Mavericks Fernandez Is District 15-4A Player Of The Year

The Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks just completed their second consecutive season that ended in a pile At Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie. To get to that pile at the end of the state final four, Archbishop needed a big moment in the championship game, and that was provided off the bat of senior Alexander Fernandez.

The three run blast off Fernandez’ bat was just the latest in the long list of heroic performances this season. With a dominating presence on the mound, and a batting average that hovered near .500, Fernandez has now been named the BHSB District 15-4A Player of the Year.

On the year, Fernandez hit .470 and drove in forty-nine runs. The senior pitcher/second baseman added forty-six runs, and stole thirteen bases in fifteen attempts. On the mound, Fernandez went 11-0, with a 2.39 ERA. Perhaps the most impressive stat was the zero home runs the Mavericks pitcher game up, while pitching against some of the best competition in the state.

“He was our ‘Superman’,” said Archbishop Head Coach Rich Bielski. “He led the team in RBIs and did everything we asked of him. He was a great leader and always came up with the big hit. On the mound he gave us everything he had, a truly special member of our family.”

Fernandez is joined on the All-District team as a pitcher by two southpaws. Teammate Andre Martinez, with his 12-2 record and 1.50 ERA made the team. Martinez had ninety-six strikeouts in fifty-six innings. Junior Thomas Woodrey of Cardinal Gibbons was one of the more highly touted pitchers in the county this season, and the attention was warranted. Despite pitching against some of the top teams in the state, Woodrey still managed a 3.15 ERA and fifty-two strikeouts. Woodrey also contributed offensively, hitting .464 for the Chiefs.

In a district loaded with talent, two other players made a strong run for Player of the year honors. Pembroke Pines Charter catcher Aramis Garcia hit .565, with seven home runs and twenty-four RBIs. Garcia also added thirteen doubles. Mavericks third baseman/closer Jose Brizuela offered up the most gaudy offensive numbers in the district, hitting .470, with sixteen doubles, twenty-four stolen bases, forty-one RBIs, and seven home runs.

Nick Travieso and Nick Basto, both fresh off their state title with Archbishop, are the first baseman and shortstop, respectively, on the District 15-4A squad. Travieso hit twelve extra base hits, while Basto added a .367 batting average and ten stolen bases.

The outfield is comprised of two Gibbons players and Christian Shields from Fort Lauderdale. For the Chiefs, Jack Crittenberger had a .623 on-base percentage, thanks to twenty-six walks. Crittenberger also had eleven stolen bases. Ryan Whaley hit .377, with six home runs, twenty-two RBIs, and ten stolen bases.

Players from three different teams filled out the utility spots. Ivan Santos from Archbishop hit .441 and drove in thirty-three runs. Kris Chatman of Fort Lauderdale scored twenty-six runs and stole twelve bases, and Pembroke Pines Charter’s Kevin Daly hit .471, while swiping thirteen bags as the Jaguars lead-off hitter.

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