1 of 5

Buy Now

Nipomo catcher Carmelo Hernandez (13) tags a sliding Jesse Perez (33) during a CIF Central Section Division 3 quarterfinal game in Nipomo in May of 2019.

• Peter Klein, Contributor

Buy Now

Cabrillo's Graham Richard scores as Nipomo's Carmelo Hernandez gets the ball at home during a game on April 25, 2017.

• Len Wood, File

Buy Now

Carmelo 'Tugboat' Hernandez poses with the trophy he won in the 11-12-year-old Pitch, Hit and Run competition at the All-Star Game in Minnesota in 2014. Hernandez went on to become a multi-sport star at Nipomo High.

• Frank Cowan, Contributor

Buy Now

Cabrillo's Jessie Navarro gets tagged out in a rundown by Nipomo's Carmelo Hernandez during a Los Padres League baseball game at Cabrillo.

• Len Wood, File

Buy Now

Carmelo Hernandez, seen during an at-bat while playing for the Northside All-Star team in 2014, won a Pitch, Hit and Run national championship in Minnesota that year.

• Daniel Dreifuss, File

• Facebook
• Twitter
• WhatsApp
• SMS
• Email
• Print
• Save

The catcher is a foundational position on a baseball team.

Much like the center on a football team or a point guard on a basketball team, the catcher is involved in just about every play, though their impact can often be overlooked when compared to the pitcher or quarterback.

Carmelo Hernandez was a catcher, though he wasn't really overlooked. He made that much of an impact on the game during his days at Nipomo High. 

Local

Mixed bag: Santa Barbara County doesn't meet threshold to start football, while SLO County does

• Joseph Bailey

Hernandez, a 2019 graduate, put together a remarkable career in Nipomo. 

The one they called 'Tugboat' growing up racked up over 100 total hits during his prep career with the Titans. 

For his career, Hernandez hit .380 with 103 total hits, 64 RBIs, 30 doubles and four home runs. During his final season with the Titans, Hernandez threw out seven of the 10 batters who ran on him.

In that final year, Hernandez hit .462 with 36 hits, 31 RBIs, 11 doubles and four home runs. As a junior, Hernandez hit .440 with 38 hits, 17 RBIs, 11 doubles and three triples. He had six doubles as a sophomore and notched 17 hits as a freshman.

Hernandez is the next nominee for Player of the Decade.

The former Titan had a long run as one of the top baseball players in the area. He was called Tugboat because he carried his diaper bag with him wherever he went as a toddler. He was a national Pitch, Hit and Run champion in 2014, playing in the competition at the All-Star Game at Target Field in Minnesota as a 12-year-old.

As a Little Leaguer, Hernandez hit .765 during an entire season. He hit his first home run on a Little League field, a ball that went 210 feet, when he was 8. He hit 55 home runs in Little League and he hit four home runs in one game.

“I like throwing people out,” Hernandez once said as a youngster. 

Local

Hundreds gather to honor Sandy Pu'a at Hancock College

• Joseph Bailey

No doubt.

Hernandez went on to a sparkling career at the high school level, hitting well over .400 in back-to-back seasons. And, remember, that's invaluable offensive production from a catcher, a position where defense is prioritized and any offense is considered icing on the cake.

Hernandez was named co-MVP of the Ocean League with teammate Ricard Rodriguez in 2019 as the Titans split the league title with Mission Prep. Hernandez was named the All-Area Utility Player of the Year then. 

High School

Baseball: Cole Osborne busy preparing Conqs for 2021 season

• Joseph Bailey

Hernandez was also a standout on the Nipomo High football team and played basketball at NHS.