trinity Christian's young lineup ready to bring home a state championship in 2024?
Jon Murphy says yes. For the Conquerors' coach, it all comes down to teamwork.
"They get a tone of publicity between the college commitments and the rankings and all that stuff," Murphy said. "But they do such a good job of serving each other."
The Conquerors (24-6) make the trip down to the Sunshine State's southwestern coast, taking on Miami Westminster Christian in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A baseball semifinal at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
On a young Conquerors team, only one senior starts most games, Maddox Lee at third base. But they just might be ready to shake up the Sunshine State.
College fans take note: Sophomore outfielder Brady Harris (.379, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 1.099 OPS), committed to Florida, is already rated among Jacksonville's most prized prospects in recent memory. Junior Aiden Arnett (.379, 2 HR, 1.063 OPS) is also headed for the Gators, as is sophomore pitcher Ethan Wheeler (5-0, 0.83 ERA, 66 K). Sophomore Brayden Harris (4-0, 1.22 ERA, 89 K, .379 average, 4 HR) is bound for Florida State.
For Trinity, that's just the beginning. Aaron Watson is going to Virginia and leadoff man Gage Petrutz is set for Maryland, while few sophomores in the state can match the production of uncommitted shortstop Jordan Martinez (.367, 9 2B, 7 HR, 1.245 OPS).
The biggest sign that the Conquerors are ready for prime time: In April, they went 2-2 against a set of elite squads from across the United States at the National High School Invitational in North Carolina.
Then, after an unfamiliar three-game losing skid shortly after their return to Florida, Trinity picked up the pace again to enter regionals, where they've won three consecutive come-from-behind battles.
"The boys have responded to what happened up there, and I think it played a big part in what happened here [in FHSAA regionals]," Murphy said.
The Conquerors erased an early deficit to Ocala Trinity Catholic, winning 4-3 on a walk-off Martinez hit. They topped Bolles 6-4 after a three-run first-inning hole, with an ace relief stint from Wheeler. They overcame Bishop Snyder ace Aidan King 8-6 in the regional final, with three RBI from Arnett.
"Being in those moments, I think they've matured a ton," Murphy said. "They're handling themselves great, they're learning how to control their heart rate and they rise to the occasion, making pitches, making swings and making plays."
CLASS 3A BASEBALL SEMIFINAL
Trinity Christian (24-6) vs. Miami Westminster Christian (24-4)
When: 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Where: Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers.
Winner meets: North Broward Prep or Bishop Verot, Wednesday, time TBD.
How they got here: Trinity Christian defeated Ocala Trinity Catholic 4-3, Bolles 6-4, Bishop Snyder 8-6; Westminster Christian defeated Keys Gate 12-2, Chaminade-Madonna 3-2, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian 9-4.
Keys to watch for Trinity Christian: Ranked No. 1 in Florida for portions of the season, the Conquerors are young and powerful. While the power hitters naturally draw deserved attention, Trinity's success also relies on the consistency of Gage Petrutz, who reaches base from the leadoff slot at a .536 clip. On the mound, they can call upon five pitchers — Brayden Harris, Ethan Wheeler, Aaron Watson, Tyler Ellis and Braden Hansen — who all strike out more than a batter per inning with an ERA of 2.25 or below.
Keys to watch for Westminster Christian: The Warriors swing for the fences and very often clear them. They've bashed 42 home runs on the year, 11 each from Grand Canyon commit Jose Lopez (.342, 32 RBI) and Tennessee commit Manny Marin (.379, 22 RBI). Ethan Puig and Talan Beckford combine power with .400-plus batting averages. The Miami school isn't easy to hit, either, with the starting pitcher combination of Miami commit Lazaro Collera (10-2, 2.14) and Wake Forest commit Aaron Hernandez (7-1, 2.36).
They said it: "It doesn't matter who we're playing. Every pitch, we're trying to be the aggressor, to win every pitch." — Trinity Christian senior infielder Maddox Lee.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trinity Christian baseball: FHSAA state semifinal preview 2024
