The Georgia High School Association has announced that opening day of the 2020 season will commence on Feb. 10. Programs were allowed to begin practicing in an official capacity on Jan. 13, meaning it's time for the PBR Georgia staff to break down the high school baseball scene in the state in the countdown to the first pitch thrown in 2019.Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2019 spring season, touching on programs spanning multiple state classifications, counting down the official PBR Georgia Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Our Preseason Power 25 rankings coverage starts today.

Team: Blessed Trinity
Preseason Rank: 21
2019 Record: 31-9
Region: 7-4A 
2019 Region Finish: 1st 
GHSA Classification: 4A
Head Coach: Andy Harlin
Playoff Run: Semifinals
Returning Starters: 4 
Returning Pitchers: 6

X-Factor

The Blessed Trinity Titans are filled with athletes, from top to bottom, who can fill multiple roles on the diamond. This will play to their strength as a defense first team. If they are to make another run in the state playoffs, it will be because of their air tight defense. Arguably the top athlete on the team, amd multi-varsity starter, is OF/RHP Trey Baker (2020; Northwest Florida St.). The left-handed hitter is equipped with big tools, including an arm that can reach 90+ mph on the mound. He will have help in the outfield from Brett Buursema (2020; Berry) and Carson Harof (2021). Harof has struggled to to stay healthy, but when he is, he has shown flashes of being a good outfielder and power hitter at the plate. Look out for the emergence of freshmen OF/RHP Cooper Milford and LHP/OF Justice Haynes.

There are big shoes to fill up the middle of the infield with the loss of SS CJ Abrams (2019; San Diego Padres). But it appears MIF Ben Hamacher (2021) will be up for the challenge. Hamacher saw time as a sophomore and showed off a strong bat and glove. 3B/RHP Michael Mitchler (2021) returns to the hot corner where he was superb last season, and C Hayden Grier (2021) is back behind the plate, with a prowess for the defensive side of things.

Outlook

Blessed Trinity lost a lot of talent to graduation this past year, and will have to replace a number of their starters, including: Abrams, LHP Eric Moore (Emmanuel College), RHP/3B Jake Smith (Air Force), OF Ryan Davis (UAB), and OF Steele Chambers (Ohio State). However, Coach andy Harlin is confident that they have the defensive replacements to fill those gaps, as we outlined in the X-Factor above.

While they did lose two of their top starters in Moore and Smith, the Titans have 1B/RHP DJ Radtke (2021; Auburn) and RHP Dominic Marcoccio (2020; Wofford) back to anchor the staff. Radtke is a strong, high-waisted 6-foot-3, 190-pounds and can work his fastball into the upper-80s while complementing it with an above-average slider.

DJ Radtke

The larger-than-life Marcoccio will take up the title of staff ace after coming out of the bullpen last season. Marcoccio is an imposing 6-foot-5, 230-pounds and uses his extra large frame to run his fastball into the upper-80s. RHP/1B Joseph Chambers (2021) is also back and will factor into the rotation. Look for Baker to hop on the mound and newcomer RHP Aiden McSherry (2020) to have a role.

The Titans also have the benefit of some young and extremely talented freshmen. We already talked about how Milford and Haynes will get an opportunity to work themselves into the outfield rotation, but these two also have promise on the mound and could see some innings there. Then, there is RHP Jake Lankie (2023; Georgia). Although he has not played an inning of varsity baseball yet, he has already committed to Georgia, and he very well may be the best of the bunch. Lankie is a strike thrower who can already pitch in the mid-80s with his fastball. It is his off-speed that is the true separator. He has feel for both a 12/6 curveball that shows depth and late bite, and a fading changeup.

Jake Lankie

The real question for Coach Harlin is in his offense. There is no doubt that they are talented from top to bottom, but with only four returning starters, they lack experience. If the returnees and newcomers are able to step up and fill the offensive roles needed, the Titans will be back in the mix in May.

Make sure to follow @PBRGeorgia on Twitter for the most-up-to-date coverage throughout the 2020 season.

Find more information on the 2020 Titans below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ Team Twitter

Preseason Power 25 Countdown