Logan Fernandez Shines as Mount Carmel Eyes State Glory

In a Mount Carmel baseball team stacked with four high-major Division I talents, senior outfielder Logan Fernandez often finds himself in the shadows. Despite not having the most imposing stature compared to his teammates, he stands as the Caravan’s essential No. 3 hitter. A Triton commit, Fernandez has become accustomed to being underestimated.

“I’m just a kid from the city,” he shared. “I’ve always been surrounded by kids who have a little more of a spotlight than me. I’ve never let that faze me. I just go out there and play ball.”

Fernandez has demonstrated his value on the field, boasting a batting average of .385, along with 39 RBIs and 33 runs scored as the Caravan (30-10) prepares to face Libertyville (29-10-1) in a Class 4A state semifinal set for 7 p.m. Friday at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. His contributions also include seven doubles and two home runs, showcasing his consistency at the plate.

One notable moment from the recent Crestwood Supersectional came when Sandburg opted to intentionally walk Illinois recruit Joey Ireland to face Fernandez. With two outs and a runner on second, Fernandez responded with a two-run double, helping secure a 6-3 victory for Mount Carmel. “I took that as disrespect,” Fernandez remarked. “It’s kind of hard to intentionally walk anybody on our team the way our lineup is. One through nine, we’re all hitters.”

Mount Carmel's head coach, Brian Hurry, has unwavering confidence in Fernandez’s abilities. “Logan has been such a great hitter for us,” he noted. “He’s steady and consistent and he has come through for us so many times.” After transferring from Jones High School, Fernandez quickly integrated into the team, feeling like he had always belonged.

This year marks a significant return for the Caravan, reaching state for the first time since 2015. Having faced tough competition throughout the season, including victories over St. Laurence and the host Crusaders, Mount Carmel is eager for their upcoming challenges. Senior pitcher Jake Matise, a Lewis recruit, emphasized their determination: “It’s draining but we have two more to win. We’re going to put everything we have into these last two games to win state.”

Fernandez is ready to do his part as they aim for the championship. “I love this team and all these guys,” he said. “It means everything to get to state with them. We know how good of a team we have, and we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”