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Alonso makes state semifinals

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: May 16, 2009

MELBOURNE - Alonso sophomore right-hander Jose Fernandez put together one of his best games of the season Friday in Game 2 of a Class 6A region final series against Melbourne, striking out 10 in a complete-game four-hitter to lead the Ravens to a 6-1 win.

Yet, because of Thomas Dorminy's masterful performance in Game 1, Fernandez's gem went down as the Ravens' second-best pitching performance of the day.

Dorminy, a junior left-hander, started Alonso off perfectly, throwing a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in an 8-1 win against the Bulldogs as the Ravens swept a doubleheader at Dawson Field to earn the program's second trip to the state tournament.

Alonso (28-3) will play Friday at Port St. Lucie's Tradition Field in a state semifinal against an opponent and at a time yet to be determined.

"I'm telling you," Ravens coach Landy Faedo said, "they've been throwing good all year."

It turned out a little better than good, especially for Dorminy. His first two pitches of the game hit the first two batters he faced, which led to Melbourne's only run. He hit four batters total and also walked one, but he never wavered in finishing off the first no-hitter in his prep career.

"Thomas just came out here and did his thing and shut the other team down," Alonso catcher Adam Pendleton said. "He really gave us some momentum going into the second game. Then Jose came out and he was really pumped up, which was good."

Fernandez turned out equally as effective. The lone run he allowed came after two Alonso errors in the fourth.

But Alonso didn't just get good pitching. The Ravens also showed off some big bats.

Tyler Ding (4-for-6, 5 RBIs, four runs scored in series) hit two of the Ravens' four home runs on the day, a two-run shot in each game, and the Ravens pounded out 22 hits, eight for extra bases, in the doubleheader sweep. Dorminy and Matt Brandy (4-for-7, four RBIs) also homered (both in Game 2), while Pendleton and Tito Martinez each had three hits on the day.

"Everyone came out today and just crushed the ball," Pendleton said. "It was just a good day."

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