Mayo Fernandez lifts Fishers baseball to sectional victory over HSE

Indianapolis Star

2 days ago

CARMEL --- Fishers senior second baseman Mayo Fernandez didn't let a slight miscue stop him from achieving his ultimate goal.
With runners on the corners in the sixth inning, Fernandez tried to drop a bunt to score the runner from third base. With one strike, his bunt attempt went foul, forcing the senior to abandon his plan and swing away. Needing to put the ball in play, Fernandez drove the pitch from Hamilton Southeastern pitcher Michael Hoog back up the middle, scoring what proved to be the winning run, lifting Fishers to a 3-2 victory over rival HSE in the first round of Wednesday's sectional tournament.
Fishers advances to face Zionsville in the semifinals Friday.
"I'm just trying to do my job," Fernandez said. "We spent the whole year working to put bat on ball. Trusting my skill, trusting my ability and trusting the Lord.
"With two strikes, I'm just looking to put the ball in play. ... All you can do is put the ball in play and then you've done your job."
Fernandez went 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs. The senior has battled injuries throughout the season, forcing him to miss games and come in and out of the lineup. Despite the missed playing time, coach Matthew Cherry and Fishers staff trust Fernandez to come through when they need him the most.
"He's done that all year and it's usually with two strikes and two outs," Cherry said. "We tried to do something fancy; it didn't work and then he proves me wrong when we let him swing away. He's been awesome all year long. All year long he just finds barrels."
Hoog put HSE ahead with an RBI-single in the first inning. Fernandez tied the game with an RBI-single in the second. Chase Bradle's sacrifice fly put the Royals back on top in the top of the fourth. A Luke Cherry single and a well-time hit-and-run put runners on the corners for Carter Strole in the bottom half of the inning. Strole's ground out tied the game at 2-2, setting up Fernandez for his go-ahead hit.