FHSAA Playoffs: George Hernandez Throws A No-Hitter Sending McArthur To States

It was going to take a special performance from McCaruthur to upset No 9 St Thomas Aquinas from reaching the Final Four in back to back season, and that is exactly what they received.  St Thomas Aquinas would start 2020 Miami recruit Nate Thomas, while McArthur would send to the mound an uncommitted 2019, George Hernandez.

The two would be locked in a pitcher’s duel from the first pitch. Neither pitcher would allow a hit, until back to back singles from McArthur’s Joseph Perez and Kevin Iler would have the Mustang’s threatening in the fifth. A botched squeeze play by nearly everyone on the field, loaded the bases with one out.A wild pitch would give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead, but Thomas would shut the door with back-to-back groundouts.

A hit by pitch would leadoff the inning and Jose Hernandez would advance to second on a wild pitch. This would bring up the rising MLB Draft prospect, Yordy Valdes. Aquinas would elect to pitch to the talented shortstop and he would make the pay with an RBI double to left-center field, giving McArthur a 2-0 heading into the seventh.

Hernandez remained in the game and had yet to allow a hit heading into the top of the seventh inning. Hernandez, who was 3-1 heading into the outing with 46 strikeouts in 31 innings, would get a flyout, followed by a pair of strikeouts, finishing with nine for the game, to seal the win and the no-hitter to send the McArthur Mustangs to the Final Four.