Doral’s Viruet, Schoolhouse Prep’s Laurido are Dade Softball Coaches of the Year
Over the past six seasons, Willie Viruet has been at the helm of one of the most successful runs ever by a Miami-Dade County softball team.
The Firebirds kept it going this season under Viruet’s guidance, advancing to a sixth consecutive state final four.
Henry Laurido is in charge of a much younger program at Schoolhouse Prep, which experienced a breakthrough this season when it made it to its first state final four.
And so, Viruet and Laurido are the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade County Softball Coaches of the Year.
Viruet had to reload a roster, which graduated multiple key members of its lineup and lost its starting pitcher in order to keep the Firebirds not only in state title contention, but among the best teams in the nation.
Led by the veteran presence of Texas-bound shortstop Anabella Abdullah and talented underclassmen such as freshman pitcher Camila Diaz, Doral put together another impressive 26-3 season to return to the Class 6A state final four.
The inexperience in some areas caught up to the Firebirds in a 10-8 semifinal loss to Bartow. But Doral returns the bulk of its team as it looks to continue its run next season.
Laurido’s squad might just be getting started.
After playing through a tough schedule that included premier opponents from all classifications, Schoolhouse Prep won its first regional championship after overcoming rival Miami Christian. Led by catcher Michelle Dominguez and the pitching tandem of Analy Uriarte and Cecilia Valdes, the Wolfpack may have shifted the balance of power in Region 4-1A and their next step will be to become a formidable state championship contender.
