AHSAA PLAYOFFS: Trinity continues dominance in first-round sweep of Handley

Fleming Hall is greeted by his teammates in the Trinity dugout after his home run in Game 2 of the doubleheader sweep over Handley on Thursday. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

Chad Mansmann said he really didn’t think about the pressure of keeping alive Trinity’s playoff tradition, even as people were reminding him around school on Thursday.

“Walking around school today, there were people saying, ‘You know, we don’t lose in the first round’ and just making jokes with me,” the first-year Trinity coach said. “They tried to add a little pressure. With my background in baseball and being in games like this before and being with this group last year, you see what they’re made of in games like this.

“I really wasn’t too worried, but I do a lot of praying and making sure that God gives me wisdom and discernment to make the right moves.”

The Wildcats made all the right moves on Thursday, defeating Handley 14-3 and 6-2 in the best-of-three first round series in the Class 4A state playoffs at Whittle-Armstrong Field, extending their streak to 10 first-round series wins and improving to 31-3 in the first round during their current streak of 34 consecutive playoff appearances.

The Wildcats last lost a first-round series as a 3A program to Gordo in 2014. Since the first round was changed to a best-of-three format in 2008, Trinity is 9-0 in first-round series as a 4A program, compiling an 18-1 record in that stretch.

Trinity (28-8) will advance to the second round and face the winner of Friday’s Geneva-Jackson series next week, either hosting Geneva or traveling to Jackson.

And while the outcome may not have been in doubt, Handley kept the game close in the early innings of both games, helped by a Trinity team that struggled to drive in runners from third base but still managed to score 20 runs in two games.

“I guess in the playoffs everybody’s got a little bit of nerves, but I don’t think it was nerves as much with our guys, it just took a little bit to get everything rolling,” Mansmann said. “I knew they would start clicking and rolling. We’ve got a good team and good chemistry. It finally did. Their first pitcher was really good. He kept us off balance.”

Alex Busbin held the Wildcats in check through the first two innings before Trinity finally plated four runs in the third inning. Fleming Hall’s deep fly to center field was misplayed, allowing Cooper Bernier to score on the play. Hall scored on a single by Patton Mitchell and Blake Moses hit a two-run single in the third (and again in the fourth) to get the offense rolling.

Xavier Boswell went 2 for 4 with an RBI, Hall went 3 for 3 with three RBIs, Mitchell went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Moses went 3 for 3 with four RBIs to end the first game in the fifth inning on the 10-run mercy rule.

Mitchell allowed just two hits in four innings, striking out four and walking two.

In the second game, it was Hall’s turn to hold the Handley bats in check, allowing two runs, one earned, and four hits while striking out six and walking two in six innings of work. 

“It’s been a blessing,” Mansmann said. “I know that last year Patton threw a good bit for us (as an eighth grader) and came on at the end. Fleming, with him not pitching much (because of injuries) the last two years, he is finally over the hump. He’s just excited to be out there pitching and competing because he loves it. We’re fortunate to have two good arms and we’ve got more in the dugout, ready to go.”

Hall added a solo home run in the second game, while Mitchell and Land Sharpless both went 2 for 3.