Wichita Trinity baseball finds winning touch by building off-field chemistry
On every Sunday evening during the spring, the Wichita Trinity baseball team gathers for a team meal at the family home of one of the players.
It’s a new tradition created by first-year coach Matt Baty with the hope that off-field fun would lead to on-field chemistry.
“It’s always great to be on a team where you have guys who want to be around their teammates,” Baty said. “I’ve been on teams where the guys don’t hang out. And when things get tough and adversity strikes, it’s a lot easier when you look to your side and see a fellow brother and know that he’s got your back.”
Trinity has had plenty of good vibes, both on and off the field, this season, as the Knights (21-5) punched their ticket back to the Class 3A state tournament in Manhattan next week with a 10-0 victory over Collegiate at home on Tuesday.
In true team fashion, the players all came over to Baty’s house following the victory to celebrate with a pool party.
“We celebrated because not everybody gets the opportunity to go to state, and we’re fortunate and blessed and thankful for our chance,” Baty said. “But we know we still have goals. I’m excited for the seniors. They took second at state last year and we would love to get them across the finish line this year.”
Three key seniors from last year’s standout team have helped Trinity return to state in Josiah Sems, Braden Roberts and Nolan Willson, who delivered a team-best four RBIs in the final. Meanwhile, Sems notched five RBIs in the 12-2 semifinal win over Kingman-Norwich.
The first run-rule victory of the day wasn’t as easy as it appeared, however. Trinity actually trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning until the Knights exploded for 12 runs and forced a run-rule ending.
The rally was ignited by freshman Cale Kauffman, one of several impact rookies on the team. Other freshmen include Cam Killgore, Brody Lee and Bryton Baty, while sophomore Caleb Back provides more young talent.
“We’re old and young at the same time,” Baty said. “But this team has really bought into new coaching and a lot of the young guys have already played summer ball for me already, so they know me and my style. We’ve had great senior leadership and we’re just a close family.”
Baty, a former standout player himself at Maize, knows the pain of finishing runner-up at the state tournament. Maize took second at state in 2000 when Baty was a player.
He wants to help the Trinity seniors end their high school careers with a title after coming so close last season.
“It’s a nasty taste in your mouth and I know it’s not a fun feeling because I’ve experienced that personally,” Baty said. “I think everyone is motivated on the team to help get those seniors across the finish line. We know it’s going to be a tough road. It’s anybody’s game once you get to state. It’s all about getting hot at the end of the season and getting lucky at the right time. But we’re hoping those offseason workouts and those 5:30 a.m. lifting sessions have helped prepare us.”
Other Wichita-area baseball teams headed to state tournament
McPherson (25-3) didn’t allow a single earned run en route to a 4A regional title on its home field, secured with a 6-0 victory over Buhler in the final. Ian Razak, Logan Beede and Carter Allen combined to strike out 19 hitters in 14 innings, which included a 3-1 opening win over Circle. Carter Bengtson spurred the Bullpups in the final with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with three RBIs, while Brenden Doile drove in two more runs.
Mulvane (21-4) survived a nervy 10-9 win over Andale-Garden Plain in the opening round, then secured a spot in the 4A state tournament with a 5-1 victory over Wellington. The 105-pitch limit was the only thing that prevented Grey Sanders from a complete-game gem in the final, as he struck out 11 hitters without allowing an earned run in 6 ⅓ innings of work. But the Wildcats had to rally just to reach the final, as Andale-Garden Plain jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and then rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to take an 8-7 lead. Mulvane had the answer each time, as Manny Myers notched four RBIs and Brody Clasen drove in another two runs. Andale-Garden Plain was led by Cruz Kaiser, who plated three runs.
Hesston (16-6) punched its ticket to the 3A state tournament with a 10-0 run-rule victory over Beloit in a regional final hosted by Sylvan-Lucas. Brody Curran earned the win, pitching five scoreless innings while striking out 10 hitters. Tim Rhodes, Landen Meyer, Levi Flaming, Andrew Huxman, Curran, Blayne Wilson and Jacob Burkholder all delivered RBI hits. The Swathers advanced to the final courtesy of a 12-7 win over Halstead in the semifinals, as Tanner McAllister, Meyer and Gabe Mowry all had 2-RBI games.
Douglass (13-9) upended the top two seeds in the Cedar Vale-Dexter regional to earn a spot in the 2-1A state tournament. The Bulldogs simply overpowered teams with their offense, notching a 16-10 win over the No. 1 seed and host team in the semifinals, then winning 11-4 over Sedan in the final. Wyatt Laver and Jace Pichler led the way for Douglass with a combined 11 RBIs in the final two games, while Kane Ast, Parker Vernia and Kemper Cox all had multi-RBI days.
Medicine Lodge (12-10) pulled off three straight upsets in the Pratt Skyline regional to earn a bid to the 2-1A state tournament. After knocking off Spearville 5-1 in the semifinal, Medicine Lodge captured the regional title with a 13-8 win over Kinsley-Macksville in the final.
Kansas high school baseball regional tournament scores
Class 4A McPherson
McPherson 6, Buhler 0 (final)
McPherson 3, Circle 1
Buhler 2, Larned 0
Class 4A Pratt
Abilene 4, Pratt 2 (final)
Pratt 6, Rose Hill 1
Abilene 7, Concordia 3
Class 4A Mulvane
Mulvane 5, Wellington 1 (final)
Mulvane 10, Andale-Garden Plain 9
Wellington 3, Clearwater 1
Class 3A Sylvan-Lucas
Hesston 10, Beloit 0 (final)
Hesston 12, Halstead 7
Beloit 8, Ellsworth 5
Class 3A Wichita Trinity
Wichita Trinity 10, Collegiate 0 (final)
Wichita Trinity 12, Kingman-Norwich 2
Collegiate 5, Cheney 2
Class 2-1A Cedar Vale-Dexter
Douglass 11, Sedan 4 (final)
Douglass 16, Cedar Vale-Dexter 10
Sedan 7, Oxford 2
Class 2-1A Pratt Skyline
Medicine Lodge 13, Macksville 8 (final)
Macksville 6, Elkhart 5
Medicine Lodge 5, Spearville 1
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 6:02 AM.
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