Fernandez, Alonso Eliminate Brandon in 6A-8 District Baseball Tournament

The only team to defeat highly touted Alonso right-hander Jose Fernandez this season was at it again early in the Class 6A-District 8 semifinal Wednesday.

A Chase Sparkman double keyed a quick first inning run for Brandon. But as teams have learned the past three seasons, if you don’t get Fernandez early it’s going to be a long night. The Eagles battled Fernandez throughout, but other than a last inning run on a wild pitch they couldn’t muster enough offense in a 4-2 loss that ended their season.

Alonso (18-4) will host Plant (18-6) for the district championship tonight at 7. The Panthers defeated Bloomingdale 5-4 in eight innings in the other semifinal.

Fernandez (9-1), whom many scouts and Baseball America project as a first round pick in the June amateur draft, finished with 11 strikeouts and two walks. He only allowed two singles after the first inning as his team pushed across four runs for the victory.

“Early on his command was a little off, but as the game goes further along he starts hitting his spots and ends up dealing,” said Alonso catcher Mike Fahrman, who delivered a clutch run-scoring single in the sixth inning to aid his battery mate. “This was a normal game for him. We expect Jose to win when he pitches.”

Alonso coach Landy Faedo echoed those sentiments.

“He was solid tonight,” Faedo said. “When he’s gotten in trouble this year he’s been able to make big pitches and work his way out of it.”

Brandon coach Matt Stallbaumer said Fernandez pitching a gem wasn’t unexpected. But he was disappointed in his team’s defense that resulted in the Eagles falling too far behind 3-1 in the second inning.

Overall, Stallbaumer said the Eagles (15-9) produced a competitive season.

“We lost nine seniors from last year, so we were looking for something to hang our hat on all year,” he said. “Was it going to be pitching, was it going to be defense, some timely hits when we needed them? And when you’re in this district with Alonso, Plant, Bloomingdale and Wharton, you can’t afford a bad night, and that’s what happened to us late. But overall not a bad season.”