On Tuesday, June 2, the greatest disrespect to the best pitcher in the history of Madera South High School Varsity Baseball team was displayed by head coach John Fernandez at the awards banquet.

Let me start by stating he did thank everyone for the support that has been given by the community and the parents, and how the Stallion program has been progressing with the up-and-coming players. It was an evening to say good things to the seniors who will be moving to better and greater things and a bright future.

Fernandez started handing out the awards to the underclassmen, handing them their Varsity letters and certificates, with each player being called up to the stage, such as Jason Ibrahim, Spencer Sheets and Anthony Gamboa. Fernandez spoke highly of them, such as their batting averages, league averages, defensive averages, stolen-base averages or how that player did not play for the first three weeks due to academics, but studied hard to become part of the team and had a great year, or how a player is being looked at and asked about by colleges.

To all these players I take nothing from them and I agree with it all. But now here comes the sadness that so many witnessed, if all of you know of this team that has done so much, you know there is one player that I have yet to mention.

He was the first Varsity player called up to the stage, and Head Coach John Fernandez did mention he made All League, and then handed him his certificate. Fernandez never mentioned that this young man, only a sophomore, was the best pitcher in the league. He was No. 1 in earned run average, No. 1 in wins, No. 1 in innings pitched, No. 1 in fewest runs allowed, No. 2 in strikeouts, No. 3 in stolen bases, (and) batted .281. He was No. 3 with a .359 slugging percentage and a .473 on-base percentage.

Fernandez never mentioned any of these numbers that this young man with such a large heart had put up. Fernandez failed deeply in recognizing that this player who started the season by scoring the only two runs against Madera High School, including a home run, and never got credit for that home run on maxpreps.com. In fact Fernandez, even failed to give him his varsity letter, that by all means he deserved and more.

Yes, everyone, I am talking about Anthony Valle, the best pitcher in NYL, who accepted his certificate and stood there at the end of the stage listening as Fernandez praised the other players as mentioned above.

Sitting two tables away I could clearly see his parents in disappointment, and that a kid who last year handed the Stallions the road to their first championship, would this year be worth nothing, not even his Varsity letter, that by the way at the end of the night his parents had to go and ask for.

Several players received awards such as Best Offensive, Best Defensive or Mr. Stallion, but Anthony Valle, with the great numbers he put up, received nothing.

This is a tragedy and great sadness in the Valle home, where hard work, sacrifice, trust and loyalty are pressed.

I want everyone to call MSHS and ask to speak to the athletic director, Mr. Bitter, and ask him, “Is this what you meant by the Stallion Brotherhood?” Because head coach John Fernandez gives it a whole new meaning.

Ben Rodriguez,
Madera

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 at 1:08 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.