Westminster Christian’s Late Rally Ends Trinity Christian’s Run

Players from both teams react after the Warriors completed their 6th-inning comeback.

The Trinity Christian Conquerors thrived in close, tight contests all throughout the 2024 state playoffs. After winning close games all the way through the regional playoffs, the Conquerors again found themselves in another tough dogfight at Fort Myers’ Hammond Stadium in Tuesday’s Class 3A state semifinal against the Westminster Christian Warriors.

But this time, that final bit of magic needed to prevail could not be summoned in the end. After the Warriors rallied for five runs in the sixth inning, the Conquerors were unable to answer back. Westminster Christian held on for a 6-4 victory that advances it to the state final, while Trinity’s season comes to a conclusion.

“I’m just sad right now, because I love getting to compete with my guys. We don’t get an opportunity to do that tomorrow, so that is the biggest thing I am feeling right now,” Trinity Christian Manager Jonathan Murphy said. “So many different things happened during the game, but I am bummed because I wanted one more shot to go to battle with these guys, because I love competing with them. I’ve got to give a ton of credit to Westminster Christian; what a great program they have over there. They just kept fighting, so I have to give them all the credit in the world for the way they competed today.”

The Conquerors (24-7) wasted little time in taking control early on, going up 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Brady Harris connected on a 1-1 offering and launched it over the left field fence for a solo home run with one out in the first. It is the fifth longball of the season for Brady, second only to teammate Jordan Martinez’s seven home runs.

“When Brady hit that first ball, it shifted momentum huge in our direction,” sophomore Aiden Arnett said. “We got really hyped and I thought we were in it the whole game. Even when we went out that last inning, I thought we were in it and we were still going to come out on top. It’s just tough.”

The Conquerors celebrate following Brady Harris’ solo home run in the first inning.

Trinity Christian added another run in the second to keep the pressure on. Gage Petrutz singled to center with one out, and two batters later Tyler Ellis brought him home with an RBI triple lined into the right field corner.

After the Warriors (25-4) answered back to get on the board and make it a 2-1 contest in the fourth, the Conquerors responded back with two more runs to go up 4-1 in the sixth. Starting pitcher Ethan Wheeler led off with a walk, and advanced into scoring position thanks to a sacrifice bunt from senior Maddox Lee. Petrutz delivered again with an RBI single to center, before then stealing second base, advancing to third on an error and finally scoring on a passed ball.

But things took a tough turn in the bottom of the inning. The first seven batters all reached for the Warriors, who took full advantage in mounting the big comeback.

“It definitely got moving faster there at the ending,” Coach Murphy said. “In the sixth inning when things got crazy and started moving fast they made a couple of plays and we had some opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of. That’s baseball sometimes. It was a tale of two different games.”

The situation grew even more precarious when there was a collision during the play that tied the game, resulting in the Conquerors being forced to replace a key player who left with a potentially serious arm injury.

“Especially being on defense, it is hard to get everyone together, whereas when you are in the dugout on offense and you can gather them. We really just tried to focus on the next pitch,” Murphy said. “We ended up making a pitch change at that time also, so there was a lot going on. I thought Tyler Ellis gave us everything he had there at the end to at least give us a shot, and he kept us in it. We got the tying run to the plate in the last inning, so we gave ourselves a shot at it, and I’m proud of the guys for being able to do that.”

Starter Ethan Wheeler delivers a pitch for the Conquerors during the Class 3A state semifinal.

Warriors standout shortstop Manny Marin delivered the winning run on an RBI double to complete the rally.

Trinity managed to bring the tying run to the plate, after Arnett singled with one out in the seventh. But the Warriors turned a double play to end the contest, and the season along with it.

“I think it’s a great experience for these young guys,” Coach Murphy said. “Obviously, you don’t come here hoping for the experience; you want to come out on top. But that is not always how it works out. But I think this experience can definitely pay dividends for us, if the boys can learn from this and keep grinding and competing. Hopefully it pays off down the road if we get another crack at this thing.”

Trinity Christian graduates just three players from this roster, so the club has a great opportunity to build on this and come right back again next season. But those three guys moving on will always remember the magical run that they put together this season.

“Since day one in the fall, just the relationships we created with each player on the team and each role that they had, it will definitely be a memory of a lifetime coming here and spending time with all my friends,” Maddox Lee said. “We’ve got the best coaches we could ever ask for.”

Brady Harris connects for a solo home run for Trinity Christian.

This program always remembers its own. Maddox Lee himself helped to represent that fact, with a #27 patch on his jersey sleeve. This year the team started doing something a bit different to recognize and honor the great players from their past. Instead of retiring numbers to the ring of honor at the school, Trinity players have a patch on their sleeve to recognize the former player the number was retired for.

“I think it is an honor,” Lee said. “No matter what number you have, even if it is for you or for somebody else, just represent that number and represent that name well.”

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