Faith Academy baseball splits games with Temple Central Texas Christian
CAPTION: Faith Academy pitcher Nash Renfro continues to wow spectators and leave batters guessing at what he’ll throw next. Photo by Stennis Shotts
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls baseball team earned a 1-1 split with Temple Central Texas Christian to begin play in District 3, Division IV of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
The Flames lost 13-3 March 19 and won 4-0 March 22.
“CTC has made some really strong runs,” head coach Rob Ellis. “They won the (Bulverde) Bracken tournament (March 7-8). They’re a really good baseball team. And to split the two games – that’s going to set us up for the season.
During the win, Braxton Blair, Carter Fromberg and Nash Renfro each had RBI singles, whiles Wade Dillard had an RBI double.
“The key to this game,” Ellis said, “was Nash Renfro.”
in seven innings, pitcher Renfro allowed two hits, no walks and struck out 15.
“It’s one of the best pitching performances I’ve ever seen,” the coach said. “He throws harder in the seventh than he does in the first. There were a number of very good defensive plays made as well. We didn’t have any errors.”
Ellis gives pitching lessons to a number of Highland Lakes players. Renfro is right up there, he said. He credits the youngster for implementing different ways to be effective. While Renfro doesn’t spend a lot of time in the weight room, he’s changed his technique because of a shoulder impediment.
“He throws a lot of weighted baseball,” the coach said. “He practices his craft. He hits in cages or throws. He threw 102 pitches (March 22). There was no faltering at the end. Nash is pitching and throwing in the mid 80s with a hurt leg. I call him the pirate. He throws 85 mph.”
The Flames scored two runs early and then added two more in sixth inning.
“The sixth inning was when Nash came up big,” Ellis said. “He almost hit it over.”
Pitchers are limited to 100 pitches unless they hit their 100th pitch in the middle of that at-bat, which allows them to stay and finish.
“In the top of the seventh, Nash had 18 pitches left,” the coach said. “I told him, ‘Don’t get fancy. Just pound the strike zone.’ That’s exactly what he did.”
Credit Dillard for making a couple of big defensive plays, too, he added.
Faith faces Bryan Brazos Christian at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at the YMCA of the Highland Lakes in Burnet then go to Bryan for a 3 p.m. first pitch Wednesday, March 27.
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