Palmetto baseball surprises and walk-off wins for NBP & Western. Plus more post-season results
The second seed Palmetto baseball team upset top seed Southwest 4-2 for the District 16-7A title.
In District 14-7A, Western edged Flanagan -- Luis Lorenzo walk-off home run style -- for its first district championship.
In the District 13-7A finals, Stoneman Douglas avenged a regular season loss to Taravella.
Mater Academy Charter, a third seed, pulled off two upsets, including beating top seed Everglades in the District 15-6A finals.
Mater Lakes Academy, a second seed, topped top seed Miami Springs for the District 15-4A championship.
SLAM, also a second seed, won a close one over top seed Florida Christian for the District 15-3A title.
With Yoel Tejeda Jr. delivering many times, including the walk-off winner (home run, opposite field style), North Broward Prep overcame a seven-run deficit after four innings and then needed 11 innings to edge Coral Springs Charter in the District 13-3A finals.
Belen Jesuit in 5A and Doral Academy in 6A also won district championships along with other area teams included below.
District 16-5A Championship: Belen Jesuit 10, Pembroke Pines Charter 0: WP Matthew Huembes CG, 3 H, 5 K; Nicholas Alonso 3-3, 3 R, RBI; Christopher Bayo 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI; Frank Fernandez 3-3, 3 RBI; Michael Cruz 3-3, 2 R; Ernie Echevarria 2-3, R, RBI; Jordan Cordero 2-3, 2 R.
Prior, Belen Jesuit (19-7) beat South Miami 15-0, and PPC (8-13) edged TERRA 3-1.
District 15-5A Championship: American Heritage-Plantation 10, Archbishop McCarthy 4: AH: Raymond Bermudez 1-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; Spencer Butt 1-3, 2B, BB, 3 R, 2 RBI; Erik Blair 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI; Zain Diaco 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI; Evan Dobias 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K. AM: Noah Alburquerque 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Nico Gutierrez-Villa 2.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K.
Prior, American Heritage (24-1) beat Northeast 11-1, and Archbishop McCarthy (14-12) beat Hollywood Hills 10-0.
District 16-6A Championship: Doral Academy 8, Varela 0: Michael Torres 3-3, 3 RBI, 2 R; Jake Santos 1-3, RBI; Daniel Restrepo 1-3, 2 RBI; WP Frank Menendez 3 IP, 0 ER, 2; P Jake Gorelick, P Michael Torres, P Pedro Acosta 4 IP, 0 ER, 5 K.
Prior, Doral (21-4-1) beat Southridge 8-2, and Varela (13-13) upset Coral Park 11-1 and edged Reagan 6-5.
District 15-6A Championship: Mater Academy Charter 11, Everglades 6: The third seed Lions (17-10-1) upset top seed Everglades, jumping ahead 6-2 in the first inning and never looking back.
Yoancarlos Diaz 3-4, 2B, BB, R, 2 RBI; Ramly Cordero 2-4, 2B, 3B, SB, 2 R, 4 RBI; Diego Garcia 1-2, 2 BB, SB, R, RBI; Alex Braida 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K.
Prior, Everglades (16-6) edged Cooper City 9-8, and Mater Academy Charter also upset Hialeah 10-3 and beat South Broward 8-4.
District 14-6A Championship: St. Thomas Aquinas 4, South Plantation 1: STA: Giovanny Adames 1-1, 2 BB, 3 SB, R; Derek Rahim 1-3, SB, RBI; WP Noah Greenseid 6.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 12 K; Wyatt Iben 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K. SP: Jacoby James 3-4. Prior, the Raiders (20-6) beat Fort Lauderdale 9-0, and South Plantation (18-6) edged Nova 4-3.
District 16-7A Championship: Palmetto 4, Southwest 2: WP Andrew Arias; Luca Arenado 2-2, 3B, RBI, Run; Blake Brookins 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, Run; Max Borelli 1-3, RBI. PMT (12-10), SW (21-6).
Prior, Palmetto edged Coral Reef 3-2, and Southwest edged South Dade 4-2.
