Hernandez Putting on a One-Man Show for Orange

There’s more to Orange High School’s baseball team than Ruben Hernandez, but in the first round of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs Thursday, he was all that was needed.

Hernandez, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, pitched a one-hitter, hit two home runs and drove in five runs in a 6-1 victory over Newport Harbor.

Hernandez’s dominance was so complete that his coach joked with a Newport Harbor coach about the necessity of the rest of the team.

“I joked with him and said, ‘Next game, I’m just going to take a car and throw Ruben in it,’ ” Orange Coach Ed Howard said. “It was such an incredible game for him. He had a lot of defensive help but it was certainly his day.”

Not that he didn’t have his problems, too. In the third inning, Hernandez walked two and hit a batter on an 0-2 pitch to load the bases. Greg Folsom dived for a ground ball by the next batter, but the shortstop couldn’t get the ball out of his glove in time to make a play. It went for an infield single instead and a run scored.

Hernandez then retired the last 13 batters he faced.

“That’s the thing about Ruben,” Howard said. “He may pitch himself into a little jam, but he usually pitches himself out before he gets in real trouble.”

Hernandez said he may have become too cocky in the third inning and tried to overpower Newport Harbor. He was more effective after making a discovery.

“I discovered they couldn’t hit curveballs, and they were swinging at every curveball I threw,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez’s own swings were more successful. He hit a three-run homer in the third and a two-run homer in the fifth, his fifth and six home runs of the season. He had previously hit two home runs in a game against Laguna Hills during the regular season.

When he wasn’t pitching this season, Hernandez played third base and also caught two games, but lately has been the designated hitter to ensure he is fresh for the playoffs.

“He throws the ball hard and he hits the ball hard,” Harmon said. “He doesn’t do anything half way. He takes a big cut every time up and it usually turns out pretty good for him.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Jim Gwaltney pitched a no-hitter and Ocean View defeated Los Alamitos, 4-0, Friday in the first round of the Southern Section 5-A playoffs.

Andy Marrone of Dana Hills won the 4-A discus competition at the Southern Section Championships Friday with a throw of 192 feet 1 inch, which broke the 4-A record by more than six feet and is the fifth-best prep throw in the nation this season.

Erik Mitchell of Los Alamitos won the 3-A 200-meter race in 21.65 seconds and finished second in the 100 in 11.16.

Mark Parlin of Esperanza had the best mark of the meet in the shotput (62-6 1/2) to win the 4-A competition.

Steve Snyder had 15 kills to lead Edison to a four-game victory over Corona del Mar.

Ruben Hernandez

Orange High School

* Position: Pitcher/designated hitter

* Height, Weight, Class: 5-8, 175, Senior.

* Last Week: Hernandez pitched a one-hitter, hit two home runs and drove in five runs in a 6-1 victory over Newport Harbor in the first round of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs Thursday.

* Season: Hernandez was 6-3, batted .362 and had six home runs in the regular season.