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HIGH SCHOOLS ROUNDUP

Aquinas crushes Booker T. 24-0 in baseball

BY BUTCH STALLINGS

Miami Herald Writer

Power and pitching helped St. Thomas Aquinas overwhelm Booker T. Washington 24-0 on Tuesday at Nova High School.

The win raised the Raiders' record to 5-3, and puts the team back in the win column after losing 7-0 last week to Nova. Booker T., which has only two seniors on its squad, fell to 1-3-1.

Despite the lopsided victory, St. Thomas coach Robert Lawson was not overly excited.

''It's still early, and we have to work on a lot of things,'' Lawson said. ``It's not how you start the season. It's how you end it.''

Things ended quickly for Booker T., as St. Thomas built a 10-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when they sent 12 players to the plate. Carlos Azuaje started things when he doubled deep to left-center with one out. Adrain Patron then doubled in Azuaje on a shot down the left-field line for a 1-0 lead.

Leading the Raiders at the plate was Connor O'Neil, who was 2 for 3 with three RBI. Gunnar Dennis and Patron were both 2 for 2 with an RBI each.

Picking up the win for the Raiders was Danny LoCastro (2-0), who threw three innings and struck out seven. William Humphrey pitched two innings and struck out four. Neither gave up a hit.

Booker T. coach Norbert Herriott was upbeat after the loss.

''I told the kids to keep their heads up,'' Herriott said. ``We are young and have a lot of speed, and we will get better.''

Booker T. 000 00 --0 St. Thomas (10)72 5X --24

WP: Danny LoCastro (2-0). LP: Isaac Morales. Records: STA 5-3, BTW 1-3-1.

MIRAMAR 8, COCONUT CREEK 7

Coconut Creek 302 010 1 --7 13 5 Miramar 002 101 4 --8 8 4

WP: James Sanchez (1-1). LP: Austin Sebastian. Top performers: Kenny Hollins went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double for Miramar, and Alberto Canales chipped in by going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Records: Mira 5-4, CC 2-7.

CARDINAL GIBBONS

10, FORT LAUDERDALE 0

Ft. Lauderdale 000 00 --0 1 2 C. Gibbons 050 5X --0 9 0

WP: Eric Whaley (2-0). LP: Danny Brito. Top performers: John Haberlein went 3 for 3 with a triple and two doubles for Cardinal Gibbons, and John O'Donnell led the Flying L's by going 1 for 2 with a single and a stolen base. Records: CG 7-1, FTL 4-5.

ARCHBISHOP MCCARTHY 18,

HALLANDALE 1

McCarthy 3(10)1 03 --18 12 0 Hallandale 001 00 --1 4 6

WP: Alex Lopez (3-0). LP: Enrique Muluel. Top performers: Chad Cabrera went 3 for 5 with a grand slam and five RBI. Eric Martinez went 3 for 5 with an RBI and Ray Chirino went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. Records: AM 7-1-1.

SOFTBALL

NORTH BROWARD 15, PINE CREST 2

N. Broward 932 10 --15 10 1 Pine Crest 002 00 --2 6 4

WP: Brittany Thompson (3-6). Top performers: Shannon Russo went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI for North Broward, helped by Angela Rothagen, who went 1 for 2. Records: NB 3-6.

UNIVERSITY 8, CALVARY 1

University 500 012 0 --8 11 1 Calvary Chr. 001 000 0 --1 5 6

WP: Evalina Behr (4-2). LP: Kristen Gottfried. Top performers: Behr threw a complete game, striking out seven and allowing no earned runs. Teammate Taylor Bast went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and a walk, and Danielle Monday went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Records: US 4-2.

PINES CHARTER 6, MCCARTHY 0

Pines Charter 002 111 1 --6 13 0 McCarthy 000 000 0 --0 3 3

WP: Audrey Broyles (4-0). LP: Laura Saladrigas (4-2). Top performers: Broyles struck out 10 and went 2 for 4 with a home run. Cassie Sigler went 2 for 3 with a run and Britanie Block went 2 for 4 with a run. Records: PPC 7-0, AM 9-3.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

As expected, Sagemont stayed inside its program to find a new boys' basketball coach. Adam Ross, an associate head coach the past three seasons, has been chosen to succeed Jorge De Cespedes, who stepped down to explore a noncoaching basketball opportunity.

