Dennis Traynor was a multi-sport athlete both in high school and college, but his emergence as one of the top sluggers in the metroplex fueled an awards-filled career on the diamond. A starter on the Rangers’ 1987 TCIL state-championship football team, he shined as a four-year varsity starter and senior captain for Jesuit Dallas baseball.
Behind an impressive approach at the plate that led to him being among the most feared hitters in the area, Traynor led the Rangers to TCIL state championships in 1985 and 1987 while helping to maintain Jesuit’s perpetual presence in the state rankings. Finishing his career as a two-time all-state selection at shortstop as well as an inaugural member of the prestigious Dallas Mustang Baseball Club, Traynor closed his junior and senior seasons with batting averages that ranked among the top 10 in the DFW area. His stellar senior campaign garnered All-TCIL State Tournament First Team honors and honorable mention all-area plaudits, the latter of which included the top student-athletes from public and private schools at all levels.
An NCAA Division I prospect who initially took his talents to Sam Houston State where he lettered as a freshmen, Traynor transferred to Centenary College and pieced together a historically-stellar career playing for the Gents. A two-time All-Trans America Athletic Conference selection (1990, 1991), Traynor still holds the single-season program record with 60 runs scored during the 1990 season and finished his three-year career ranked first in runs scored (141), first in triples (10), second in stolen bases (57), second in walks (120), second in on-base percentage (.458) and second in assists (316). He still ranks among the School’s top 10 in a number of both single-season and career records. Amazingly, Traynor also served as a member of the Centenary cross country team in 1991-92.
Following his playing career, Traynor continued his relationship with the game and Centenary College as an assistant baseball coach, head coach of Dixie Baseball in Shreveport, La., and as a coach with the Keller Youth Baseball Association and Yard Dawgs Baseball Club.
