By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
LOS FRESNOS — Cristian Hernandez has been an integral part of a Los Fresnos team that won back-to-back District 32-6A titles. Now he’s hoping to help Our Lady of the Lake University’s baseball team to achieve some success as well.
The Falcons senior pitcher/infielder made his choice official to play baseball for the NAIA school in San Antonio during a signing ceremony Monday.
Hernandez is expected to be on the mound regularly for the Saints under the direction first-year head coach and former Harlingen High baseball coach Bryan Aughney.
“It feels great for the opportunity I get … it’s amazing,” he said.
Los Fresnos coach Rene Morales said his top hurler is ready for the next level.
“He’s the type of kid that puts a lot of work into it, he just works,” Morales said. “He doesn’t say a word, just works hard and does the little things right. He’ll be a big asset at Our Lady of the Lake and Coach Aughney over there.”
Fresh off a dramatic finish to the District 32-6A season Friday where Los Fresnos defeated Weslaco High in a 2-1, 9-inning game that gave the Falcons the district title for the second consecutive year, it’s been a good week for Hernandez.
“I’ve known most of my teammates since I was seven, eight years old, playing with them or against them,” he said. “So it’s amazing to be back-to-back district champs.”
Staying close to home was an important part of the decision for Hernandez, who wanted to make it easier for his family to be a part of his collegiate experience and the familiarity of his new coach, one he’s competed against in recent years.
“I knew the coach and being in San Antonio, it’s not that far from here,” he said. “My family can go watch me play.”
Morales echoed the close proximity in discussion with Hernandez earlier in the season.
“He felt comfortable (at OLLU) and I told him you want to play college baseball and he’s giving you an opportunity … take advantage of it,” Morales said. “His parents wanted to go see him … it worked out perfectly.”
The senior plans to study kinesiology in college and credited his family and his coaches with helping him get to this point.
“Teaching me that hard work pays off,” Hernandez said. “To worry about your academics first, that’s the most important thing.”
Now that his future is secure, he can focus on the next task at hand, the postseason, which begins Thursday.
“Now I can just focus and try to finish out the season strong,” he said.
Morales said Our Lady of the Lake was getting a good player that just wants to help his team win.
“He’s a quiet leader, he leads by example and does everything we ask him to do,” the Falcons coach said. “He’s played third base, DH, he’s pitched, played first base … he’s the type of kid that he just wants to play. The kids follow him and he’s going to be great over there.
“(Aughney’s) going to give you an opportunity, so you have to keep working and go from there.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.