Douglas, South Broward, NBP, Gibbons coaches are Broward Baseball Coaches of the Year
Three state champions.
And a milestone victory for a program that has long been seeking a breakthrough.
Those are the accomplishments that highlight this year’s Miami Herald Broward County Baseball Coaches of the Year.
Stoneman Douglas’ Todd Fitz-Gerald and South Broward’s Antonino Schembari share the honors this season for Classes 7A-6A.
Meanwhile after historic seasons for both, Cardinal Gibbons’ Jason Hamilton and North Broward Prep’s Brian Campbell share honors for Classes 5A-2A.
It was a stellar season for Broward baseball as the county came away with three state championships and one state runner-up finish. It was the first time since 2016 that Broward teams won three state titles in one season.
Here’s a look at the accomplishments of each of the four coaches that helped make it a memorable season in the “954.”
▪ Toward the latter part of the regular season, Stoneman Douglas had more losses on its record (5) than it had in the previous three seasons combined.
The doubters were heard in Parkland. But doubt never crept in among the Eagles, who scored a season-changing 6-5 walk-off win over North Broward Prep, which ignited a run to the Class 7A state championship. It was Douglas’ fourth in a row and fifth since 2016. Fitz-Gerald has now won six state titles overall, having secured one in 2008 at American Heritage.
▪ A year after coming up short in the Class 3A final, Campbell regrouped the Eagles and secured their third state title in four seasons. North Broward Prep has become one of the most consistent programs in the state under Campbell’s direction and capped its latest championship with a thrilling win over Westminster Christian.
▪ Hamilton, who has been coaching at Gibbons for 26 years, ended a longstanding title drought as he guided the Chiefs to their first championship since 1987. Led by its pitching, Gibbons was one of the most consistent teams in the state, finishing 25-4-2.
▪ Schembari returned to his alma mater in recent years in the hopes of leading South Broward to new heights. He accomplished a major milestone this season as he led the Bulldogs to a district championship and their first regional playoff victory. Before pulling off an upset of nationally-ranked Doral Academy to do so, South Broward had lost its previous 18 regional opening round appearances.
