Trevecca baseball begins GSC conference play with high expectations

By Natalia Bowles

Staff Writer

After finishing the 2024 season with a 33- 23 overall record (20-12 conference), the Trevecca baseball team entered 2025 in unfamiliar territory.

With a move from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference to the highly competitive Gulf South Conference, the team faces new challenges as it looks to establish itself in a new league.

The Trojans have struggled with an 8-14 start to the season. However, with conference play approaching, head coach Chase Sain is optimistic about the team’s potential.

“We’re a veteran team. We’ve got some guys who have played a lot of baseball at the college level, and they bring a lot of experience,” said Sain. “It’s really good to go into a new conference with more of a mature team.”

The Gulf South is known for its depth, with multiple programs competing consistently at a national level. Unlike the GMAC, which Trevecca had grown familiar with, the GSC presents a fresh slate of opponents and a steeper level of com- petition. The team is also adjusting to a more favorable travel schedule.

“Travel is better—we’re not on the bus for eight, nine hours every weekend,” Sain said. “I think our guys will be a little more rested.”

However, the biggest adjustment may be playing more midweek games.

“We’re having to play more games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which we’re not used to,” Sain said.

Despite early struggles, the Trojans have several experienced players leading the way. On the mound, Jonah Smithson, Spencer Wilkins and Logan Harrell,who is returning from an injury, are expected to be key pieces of the pitching staff.

Offensively, Abbott Lawrence and Joey Parliment bring veteran leadership and firepower to the lineup.

“Joey is kind of the heartbeat of the team,” Sain said. “He’s the guy that gets everything going for us.”

Lawrence, a senior on the baseball team, is embracing his role as a veteran leader.

“Our biggest strength is definitely our chemistry. We’re super tight as a group of guys, and chemistry gets you a long way,” Lawrence said.

Parliment, a graduate student on the baseball team, has high expectations for the season.

“My biggest goal is to get back to a re- gional because that’s where we were last year,” Parliment said. “Obviously, we’re trying to make a World Series. That’s our goal every year.”

Jonah Smithson, a junior on the baseball team, echoed those aspirations.

“Our team goal is to get to the World Series. Personally, I don’t have huge individual goals aside from doing whatever it takes to win,” said Smithson. “Our offseason training—those hard days at practice when lifting is tough—have really prepared us. It’s like when we get punched in the face, we’re able to punch back.”

He also emphasized the team’s close bond.

“I’d say our biggest strength is the brotherhood we’ve built. Everybody loves each other, and that helps us pick each other up when someone’s down,” said Smithson.

The Trojans’ biggest strengths this season are expected to be their starting pitching and the strong unity within the team.

“Our starting pitching has a chance to be really good for us,” Sain said. “And then our offense—we’re pretty old, and that experience is something you can’t match.”

Yet, consistency remains a focus.

“In the past, we’d have weekends where we were really good and then the next weekend we wouldn’t be as effective,” Sain said. “We’re trying to be more con- sistent throughout the whole season.”

With an older team comes the challenge of staying healthy.

“Their bodies are a little more sore after weekends than younger players,” Sain said. “We have to make sure they’re staying on top of what they’re eating and taking care of themselves.”

What’s Next? Conference Play Begins

The real test begins as the Trojans open their first Gulf South Conference schedule. Their first league matchup is against Valdosta State University.

For both Parliment and Smithson, every conference weekend is an opportunity.

“We’re new to this conference, so every conference weekend is kind of a big weekend for us,” Smithson said. “It’s a chance to show what we’re made of.”

If the Trojans can find their rhythm and tighten up both offensively and defensively, they could exceed expectations and make noise in their debut GSC season.

As Lawrence summed it up:

“We’ve put up some good fights so far, so I’m super excited.”