Flames need extra inning to run rule Bryan Allen Academy
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls baseball team battled some early adversity against Bryan Allen Academy for a 15-0 win April 14.
The Flames (6-2, 4-0 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) needed four innings to enact the run rule and got another stellar pitching performance from sophomore Kade Shaw.
Shaw gave up 1 hit and 3 walks and struck out 11. But Shaw faced five batters to begin the game, while the Flames went three up, three down with three strikeouts in their half of the opening inning.
Faith got back to its usual form in the second inning by plating nine runs.
Offensively, Dylan Pipkin had 3 RBIs off 2 hits and scored 2 runs. Carter Fromberg and Seth Jones added 2 RBIs each. In all, Faith had 8 hits and drew 9 walks.
“It was a complete team effort,” head coach Zakk Revelle said. “Cade played well. I’m pleased with the win. Some guys were in late and scored. The win today secures at least a share of the district title.”
He especially praised reserves Ian Smiles, Karter Van Gundy, Matthew Eppler, William Eppler, Aaron Crawford, Danny Holland and Andrew Pipkin for their willingness to do what the team needs and their mental preparation to produce when called in.
“A lot of people will think it’s cliche,” Revelle said. “Those are the guys who didn’t start. In baseball I have to substitute a certain way. We have a total of 18 guys. Those guys deserve a lot of credit.”
Revelle said he was in the process of moving players when the Flames scored their 15th run. By rule, once a team is ahead by 15, the contest ends.
No team accomplishes goals without the guidance of a coaching staff, and Revelle noted Faith isn’t the exception. The staff includes assistant coach Aaron Mittelstaedt and Faith Academy graduate Ryan Smith, who plans to become a teacher and coach.
“I’d name coach Mittelstaedt assistant coach of the year,” Revelle said. “If Ryan were in college, we’d call him a graduate assistant. He volunteers and calls all our pitches. Ryan was a pitcher. Those guys deserve a lot of credit.”
While the coach was content with the win, he noted his players didn’t arrive at the ball park with the mental sharpness they normally have.
“They all understand we can be a pretty good team, and they want to be great,” he said. “They know to be great they have to keep doing the little things right all the time. We have it in football and in basketball. We’re trying to teach those kids (in baseball) to go in with a mental edge. We have two more district games and the playoffs. We’re trusting that it’s a learned process.”
Faith travels to Bryan St. Joseph for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch Friday, April 22. The regular season ends against San Marcos Hill Country at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the YMCA of the Highland Lakes, 1601 S. Water St. in Burnet.
Watch videos on Highland Lakes sports by going to Fierro’s YouTube channel and searching for The Broad Podcaster.
