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Caleb Renn
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Renn's 12 strikeouts secure Game 1 win for Holly Springs in 7A baseball final

Posted: 5/29/2026, 11:30:50 PM

BURLINGTON, N.C. — Caleb Renn’s performance in Game 1 of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 7A baseball state championship was a glimpse at what he did all season for Holly Springs.

The junior threw 12 strikeouts while allowing just three hits and zero earned runs. He entered the game with a team-best 1.06 ERA, and on Friday, he certainly looked the part of a championship ace.

Renn and the Golden Hawks (26-5) defeated Marvin Ridge (22-11), 3-1, in Game 1 of the championship series at Burlington Athletic Stadium. The victory puts Holly Springs one game away from securing its second title in as many appearances; the first having come in 2011.

"Honestly feels great," Renn said. "I mean it's definitely good to get up in a series against a really good team. Feels phenomenal."

Holly Springs has been on quite the run this postseason. It boasts an 11-game winning streak, which includes a victory over the state’s top-rated team regardless of classification, (1) D.H. Conley, in the 7A fourth round in a 4-3 nine-inning affair. Then, the Golden Hawks went on to defeat Cardinal Gibbons in two games in the 7A East Regional Final.

"Hitting wise, we've faced a lot of good arms in Connley and Gibbons," Renn said. "It's definitely important. It's definitely helped our bats heat up a little."

On the other side, the west regional champion Mavericks dispatched (2) Hickory Ridge in the 7A West Regional Final in three games. They won Game 1, 7-1, before dropping Game 2, 2-0. The Mavericks sealed the series with a Game 3 win: 4-0.

Marvin Ridge is seeking its first title since claiming its program’s only two championships in 2015 and 2016. It is the team's first appearance since 2019 and fourth overall. The Mavericks will need to win both Games 2 and 3 tomorrow, Saturday, May 30, to win a third championship.

HSOT Insiders can download championship photos for free. Here's how.

The Golden Hawks struck first Friday, and just as he has all season, senior catcher Hodge Williams led the way in the box. He unleashed a double to left to score Anthony Zezza from first.

Of the first nine outs turned by Holly Springs, six were by Renn’s hand via strikeout. Though, the Hawks were slowed down after Williams’ first inning RBI. Despite loading the bases in the top of the fourth, Maverick senior pitcher Colin Slep helped his team dig out of the hole unscathed.

MRHS’ Dylan Poling grounded into a forced out for the runner at third in the bottom of the fourth, but an error on the throw to first allowed a run to score and another runner around to third. That tied the game 1-1 before Renn closed the inning without further damage with his seventh strikeout.

In the fifth, Slep and the Maverick defense weren’t able to close the final out with two in scoring position. Instead, Holly Springs junior Connor Hourihan knocked a single through the infield on full count to score both runners and put HS up 3-1. Step retired after 6 2/3 innings of work with five strikeouts, four walks and three hits. He was relieved by senior Matthew Terwilliger for the final out.

Renn continued to deal down the stretch and the defense behind him limited opportunities for Marvin Ridge during the late innings.

The junior said he wanted to deal breaking balls throughout the night. He added that he knew he had a good defense behind him, so he wanted to get balls on the ground and as many strikeouts as possible.

Ultimately, Holly Springs' defense is what lifted it to a Game 1 win. One final testament to that fact came with two batters on and only one out in the bottom of the seventh, Noah Rhoades made a spectacular catch in right to potentially save a run and bring up the final out. Renn delivered that final out by strikeout.

"Honestly, we just need a lot on the mound," Renn said about what his team needs to take home a title tomorrow. "Get Noah [Rhoades] out there. Just throw some strikes, let him put the ball in play, let our defense work behind us, and obviously get runs. But that's pretty much it."

Game 2 will take place tomrorow, Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m. And, if necessary, Game 3 would be at 5 p.m. that same day.

Box Score

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Holly Springs 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 4 2
Marvin Ridge 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 0

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