Success through the years
The training tactics that Coach Scannell's teams take part in are one of the many reasons they are successful. Coach Scannell meantioned he has the team practice, “almost exclusively with wood [bats] because it develops hand strength and also teaches you how to hit with less of a hitting surface...as far as live play with college metal bats, I have no preference, I leave it up to the player” (Scannell, 2018). These training tactics here at Trinity seem to be working; seven players from 2000 until 2016 hold single game records going 5-5 at the plate (Trinity Records, Hitting). Additionally, in single season batting records have been held by players during the years of Coach Scannell, and the record holder is, Evan Jones (Trinity Records, Hitting). In 2010 he ended the season with a .480 batting average (Trinity Records, Hitting). The overall career record holder for batting averages is Kenneth Sharp (Trinity Records, Hitting). Sharp, batted a .409 average (Trinity Records, Hitting).
It is amazing that Trinity has been able to produce players with these numbers year after year, impacting the game of baseball like no other. Kyle Felix, who played here in 2008-2011, holds the home run record with 37 in his career, all under Coach Scannell. The wooden bat training techniques Scannell’s teams use teach players, like Felix, how to drive the ball and hit with less of a surface. Felix’s career statistics, and other players like him, are a testament to how great this program is and the history and legacy it holds (Trinity Records, Hitting). For Trinity to maintain this force, Coach Scannell stated while he recruits for the next season he, “looks for guys that have hand strength, bat speed and can drive the ball through the opposite field alley...D3 hitters hit with their arms and shoulders...D1 hitters hit with their hands and legs...we look for the guys that hit with their hands and legs” (Scannell, 2018). This is a very interesting statement, showing the Trinity community that Coach Scannell recruits players who play like D1 baseball players. This piece of insight adds to the history of this program the level Scannell’s holds his team to.
Coach Scannell's legacy will continue to be built as the years carry on. Under Scannell, baseball has won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference eleven times since 1995, entered the NCAA eleven times since 2002, played in the D3 World Series in 2015, and in 2016 lead the team to a National Title (Trinity Archives). The strength of this program has played a role in the community feel throughout Trinity's campus.