District 15-7A Championship: Columbus 11, Braddock 3: COL: Michael Corral 2-2, 2B, BB, SF, R, 3 RBI; Nickolas Mora 2-4, R; Anthony Gonzalez 2-4, 2B, RBI; Carlos Jacome 1-3, 2 BB, SB, 3 R, 2 RBI; WP Marchelo Biondi 4 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 K; Nicholas Zarranz 3 IP, 0 R, 1H, 1 BB, 3 K. BRD: Jonathan Gonzalez 2-3, R. Prior, the Explorers (20-6) beat Miami Beach 7-0, and Braddock (16-8) beat Hialeah Gardens 4-1.
District 14-7A Championship: Western 4, Flanagan 3: Luis Lorenzo 1-4, Walk-Off HR, R, RBI; WP Alex Pena (1-1) 4.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K; Kristian Noriega 2-2, HR, HBP, 2 R, 2 RBI; Daniel Ortega 1-3, 2B, R; Leandro Perez 1-3.
Prior, Western (21-5) beat Cypress Bay 7-0, and Flanagan (19-8) upset West Broward 4-3.
District 13-7A Championship: Stoneman Douglas 5, Taravella 0: SD: Santiago Ordonez 2-3, 2B, RBI; Jake Clemente 1-4, 2 SB, 2 R, RBI; Roman Anthony 1-3, 2B, SB, SF, R, RBI; WP Chris Arroyo 5 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 10 K; Christian Rodriguez 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 4 K. T: Matthew Rubin 1-2, BB.
Prior, the Eagles (25-2) beat Coral Glades 12-2, and Taravella beat Monarch 8-2.
District 16-4A Championship: Key West 7, St. Brendan 6 (8 inn.): The Conchs scored two in the sixth to even things at six. Jack Haggard 1-4, SAC, 2 RBI; Preston Herce 1-3, 2 BB, 3 R; Anthony Lariz 0-1, 2 BB, 2 R; Trevor Zuelch 2-4, BB, RBI; Kai Smith 4 BB; Wyatt Kuhn 2-4; WP Jacob Burnham 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K.
Prior, the Conchs (21-6) beat Sunset 17-0, and St. Brendan (13-9) beat Killian 12-7.
District 15-4A Championship: Mater Lakes Academy 10, Miami Springs 6 (8 inn.): The second seed Bears (8-18) upset top seed Miami Springs. Prior, Mater Lakes beat iMater Charter 8-0, and Miami Springs (19-5) beat North Miami Beach 15-0.
District 14-4A Championship: Cardinal Gibbons 4, American Heritage-Delray Beach 1: Prior, the Chiefs (17-9) beat Somerset Academy-Pembroke Pines 6-1, and American Heritage (11-17) upset Pompano 7-0.
District 16-3A Championship: Westminster Christian 9, Keys Gate 2: D’Angelo Ortiz 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Talan Beckford 2-2, 2B, BB, 2 SB, R; Chris Carroll 2-3, SB, R; WP Ethan Perez 1.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K; Chris Carroll 4.1 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K.
Prior, the Warriors (18-7-1) beat Somerset Academy-Silver Palms 10-0, and Keys Gate (12-15) edged Coral Shores 1-0.
District 15-3A Championship: SLAM 6, Florida Christian 5: SLAM, seeded second, upset the top seed. Trailing 5-4, SLAM scored twice in the seventh for the walk-off win. FC: Matthew Say 2-3, BB, R, RBI; Keanu Rodriguez 2-4, 2B, R; Javier Gorostola 2-4, R.
Prior, SLAM (16-5) edged Gulliver Prep 3-2, and Florida Christian (16-11) beat LaSalle 11-1.
District 14-3A Championship: Monsignor Pace 7, Chaminade-Madonna 2: CM: Frank Villella 1-3, RBI. Prior, the Spartans (21-5) beat Miami Country Day 6-1, and Chaminade (10-15) upset HEA 12-4.
District 13-3A Championship: North Broward Prep 9, Coral Springs Charter 8 (11 inn.): NBP: Yoel Tejeda Jr. 5-6, 3B, 2 HR (Walk-Off), 3 R, 7 RBI; Mauricio Bejarano 2-4, BB, RBI; Clancy Marsh 2-5, 2 R; WP Jonathan Xuereb 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K. CSC: Ross Lazar 2-5, 2 SB, 2 R, RBI; Gavin Gargiulo 1-4, 2B, 2 BB, R, 2 RBI. Prior, the Eagles (18-9) beat University 6-1, and CSC (15-9-1) beat Calvary Christian 5-2.
