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Preseason Top 25: No. 10 Trinity Christian Academy

January 25, 2016

By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

We are now in the last week of January and many preseason games will be underway next week. As for the preseason top 25, we are officially now in the top ten and all of these teams are loaded with division I talent and even some draft prospects. Today’s team is one that is coming off a 4A state championship and has to be expecting a repeat in 2016.

Trinity Christian Academy of Jacksonville is a unit that will likely be defined by their explosive lineup and starting pitching. Almost their entire starting lineup will be either committed or signed with a school and a couple of their players should be heavily scouted for the upcoming 2016 draft. To start with the seniors for the Conquerors, RHP/OF John Flowers will probably be the team’s best player and one of their leaders. The Kentucky Signee had an impressive fall where he was up to 92 off the mound and was crushing the ball at the plate. Add the fact that he runs a 6.7 and stands at 6-foot-2 and you can see why scouts will be flocking to watch him pitch and hit this spring. Another draft prospect that Trinity Christian boasts is OF Todd Lott. Believe it or not, Lott may be a better athlete than Flowers as he stands at an imposing 6-foot-4 and also plays basketball. The Louisiana-Lafayette Signee possesses some impressive tools as he throws 90 mph from the outfield, runs well for his size, and has plus power. Behind the plate for the Conquerors will be 2016 C Angel Acosta. Acosta, who is uncommitted, will be a spark plug for this squad as he is a high-energy and emotional player. Acosta is also a reliable backstop who possesses a strong arm, throws a 1.95 down to second, and consistently makes hard contact at the plate. Second base will be anchored down by 2016 Lander Signee Colton Yeager. Yeager is a scrappy player who has instincts that cannot be taught and will be one of the team’s most consistent performers.

This strong senior class will be supported by a notable junior class that really solidifies them up the middle. For starters, their ace will be 2017 RHP AJ Labas. The North Florida commit stands at 6-foot-3 and is very polished on the mound as he throws all three pitches for strikes and sits in the 87-90 mph range with his fastball. At shortstop, 2017 Austin Martin, who is a Jacksonville commit, will be turning double plays with Yeager and looks poised to be one of the team’s top offensive producers.

As mentioned earlier, Trinity Christian won the 4A championship a year ago. This year, however, they have been relocated to Class 3A, which looks like it will be full of heavyweights who will have to slug it out to win a ring. The Conquerors already look to be at a slight disadvantage in their region as their district is home to seven teams, whereas the other districts have three, four, and five teams. As for them reaching the state tournament, they will have to defeat teams like Pensacola Catholic, Trinity Catholic, and Providence (who is in their district). There are roughly a dozen teams who have a serious chance of making the state tournament in Class 3A, but about half of those have a legit chance of winning it all. Trinity Christian Academy will be the last 3A school ranked in the preseason top 25 and appears to be the early favorite to win a state championship.