Alexander to play for Trinity Baptist

Flanked by his parents in the Port St. Joe High School gym, Elias Alexander signed a baseball scholarship with Trinity Baptist College on Wednesday, August 3.

Trinity Baptist, located in Jacksonville, is a private, Christian college of less than 300 students. The Eagles compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) and offer associate, bachelor and master degrees in a variety of studies.

“Elias has always been involved in athletics since we moved here and I started coaching,” said his father, Bobby Alexander, who began coaching at Port St. Joe in 2008. “He was always around for St. Joe sports, and has always loved it,” said the elder Alexander, “and was a team manager for the state champion football team in 2014.”

“He’s always wanted to be a Tiger Shark, and he played football, soccer, and baseball,” he continued, at least until his junior year when an ACL injury suffered against Marianna in the first game of the season ended his football days.

Due to the medical issues that prevented his athletic participation for an entire year, Alexander and Port St. Joe petitioned the FHSAA to grant Elias an additional year of eligibility, which they approved.

A homeschool student, Elias played on the Tiger Shark soccer team this past season, but opted to play baseball at Wewahitchka for his final year.

While there, he held down the hot corner at third base, the same position he expects to play with the Eagles.

“Wewa had an opportunity for him to play,” said Bobby Alexander. “The coach (Tyler Worley) accepted him with open arms and let him play. He fit right in, and he really enjoyed the team.”

After Wewa assistant coach Hunter McDaniel sent films to several colleges for Elias, Trinity expressed an interest and “he went for a try out and had a great day,” said Bobby Alexander. “They offered him a position.”

“It’s a perfect fit for him,” said Alexander, who serves as head soccer coach and assistant football coach for Port St. Joe.

Trinity “offers a chance to play but also emphasizes the spiritual side of living.”

Agreeing with his dad, Elias said that he chose Trinity because “it’s faith first there. I’ll have a chance to grow with other believers.”

Alexander will study sports medicine during his undergraduate time at Trinity.