This year’s Brentwood Christian School baseball team might be smaller than preferred, but they are off to a great start. A non-district victory to start the season over Round Rock Christian, 10-5, on Feb. 6 precluded a 3-1 weekend at the annual BCS baseball tournament as the season kicked off.

The team is coached by head coach Charles Bollinger and assistant coach Calvin Schiraldi, who both have experience in the coaching and playing side of baseball. Despite having a team of only 13 players, Bollinger has high hopes for the team as a whole.

“I want all of my players to play at their best ability no matter what,” said Bollinger. “I think if they have that mentality they will win the games they need to win.”

Wins over RRCA, St. Michael’s, St. Stephen’s and Hill Country have proven that mentality beneficial thus far.

The team has a great work ethic and practices hard every day. Baseball is often a mental sport first, and staying ready to work hard is a major difference between this team and others.

“I think that we are all super close as a team,” said junior and key player, Trey Wood. “We show up ready to give 110 percent every single day.”

In the BCS home tournament, the Bears strongly represented the school, going 3-1, only losing to the Texans, a homeschool select program. The tournament was a big growth point for the baseball team, especially in their 5-4 win against St. Stephens. who they had lost to twice before.

The team opens up district play on March 12, when they play a doubleheader against Grace Prep Academy out of Arlington. Most of the team’s district games will be doubleheaders due to the travel distance between district foes such as Brook Hill, Tyler Grace and Bishop Dunne.

There are three seniors on the baseball team; all are key contributors and players. Tanner Hunka, Parker Saxon, and Jack Henry-Gonzalez, who all display their skill on the field and with the bat, have contributed to the team since their freshman year, including two deep playoff runs during their freshman and sophomore seasons.

“The seniors bring so much spirit and skill to the game of baseball they love to play,” said junior Drake Jackson.

Now a three-year contributor, Jackson is especially fired up for this year’s district matchups.
“I would really like to beat Hyde Park this year,” said Jackson. “I am excited to play in that rivalry game.”

Ultimately, the baseball team has high expectations for the season and is ready to compete at the district level with heart, spirit, and skill. At the Somerville tournament March 6-7, the Bears went 3-0, a huge step towards the rest of the way.

“I would really like to compete for a district title, but that means we have to give our all with a young and small team,” said Bollinger.

*This article appeared in the March 2026 issue of The Bear Facts, Brentwood Christian School's quarterly high school newspaper.