Last year, Michael Franchimone went to scout a Trinity Classical Academy baseball game as a Santa Clarita Christian assistant coach.
“I actually sat in the stands at Trinity last year, scouting a game, and the families were talking to me and at that moment … they made me feel welcomed,” Franchimone said. “(I thought), is this something I could see myself doing in the future?”
Franchimone’s inkling proved true on Sunday when he was officially announced as the new Knights varsity baseball coach.
He spent the last 12 years as an assistant coach for SCCS where he coached his son, Ryan.
Ryan graduated last year and will be playing baseball for San Diego Christian College in the upcoming season. With his son soon leaving for school, a fear of restlessness as an assistant crept toward Franchimone.
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“This is just jumping out of the boat and stretching myself and I knew this was probably the right time for me to spread my wings and get out there and use my abilities in other areas,” Franchimone said.
“This opportunity came about and I was like, ‘You know what, I’m ready. Empty nester, Ryan is going to be gone, and I know myself. I’ll go nuts being home.’”
In addition to working as the athletic coordinator for baseball, he will also be working in youth ministries with the school.
Last season, the Knights finished 10-10 overall and 5-5 in the Heritage League to earn a spot in the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs.
Returning for Trinity will be rising junior Andrew Pfeiffer, a Division 7 All-CIF-SS honoree who had a batting average of .552 and 31 RBIs last season.
They’ll have two seniors on the roster next season, and Franchimone is excited for the opportunity to grow his team.
“I think it’ll be a great experience to come aboard a team that has the capability of maturing together,” he said. “They’ll be with each other for a while and for me to come alongside them and give them everything I’ve got in the aspect of baseball will be fun.”
