BY STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com
Brendon Saget played on Traders Point Christian Academy’s first baseball team in 2013 and graduated from the school in Whitestown, Ind., that same spring.
Darin Grice was the head coach of that inaugural team during the pre-IHSAA era.
Two decades later, Saget is in his first season as Knights head baseball coach. He had previously coached junior high basketball and baseball at the school and helped with varsity basketball, baseball and volleyball and in the athletic office.
He’s also coached travel baseball for the Indy Thrashers, Indy Titans and Primetime Baseball.
More recently, Saget coached eighth grade baseball at Zionsville (Ind.) Middle School and basketball at Zionsville West Middle School as well as serving as a junior varsity basketball assistant at Zionsville Community High School.
Traders Point Christian (enrollment around 100) is an athletic independent.
The Knights are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2023 with Bethesda Christian, Indiana Deaf, Providence Cristo Rey and Tindley. Traders Point won the program’s first IHSAA Class 1A sectional championships in 2021 and 2022.
Saget looks to build on that success while establishing his own program.
“Accountability and hard work are what we try to prioritize,” says Saget. “And doing things the right way.”
Multi-sport athletes are the rule for the Knights.
“We feel like we have a gold mine here at Traders Point with a great Christian education and giving our athletes a chance to play multiple sports.
“It’s good for our football players to see a different perspective from a different coach.”
Saget, who is the third head baseball coach at Traders Point in four years, considers himself a “free” coach.
“I like to teach the game in practice and then go out in the games and let the kids play,” says Saget. “Let the kids understand, let them experiment and figure things out. That’s the way to learn the game.
“We fail and learn from it.”
Traders Point plays its home games 24 miles from campus at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. To be closer, Senior Night is scheduled for May 12 vs. Crispus Attucks at Zionsville West.
Saget’s assistants are Clayton Sayre, Drew Minnich and volunteers James Gilbert and Ben Wilson.
Sayre and Saget have coached together in some capacity for the past decade.
Pitching coach Minnich is a Traders Point teacher and a former pitcher at NorthWood High School in Nappanee, Ind., and Cedarville (Ohio) University.
“He’s implemented a lot of great things, trying to keep our guys healthy,” says Saget of Minnich.
Gilbert has helped for four years and has a son — senior Jameson Gilbert — on the team.
Wilson is a Traders Point alum and former player. He helps with pitchers and runs the strength and conditioning program.
The varsity-only roster of 15 also features seniors Max Harris and Eli Meals. Second baseman/right-handed pitcher Harris is committed to Manchester University (North Manchester, Ind.).
Meals aka “Meals on Wheels” is the Knights’ lead-off hitter, starting shortstop and pitching ace and is currently uncommitted for college.
“He is just lightning fast on the base paths,” says Saget of Meals, who is also a standout as a football wideout. “He can read like no other. He just has a knack for the game. He’s very quiet, but he shows so much passion and heart on the field.
“He gives his teammates of what an elite athlete looks like.”
Traders Point also has a K-8 school. While numbers are too low this spring for games, there is a junior high program led by alum and former Ivy Tech Northeast Community College player Camden Pavey.
Sage says clinics and other opportunities are planned for younger players this summer.
Little League Central Region Complex is in Whitestown — less than two miles away from Traders Point.
“We’re building a relationship with them and looking to serve at their field and have them partner with our youth programs,” says Saget.
Born and raised in Burbank, Calif., Saget moved up to the Bay Area — thus his allegiance to the Oakland Athletics — then to Indiana as a youngster. He started at Traders Point as a sophomore.
The middle and high school school director at Zionsville Presbyterian Church, Saget graduated from Grand Canyon University (online) with a degree in Christian Arts with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. He is working toward a Masters of Ministerial Leadership from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (online) and will then pursue a Masters of Divinity from the same school.
“I’m living my dream,” says Saget. “I’m a youth pastor as well as the varsity baseball coach at Traders Point.”
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