High schools

Three area baseball teams will be vying for state championships this week in Fort Myers.

Every year, each player for Trinity Christan wears a ball cap adorned with the tiny likeness of the flag of his home country stitched onto the right side.

This season’s team waves a lot of different flag emblems — eight, to be exact.

Trinity coach Miguel Cuello says the colorful collection of flags highlights the diversity of his squad.

No doubt about that. Star player Angel Tiburcio hails from the Dominican Republic; the 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior leads the Warriors in batting, home runs and RBI. Ecuadorian Jorge Zambrano is Trinity’s leader in earned run average, while American David Yourke is tops in wins. Other all-star Trinity players include Bahamian and steal leader Tyler Hall and Kaeber Rog, a native of Curaçao, who leads his teammates in runs, doubles and triples.

Trinity Christian — along with Calvary Christian and American Heritage-Delray – is one of three area schools competing in Fort Myers’ CenturyLink Sports Complex this week as state titles will be settled in Class 4A-1A.

As diverse as they are, the Warriors (20-6) have one common goal — to defend their Florida Class 2A crown.

“They know it’s baseball — no matter what language you speak,” says Cuello, making his sixth state appearance in 13 years with Trinity. “You still have to swing the bat, hit the ball, field the ball the same way. It doesn’t matter where you come from.”

For the players, national pride, which was heightened with the World Baseball Classic played in March, creates competition among each other that then is converted into stronger play unleashed on their opponents.

As Trinity Christian returns to state to face the same competition that also made up last year’s Class 2A final four, this year’s team has big shoes to fill. Cuello calls his state champs last season one of the best allaround teams he’s ever had.

“This team is almost equal to that team,” Cuello says. “Pitching — strong. Defense — strong. The hitting, for some reason, it’s the same thing — it always comes at the end [of the season]. When we start hitting, we hit a lot.”

The Warriors face Jacksonville Christ’s Church, the same team they beat in last year’s title game, in Wednesday’s semifinal.

Calvary aims for 4A title

Last season, it was a surprise run as Calvary Christian navigated through the Class 4A bracket for its first state title — as a district runner-up and under first-year coach Alan Kunkel.

This time, the Eagles (23-7) aren’t sneaking up on anyone, but after battling through an ultra-competitive District 15-4A and tough regional, they find themselves right back in Fort Myers.

“We are the hunted rather than the hunters,” Kunkel says. “We got everybody’s best every time we went out.”

Calvary has proven it can win in a variety of ways, whether it be leaning one of its two standout starters — senior left-hander Jake Eder, signed to Vanderbilt, or junior UF commit Christian Scott — or coming through with an offensive outburst like in the 18-7 regional final victory at Miami Westminster Christian.

The Eagles face Pensacola Catholic in a semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday. In the other 4A semifinal, American Heritage-Delray faces Clearwater Calvary Christian.

Heritage-Delray seeks first title

The Stallions (22-7), after missing regionals altogether last season, have rebounded to find themselves in states after a 12-0 regional final victory over Benjamin, which upset them in the district final

“It’s been a fun ride,” says Heritage coach Carm Mazza, who looks to bring the school its first title in this, his fourth state appearance. “This year, our freshman class has come in ready and paid attention to what we do, how we do it. These kids have had one goal in mind, and we’re getting closer.”

Pitching and defense have been the key for the Stallions. Freshman left-hander Nelson Berkwich is already committed to Vanderbilt and has a 1.24 ERA, and sophomore righty Carmine Lane is at 1.54 and leads the team with 70 strikeouts. Freshman Ben Vespi is tied with them for the team lead in wins (five).

Regional finals for Class 9A-5A are played on Tuesday to determine each class’ final four. Those state championships will run from May 31-June 3.