Marlins Herald honorees

The Miami Marlins and the Miami Herald teamed to honor three outstanding student athletes before the Marlins/San Diego Padres game at Marlins Park.

Aventura’s Christopher Marquez (Madie Ives Elementary School/Hallandale Beach PAL), North Miami’s Taylor Sennett (Miami Country Day School) and Davie’s Dylan Shaffer (Indian Ridge Middle School/Town of Davie) have excelled in the classroom and on the field, demonstrating character, hard work and sportsmanship.

Marquez, a fifth grader at Madie Ives, was the team MVP for the Hallandale Beach PAL Rangers, pitching and playing third base in the Mustang Division. In the advanced class, he was one of the top students, maintaining a 3.8-4.0 GPA throughout elementary school. He received a Citizenship Award, a Math Achievement Award and the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.

Sennett, an eighth grader at Miami Country Day, started on the high school varsity softball team, playing second base, right field and pitching. She ran for the varsity cross-country team, qualifying for regionals three times and winning the team’s Spartan Award.

She was the school’s Middle School Female Athlete of the Year and also garnered the school’s Marnie B. Allen Spirit Award. She started for the middle school girls’ soccer team, winning the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

Sennett was chosen as her school’s middle school honoree as recognized by the long-running Sports Society, promoting women’s sports. Academically, Sennett was on the Director’s List each quarter. She was treasurer for student government and was a member of the. National Junior Honor Society, National Spanish Honor & Friendship Society and Reach for the Stars.

Shaffer, an eighth grader at Indian Ridge, helped his Town of Davie baseball team win the World Series. In advanced classes, he was one of 22 students from 800 who achieved straight A’s each year. He earned a trophy for his academic prowess and the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.

Marlins starting pitcher Mark Buehrle and Billy the Marlin acknowledged them on the field before the game. Buehrle gave each an autographed photo. Each honoree also received two game tickets, a parking pass, a certificate and a medal.

Highlight 1 of ceremony on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkb2IyWjrDI&feature=relmfu.

Highlight 2 of ceremony on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL1-ZPUms_Y&feature=relmfu.

The Marlins Herald program, now in its 10th year, recognizes youth baseball and softball players who do well or have improved in the classroom.

Baseball

Freshman Carlos Matamoros, known as Mata, is a starting outfielder on the Miami Dade College (Kendall) baseball team.

An 18-year-old, he overcame hardship to make the team. His father, Carlos Sr., died suddenly of a massive heart attack on Aug. 13, 2011, a week before he started college. Carlos adjusted to college life and playing at the college level, ending the semester with a 3.50 and making the Dean’s List in spite of a heavy heart.

Carlos and his dad were very close, and no one knew how Carlos was going to react.

Carlos graduated from Coral Gables High School in 2011 with a full baseball scholarship. His father was instrumental in him signing with Miami Dade College, not leaving Miami, even though he had other baseball scholarship offers.