District 16-2A Championship: Miami Christian 3, Champagnat Catholic 1: Prior, the Victors (24-3) edged Riviera Prep via forfeit and beat Westwood Christian 18-0. Champagnat (11-14) beat Archbishop Carroll 16-13.
District 15-2A Championship: Westminster Academy 6, Sagemont 2: Prior, the Lions (17-9) edged Brito 4-3. Sagemont (12-7) beat Dade Christian 9-0 and Sheridan Hills 26-0.
Region quarterfinals are Tuesday (7A, 6A, 5A) and Wednesday (4A, 3A, 2A).
Boys’ Volleyball Region SF
After two state runner-up finishes, there have been some changes on Southwest’s boys’ volleyball team.
The Eagles graduated one of the state’s top players in Jack Hershman.
And with no player taller than 6-2, they are fielding one of their shortest teams in recent memory.
But what hasn’t changed yet is their results.
“When you lose a player like Jack everybody thought Southwest was done,” Southwest coach Alain Suarez said. “We’re not done. We’re still the Eagles. The guys don’t feel like they have to prove anything because everybody knows what Southwest volleyball is about.”
Southwest (21-8) gave another demonstration that it is ready to compete for another state championship on Friday as it dominated rival Columbus on its way to a 25-18, 25-19, 25-21 victory at their home gym.
The Eagles, two-time state champions looking for their first since 2008, advanced to the regional finals where they will host Belen Jesuit (23-6) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Belen Jesuit beat Ferguson 25-16, 25-22, 25-20 in a region semifinal. Federico Marino (4 blocks, 5 kills), Gabriel Suarez (11 kills, 7 digs), Marcelo Morales (5 kills, 4 blocks) led the Wolverines.
Southwest beat Columbus for the fourth time in five tries and has won five consecutive matches without losing a set since losing a five-set thriller against Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. The Eagles could face Gibbons - a state favorite - again if they make it to the state tournament next weekend at Archbishop McCarthy.
Suarez feels like his team is playing its best volleyball of the season and has found ways to counter their size disadvantage with crisp passing and serving.
“We’re definitely executing and we’ve improved a lot,” Suarez said. “Every time we play a game, we’re always the smallest. But the discipline of these guys and the serving and passing is elite. That’s what this team wants to be known for when we step on the court. And that’s what’s taken us to be able to beat teams like Columbus.”
Alessandro DeLaO led the Eagles with 18 kills and seven digs while Marlon Albornozvera had 14 kills and 10 digs. Erick Pinzon 37 totaled assists while Alejandro Leon had 18 digs.
-ANDRE FERNANDEZ
More boys’ volleyball
REGION SF
Cardinal Gibbons d. Stoneman Douglas 25-9, 25-12, 25-13: Caden Day 9 kills, 2 blocks, 6 serve rec; Elisha Edwards 8 kills, 5 digs, 8 serve rec; David Decker 7 kills, 3 aces; Tristan Gaddy 4 aces, 4 digs; Gino Briglio 36 assists, 4 digs, 3 kills. The Chiefs (26-2) will host Boca Raton (17-12) in a region final on Tuesday.
South Broward d. Cypress Bay 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22: Cameron Thorne 29 kills, 3 blocks, 11 digs, 17 assists, 22 serve rec; Colton Bueter 9 kills, 2 aces, 14 digs, 21 serve rec; Dagoney Stoudt 28 assists, 8 digs, 3 blocks; Ben Aguerre 8 digs, 13 serve rec.
The Bulldogs (17-5) will travel to Flanagan (18-3) in a region final on Tuesday.
The Falcons eliminated St. Thomas Aquinas 25-8, 25-11, 25-10. Kory Grant 12 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces, 9 digs; Mason Martindale 12 kills, 14 digs; Jackson Lahey 26 assists, 9 digs; Jayden Rodriguez 9 digs, 11 serve rec.
