Last Fall, Sergio Fernandez coached a softball travel league team, the Miami Stars, to an undefeated season that featured most of his players from American High School.
Their success has spilled over to the Spring regular season, as the Patriots are 8-0 and armed with perhaps the best two hitters in Miami-Dade County, and a pitching staff loaded with so much talent that opposing teams were left scratching their heads following its stellar performances.
Facing their bitter district rivals, Goleman High, ace pitcher Andrea Rincon (6-0, .129 ERA), led her team to a close victory in a see-saw game that continues to define their rivalry.
“They took the lead first, then we took the lead, they took the lead and we finally led and won the game,” said Fernandez. “It was a very intense game, and well contested on both sides. It was a tremendous game.”
The Patriots’ bats are hot led by the one and two hitters in the lineup, shortstop Alexandria Fernandez, who is hitting .786 and third baseman Kayleen Romero batting .556.
“Alexandria is hitting the daylight out of the ball,” Fernandez said of his daughter. “And Kayleen is hot.”
Team captain Michelle Murch is batting .375 and is arguably one of the best center-fielders in Florida, Fernandez said.
American won its third consecutive district championship last year and lost in the regional semifinals.
With seven returning starters and more experience, the Patriots are keeping their eyes on the bigger prize – the state title.
“The big difference is girls who have been playing for four years,” Fernandez said. “Anything short of our goal is a disappointment for us.”
Fernandez said last year’s heartbreaking loss still is on his players’ minds.
“They don’t want to have that same feeling again,” he said.
In baseball news:
As of last week, Goleman High’s baseball team was 5-0, including a 10-5 victory over division rival Hialeah Thoroughbreds, who eliminated the Gators from the regional semifinals last season.
Coach Jose Lopez said his team is preparing for another challenging week against Alonso and Tracy Mourning, Sunset and Miami Beach, hoping his team can keep its undefeated streak alive.
Lopez said his players’ bats came alive early in the regular season and hope they can stay hot.
He said last year, when his team scored at least four runs, the Gators won but lost each time when they scored less than four runs.
Top players pitcher Shawn Carrasco, third baseman Kevin Gomez and first baseman Joshua Guia are the returning starters seeking to erase last year’s disappointing post season.