So, like, this dude Franklin Fernandez from Pennsauken Tech is basically a strikeout machine. The coach, Collin Cardona, is totally in awe of him. He’s like, “He’s very, very special. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been here five years now and had two other good pitchers before him, but he’s something unbelievable. He’s constantly locked in.” Wow, talk about high praise.
Anyway, Franklin went off in a game against Cape May Tech and struck out 21 batters. Yes, you read that right, 21 strikeouts. And get this, he only gave up one hit. Like, what a legend.
But here’s the kicker – he didn’t even record all 21 outs himself. He had a dropped third strike that gave him an extra chance to rack up another K. Crazy, right?
His catcher, Jean-Paul Matos, was like, “I was heading up and away, and he threw it up and in. I got a glove on it but it just bounced off the top of it and went to the backstop. I couldn’t get the out at first.” Oops, my bad.
Franklin was just out there doing his thing, not really thinking about all the strikeouts. He was just focused on winning the game for the team. And boy, did he deliver.
He was throwing all kinds of pitches – fastballs, sliders, curveballs, change-ups. You name it, he threw it. And the best part? He was feeling good and just having fun out there.
In total, he struck out 14 batters in a row. Like, that’s insane. The dude was on fire. And even when he allowed a leadoff walk in the seventh, he quickly regrouped and struck out the next three batters to end the game.
Franklin wasn’t all about the strikeouts, though. He was focused on getting that W. And guess what? He went 2-for-5 at the plate and scored two runs. Talk about a multi-talented player.
This season has been Franklin’s best yet. He’s planning to play at the next level and is working hard to make that dream a reality. With 82 strikeouts in just 32 2/3 innings and a sparkling 0.21 ERA, he’s definitely making a name for himself.
So yeah, Franklin Fernandez is definitely one to watch. Keep an eye on this kid because he’s going places. And hey, maybe drop him a follow on X (formerly Twitter) @kminnicksports. Just saying.