Miami High d. SLAM 25-16, 25-11, 25-11: The Stingarees (23-6) will host Hialeah Gardens (15-7) on Tuesday in a region final. The Gladiators outlasted Reagan 21-25, 27-25, 25-10, 22-25, 15-12 in a region semifinal.
Girls’ flag football region semifinals
Sydney Brennan caught a winning touchdown pass from Sydney Ford as the Western girls’ flag football team edged Cooper City in a defensive battle in a 2A region semifinal.
The Wildcats are 16-0.
Edison (1A), Miami High (2A) and Somerset Academy-Silver Palms (1A) also won, and each has just one loss this season.
2A REGION 4 SF
Western 6, Cooper City 0: QB Sydney Ford 27-27, 196 yds, TD, 10 flag pulls, Def Int; Sydney Brennan 5 catches, 35 yds, TD, 8 flag pulls; Victoria McBride 8 catches, 38 yds, Def Int; Nandi Ramessar 6 catches, 60 yds; Kennedy Allen 4 catches, 39 yds; Tamara Elliott 4 catches, 30 yds; 2 passes, 15 yds; Lian Scott 5 flag pulls 1 sack. WST (16-0).
Miami High 14, Homestead 0: The Stingarees scored in the second and fourth quarters. They improved to 15-1.
1A REGION 4 SF
Edison 24, Central 13: Trailing 7-6, Edison scored in the second quarter to go ahead 12-7. After a scoreless third quarter, Edison out scored Central 12-6 in the fourth quarter.
QB Lonesha Howell 25-36, 223 yds, 4 TD, 7 rushes, 63 yds, 11 flag pulls, 2 Def Int; Alexandra Harris 9 catches, 85 yds, 2 TD, 3 rushes, 10 yds, 15-yd punt ret, 8 flag pulls; Joann Gilmore 4 catches, 56 yds, 2 TD, 10 flag pulls, 5 sacks; Shanell Norris 5 catches, 27 yds, 2 pass def; Felicia Wright 3 catches, 37 yds, 1 rush, 17 yds, 2 punts, 68 yds; Sarly Joseph 12 flag pulls, 7 sacks; Camille Canidate 9 flag pulls. EDI (13-1).
Somerset Academy-Silver Palms 39, Pembroke Pines Charter 0: QB Jaida Bayron 10-13, 187 yds, 5 TD, 10 rushes, 97 yds, Def Int; Shanaii Gamble 3 catches, 76 yds, TD, Def Int; Amber Mateo 2 catches, 41 yds, TD, Def Int; Dianka Hardisson 2 catches, 41 yds, TD: Briana Carrion 2 catches, 31 yds, TD; Naya Hardisson 1 catch, 14 yds, TD; The Stallions improved to 15-1.
Track & field
REGION 4-2A
Team scores - Girls: 1. Somerset Academy 121; 2. Cardinal Gibbons 91; 3. Delray American Heritage 60.5; 4. Pine Crest 48.
Girls’ individual winners or top South Florida finishers - 100: Ariyanna Griggs (Som) 11.65; 200: Ariyanna Griggs (Som) 24.11; 400: 2. Ariyanna Griggs (Som) 57.44; 800: 2. Sabrina Gomez (Sun) 2:17.52; 1600: Brooke Harper (PC) 5:07.12; 3200: Emma Hencock (StB) 11:09.71; 100 hurdles: Aleesa Samuel (Som) 13.96; 300 hurdles: Akerah Jones (CG) 43.62; 400 relay: Somerset 46.96; 1600 relay: 3. Somerset 4:06.90; 3200 relay: Pine Crest 9:59.37; High jump: Morgan King (NBP) 5-5.75; Long jump: 3. Shanaii Gamble (Som) 17-0.5; Triple jump: 2. Anya Carey (Som) 36-9.5; Pole vault: Paulina Guerra (Gul) 9-10; Discus: Emma Ramsingh (CG) 119-2; Javelin: Jenkavia Harper (KW) 119-7; Shot put: Lauren Kirby (Som) 39-2.5.
Team scores - Boys: 1. Calvary Christian 56.5; 2. Somerset Academy 50; 3. Ransom Everglades 46; 4. Cardinal Gibbons 44.
