Trinity Christian Is Baaack!!!

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It’s been a long time coming.

With a three-year suspension now in the past, the Trinity Christian Warriors have returned to district play with the right to advance in the playoffs. The team can compete for a district title again, as well as play in the state playoffs. With the Warriors eagerly chomping at the bit, the rest of Class 3A shudders at the realization that the competition just got tougher.

Prior to an on-field incident during the 2009 regional playoffs that led to the suspension, Trinity Christian had qualified for the playoffs each year under manager Miguel Cuello. The team finished as state runners up in 2007, as well as in 2010 while their appeal was pending. Even during their three-year hiatus the club remained incredibly competitive, while succeeding in sending their guys either to college or to the pros. Virtually every senior that has come through this program has continued their playing careers beyond high school.

Now the focus can also include a state title.

“Those three years looked like they were even longer than they were, since it happened so long ago,” said Cuello. “So getting that off our backs puts good stuff back on the kids. Now they are playing for something. The school is happy and everybody knows it. This is the sport that kind of holds this school. People know what kind of program we have and now we get to come back to that. It’s just good to be back, and now it is even more competition.”

The players are excited to be in a district with seven tough teams. Cuello acknowledges the challenge against each of Coral Springs Christian, Jupiter Christian, Oxbridge Academy, Lake Worth Christian and Westminster Academy. But the team they are most excited to forge a rivalry with is Highlands Christian, who is a natural rival since so many of the players know one another. Playing in a district also changes the way they prepare pitchers and schedule guys for specific match ups.

“Now everything matters,” Cuello said. “We’re happy just for the chances. Win or lose it, it’s just that now every year you have a chance. We go with that in mind.”

The challenge is there, and the Warriors cannot wait to accept it.

Being a part of the Warriors practice is a privilege. The guys are talented and confident, yet humble and dedicated. Everyone is focused and eager to learn and harness their abilities to their maximum potential. Team chemistry is always strong with this group, and the unity that is created with the thrill of returning to district play has made them all that much tighter together.

“It feels great to be back and playing for something,” said junior Bruce Martin. “Focus is a big thing here, so even if you are not competing for a championship you are getting your work in and you have to play hard. It’s like a little fire in you. We’ve worked everyday the last few years for this. To get that picture in your head of a state ring at the end, a trophy at the end, it does something to you.”

For the seniors, this final year brings rewards they have waited their entire high school careers for. The team’s 11 seniors are itching to see how far they can take this club. They have never had the chance before, and in many ways it is also a chance to work for the guys who never got the chance the last few seasons here. Now all of their hard work is ready to pay off.

“We work hard every year, but this year we have something to work for,” said senior pitcher Emilio Pena. “The seniors this year have been waiting for this and we’re looking forward to it.”

Pena is part of a deep pitching staff this season, one that features four starters and as many as six reliable relievers coming out of the bullpen. They have the chance now to learn match ups in the district and use the right personnel as they fit, while also not needing to put all the weight onto just one or two guy’s shoulders. It is more pitching than they have ever had before.

Pena leads the pack after posting a county-best seven victories and five complete games in 2013. He accepts that with this much depth he won’t be needed to go that long nearly as often now, but he welcomes the support it gives this team to be a contender.

“We’re much deeper than last year, and we really have pitchers with more consistency this year,” said Pena. “There is just more velocity and consistency through the rotation.”

A pair of new seniors from Curacao has also bolstered the pitching staff. Right-handers Jerrison Beaumont and Richard Moesker both live in the low nineties and are incredibly consistent. Senior Anthony Russell rounds out the starting rotation, as he looks to build off a junior campaign in which he went 2-0 in five appearances.

Braxton Stowe returns in the closer role, where he notched four saves last year.

Russell also steps into a big role on the defense in replacing senior third baseman Franco Guardascione. Even with some new pieces in place, the infield defense is incredibly strong to help keep pace with a very fast and effective outfield defense. How quickly the new guys can gel in will make a huge difference, and the guys are ready to prove themselves.

“I always played behind Franco and I got to watch him play. Every time I had the opportunity I’d go in and show my stuff,” said Russell. “I’m ready for this year. We have good gloves and good arms out there that really play with what they’ve got.”

Despite the strength of the other units, this team has always been known for its hitting prowess. As a group they batted .323 and hit 26 home runs last season, achievements that came against the best competition in the area. Senior Byron Murray returns to anchor the middle of the order, ready to surpass the impressive numbers he posted a year ago in hitting .408 with 24 RBIs, 25 runs and seven home runs.

Bruce Martin also brings a dangerous bat back to the order. As a sophomore last season Martin hit .284 with 16 RBIs, 21 runs and three home runs. Martin also set a school record by becoming the first guy to hit for the cycle, which he did against their new rivals Highlands Christian.

“This year we have plenty of good bats. We watch people hitting home runs in batting practice and we hope to see it in the games,” said Russell. “Our lineup goes deep and it will be fun to see what happens this year. It’s good to have that kind of competition; it pushes us to go harder and harder to be better and better.”

Standards have always been high for the program, and the main key has always been to get guys to the next level. The potential is always high for the guys who come in, and the coaches encourage them to think that way.

“We can win and try to be state champs, but only four teams from your division can go and only one can win. What matters is where those guys are going to school,” said Cuello.

Already five players have committed this year, with Beaumont and Moesker headed to Miami Dade, Murray set to go to Southern Mississippi, Russell headed to North Carolina and Anton Saunders going to Florida Institute of Technology.

This program has established itself as a strong pipeline to college, and this brings even greater pride to the players since they also earn the chance to represent their country in the process. The international school is representing nine different nations on this year’s team, and the coaches allow the players to each wear a different baseball cap that represents their homeland. This unique honor is something that matters much to the players, allowing them to declare their national pride while still sharing the team colors with their teammates.

“I love all the different nationalities of the guys,” said Martin. “I’m the only American, but I still love it. I love this program and I have been in it with Coach Miguel since I was in eighth grade.”

Cuello is proud of what he has been able to build in his nine years at the school. Since the beginning it has always just been him and his assistant Austin Johnson, which they jokingly refer to as Batman and Robin. Together these two have helped mold great baseball players into great men who have earned the chance to keep playing the game they all love.

“We do the same thing every year,” Cuello said. “There is an expectation from every player and then as a team. Then we go play. That’s it. You do your best and try to win the games. If you don’t win, nobody knows about you.”

The state finals remain in Fort Myers at jetBlue Park this year, and this is a destination the Warriors dream of reaching at season’s end. They finally have the chance to make that dream a reality, and they are ready and willing to do whatever they must.

“Playing there is a beauty,” said Russell. “It would be great to finish the year playing there.”

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