Selena Fernandez erupts for 12 RBIs to lead Monterey to consecutive wins over Lubbock-Cooper
WOODROW — As the afternoon turned to night, Selena Fernandez could feel herself getting in a zone.
Little did the Monterey freshman know just how much damage she had done.
Fernandez wielded the biggest bat Friday, notching 12 RBIs in consecutive victories to propel the Plainsmen to a come-from-behind series win over Lubbock-Cooper. Following a 7-3 decision in Game 2, Monterey bashed the Pirates 15-6 to seal the Region I-5A quarterfinal matchup at First United Park.
The District 4-5A tri-champions played five times this season, with the Plainsmen taking three, including the two most important ones.
Selena Fernandez sets Game 3 tone early
Fernandez hit 3 for 4 with two doubles and a home run in the day's first contest. She carried that over into the finale, belting another three-run homer in the first inning.
Monterey never trailed, going up 9-1 through 2½ innings.
Fernandez was 4 for 5 with three doubles, a home run and eight RBIs in the clincher.
"I'm usually a big power hitter," Fernandez said. "Today it just felt more relaxed. We were playing with the weather instead of against it this time, and it just felt more relaxed."
Monterey bounces back after Game 1 loss
Fernandez's onslaught was part of 19 hits for the Plainsmen, 10 of which went for extra bases. Monterey totaled 29 hits off three Cooper pitchers Friday.
Fernandez attributed the turnaround to a renewed mindset after an 8-3 loss in the series opener Thursday.
"We had a really bad mentality yesterday," Fernandez said. "And if we had the same mentality today, it would not have gone how it was. We had to all be calm."
Plainsmen coach Brian Cronk agreed, saying the team showed confidence after a frustrating Game 1.
Plainsmen return to Region I-5A semifinals
Cooper led 2-1 in Game 2 and didn't trail until Fernandez's RBI double in the fifth. Still, it was a 3-2 game before Fernandez's three-run homer highlighted a four-run sixth.
The Pirates clawed within 9-6 in the fourth inning of Game 3, displaying the team's fight, Cooper coach Sheri Culwell said. The season featured the Pirates' deepest playoff run since 2018.
"The progress and the change that this team has made from three, four years ago to now, it's incredible," Culwell said. "… We all want to win, but when you learn something about yourself and your teammates and you can pull for a family and you pull as one, that's a great life lesson."
It was three seasons ago Monterey made history with its first trip to the region semifinals. In fact, the Plainsmen had never made it past the area playoffs before that run.
Now the team is preparing for its fourth consecutive fourth-round matchup.
"Just knowing that that's where we've been, I'm sure that played into (Friday)," Cronk said. "… We're trying to raise the bar and change where things fall and the expectation. All these kids have earned it, earned the opportunity to be there. Everyone does their job and does great things."
REGION I-5A QUARTERFINAL
GAME 2
Monterey 7, Lubbock-Cooper 3
Monterey 100 114 0 — 7 10 0
Cooper 200 000 1 — 3 9 3
Anays Perez. Brooklyn Ray and Brooklyn Collins (5). W — Perez. L — Ray. 2B — Monterey, Ali Vaquera, Jaden Smith, Selena Fernandez 2, Taylor Terrazas. Lubbock-Cooper, Addison Luna, McKanna Garcia, Alyssa Lozano. HR — Monterey, Fernandez.
GAME 3
Monterey 15, Lubbock-Cooper 6
Monterey 342 031 2 — 15 19 1
Cooper 101 400 0 — 6 9 2
Anays Perez. Brooklyn Ray, Brooklyn Collins (2) and Alyssa Lozano (3). W — Perez. L — Ray. 2B — Monterey, Rylee O'Brien 2, Hayley Neuman, Selena Fernandez 3, Taylor Terrazas 2. Lubbock-Cooper, McKanna Garcia, Lydia Pesterfield. HR — Monterey, Ali Vaquera, Fernandez.
Records: Monterey 26-13-2; Lubbock-Cooper 22-16.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Monterey softball wins Games 2, 3 to top Lubbock-Cooper in region quarterfinal
