Fernandez’ one-hit gem leads Gaither to Region Final
Michael Fernandez warms up as the scoreboard shows all zeroes for visiting Riverdale. The junior got within two outs of the first no-hitter of his lifetime.
By Chuck Frye, Staff Writer
CARROLLWOOD – Playing comfortably and with confidence one pitch and one play at a time. Not looking beyond the task at hand. Playing the game as it is every time and not injecting any pressure into the environment.
These are the positive traits that Gaither has exhibited in an impressive run into the playoffs. It’s also the same mindset that the 2016 Cowboys rode to a state championship. And head coach Nelson North has noticed the correlation.
“This team has a better record (now 22-6) than (the 2016 squad’s 20-9 mark), but at the end, that team just played hard every day and kept putting up the W’s, like nine in a row,” Gaither head coach Nelson North said. “Next thing you knew, they were in the state championship. But they never started counting, they took it as playing just another game.”
Gaither third baseman Nico Lopez elevated to throw out Riverdale’s John Herrera in the second inning.
The 2023 Cowboys exude that winning confidence, taking advantage of a potent 1-2 pitching punch of junior left-hander Mikey Fernandez and senior righty Steven Rojas to stay relaxed and productive at the plate and in the field.
Saturday night’s Class 6A-Region 3 semifinal game against Fort Myers Riverdale was a prime example of how a commanding mound performance acts as a pressure relief valve that brings out the best in everybody.
Fernandez, one of the top strikeout artists in the state along with teammate Rojas and his 92 whiffs, was flat out dealing against a Raiders team that pounded out an upset win over East Lake the round before. Riding a career-best change-up, Fernandez racked up 11 Ks and didn’t allow a hit until there was one out in the seventh inning. His performance combined with an error-free defense to allow the offense to produce top-to-bottom in an eventual 5-0 victory.
“That was the closest I’ve come to a no-hitter in my life,” said Fernandez, who raised his state top-10 strikeout total to 114 in the win. “I tried my best not to think about it but in the last inning it kind of got to me.”
Fernandez is all smiles, leaving the mound after his one-hit shutout effort in Gaither’s Class 6A Region 3 semifinal victory.
That was when, despite the Herculean efforts of first baseman Josh Choe, Logan Krause reached on an infield single.
Before and after the single, Fernandez’ change-up thrown low in the zone was an unhittable out pitch.
“It started (getting effective) last week and I’ve just been working it more and more,” Fernandez explained. “I had it at about a 9.5 (on a 10-scale Saturday). It felt better than the fastball.”
After a super grab by first baseman Josh Choe, pitcher Mikey Fernandez came this close to preserving his no-hitter but Logan Krause (18) just beat the throw for a one-out, seventh-inning base hit.
With that as a foundation, Gaither’s offensive philosophy of “Quab” could flourish.
“If you hear our dugout, we’re not saying ‘let’s get a hit’, we’re saying ‘let’s get a Quab’ – a quality at-bat,” North said. “A hard-hit out is a Quab, drawing a walk is a Quab, reaching on an error is a Quab. We try to put the ball in play, limit strikeouts, and just play the game.”
The Cowboys Quab’d the crap out of the ball, seeing six members of their lineup reach base twice or more while two others contributed singles to the 12-hit attack.
Scout Simpson slides past Riverdale shortstop Jaydon Resto, leading off the third inning with a double. He would later score.
No. 9 hitter Choe had an RBI double, two walks and a run scored in the victory while other big contributions came from lead-off man Jackson Mirza (double and RBI single), second batter Scout Simpson (double, single, walk, two runs scored), Nico Lopez and DH Paul Provencher (two hits, RBI each). Against three different Riverdale pitchers, Gaither had runners on in every inning.
“When we get on, we can take the extra base,” North said after a three-steal night. “For the most part, we’re a smart base-running team. Put that with us hitting hard line drives gap-to-gap and that’s a great formula.”
After bobbling the ball, Gaither shortstop Anthony Linares recovers and throws to first base for the final out of the sixth inning.
North hopes that formula continues in the regional finals on Tuesday against the winner of Monday night’s rescheduled semi between top-seed Sickles and Lennard.
And what does Fernandez think will lead to success and a berth in the state final four?
“If we hit well and play defense pretty well,” he said. “I think we’ve got the pitching down.”
⚾⚾⚾⚾
Gaither 5, Fort Myers Riverdale 0
R 000|000|0 – |0|1|1
G 021|011|x – |5|0|0
W – Fernandez (9-1); L – Brookins (3-1)
2B – Simpson, Choe, Furr, Mirza (G). Records – L (19-9); G (22-6).
