Diaz, Wylie, Zambrano, Abdullah are Dade 7A-4A Softball Players of the Year
As Doral Academy shortstop Anabela Abdullah heads off to the University of Texas, she leaves a successful legacy to the next generation of Firebirds including freshman pitcher Camila Diaz.
And at Coral Reef, it’s the end of an era for pitchers Quin Wylie and Erin Zambrano, who for four years anchored the Barracudas’ pitching staff.
All four kept their respective teams among the state’s best this past season.
Abdullah is once again the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Softball Player of the Year for Classes 7A-4A.
And after strong seasons by each, Wylie, Zambrano and Diaz split honors as Co-Pitchers of the Year for 7A-4A.
Zambrano and Wylie have known each other since they were eight years old.
It made what could have been a fierce competition for playing time a healthy partnership.
They formed part of a larger group that included senior catcher Brianna Fields and third baseman Chloe Junco, which led Coral Reef to the regional playoffs, as well as district and GMAC championships each of their four seasons of high school.
“It was amazing to have someone to split (the lead pitching role) with,” said Wylie, who will continue her career at New College of Florida in Sarasota. “I remember in the beginning of our freshman year, we weren’t sure how much playing time we would each have. But we worked so well together. And then the year Erin got hurt, I picked it up, but I appreciated how big it was to have her there and having someone to pick you up and trust on the team.”
Wylie went 9-2 with an 0.70 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched while hitting .457 at the plate with 11 doubles and 19 RBI.
Zambrano, who will attend UCF, but is not planning on playing softball there, suffered a back injury, which cut her junior season short. This season, Zambrano bounced back strong by going 10-4 with a 1.23 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 74 innings. She also hit .347 with 18 RBI.
“I was really scared because I couldn’t play travel ball over the summer and pitching against good teams in high school was tough,” Zambrano said. “I absolutely love having (Wylie) with me because if I’m not doing good, she comes in and picks me up or if she’s not doing well, I pick her up.”
Diaz took on more of a primary workload in the circle for Doral Academy. She had quite the legacy to live up to by following in the footsteps of former Louisville standout Alyssa Zabala, Meagan Villazon and Yessenia Lopez.
Diaz quickly became one of Dade’s top aces, going 24-3 with a 1.34 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 146 2/3 innings. But Diaz learned a valuable lesson during a rough outing at the state final four when she was hit hard in a 10-8 loss to perennial powerhouse Bartow.
“I learned a lot about the mental toughness it takes, especially at state and that you have to prepare yourself mentally for those kinds of games,” Diaz said. “Most of us got our first taste of what it was like at state and I think we’ll be more prepared next year.”
Abdullah completed a tremendous career at Doral, which included trips to the final four every season she was there and a pair of state titles.
This season, despite more attention paid to her by opposing pitchers, Abdullah still hit .415 with six home runs, four doubles, two triples and 28 RBI.
“Everything I accomplished goes back to the support I had from my teammates and coaches and parents,” Abdullah said. “It’s really exciting to head into the next chapter. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime that I’ve been dreaming about since I was 13. A huge achievement and I’m just glad I’m able to do it.”
