Jordan Vargas, Miami Springs avenge playoff loss. Plus more region baseball, volleyball & track
Six days after turning in a gem against a strong offensive lineup in Mater Lakes Academy, Miami Springs pitcher Jordan Vargas turned the trick again as he held the Bears to just two hits while leading the Golden Hawks to a 5-3 victory in a Region 4-4A quarterfinal at Barry University in Miami Shores.
While he did hit four batters and walked three, Vargas worked his way out of every situation and pitched into the seventh before reaching his max pitch count and giving way to University of Miami commit Brandon Olivera, who recorded the final two outs.
Springs (20-5) will travel south to Key West to take on the No. 1 seeded Conchs (22-6), who are historically tough to beat on their home field, on Saturday night in a regional semifinal.
“Having just faced them last week, I definitely knew I would have to change my approach tonight,” Vargas said. “I gave them more fastballs because last week I was throwing a lot of change-ups.”
He added: “This means a lot’ we really wanted this tonight and get some revenge from last week. Now it’s off to Key West – it’s going to be a fight.”
Last week, Vargas allowed just one run on five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in seven strong innings, good enough for a district championship win, but the game was tied at one. Mater scored nine runs off the bullpen in a wild eighth inning for a 10-6 victory.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning of the region quarterfinal, Miami Springs, the No. 5 seed in the region, managed to plate three unearned runs in the third and two more unearned runs in the fifth to build a 5-1 lead en route to the win.
Region 4-4A quarterfinal - Key West 7, Mariner-Cape Coral 0: Trevor Zuelch 2-3, BB, R, 2 RBI; Wyatt Kuhn 1-4, 2 RBI; Preston Herce 0-1, 2 BB, 2 R; WP Andres Barroso 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K; Felix Ong 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K.
Region 4-4A quarterfinal - Cardinal Gibbons 3, St. Brendan 2: The Chiefs (18-9) play Island Coast-Cape Coral (19-7) on Saturday in a region semifinal.
More region baseball
Region 4-7A quarterfinal - Columbus 3, Flanagan 2: Longtime Columbus baseball coach Joe Weber couldn’t remember ever having a starting pitcher throw over 70 innings in a season and walk just six batters.
That was until right-hander Federico Zapata toed the rubber for the Explorers this season.
Zapata, a senior and Barry University signee, doesn’t have an overpowering 90-plus mph fastball.
But his mix of off-speed stuff and ability to consistently locate and induce weak contact has continually kept batters off balance the entire season.
Zapata did it again to the tune of his seventh complete game resulting in a Columbus victory on their home field.
Columbus (21-6), the No. 3 seed in the region, advanced to Friday’s regional semifinals where they will travel to Davie to take on No. 2-seed Western.
Zapata, who pitched only five innings in relief as a junior last season, improved to 10-1 with 66 strikeouts and a staggering six walks over 73 ⅔ innings and maintained his ERA at 0.76 for the season.
“I don’t like giving away any free passes,” Zapata said. “They came out aggressive but I just kept my composure and made my pitches.”
Donning his pair of white-framed sunglasses, Zapata struck out three but issued no walks on Tuesday as he continually got Falcons hitters to chase and pop up or ground out throughout the game.
“He’s not overpowering, but the ball runs and tails and the defense loves to play behind him because he works quick and they know they’re getting the ball in play,” Weber said. “He’s very difficult to barrel up.”
Flanagan (19-9), however, swung early in counts and managed to plate a run in the first inning Danny Perez singled to drive in Tyler Venegas, who led off the game with a double.
It was Zapata’s only earned run as Flanagan would score a second run unearned in the top of the sixth after a throwing error allowed left fielder Danny Herrera to score and tie the game at 2.
Michael Corral would lead off the bottom of the sixth with a single and come around to score the eventual winning run two batters later on a fielder’s choice ground ball by Julian Gonzalez.
Columbus answered Flanagan’s initial run immediately in the bottom of the first with a run scored by Ryan Cainzos on a fielder’s choice grounder by Luis Miguel.
Nickolas Mora’s RBI single in the second with two outs would then give the Explorers a 2-1 edge until the sixth.
