Heritage’s Holiday, Butt, North Broward’s Gray are Broward 5A-2A Players of the Year
Spencer Butt had seen good players come and go and teams fall short during his first four years on the American Heritage baseball team.
In Year 5, the Patriots’ senior shortstop played a huge role in making sure it all clicked, along with several younger players like sophomore pitcher Talan Holiday.
And over at North Broward Prep, while the Eagles saw their two-year run as state champs halted one game short of a three-peat, junior Mateo Gray gave them reason to believe it’s just a bump in the road.
All three players’ outstanding seasons are the reasons they respectively are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Pitchers and Players of the Year for Classes 5A-2A. Holiday and Gray are the Co-Pitchers of the Year while Butt earned Player of the Year honors.
Gray, a UCF commit, was a workhorse for North Broward Prep even in defeat, throwing over 100 pitches in the Eagles’ 9-3 loss to Clearwater Calvary Christian in Class 3A state final.
But with North Broward’s pitching staff depleted with Ryan McPherson unavailable, Gray led the Eagles to multiple crucial wins including a win over Montverde Academy in the regional final.
Gray, a transfer from Cypress Bay, finished with a 6-0 record on the mound and a 1.39 ERA and also hit .344 with 26 RBI while hitting in the 2-hole in the Eagles’ lineup.
“Coming to a new program and having never even experienced winning a playoff game, it was a different feeling,” Gray said. “A big part of this team are juniors and we’ve known each other for a long time, but really getting to know them all day, every day really created a strong bond on the team and it showed on the field. We’re going to be a senior team for the majority so I think we’re going to be hungry to go after it.”
Holiday formed a potent 1-2 punch on the mound for Heritage with freshman Spencer Krasner throughout its run to the 5A state title - the school’s first since 2012 and third overall.
Holiday went 9-1 with 81 strikeouts, threw a no-hitter and three shutouts overall and compiled a 1.28 ERA. This included a nine-strikeout outing over 6 ⅓ innings in the state semifinals.
“Everything just clicked from the start,” Holiday said. “Spencer (Butt) and (Heritage starting catcher) Mateo (Serna) led the way and just being around the older guys just set the path for me to do my thing this year. Spencer and I still have a lot to learn but I’m excited for the future and we’re ready to rock.”
Butt, a Florida State signee, thrived in the big moments. Butt hit .342 with 34 RBI and five home runs with none bigger than his grand slam to tie the state championship game against Tampa Jesuit. He later ignited the rally in the eighth inning that led to Heritage’s 8-5 extra-inning win.
“It’s definitely surreal but being in those moments and keeping my calm is what I’ll take to college with me. I always tell the guys never get too high or too low. It’s just my personality and the way our coaching staff prepares us.”
