Posted on Sat, Mar. 22, 2008

Monsignor Pace senior Ray Shipman's trophy case continues to fill up.

Shipman was named Gatorade's Florida Boys' Basketball Player of the Year Friday after guiding the Spartans to their second consecutive Class 4A state championship.

Shipman, a 6-5, 205-pound small forward averaged 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game this season, and will play for the University of Florida next season. He is the first Miami-Dade County player to win the award since former South Miami forward Lucas Barnes in 1996, and the eighth since Gatorade beginning giving the award in 1985.

Shipman is also the second Miami-Dade athlete to earn such award this calendar year, joining Booker T. Washington senior cornerback Brandon Harris, who won for football.

Shipman was a two-time state final four Most Valuable Player, has a 4.0 GPA, and is a member of his school's peer leadership group, volunteering on numerous community-service project initiatives on behalf of the National Honor Society in addition to mentoring youth athletes as an instructor at area basketball camps.

Shipman is also a finalist for the Florida Dairy Farmers ''Mr. Basketball'' Award. He was recently named the Class 4A State Player of the Year.

The seven former Dade winners are Chris Corchiani (Hialeah-Miami Lakes -- 1987), Jose Ramos (Miami High -- 1988), Douglas Edwards (Miami High -- 1989), Ochiel Swaby (North Miami -- 1991), Steve Edwards (Miami High -- 1992), Charlie Miller (South Miami -- 1994) and Lucas Barnes (South Miami -- 1996).

MR. BASKETBALL

Shipman wasn't the only Dade basketball star to earn a Florida Dairy Farmers' Player of the Year Award.

Norland forward Antonio Hester was named the Class 6A Player of the Year after leading the Vikings to their second state championship in three seasons. Hester averaged 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and helped Norland beat state No. 1 ranked Boyd Anderson in the state final.

Norland coach Lawton Williams III was also recognized as the Class 6A Coach of the Year.

Hester and Shipman are both finalists for the Dairy Farmers' ''Mr. Basketball'' award, which crowns the top player in Florida regardless of classification. Williams is a finalist for Overall Coach of the Year.

• Thursday -- Westminster Christian 4, Westwood Christian 1: The Westminster Christian baseball team beat district opponent Westwood Christian Thursday at FIU to clinch the top spot in district 15-2A. The Warriors Jovanhy Perez-Castañeda pitched a complete game giving up a run and recording four strikeouts. ''[Perez-Castañeda] controlled the tempo of the game,'' Westminster head coach Emile Castellanos said. ``It was a big win for the program.''

In the top of the six with two outs and two men on Kevin Fennel hit a base hit to left field to bring in both runners. With the win Westminster clinches the top spot in district 16-2A finishes a perfect 7-0 in district play. Alex Garcia was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Jonathan Escarza was 2 for 3 and stole two bases.

WC 200 002 0 --4 5 0 WW 010 000 0 --1 4 2

WP: Jovanhy Perez-Castañeda (3-0). LP: Estrada. Top performers: Records: WM 9-5, 7-0.

BASEBALL

BELEN JESUIT 4, KEY WEST 3

Bel 003 010 0 --4 6 2 KW 000 210 0 --3 5 1

WP: Chris Degoti (2-0). Top performers: Andres Wiltz was 1 for 3 with a three-run home run. Lucas Calderon was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Byron Soler was 1 for 3. Records: Bel 11-1.

THURSDAY

REAGAN 5, MATER 4 (9)

Reagan 002 020 001-- 5 9 1 Mater 000 040 000-- 4 9 2 WP: Yoan Martinez (2-4). Sv: Manny Perdomo (2). Top performers: Jean Paul Brull was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. Jean Pierre Brull was 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI. Martinez pitched 8 1/3 innings and struck out 10. Records: RR 4-12.

LACROSSE

• Lake Braddock 6, Ransom Everglades 5: Jordan Flanzraich had two goals and one assist. Sean Ziegler and Scott Krasnoff played strong defense. RE 7-4.

