Faith Academy baseball headed to the playoffs

CAPTION: Faith Academy freshman pitcher Braxton Blair helped the Flames qualify for the Class 3A postseason of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Photo by Stennis Shotts

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls baseball team swept Round Rock Christian April 16 and 18 to advance to the Class 3A playoffs of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

The Flames will play at Houston St. Francis Episcopal at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in the first round.

Faith beat Round Rock Christian 12-10 in the first game and 9-7 in the second game.

In game one, freshman Austin Ellis was the starting pitcher and threw 3 2/3 innings where he gave up 3 earned runs.

“We had limited pitchers,” head coach Rob Ellis said. “Austin developed a blister at the very beginning. He was bleeding. He started losing his ability to grip the ball.”

With Faith leading 12-5, freshman Braxton Blair relieved the younger Ellis and was performing well until “a fastball got away from him, and he hit one of the batters in the face.”

That caused a 20-minute delay as medical trainers examined the batter, who was fine.

Once play resumed, Blair hit the next batter.

“That was my fault,” the coach said. “I should have asked for a longer warmup. The delay took longer than I expected. There were guys standing around. We ended up holding onto the lead and got out of it.”

Instead of making another pitching change, Rob Ellis stuck with Blair, who delivered.

“He ended up striking out the last kid,” Ellis said. “He did fine.”

Meanwhile, seven different Flames had hits led by senior Nash Renfro, who had 3 RBI, while freshman Wade Dillard had 3 hits.

“That’s a pretty good day,” the coach said.

Faith kept the consistent hitting going two nights later. Junior Carter Fromberg led the way with 3 RBI off 2 hits. Three other Flames had 2 hits apiece.

“If you got to that pitcher, it slows his velocity down,” Ellis said. “We scored four runs in the start.”

The two teams answered each other’s offensive output though the Flames led from start to finish.

Renfro went to the mound to pitch.

“He was super pumped to pitch,” Ellis said. “It was their senior night and they had a large crowd. It was loud.”

Renfro threw for 6 and 2/3 innings and reached his pitch limit with runners on second and third. Dillard got the call to come in and save the game.

“He was able to pull a ground ball to Austin on second base,” the coach said. “Dillard came in in an intense moment. He forced a ground ball to second base and got out of the jam. They had the bottom half of their line-up. I needed somebody who can throw strikes. We could not have a pass ball situation.”

As the pitching change was being made, attendees sensed an opportunity.

“The crowd was going nuts,” Ellis said. “I had Wade come in. He looked terrified. I told him, ‘All you need to do is visualize the ball hitting (catcher Fromberg’s) glove. Don’t throw anywhere else.’ That’s exactly what he did. I felt like it was important to give him something else to think about. He visualized what he needed to do and did it.”

A pitching change means moving players to different spots on the infield. That moment says plenty about the Flames and their coaches.

“The word that comes to mind is trust,” Rob Ellis said. “(Assistant coach Gary) Dillard asked (his son), ‘Why do you think coach picked you? That’s how much he thinks of you. He believes you can get it done.’ I trust they’ll do what they’re asked and they trust me.”

Before that, a ball was hit left field that forced sophomore Sawyer Jones to “make a jump diving catch” for the out.

“That turned the momentum for us,” Rob Ellis said. “That’s the best play I’ve seen all year.”

Though the Flames had swept the series, they didn’t know if they’d take the final playoff spot from the district until they heard the result of the Bryan Brazos-Waco Reicher contest, also played April 18.

“Brazos beat Reicher, which got us in,” Ellis said. “It’s very rewarding. The team went 1-10 in district last year. It’s a major accomplishment for the players.”

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