Alex Hernandez, Palm Beach Central: Post All-Area large schools baseball player of the year

Friday, June 04, 2010
by Cristina Ledra

Photo by Ray Graham/The Palm Beach Post

Click here to see other players of the year and All-Area teams.

Alex Hernandez tried to convince his coaches at Palm Beach Central for three years that he knew how to pitch. It wasn't until his senior season that they finally gave him a shot.

Hernandez proved he could do the job with a 2-1 record with eight saves and a 0.41 ERA this season in addition to being one of the top defensive players in the area and the leadoff hitter for the district champion Broncos.

Hernandez batted .402 for the Broncos with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 29 runs and 22 RBI.

"I kept telling him (coach Scott Benedict) that I could pitch, and he never believed me," Hernandez said. "So he saw me pitch one inning and he told me in the school the next day 'Wow, I got some bad news.' I thought I was in trouble. He said, 'You're our new closer.' "

Hernandez also won two games as a starter. In his first start against Boca Raton, Hernandez got the call a couple hours before game time after the Broncos' scheduled starter became ill. Hernandez turned in a shutout.

Hernandez likely won't pitch again, as he signed to play shortstop for the University of North Florida.

Hernandez's contributions on the mound were just one way he helped Palm Beach Central come out on top of the brutal nine-team 9-6A district. His leadership helped rev up the young Broncos after a slow start to the season when the team lacked direction.

"As the season went on, people were working hard and most of the older guys like myself and Alex Anagnostu, we stepped up and helped these younger guys," Hernandez said. "They didn't really have the mentality of what it takes to play on varsity. They were nervous, so we calmed them down and told them it's the same game of baseball."

Palm Beach Central put together an 11-game win streak and earned the No. 1 seed in the district. The Broncos beat Atlantic, Royal Palm Beach, and Boca Raton to win the district title and Hernandez pitched in the final, beating Boca Raton for a second time.

"When we won that district championship," Hernandez said. "That was the best moment."

~cristina_ledra@pbpost.com

COACH OF THE YEAR

Brian Joros, West Boca Raton

After an 0-3 start to the season, Joros got tough with the Bulls and led them to a 23-6 record and the District 15-5A title. West Boca Raton advanced to the regional semifinals before finally getting knocked out.

FIRST TEAM

Dexter Price

PB Central

Sr., Infield

Solid on defense and also hit .392 with 29 runs and 23 RBI

Sean Murrell

Wellington, Sr., Infield

Hit .514 with five home runs, 38 hits and 28 RBI.

Kyle Smith

Santaluces, Jr., Infield

Hit .446 with 16 steals and also was the Chiefs' ace with 107 strikeouts.

Bobby Poyner

PB Central

Jr., Infield

Broncos' ace with 9-2 record and 1.52 and also played first base.

Andrew Istler

Wellington, Jr., Outfield

With speed and power, hit .500. Also was 7-1 on mound.

Dylan Massey

Boca Raton, Sr., Outfield

Led Bobcats with .451 batting average

and .540 on-base.

Ryan Toimil

Spanish River Sr., Outfield

Hit .418 with 29 RBI and 11 doubles. Signed with Dartmouth.

Austin Perez

Royal Palm Beach,

Sr., Pitcher

Had an 0.89 ERA and 84 strikeouts for the Wildcats.

Brad Gero

Park Vista

Sr., Pitcher

Had six shutouts and an 0.68 ERA for the Cobras.

Michael Kelly

West Boca

Jr., Pitcher

Struck out 88 in 76 innings with a 94-MPH fastball. Committed to Florida.

Peyton Walsh

Park Vista, Sr., Catcher

Three-year starter is standout on defense and also hit .392 with 18 RBI and 17 runs.

Aaron Cohn

Suncoast

Sr., DH

Hit .584 with four homers, 10 doubles and 37 steals. Signed with Duke.

SECOND TEAM

IF - Somer Hilo, Jupiter, Sr.

IF - Brad Borosak, Dwyer, Jr.

IF - Michael Stemle, Park Vista, Sr.

IF - Ryan Grau, West Boca, Sr.

OF - Dominic Jose, Boca Raton, Jr.

OF - Jonathan Huggins, Atlantic, Sr.

OF - Cody Nevils, West Boca, Sr.

P - Nathan Carter, Boca Raton, Sr.

P - Alex Gonzalez, Boca Raton, Sr.

P - Calvin Greener, Jupiter, Jr.

C - Tino Guadino, Dwyer, Sr.

DH - Parker Danciu, W. Boca, So.

HONORABLE MENTION

Atlantic — Anthony Mazzaccari, Nick Garito, Max Phillips

Boca Raton — Michael Tallet, Dylan Tritsch, Kirby Retzer; Dwyer — Dixon Llorenz; Jupiter — Jon Corbitt, Erik Armstrong, James Cardwell; Olympic Heights — Corey Stern; Palm Beach Central — Brady Roberson, John Magner, Mitch Blakeney; Palm Beach Gardens — Jimmy Tornabene, Brandon Welch, Darren Hansen; Park Vista — Trea Turner, Curt Copeland, Alex Saikal; Santaluces — Dru Kayfus, Mikey Cohen, Ryan Church; Seminole Ridge — Marcus Mooney, Adrian Talton; South Fork — Blake Nehls, Brandon Bednar; Suncoast - Clayton Culler; Wellington — Peter Rivera, Paul Conti; West Boca — Alex Bonilla, Thomas Stallone, Matt Mulroy