Calvary Christian

At a glance

Coach: Greg Olsen

Class: 3A, District 6

Last season: 26-2

Key players: SS/2B Keeton Burroughs, Sr.; P/OF Jaden Carlson, Sr. (Covenant College signee); P/1B Hunter Dietz, Sr. (Arkansas signee); P/1B/OF Grayson Gibson, So. (Mississippi signee); P/1B/OF Paul Guerne, Sr. (NYU signee); SS/INF Jace Kohler, Jr. (High Point signee); P/1B/OF JT Long, Sr. (Polk State College signee); P/INF Landen Maroudis, Sr. (North Carolina State signee); P/OF Justin Mayes, Sr. (Notre Dame signee); C/OF Alex Monile, Sr. (Florida State College signee); OF/1B/3B/P Blake Opie, Sr. (South Florida signee); P/1B Fletcher Peak, Sr.; P/1B Liam Peterson, Sr. (Florida signee); C/SS/OF Andrew Tess, Jr. (Pittsburgh commit); 1B/P Cameron Uzzillia, So. (North Carolina State signee).

Schedule

Feb. 21 vs. Brooks DeBartolo, 6:30

Feb. 23 vs. Tampa Catholic, 6:30

Feb. 25 vs. Palmetto, 12

Feb. 28 vs. Alonso, 6:30

Mar. 3 vs. Lakeland Christian, 6:30

Mar. 7 vs. Lovett (Ga.), 6:30

Mar. 9 vs. Bishop McLaughlin, 6:30

Mar. 10 at Clearwater Central Catholic, 7

Mar. 14 at Seminole, 7

Mar. 16 vs. Countryside, 7

Mar. 21 vs. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, 7:30

Mar. 23 at Northeast, 7:30

Mar. 29 Tournament

Mar. 30 Tournament

Mar. 31 Tournament

Apr. 1 Tournament

Apr. 4 at St. Petersburg Catholic, 7

Apr. 6 at Dunedin, 6:30

Apr. 11 at Venice, 7

Apr. 14 vs. Hollins, 7

Apr. 18 vs. Venice, 7

Apr. 21 at Jesuit, 7

Apr. 25 vs. Pinellas Park, 7

Apr. 27 vs. Northside Christian, 7

Apr. 28 vs. Shorecrest, 7

Outlook

There was nothing that could make Calvary Christian feel good about the way its season ended last year. 

It is no use noting the Warriors went 26-2, and were ranked No. 1 in their class and No. 4 overall in the state by MaxPreps. 

Calvary Christian lost in the region semifinals to rival Berkeley Prep, the team the Warriors had beaten by a combined 14-4 in three previous meetings during the season.

Those painful playoff memories served as a powerful motivator this offseason. 

Once again, Calvary Christian is poised to contend for a state title, maybe even a national one. 

That all stems from the talent on the roster. 

The Warriors have 15 players who will have either signed or committed to colleges by the end of the season. 

With that much star power, the Warriors have a team that can rival their 2017 squad that went 30-0 en route to a state title. 

For Calvary Christian, it all starts on the mound. 

Three pitchers – Hunter Dietz, Landen Maroudis and Liam Peterson – were all selected for Perfect Game’s All-American Classic this summer and were named to Baseball America’s Top 100 list for the 2023 MLB Draft. 

They went a combined 20-2 last season with each posting an ERA of 0.75 or lower. 

There are plenty of other arms, too, including Grayson Gibson, Paul Guerne and J.T. Long. 

On offense, the Warriors had to replace four of their top seven hitters, all of whom graduated. 

Still, there is enough pop in the lineup. 

Maroudis, Peterson and Blake Opie each had 14 or more RBIs last season.

To prepare for a potential title run, Calvary Christian put together a challenging schedule that includes games against Dunedin, Jesuit, Lakeland Christian and Venice, among others. 

As for the district, the Warriors are now in Class 3A-6, all-Pinellas group, highlighted by rival Clearwater Central Catholic. 

But no Berkeley Prep. 

The Buccaneers are in 3A-5. Calvary Christian could still face Berkeley Prep in the playoffs in what would be their only matchup of the season. 

If that happens, the Warriors will have the incentive – and the players – to reverse that outcome.