While Trinity was making a five-game run through the WPIAL and PIAA baseball playoffs last season, coach Levi Bristor decided to bring his junior varsity along for the ride.

They got to experience the playoff atmosphere and some contributed to the games. Bristor hopes those players, now on the varsity, will be able to use that experience this postseason.

The Hillers are battling atop Section 4-AAA with West Mifflin and Thomas Jefferson. Going into their game this past Friday against Thomas Jefferson, the Hillers were 10-5 and 8-2 in the section, tied for second place with TJ and two games behind West Mifflin (13-2, 10-0).

The pitching staff that was supposed to be a question mark coming into this season has turned into the strength of the team. It has limited 11 of its first 15 opponents to three runs or less. The Trinity pitching staff returned only one pitcher from last season, junior Alex Frey, but he only saw action in the second half of the season.

Senior Cory Broggi has emerged as one of the top pitchers on the team along with juniors Tyler Schrader and Evan Bukowski.

"I knew that the team had some pitchers, but I was a little worried because they were unproven," Bristor said. "They never got varsity time before.

"We've had our ups and downs this season. At times we were making a few errors and sometimes we weren't hitting. The only thing that has been consistent is our pitching. Our pitching has been solid throughout. We got some good pitchers and they are our strength."

Senior Graham Cowieson has had an excellent season and is a returning starter in left field.

The middle of the infield returns intact from last season with senior Preston Linck at second base and junior shortstop Sean McKnight. McKnight has the highest batting average on the team.

Last season in the playoffs Trinity made some noise knocking off Chartiers Valley in the first round and bouncing back after a semifinal loss to West Allegheny to win the third-place game against New Castle and earn a trip to the PIAA playoffs.

In the state bracket, they defeated Hickory, 8-6, before losing to Blackhawk, 12-2, in the quarterfinals.

One of the few underclassmen playing a big part in this season has been sophomore Joe Havrilak. He starts in right field and moves to center field when Frey pitches.

"Joe has surprised us being just a sophomore," Bristor said.

"He started in preseason and we thought about bringing him up and he has been doing phenomenal. He has worked his way into being our number three hitter. Coming out of the gate down south [in a trip to Columbia, S.C.], he started down there and never looked back."

Senior Alex Kazmierczak has been one of the best hitters on the team and he also is starting in the outfield.

Seniors Frank Dobbin at third base and Kevin Podlak also start. Craig Gnagey mostly sees time as a designated hitter and he is leading the team in RBIs.

"We just need to relax. Some games they seem to play pretty tight and [Wednesday] we played relaxed and had 18 hits [against Steel Valley]," Bristor said.

"We are trying kind of a newer approach. 'Let's just go out there and have some fun instead of worrying about anything else.' Being relaxed is a major key for us."

The section battle coming down to West Mifflin, Thomas Jefferson and Trinity is nothing new. Just last year the teams finished in a three-way tie for first place all with 10-4 section records. The Hillers split their decisions against both West Mifflin and Thomas Jefferson.

"We are used to it by now," Bristor said.

"Anytime we play those guys, we know it is going to be a tough game. Both teams are just well-coached and they play good ball."