Tourney shows Faith Academy baseball the possibilities
CAPTION: The 2024 Faith Academy of Marble Falls baseball team includes head coach Rob Ellis (left), Cooper Hansard, Wade Dillard, Cross Sanchez, Carter Fromberg, Nash Renfro, Sawyer Jones, assistant coach Gary Dillard, Seth Jones, Braxton Blair, Ben Tatum, Ian Holley and Austin Ellis. Courtesy photo
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls baseball team began its 2024 season with some key victories under the guidance of new head coach Rob Ellis.
The Flames went 1-1-1 at the Bulverde Bracken tournament March 7-8 thanks to beating San Antonio Lutheran 7-5, tying Bracken 1-1 and losing to Temple Central Texas Christian 12-8 in the championship.
“Bracken’s record was 10-1 when we faced them,” Ellis said. “(Senior pitcher Nash Renfro) is a fierce competitor. He’s in a moment to strike you out. They tied our game at the end. Parents told me at that tournament that Bracken … run-ruled them the last two years.”
Other seniors are Seth Jones, Cross Sanchez and Ben Tatum, who are all returners.
Renfro has had 10 strikeouts in each of his appearances two appearances.
“Nash Renfro is an elite pitcher at this level,” Ellis said. “In seven innings, he gave up two hits and no earned runs. Nash is head and shoulders above everyone else.”
Other players include junior Carter Fromberg, sophomores Ian Holley and Sawyer Jones, and freshmen Braxton Blair, Wade Dillard, Austin Ellis and Cooper Hansard.
Blair, Fromberg, Ellis and Jones round out the pitching staff.
“Carter is the starting catcher, and he’s done really well at pitcher,” Ellis said. “We have seven guys who can pitch for us. Carter hasn’t pitched since he was nine years old. I do pitching instruction. He throws hard. He picked it up pretty darn quick and has done quite well. He’s done a great job for us.”
One area the coach wants to see improve is hitting.
“We’re not aggressive enough at the plate,” he said. “It was a change in our mindset. At third base there are a lot of pop-ups and weak ground balls. Things haven’t fallen in place. We’re going to get better at batting.”
He credits the Flames for improving on defense and cutting down on errors.
“Seth Jones only plays third base and Ben plays second base for us and has done a good job,” the coach said. “All of our pitchers are our infielders. Our infield has had to move around a lot. The defense is tremendously better than what it was. That is tremendously encouraging.”
Ellis, who is the founder of the Hill Country Renegades select baseball program, took the Faith job during the summer. Ellis has the facilities at his home and was expecting several of the players to spend much of their Spring Break working on their mechanics.
“There are players hanging in that facility off and on with each other, lifting weights,” he said. “They spend time at the facility. It’s given us a huge advantage.”
Faith Academy begins district play at Temple Central Texas Christian at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19.
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