April 28, 2025
Mount Dora Christian Academy Rolling into FHSAA Class 1A Regional Semifinals
By Kyle Coppola
Mount Dora Christian Academy Rolling into FHSAA Class 1A Regional Semifinals
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Mount Dora Christian Academy looks unstoppable as they barrel toward the FHSAA Class 1A regional semifinals, but a tough test awaits in Trinity Christian Academy.
Both teams have notched 15 wins this season, but it’s top-seeded MDCA (15-5) that has emerged as the favorite, riding a wave of dominant performances both at the plate and on the mound. After sweeping Countryside Christian 2-0 in the opening round, the Bulldogs will face No. 4 seed Trinity Christian (15-8), who dispatched Geneva with ease to set up a high-stakes showdown the next few days.
The Bulldogs enter the semifinals playing their best baseball of the year, fueled by a red-hot offense. Senior Britton Wise has been a catalyst, leading the team with a .474 batting average, 46 hits, 34 runs scored, and 16 RBIs. Fellow senior Jacob Calton has matched Wise’s production, batting .416 with 37 hits, 34 RBIs, and 27 runs scored.
(Jayden Wise rounds third base for home. He has been having a big season at the plate. Photo Credit – MDCA Athletics.)
For MDCA, it’s been all about playing for each other and staying focused on what they can control. The team is peaking at the right time. Now they need to take care of business the next two days to ensure a Regional Final runs through Mount Dora Christian Academy.
MDCA’s lineup doesn’t stop with Wise and Calton. Jayden Wise, Weston Barrett, and Braden Waring have delivered timely hitting and solid defense during the Bulldogs’ late-season surge, making them a complete threat on both sides of the ball.
On the mound, ace Ethan Priest has been nearly untouchable. The senior right-hander has pitched 53 innings this season, boasting a 2.77 ERA against tough competition while striking out 79 batters. Priest, who has committed to the Air Force Academy, has emerged as a trusted arm when it matters most.
Trinity Christian brings its own momentum into the semifinal, but slowing down MDCA’s balanced attack will be a major challenge. With the Bulldogs firing on all cylinders, the question remains: can anyone stop Mount Dora Christian Academy?
The semifinal matchup is set for April 28th and 29th at MDCA with game 3 played 5/1 at Trinity Christian Academy if necessary at 4:30pm. This will be a fun series with a shot at the FHSAA Class 1A regional championship series on the line.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