Ross inherits a team with heightened expectations after advancing to the State Tournament for the first time and losing 54-53 to state power Jacksonville Arlington Country Day in the FHSAA Class 2A State championship game at The Lakeland Center on Saturday. The hiring should ensure a smooth transition for the Lions, who won one game before De Cespedes took over and has gone 72-18 since.

''Jorge has put us in a position to be successful and he deserves a lot of the credit,'' Ross said. ``I am thrilled to be taking over the program. Our future is very bright. We have a great group of young players who have now gotten a taste of the state Final Four and are hungry to get back there again.''

Despite playing without 6-9 senior center Garvin Hunt -- its leading rebounder and shot-blocker, the Lions had three opportunities to take the lead in the last 16.6 seconds against the Apaches but fell 54-53.

Next year's team is expected to be built around the talents of 6-2 junior guard Raymond Higgs Jr. (10 ppg, 4 rpg), whose dunk from inside the free-throw line sparked a second-quarter rally against the Apaches, and 6-5 freshman forward Rod Days Jr. (7.8 ppg, 6 rpg).

''Raymond improved both as a player and as a teammate throughout the year,'' Ross said. ``Rod Days has blossomed, he has incredible potential. It is exciting to know that Rod will be the face of our program.''

-- FABIAN LYON

• Cardinal Gibbons d. Deerfield Beach, 25-10, 25-10, 25-16: Nick Williams led the way for the Chiefs (1-0) with 14 kills, five digs, nine service points and three aces. Austin Belt added three kills and 31 assists, and John T. Downs had nine kills, four digs and nine service points.

• University School d. Pine Crest, 25-22, 25-27, 15-9: Jared Baum had five service points, nine kills and seven digs in the losing cause for the Panthers (0-1). Max Carpenter added two aces, 13 assists and seven digs against.

• Pine Crest d. American Heritage, 25-15, 25-22: The Panthers (1-1) rebounded thanks to Baum (10 service points, seven kills) and Rory Dietz (five kills, three blocks), beating the Patriots (0-1).

• American Heritage d. University, 25-20, 25-21: The Patriots (1-1) got their own bounce-back by beating the Suns (1-1) in the final match at Pine Crest.

BOYS' WATER POLO

• Fort Lauderdale 15, Nova 8: The Flying L's (1-4) earned their program's first-ever victory. Jake Prows (six goals), Robert McKinnes (three goals) and Mike Eagan (two goals) helped knock off the Titans (1-4).

GIRLS' WATER POLO

• Westminster Academy 11, Coral Springs 8: Caroline Israel scored seven of 11 goals for the Eagles (1-2), also tallying eight steals, four assists and eight saves while subbing in goal. For Coral Springs, Hannah Swoop had three goals.

• Nova 20, Fort Lauderdale 2: Ariel Jagusztyn (seven goals) and Soyriah Davis (six goals) led the way for Nova.

BOYS' LACROSSE

• St. Thomas Aquinas 19, American Heritage Plantation 2: Ben Young led the Raiders (8-0) with six goals, and Ricky Wingate added two.

BOYS' TRACK

• Archbishop McCarthy 249, American Heritage 110, South Florida Heat 99, North Broward Prep 66, Westlake Prep 50, Doral Academy 28 -- 4x800: NBP 9:10; 100 hurdles: Hueck (AM), 15.95; 100: Day (AH), 11.82; 200: Hueck (AM), 23.66; 1,600: Faulkender (AM), 4:55; 4x100: NBP; 400: Vazquez-Milan (AMH), 51.19; 300 hurdles: Hueck (AM), 42.47; 800: Palermo (NBP), 2:10; 3,200: Bemis (Heat), 10:56; 4x400: AH; Shot put: Thompson (Heat), 51-10; Discus: Thompson (Heat), 157-4; High jump: Taddeo (AM) and Hankerson (AH), 5-10; Long jump: Ramirez (AM) 20-5 ½; Triple jump: Ramirez (AM), 40-8 ½; Pole vault: Amodio (AM), 13-0.

• Westminster Academy 86, Pine Crest 49, St. Andrews 10, Parkway Academy 8 -- 4x800: PC, 9:20.31; 110 hurdles: Shin (SA), 17.49; 100: Gray (WA), 11.68; 200: Lasley (WA), 24.07; 1,600: Perez (WA), 4:53.36; 4x100: WA, 45.27; 400: Hess (WA), 52.07; 300 hurdles: Elliot (PC), 43.15; 800: Baker (PC), 2:12.58; 3,200: Baker (PC), 11:03.31; 4x400: PC, 3:43.33; Shot put: Mondshine (PC), 44-1; Discus: Albright (WA), 111-8; High jump: Sears (WA), 6-0; Long jump: Lasley (WA), 19-6 ½; Triple jump: Sheffield (WA), 42-8; Pole vault: Padrino (WA), 12-6.

