2005 SEASON: Appeared as a first baseman, designated hitter and relief pitcher as the Comets became the first San Diego County team to advance to the State Championship Game in 31 years, finishing second to match the highest finish ever by a county team. ... Finished the season 1-1 with a save and a 4.50 earned run average for 16 innings. ... Also hit 3 home runs. ... Doubled in the sixth inning and scored the winning run in on Scott Clement's single in the Comets' 5-3 season opening victory over Ventura on Feb. 3. Went 2-for-4 in the game with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs. .... Threw an inning of shutout relief in a 6-2 win over Mt. San Jacinto on Feb. 15, striking out 2 and an inning of scorless relief in a 10-1 win over Southwestern on March 10. ... Went 2-for-4 with a triple, double, RBI and three runs scored in am 11-5 win against Mt. SAC, the No. 5-ranked team in Southern California, on March 24. ... Came on in relief in the second game of the doubleheader against the Mounties and gave up one run in three innings, striking out six. ... Went 2-for-2 with two home runs and three RBIs in a 5-3 victory over San Diego Mesa on March 29. .... Pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning in an 11-1 win at San Diego Mesa on April 26, retiring the Olympians on a fly ball, strikeout and groundout. ... Came on in the ninth inning and etired the side 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts in a 19-4 win at Imperial Valley on May 3. ... Singled to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning in a 6-3 victory over Grossmont on May 4. Southern California Regionals Round 1 — Slugged a 2-run home run in the top of the 11th inning and also came on with 2 outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th to get the final out and record the save as Palomar downed Santa Barbara City College 7-4 on May 15. The victory gave the Comets a 2-0 sweep of the Vaqueros in the first round of the Southern California Community College playoffs. Super Regionals — Went 2-for-5 and scored the winning run in the 10th inning on May 21 as the Comets rallied from a 6-0 ninth-inning deficit to remain alive in the tournament with a 7-6 victory over Cuesta. Also recorded the pitching win, throwing the ninth and 10th innings for the Comets. ... Went 2-for-4 and drove in a run later the same day in a 5-0 victory over Rio Hondo. State Final Four — Singled, walked, was hit by a pitch and scored 2 runs as the Comets beat eventual State Champion Santa Rosa 10-5 on the opening day of the State finals May 28 in Fresno. ... Doubled and scored the first run of the game to help Palomar get off on the right foot in a 12-9 win over Fresno City College in the winners' bracket finals on May 29. ... Went 2-for-4, doubled and had 2 RBIs in the Comets' loss to Santa Rosa in the State Championship Game on May 30 as the Bear Cubs won their first State title in 53 years and Hernandez and his teammates finished as State runner-up.

2004 SEASON: Saw action both at catcher and designated hitter early in the season but wound up taking a medical redshirt due to an injury. ... Went 2-for-4, tripled and drove in a run Feb. 7 against Santa Ana, the No. 1-ranked team in the State in the preseason. ... Had a 2-run single Feb. 24 vs. Orange Coast.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Oceanside High School under coach Dave Barrett. ... Was Valley League Player of the Year and a two-time team MVP. ... All-CIF-San Diego Section and All-North County selection. ... Helped lead the Pirates to the CIF-San Diego Section Division III finals in 2001 (vs. Mission Bay) and 2002 (vs. Eastlake).

PERSONAL: Born Dec. 12, 1984, in San Diego. ... Son of Jose and Cecilia Hernandez. ... Has two brothers, George, 28, and Roberto, 21. ... George Hernandez played for Occidental College and is varsity pitching coach at Oceanside High School. Brother Roberto played at San Diego Mesa College and currently pitches for Culver Stockton College.... Cousin of Palomar College men's soccer coach Carlos Hernandez and Palomar assistant men's soccer coach Hector Hernandez.

(Note: Updated on June 2, 2005. Player biographies are updated at least weekly during the season.)