BASEBALL STATS

THROUGH SUNDAY

BATTING AVERAGE

Player, SchoolBA

Adrian Gongora, Goleman.629

David Vidal, Brito.609

Sean Hernandez, St. Brendan.600

Alex Alfonso, Killian.591

Leo Rojas, Brito.577

Leo Carrillo, Florida Christian .563

Ricardo Espinosa, Brito.556

Luis Lumpuy, Mater .518

Anthony Falco, Archbishop Carroll.500

Gerry Gonzalez, Ransom Everglades.500

John Tillman, Archbishop Curley.500

Greg Steinmann, Palmer Trinity.500

Rony Rodriguez, Sunset.487

Jonathan Silva, Ferguson.474

Andy Acosta, Archbishop Carroll.474

Danny Fraga, Goleman.472

Michael Yeash, Archbishop Curley.472

Pedro Boissalier, Miami Beach.471

Joel Capote, Sunset.459

Yoemmy Gonzalez, Brito.458

Robert Case, South Dade.457

Nick Nevin, Palmer Trinity.450

JC Morales, Ferguson.450

Ray Navarro, Florida Christian.442

Nathan Melendres, Florida Christian.441

Frank Solis, Goleman.439

Landon Michelson, Palmer Trinity.438

Ralph Ruiz, Hialeah.438

George Saez, Westwood Christian.435

Manny Machado, Brito.435

Hochi Urbaez, Brito.435

Remy Estevez, Krop.433

Justin Gonzalez, Columbus.429

Abner Santana, Krop.419

Mike Martinez, Killian.417

Marlon Leyva, Florida Christian .414

Max Figueroa, Dade Christian.406

Alex Johnson, Sunset.406

Joseph Achon, Sunset.405

Alfedo Brito, Florida Christian.405

Hector Crespo, Florida Christian .405

Alex Marrero, Florida Christian .400

Brett Couvell, Archbishop Curley.400

Mike Perez, Dade Christian.400

RUNS BATTED IN

Player, SchoolRBI

Vikash Ramjit, Columbus19

Luis Lumpuy, Mater 18

Frank Solis, Goleman17

Ryan Berdecia, Goleman16

Nick Geary, Ransom Everglades16

Rony Rodriguez, Sunset16

Gregg Steinmann, Palmer Trinity16

Alex Pacheco, Goleman15

Andy Ruiz, Goleman15

George Saez, Westwood Christian15

Aaron Fernandez, Westwood Christian14

Mike Martinez, Killian14

Enier Perez, Goleman14

Sean Hernandez, St. Brendan13

Robert Case, South Dade12

Jordan Chanyng, Westwood Christian12

Anthony Falco, Archbishop Carroll12

Jonathan Regalado, Hialeah12

Jonathan Silva, Ferguson12

Justin Gonzalez, Columbus11

David Vidal, Brito11

Remy Estevez, Krop11

Henri Thomas, Krop11

Garrett Whittles, Krop11

Leo Rojas, Brito11

Hochi Urbaez, Brito11

Nick Nietzel, Ransom Everglades11

Jean-Paul Prull, Ronald Reagan11

Felipe Camilo, Miami Beach11

Joel Capote, Sunset11

Yoemmy Gonzalez, Brito10

Thomas Guerrero, Hialeah10

Carlos Labrador, Killian10

HOME RUNS

Player, SchoolHR

Luis Lumpuy, Mater 6

Mike Perez, Dade Christian5

Michael Yeash, Archbishop Curley4

Eric Estevez, Archbishop Carroll4

Rony Rodriguez, Sunset4

Leo Rojas, Brito4

Gregg Steinmann, Palmer Trinity4

Randy Verdecia, Hialeah3

Garrett Whittles, Krop3

ERA

Player, SchoolERA

Anthony Falco, Archbishop Carroll0.00

Ricky Perez, Westwood Christian0.68

Sam Robinson, Killian0.76

Samuel Diaz, Brito0.82

Gerald Mejia, Goleman0.86

Lazaro Martina, Brito0.87

Mike Gonzalez, Columbus0.97

Joe Coto, Goleman1.35

Javier Barros, Ferguson1.38

Danny Miranda, Killian1.45

Willie Leon, Columbus1.47

Garrett Whittels, Krop1.58

James Valentin, Ferguson1.77

Tim Jeter, Miami Beach1.91

Michael Yeash, Archbishop Curley1.91

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE

BASEBALL

Dade Christian at Westwood Christian, 4:00

SOFTBALL

Hialeah-Miami Lakes at Homestead (Homestead Complex), 10 a.m.

TRACK AND FIELD

Falcon Invitational at Ferguson -- 9 a.m.

BOYS' WATER POLO

Krop at Miami High, 3:30 (Hadley)