By Garrett Kroeger

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Heading into the season, Trinity Episcopal School baseball coach Mo Rodriguez knew the Saints would endure a rough year.

That showed Tuesday at the Adam County Christian School baseball field as Trinity lost in three innings to the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams, 15-1.

“We don’t have a field to practice on,” Rodriguez said. “I wasn’t expecting this game to turn out the way it did. I was expecting our pitchers to throw more strikes.”

Trinity’s starting pitcher Jakarius Caston faced nine batters but only recorded one strikeout.

On the night, the visiting Rams recorded six hits — with Cullen Henry batting 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. Most of the hits came on fastballs in Rodriguez’s mind, as he said his team needs to add pitch variety to their tool box.

“Most of the runs (WCCA) scored were on fastballs,” Rodriguez said. “Fastballs and overthrows. Those are definitely some things we need to improve on. Hopefully in the next two or three weeks that we have left, we can improve upon those things.”

However, Rodriguez did see improvement out of his pitchers from the last time the Saints played in a jamboree against Adams County Christian School. Yet, Rodriguez knows it will be difficult for his team to make big strides in such a short amount of time, considering that this year’s squad is made of many players who haven’t played baseball before.

“The main reason — I believe — why people don’t play baseball is because it’s a game you have to have the five skills,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not a game where you can have just one or two skills and be fine. You have to have the five skills. That’s why a lot of people quit. To have a lot players who haven’t really played before it’s not easy to coach, especially when you don’t have a field. Also, it’s not easy when not everyone is showing up at practice because a lot of these kids are playing two or three sports.

“Throwing strikes is not easy. Not having a mound to pitch from in practice is difficult as well. All these kids see a mound when we go to a game. We will try in the next few weeks to try and find a place where we can use a mound for practices.”

While the score might make it seem like nothing went right for the Saints, Rodriguez was pleased with his team’s batting. Even though Trinity had two hits — a single by Caston and a double by Shelby Roberson — they were strong in Rodriguez’s eyes.

Overall, the loss put the Saints at 0-1 on the year and 0-1 in district play. Trinity will play again at 5:30 p.m., Friday at WCCA. During that game, Rodriguez wants to see his team continue to give the effort they have been giving.

“They are doing their best,” Rodriguez said. “They are having a good time. I’m not a coach where I will get upset at my kids during a game because they aren’t doing what they are supposed to do. That’s all that I can ask and I’m proud of them for that. None of these kids have really played baseball and for them to put the ball in play with solid hits, that’s all I can ask.”