NATCHEZ — Trinity Episcopal Day School baseball coach Elliot Meng is focusing on the little things in preparation for the 2016 season.

He has to, as the Saints are equipped with just two seniors their roster and a wealth of inexperience.

“We need to learn the basics, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Meng said. “A lot of these guys haven’t played baseball in a while. Some of the guys are travel-ball players, and they know things. But about 50 percent haven’t played in a few years, so we’re trying to get them back in the swing of things.”

From meticulously detailing the proper fundaments in base running to an added focus on defense and pitching, Meng believes it will be the attention to detail that will be the difference for his team this spring.

“They’re coming ready to work, and we’re getting the arms ready, and we’re teaching the fundamentals,” Meng said. “We’ve got a young team. Our (junior varsity) is a big group of kids, but most of those guys are seventh graders. We’re starting very young.”

Meng will rely on his pair of seniors, Adrian Ramos and C.J. Chatman, to provide the necessary leadership early on in the season until the rest of the squad becomes acclimated.

“I’m going to put everything I have into this year,” Ramos said. “It’s my last year, and I’m trying to enjoy it and do as much as I can — helping the younger kids and being a leader.”

Chatman, however, will also be leaning on Ramos for guidance as the Trinity standout is playing baseball for the first time in his high school career.

“It’s just two of us (Chatman and Ramos),” Chatman said. “So we have to work together and form a brotherhood.”

Despite his inexperience on the field, Chatman said he plans to do whatever it takes to help push the Trinity baseball program in a positive direction.

“At first, I thought (my teammates) were going doubt me when I came out here,” Chatman said. “But they really respect me, and they look up to me, and they see I’m going to do well. And I plan on proving to them that I will, and I’m not going to let them down.”

Ramos, meanwhile, will carry a consistent defensive presence in the outfield while also being relied on to be a pivotal run-producer after batting seventh in the lineup last season.

“I’m trying to leave (Trinity) with a good legacy,” Ramos said. “I want to make the team better and help out as much as I can.”

 

Meng said his squad will rely on pitching and defense this year, and has plans to use up to six separate pitchers, headlined by Kevontaye Caston and Cole Switzer.

 

Offensively, the Saints will display a plethora of speed throughout the lineup, but Meng said they would need to learn how to best utilize that quickness.

 

“Our strength is our speed, but we’re going to have to get on base,” he said. “We have to learn how to bunt better, and we have to learn how to run the bases better. That’s what we’re focused on right now.”

 

Trinity will open its season Feb. 26.

 

“We have raw talent, and we’ve got some good utility guys that can play a lot of positions,” Meng said. “But we’ve got to hone their skills, especially on the mound.”