JUPITER, Fla. – Chet Lemon’s Juice received outstanding starting pitching during its march to the semifinal round of the Perfect Game WWBA World Championship the last four days.
The Juice allowed only six runs in seven games leading up to their semfinal game against the Canes Baseball, with outstanding performances from Corey Stump, Luke Weaver, Tre Oest, Kuehl McEacheren, Tyler Knowles and Devin Smith.
In Monday morning’s semifinal, it was Thomas (T.J.) Renda’s turn.
Renda, a 6-1, 190-pound right-handed high school senior from Apopka, Fla., threw a five inning one-hitter at the Canes to Chet Lemon’s Juice past the Canes, 8-0, and into the championship game against the Dirtbags.
Renda, who recentlyaccepted a scholarship offer from Bethune-Cookman University, was never overpowering but did enough to keep the Canes’ hitter off-balance.
“I was feeling really good,” the soft-spoken Renda said. “I was just throwing my fastball most of the time and I was hitting my spots.”
Renda didn’t walk anyone and struck out four in his five innings of work. He retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced and picked the 12thone off first.
Renda enjoyed pitching in the environment the World Championship offers.
“I love pitching in front of all these scouts,” he said. “It really pushes up the adrenaline.”
The Juice took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI doubel from Ryan Coward then put the Canes away with a seven-run fourth. Stump’s two-run pinch-hit double and George Ragdale had a run-scoring triple in the inning.
Canes’ starter Jordan Ramsey was impressive early, striking out six of the first seven batters he faced and eight of the first 11.