Briefs
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
Wild Things sign OF
The Wild Things signed outfielder JJ Fernandez for the 2019 season.
The Puerto Rico native enters the Frontier League after a long road through professional baseball. Fernandez was drafted in the 7th round in 2012 out of the International Baseball Academy by the Minnesota Twins. As a free agent in 2017 he signed with the Sussex County Miners and last year played for the Road Warriors of the Atlantic League.
Since 2016 Fernandez has annually hit 10-plus home runs, driving in 35-plus runs. The 6-3, 230-pounder switch hitter has shown positive trends in his production. Last season with the Road Warriors, he hit 16 doubles, 11 home runs and plated 37 runs. His home run and RBI totals ranked second on the club.
Fernandez also has shown to be a versatile defender professionally. He has made 271 appearances in the outfield, 104 behind the plate and 79 at first base.
“Players who can leave the yard 10-plus times in a 96 game season are always in demand. Anytime we can add a deep threat, we are going to be aggressive,” said assistant GM Tony Buccilli. “JJ was directed to play in older leagues and he performed well. His development might have been stunted slightly because of the learning curve versus ex-Major Leaguers and AAA lifers.
W&J lacrosse wins
The Washington & Jefferson men’s lacrosse team picked up its first win of 2019, posting a convincing 19-2 triumph over La Roche in road nonconference action on Thursday.
W&J is 1-1 and the Redhawks fell to 0-2. The Presidents’ 19 goals are their highest scoring output since they defeated La Roche last season, 25-2.
The Presidents took a 4-1 lead after the first 15 minutes. Pat Brunner scored two of the four goals, and Benjamin Ward had one goal and a pair of assists.
Leading the Presidents today was Alex Strain with eight points on six goals and two assists. The freshman has 10 points this season on seven goals and three assists. Strain became the first President since Ward to have eight points in a game. Ward had four goals and four assists against Bethany on March 24, 2018.