Boys’ individual winners or top South Florida finishers - 100: Davon Kiser (CG) 10.59; 200: Jalen Brown (Gul) 21.05; 200 adaptive: Gionvanni Jones (CC) 25.78; 400: Jude Servius (LaS) 49.36; 800: David Serra (RE) 1:56.88; 800 adaptive: Tavares Washington (CC) 2:29.71; 1600: David Serra (RE) 4:25.05; 3200: 2. Michael Ziadie (Sun) 10:01.45; 110 hurdles: Byron Holt (Jac) 14.19; 300 hurdles: Avondre Walters (Pomp) 38.53; 400 relay: Killian 41.89; 1600 relay: Somerset 3:22.64; 3200 relay: Sunset 8:11.10; High jump: Eli Goldman (RE) 6-3.5; Long jump: 2. Jaasiel Benitez (StB) 21-7.5; Triple jump: Eric Trowbridge (Calv) 44-7.5; Pole vault: Sam Mrky (CG) 13-3.5; Discus: Jackson Baird (Calv) 141-8; Javelin: Brian Nasr (WC) 161-5; Javelin adaptive: Aaron Gold (Gul) 83-8; Shot put: Jackson Crozier (CG) 52-8.25; Shot put adaptive: Aaron Gold (Gul) 27-11.5.
REGION 4-1A
Team scores - Girls: 1. West Palm Beach-Oxbridge 119; 2. Chaminade 117; 3. Palmer Trinity 102.5.
Girls’ individual winners or top South Florida finishers - 100: Tyra Cox (CM) 12.34; 200: Tyra Cox (CM) 24.86; 400: Tyra Cox (CM) 57.42; 800: 2. Kashia Hoo (CM) 2:21.87; 1600: 3. Mia Taylor (SFH) 5:26.32; 3200: Mia Taylor (SFH) 12:02.41; 100 hurdles: Maria Camposano (PT) 16.26; 300 hurdles: Kahalia Hoo (CM) 46.14; 400 relay: 3. Chaminade 51.15; 1600 relay: Chaminade 3:51.19; 3200 relay: 2. Palmer Trinity 10:05.30; High jump: 3. Jade Leon (PT) 4-7.75; Long jump: 2. Samaryah White (HC) 17-8.75; Triple jump: 3. Imani Mudiay (DS) 32-9.75; Pole vault: 2. Ava Merryman (Mar) 8-4.25; Discus: 2. Anyce Burke-Greaves (HC) 100-8; Javelin: Emily Montes (PT) 105-0; Shot put: 5. Emily Montes (PT) 31-4.75.
Team scores - Boys: 1. North Palm Beach-Benjamin 152.5; 2. Chaminade 119; 3. Palmer Trinity 116.
Boys’ individual winners or top South Florida finishers - 100: D’Angelo Ponds (CM) 10.65; 200: D’Angelo Ponds (CM) 21.54; 400: 2. Kwame Smith (CM) 48.83; 800: Chaz Chambers (CM) 2:01.40; 1600: George Stark (PT) 4:31.90; 3200: Hunter Morgan (SFH) 10:22.21; 110 hurdles: Tyson Waters (CM) 14.81; 300 hurdles: Tyson Waters (CM) 40.09; 400 relay: 2. Chaminade 42.64; 1,600 relay: 2. Chaminade 3:23.50; 3,200 relay: Palmer Trinity 8:17.70; High jump: Brandon Pottinger (PT) 6-5.5; Long jump: Brandon Pottinger (PT) 21-11; Triple jump: Robbie Robertson (PT) 45-9¾; Pole vault: Gareth Redway (SFH) 12-3.5; Discus: Austin Foster (PT); Javelin: 4. Brandon Ravelo (AvG) 129-4; Shot put: 2. Brandon Ravelo (AvG) 44-7.5.
Spring All-County Nominations
Athletic directors were emailed All-County nomination forms to share with their coaches of spring sports in Broward and Miami Dade counties. Deadline and return email address are on the form. Questions, email hssports@miamiherald.com.
Submit sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade, if you have varsity results, top performers and stats for this column, email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. Send after the game, the next day or weekly. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published May 9, 2022 at 11:15 PM.
