This former Venezuelan Olympic team member is now coaching volleyball at Pinecrest Prep
Pinecrest Prep Middle High School recently hired Ivan “Bomba” Marquez, a former Venezuelan Olympic team member, as its new volleyball coach.
He will lead the girls’ and boys’ varsity teams.
Pinecrest Prep Charter Athletic Director Ricky Cruz said: “Bomba is a well respected coach throughout the volleyball world, and we are excited to have him with us and sharing his experience with our student athletes.”
Marquez, 39, a middle blocker, is known for his very hard serve and spike through the middle, hence his nickname Bomba.
Starting in 2002, he’s played high level volleyball in Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Venezuela.
In 2008, he helped Venezuela beat Argentina to qualify for the Olympics in Beijing.
Most recently, he played in the Greek Volley League for PAOK Thessaloniki. He coached for Miami Select.
Cruz said: “Bomba has been a fixture in the Miami club volleyball scene as a coach, and we’re fortunate to have an Olympian with us here at PPMH coaching at the high school level.”
His daughter, Ivaney, a freshman outside hitter is one of the team’s best players along with juniors Emma Salas (libero) and Caitlin Brown (outside hitter).
JGA of Broward (Golf)
Elijah Zamarron of Sunrise shot 75 (3-over) to place first in the Boys’ Championship Division during a recent golf tournament under the JGA of Broward banner at Deer Creek Golf Club in Deerfield Beach.
Terry Moore fired 77 (5-over) for runner-up honors, and Colby Oliver (Cardinal Gibbons High School) was third at 78 (6-over).
In the Girls’ Championship Division, Jennifer Lilly (Pembroke Pines, Archbishop McCarthy HS) placed first at 77 (5-over), followed by Heidi Christensen (Coral Springs) at 80 (8-over) and Morgan Herring (Davie, St. Thomas Aquinas HS) and Jade Scott (Lauderhill) 82 (10-over).
The JGA of Broward runs weekly golf tournaments for kids and teens throughout Broward County.
MaxPreps Baseball & Softball
All-American Teams
BASEBALL
FIRST TEAM
P — Andrew Painter, Calvary Christian Academy
6-7 | 230 | Senior
Considered a potential first-round draft pick, he earned all-area player of the year honors by the Sun Sentinel while going 6-1 with a 0.31 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 45.1 innings.
SECOND TEAM
OF — Roman Anthony, Stoneman Douglas
6-3 | 190 | Junior
Named the Sun Sentinel’s large school player of the year after leading the Eagles to a Class 7A state championship. He batted .362 with 32 runs, 21 RBI, six doubles and five home runs.
UT — Sal Stewart, Westminster Christian
6-3 | 215 | Junior
For much of the season, Stewart was the state’s top home run hitter. He led the Warriors to the Class 3A state championship game while knocking 17 home runs and batting .534 with 44 runs scored and 40 RBI.
SMALL SCHOOL
FIRST TEAM
P — Andrew Painter, Calvary Christian Academy
6-7, 230 | Senior
A potential first-round draft pick, he earned all-area player of the year honors by the Sun Sentinel while going 6-1 with a 0.31 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 45.1 innings.
C — Jayden Melendez, Westminster Christian
5-9, 170 | Senior
Helped lead the Warriors to the Class 3A championship game and is ranked as one of the top catchers in the nation by Perfect Game. Batted .365 with 26 runs, 39 RBI, five doubles and 11 home runs.
UT — Sal Stewart, Westminster Christian
6-3, 215 | Junior
For much of the season, he was the state’s top home run hitter. Led the Warriors to the Class 3A state championship game while knocking 17 home runs and batting .534 with 44 runs scored and 40 RBI.
SECOND TEAM
P — Irving Carter, Calvary Christian Academy
6-4, 200 | Senior
The small schools co-player of the year along with Painter by the Sun Sentinel, Carter had a 5-1 record with a 1.87 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 48.2 innings.
---
MaxPreps 2021 High School Baseball All-America Teams (Underclassmen) recognized the top 30 juniors, sophomores and freshmen from the 2021 season.
UNDERCLASSMEN
Juniors
1B — Yoel Tejeda Jr, North Broward Prep
6-6, 205
The Player of the Year in Broward County by the High School Baseball Network. He went 5-0 with 55 strikeouts and a 0.76 ERA and he also batted .383 with 13 doubles, 24 runs, 28 RBI and two home runs.
IF — Jason Torres, Miami Springs
6-2, 215
Named to the All-Dade County team by the High School Sports Network, Torres batted .521 with 43 RBI, 26 runs scored, 11 doubles and nine home runs.
OF — Roman Anthony, Stoneman Douglas
6-3, 190
Named the Sun Sentinel’s large school player of the year after leading the Eagles to a Class 7A state championship. He batted .362 with 32 runs, 21 RBI, six doubles and five home runs.
UT — Sal Stewart, Westminster Christian
6-3, 215
For much of the season, Stewart was the state’s top home run hitter. He led the Warriors to the Class 3A state championship game while knocking 17 home runs and batting .534 with 44 runs scored and 40 RBI.
Sophomores
P — Christian Rodriguez, Stoneman Douglas
5-11, 180
The ace on the staff for the Class 7A state champions. He was the player of the year for High School Baseball Network after going 8-0 with a 1.03 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 61 innings.
IF — Eric Fernandez, Riviera Prep
6-2, 155
Made the All-Dade County team by the High School Baseball Network. He batted .673 with 35 runs, 37 RBI, 15 doubles and four home runs.
---
SOFTBALL
SECOND TEAM
P — Alyssa Zabala, Jr., Doral Academy
Capped junior year with a complete game two-hitter in the 6A state championship, where the Firebirds beat Winter Springs 5-0.
Submit summer sports results
For summer sports with high school athletes in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have results and stats for this column, email hssports<code_dp>@<code_dp>miami<code_dp>herald.com. For club teams and individuals, include the high school(s) of the student-athlete(s).
This is open to participants in summer sports leagues, events and tournaments who are current high school athletes, those who graduated in 2021 and those who will be freshmen in the fall.
Email hssports<code_dp>@miami<code_dp>herald.com.
---
Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
