Faith Academy baseball splits series with Waco Live Oak

CAPTION: Carter Fromberg delivers at the plate as a hitter and as the Flames’ catcher. Photo by Stennis Shotts

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls baseball team split its series with Waco Live Oak April 12.

Because of bad weather April 9, officials decided to play a doubleheader in Waco April 12 where the Falcons won the first game 13-3.

But the Flames responded in the second contest, winning 6-1 behind the strong pitching of senior Nash Renfro, who pitched 6 2/3 innings. Freshman pitcher Austin Ellis got the final out.

Live Oak (15-7) has performed well this season, Faith head coach Rob Ellis said.

“To split with them is a big deal,” he said. “They wanted to pitch their ace against Nash.”

The coach delivered a simple message to his players in between the two games.

“Those 10 runs don’t carry over,” he said. “Let’s go beat them.”

While Renfro took care of business on the bump, his teammates gave him every pitcher’s best friend – runs.

He, Austin Ellis and Carter Fromberg each had 2 hits apiece. Cross Sanchez had hits in both games.

Defensively, Ben Tatum had a diving catch in center field, a position that he normally doesn’t play. Catcher Fromberg played in game one and half of the second contest, Ellis said. The catcher battled fatigue.

“He gutted out a great performance,” he said.

Freshman pitcher Braxton Blair started the first game. As the runs crept in, Ellis “made an executive decision.”

Knowing the Flames must win the Round Rock Christian two-game series and that Renfro would take the mound in the second game, the coach decided to pull Blair to save his pitches for the Crusaders.

“We had to win the second game and the next two,” the coach said.

Game 1 of the series between Faith and Round Rock Christian is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the YMCA of the Highland Lakes in Burnet where the program will honor its seniors. Game two is in Round Rock at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 17.

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