West Kendall’s Nicholas Frades (Conchita Espinosa Academy), Golden Beach’s Jesse Grosman (Miami Country Day School), Miami Lakes’ Nicholas Sanchez (Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School), Miami’s Sal Maxwell Stewart (Pinecrest Cove Preparatory Academy) and North Miami’s Sarisha Wiggins (Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep School) were honored during a presentation conducted by the Miami Marlins in conjunction with the Miami Herald.

These outstanding student athletes displayed solid academics in the classroom and sportsmanship on the field, competing in school, rec league and/or travel baseball or softball.

Each recipient received two game tickets, complimentary parking, a certificate and an autographed Marlins player card, presented by Marlins catcher Rob Brantly. They were recognized by Brantly, Billy the Marlin and fans near home plate before the Marlins/San Diego Padres game at Marlins Park.

THE HONOREES

Nicholas Frades

Nicholas, 12, a sixth grader at Conchita Espinosa Academy, has been playing baseball since he was 4. He played at Tamiami Park until he was 12. In 2009, he was the pitching champion and placed second overall in the local MLB Pitch, Hit and Run.

When he was in third grade, he made the school’s baseball team. He was the only third grader playing a middle school sport. He has been on the team ever since. The team has been champions at Bird Lake Park and in the Glades Baseball League. He plays all positions, besting as pitcher and first baseman.

A West Kendall resident, he also plays basketball for Conchita Espinosa, playing on the middle school team the past two years.

He has always been an excellent student, and he finished his first year of middle school with First Honors. He is junior editor of the school’s yearbook. He is a humble young man and a role model, who is and loved by his teachers and friends.

Jesse Grosman

Jesse, an eighth grader, is a Miami Country Day Middle School baseball player who had a fantastic season, earning a promotion to the Spartans’ high school varsity team near season’s end.

Grosman, 14, is also an outstanding student with English 8 Honors (quarter scores 90-92-93); Integrated Math I-8 (80-89-87); Physical Science 8 (90-87-92); Social Studies 8 (88-87-87); Spanish 8 Honors (89-85-92); PE (94-84-93); Drama (88-80-81).

A Golden Beach resident, his extra-curricular activities includes National Junior Honor Society and Operation Smile, an organization that helps raise money to bring smiles to children with cleft lips and pallet deformations in foreign countries that cannot afford it.

Nicholas Sanchez

Nicholas, a Miami Lakes resident, is an eighth grader at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School in Miami Lakes. He was named MVP of the middle school’s varsity baseball team.

The 14-year-old also plays basketball and flag football for the school.

Away from school, he plays baseball for the Optimist Club of Miami Lakes where he’s been captain of its all-star baseball team the past three years.

He recently graduated with honors as an eighth grader from Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School. He will be attending Belen Jesuit High School in the fall.

On Sundays, he serves as lector and acolyte at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church.

He was recently awarded with his school’s Outstanding Citizenship Award. The award is given to a student who demonstrates outstanding service to its community and school.