GIRLS' TRACK

• Archbishop McCarthy 117, South Florida Heat 102, American Heritage 85, North Broward Prep 20, Doral Academy 18 -- 4x800: AM 10:44; 100 hurdles: Technow (Heat), 18.08; 100: Brant (AM), 14.54; 200: ; 1,600: Espino (Dor), 5:48; 4x100: AH, 54.1; 400: French (NBP); 300 hurdles: Dooling (AH), 49.85; 800: Lima (Heat), 2:33; 3,200: Espino (Dor), 12:26; 4x400: AH, 4:21.8; Shot put: Caparro (AH), 33-6; Discus: Caparro (AH), 98-6; High jump: Owen (AM), 5-5; Long jump: Strizelka (AH), 14-5; Triple jump: Brant (AM) 30-9 ½; Pole vault: Cassidy (AM), 8-6.

• Westminster Academy 70, Pine Crest 53, St. Andrews 25, Parkway 3 -- 4x800: WA, 11:04.18; 100 hurdles: Lunn (PC), 17.15; 100: Bosket (WA), 14.02; 200: Lazowick (PC), 28.67; 1,600: Roycraft (WA), 5:32.09; 4x100: PC 54.87; 400: Grosz-Tenger (WA), 1:05.06; 300 hurdles: Lunn (PC), 49.59; 800: Roycraft (WA), 2:35.12; 3,200: Schumtz (SA), 12:40; 4x400: WA, 4:31.92; Shot put: Dalgaris (PC), 25-7 ½; Discus: Leahy (WA), 78-1; High jump: Ross (PC), 5-0; Long jump: Tremblay (SA), 15-9; Triple jump: Tremblay (SA), 30-6 ½; Pole vault: Kalomeris (WA), 7-6

BOYS' TENNIS

• Hollywood Hills 6, South Broward 1:Singles:No. 1 Freiman (HH) d. Quintana (SB), 8-8 (7-1); 2.Maman (HH) d. Garcia (SB), 8-2; 3.McDonald (HH) d. Rozati (SB), 8-0; 4.Megidish (HH) d. Lalu (SB), 8-5; 5.Pare (SB) d. Kimball (HH), 9-8 (7-5); Doubles:No. 1 Freiman/McDonald (HH) d. Richardson/Maurer (SB), 8-0; 2.Maman/Aristizabal (HH) d. Parus/Caro (SB), 8-0. Records:HH 1-2, SB 0-3.

• Pine Crest 4, American Heritage: Singles:No. 1 Muckey (PC) d. Geis (AHP), 8-2; 2. Sabacinski (AHP) d. Katms (PC), 8-4; 3.Willenborg (PC) d. Goodman (AHP), 8-4; 4.Lederman (PC) d. Marzack (AHP), 8-4; 5.de Bracamonte (PC) d. Flynn (AHP), 8-3; Doubles:No. 1 Geis/Goodman (AHP) d. Katms/Muckey (PC), 8-6; 2.Sabacinski/Marzack (AHP) d. Willenborg/Lederman (PC), 6-0. Records: AHP 5-1, PC 3-0.

• University 6, Westminster A. 1:Singles:No. 1 Segal (US) d. Gates (WA), 8-1; 2. Mervis (US) d. Jacob (WA), 8-2; 3. Ginsburg (US) d. McMurtrey (WA), 8-4; 4. Omsky (US) d. Luzinski (WA), 9-7; 5. Plutt (US) d. Sawyer (WA), 8-0; Doubles:No. 1 Gates/Jacob (WA) d. Segal/Marvis (US), 9-8 (7-2); 2. Ginsburg/Plutt (US) d. Coningsby/Oakes (WA), 8-4. Records: US 1-1, WA 3-4.

• St. Thomas Aquinas 7, Pembroke Pines Charter 0:Singles:No. 1 Augustino (STA) d. Anderson (PPC), 8-0; 2. Delvalle (STA) d. MacDonald (PPC), 8-0; 3. Aguiar (STA) d. Hopkins (PPC), 8-1; 4. Miles (STA) d. Chew (PPC), 8-3; 5. Cooper (STA) d. Holung (PPC), 8-3; Doubles:No. 1 Habig/Aguirre (STA) d. Chew/Paseiro (PPC), 8-4; 2. Berger/Debruyne (STA) d. Aguero/Giaccihetto (PPC), 8-3. Records: STA 3-1.

