Trojans playing solid ball as MHSAA playoffs loom

After winning eight of 10 games during a recent stretch, including three games at the Bob Kreszyn Invitational, the Trenton baseball team found itself staring at the looming Michigan High School Athletic Association state tournament with a 16-10 record.

At the Kreszyn event, Trenton knocked off Algonac 5-0, Cheboygan 8-3 and Ann Arbor Pioneer 3-2.

The win over Pioneer was a thriller as the Tronas trailed 2-1 into the fifth inning before Joaquin Maldanado blasted a two-run double to give his team a lead it never relinquished.

Trenton had only four hits in the game, including two by Josh Pippin, but the Trenton pitching made the meager offense hold up. Ashton Rooney pitched six innings for Trenton, allowing the two runs on six hits and striking out five.

The tournament win over Algonac was impressive as it was only the Algonac team’s second loss of the season, against 24 wins.

Joel Mator worked into the sixth-inning and allowed no runs on four hits. Mator fanned nine and his defense was perfect behind him. Reece Omodio relieved Mator in the sixth and induced a game-ending double play.

Trenton scored two runs in the first inning and that was all the breathing room Mator needed. The Trojans scored one in the third and two in the fifth to close out the game, Alex Stepaniak had three hits to key the Trenton offense.

Other wins during the recent 8-2 streak came against non-league Monroe St. Mary CC 21-13 and

Belleville 3-0 and Downriver League rivals Lincoln Park 17-0, Edsel Ford 7-2 and Carlson 7-1.

During that stretch, Trenton lost to Allen Park 7-1 and Wyandotte Roosevelt 6-4.

Since the 8-2 run, Trenton has gone 2-3 with league losses to Southgate Anderson and Woodhaven, a doubleheader sweep of non-league Melvindale and a 4-2 loss to Novi Detroit Catholic Central.

The Trojans played Lincoln Park and Allen Park on May 17 and 18 and they conclude league play against Dearborn Edsel Ford on May 23.

Trenton then closes the books on the 2023 regular season with nonleague games against U-D Jesuit, Ann Arbor Skyline, Lake Orion and Dearborn. The U-D, Skyline and Lake Orion games will all be played at Trenton as part of the Sixth annual Bob Kloww Invitational.

Trenton will host an MHSAA Division 2 District tournament beginning June 3.

The tournament lines up this way:

~ Riverview will play Summit Academy in a pre-district game at Trenton at 4 p.m. on May 26.

~ ~ The winner of the RiverviewSummit game will play Grosse Ile in a district semifinal game at 10 a.m. on June 3.

Trenton will face Romulus in a district semifinal game at 12:30 p.m..

~ The district championship game will be played at 3 p.m.

All games are at the Trenton High School field

“Working