• Taravella 7, Coral Springs 0:Singles:No. 1 Dias (Tara) d. Macknofsky (CS), 8-3; 2. Ruvic (Tara) d. Pritz (CS), 8-6; 3. D. Anez (Tara) d. Filizzola (CS), 8-4; 4. A. Anez (Tara) d. Warren (CS), 8-0; 5. Mehta (Tara) d. Stransky (CS), 8-2; Doubles:No. 1 Dias/Ruvic (Tara) d. Macknofsky/Pritz (CS), 8-2; 2. Heffley/Ramirez (Tara) d. Campoverde/Torres, 8-5. Records: Tara 5-1-1, CS 2-4.

GIRLS' TENNIS

• American Heritage Plantation 4, Pine Crest 2:Singles:No. 1 Sabacinski (AHP) d. C. Malinchak (PC), 8-2; 2.Kiseleva (AHP) d. Epstein (PC), 8-6; 3.Distefano (AHP) d. Taylor (PC), 8-4; 4.Russell (PC) d. Buslepp (AHP), 8-3; 5.T. Malinchak (PC) d. Rodriguez (AHP), 8-2; Doubles:No. 1 Sabacinski/Kiseleva (AHP) d. C. Malinchak/Epstein, 8-3. Records: AHP 6-0, PC 2-1.

• Taravella 4, Coral Springs 3:Singles:No. 1 Bentley (Tara) d. Salmeron (CS), 8-2; 2. Nguyen (CS) d. Schwerstein (Tara), 8-2; 3. Morales (CS) d. Schanks (Tara), 8-5; 4. Palacio (Tara) d. Greene (CS), 8-6; 5. Pepin (Tara) d. Bell (CS), 8-5; Doubles:No. 1 Bentley/Schwerstein (Tara) d. Salmeron/Nguyen (CS), 8-2; 2. Morales/Greene (CS) d. Schanks/Pepin (Tara), 11-9. Records: Tara 4-3, CS 4-2.

• Cypress Bay 6, Coral Springs Charter 1:Singles:No. 1 Hollander (CSC) d. Chaparro (CB) 8-3; 2. Pino (CB) d. Horn (CSC), 8-0; 3. Cepeda (CB) d. Perez (CSC), 8-0; 4. Martinez (CB) d. B. Rivera (CSC), 8-1; 5. Fuenmayor (CB) d. J. Rivera (CSC), 8-3; Doubles:No. 1 Pino/Chaparro (CB) d. Hollander/Horn (CSC), 8-3; 2. Cepeda/Martinez (CB) d. B. Rivera/Devos (CSC), 8-0. Records: CB 4-1.

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE

BASEBALL

Northeast at Coral Glades, 6:30

Western at Coral Springs, 6:30

Dillard at Stranahan, 3:45

Taravella at Everglades, 3:45

Hollywood Hills at South Broward, 6:30

SOFTBALL

St. Thomas Aquinas at Dillard, 4

South Plantation at Hollywood Hills, 4

Stranahan at Northeast, 6:30

Western at Piper, 4

TRACK

Dillard, Plantation at Boyd Anderson

Cypress Bay, Douglas at Everglades

Pompano Beach, McArthur at St. Thomas Aquinas

Miramar, Pines Charter at Cooper City

Blanche Ely, Piper at South Plantation

Coral Springs Charter, Northeast at Monarch

Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach at Coral Springs

Cardinal Gibbons at Fort Lauderdale

Stranahan, Taravella at Nova

Flanagan, Hollywood Hills at Western

South Broward, Coral Glades at Hallandale

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

Pines Charter at Cooper City, 4:30

Coral Springs at Coral Glades, 6

Everglades at Chaminade, 5

McArthur at Flanagan, 4:30

Stranahan at Piper, 6

Somerset at South Broward, 4:30

TENNIS

Cypress Bay at Cardinal Gibbons

Douglas at Monarch

BOYS' WATER POLO

Deerfield Beach vs. Cardinal Gibbons (at Weston), 8

Everglades vs. South Broward (at Cooper City), 5:30

South Plantation at Cooper City, 7:30

GIRLS' WATER POLO

Deerfield Beach vs. Cardinal Gibbons (at Weston), 7

Everglades vs. South Broward (at Cooper City), 4:30

South Plantation at Cooper City, 6:30