--ANDRE FERNANDEZ
Bonus region baseball
Region 4-7A quarterfinal - Western 9, Southwest 3: Trailing 3-0 early, the Wildcats rallied for the win, advancing to a region semifinal against Columbus. WP Mason Blocker (6-0); Sean Kaelber 1-3, HR, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI; Kristian Noriega 2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI; Daniel Ortega 2-4, BB, 2 R, RBI; Luis Lorenzo 2-3, BB, R; Enrique Sierra 2-3. WST (22-5), SW (21-7).
Region 4-7A quarterfinal - Stoneman Douglas 8, West Broward 4: Chris Arroyo 3-3, 2 HR, BB, 3 R, 3 RBI; Roman Anthony 3-4, 3 2B, 2 R; Christian Rodriguez 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI; WP Christian Rodriguez 5.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K. The Eagles (26-2) host Taravella in a region semifinal in a rematch of the district finals which Douglas won. Taravella (21-5-1) beat the Eagles in the regular season.
Region 4-7A quarterfinal - Taravella 13, Palmetto 1: Jonathan Lopez 3-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI; Vincent Samuel 2-4, 2B, BB, SB, 2 R, 2 RBI; Aris Rivera 1-1, 2B, 3 RBI; Anthony Quigley 1-3, 2 R; Edgar Marquez 2-5, 3B, R, RBI; WP Ryan Meekins 4 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 6 K.
Region 4-6A quarterfinal - Mater Academy 3, South Plantation 2: South Plantation was three outs away from the program’s first ever regional playoff victory, but Mater Academy saved the best for last as the Lions rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to stun the Paladins at Westland Gardens Park.
With Alex Breida on second, Diego Garcia delivered a two-out base hit to left field that scored Breida on a close play at the plate with the winning run. All three runs were unearned as two key errors by South Plantation to start the inning led to the Paladins’ demise. Mater Academy (18-10-1) moves on to face Doral Academy in a regional semifinal on Friday at Doral.
Region 4-6A quarterfinal - Doral Academy d. Hialeah by forfeit: The Firebirds improved to 21-4-1.
Region 4-6A quarterfinal - St. Thomas Aquinas 13, Varela 2: Derek Rahim 3-3, BB, 2 SB, 4 R; Ryan Wolf 3-3, SB, R, 3 RBI; Roger Vergara 2-3, SB, 3 R, 2 RBI; WP Anthony Ciscar 5 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 K. The Raiders (21-6) host Palm Beach Gardens on Friday in a region semifinal.
Region 4-5A quarterfinal - American Heritage-Plantation 11, Pembroke Pines Charter 1: Andrew Ortiz 3-4, R, 3 RBI; Zain Diaco 1-2, HR, BB, R, 2 RBI; Mateo Serna 1-2, R, BB, SF, 2 RBI; WP Erik Blair 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K. The Patriots (25-1) host Fort Myers in a region semifinal.
Region 4-5A quarterfinal - Naples 7, Belen Jesuit 4: The Wolverines ended the season 19-8.
Region 4-5A quarterfinal - Barron Collier-Naples 3, Archbishop McCarthy 2: The Mavericks finished the season 14-13.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Westminster Christian 12, Calvary Christian 2: WC: Sal Stewart Jr. 2-3, HR, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI; Chris Carroll 1-2, HR, 2 BB, 2 R, 3 RBI; Allan Jorge 1-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI; D’Angelo Ortiz 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI; Danny Hernandez 2-4, 2 R; WP Julian Hernandez 5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K. CC: Aaron Vetter 1-2, HR, SF, R, 2 RBI. The Warriors (19-7-1) compete in a region semifinal on Saturday against visiting Florida Christian (17-11).
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Florida Christian 10, SLAM 8: Trailing 6-1, the Patriots erupted with five in the sixth and four more in the seventh. FC: Jacob Brigman 2-4, 3B, BB, R, 4 RBI; Keanu Rodriguez 2-4, 2B, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI; Ryan Campo 1-3, 2 R, RBI; Adrian Vadal 0-2, 2 BB, 2 R; SLAM: Enrique Alvarez Jr. 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; Fabio Peralta 2-5, 2 R; Niomar Martinez 2-4, 2B, SB, R, RBI; Roberto Miranda 2-5, 2B, R, RBI; Jose Alfonso 1-2, 3B, 2 BB, R, RBI.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - North Broward Prep 5, Coral Springs Charter 1: The Eagles scored two in the fourth and three in the sixth. Riley Luft 3-3, 2 R; Clancy Marsh 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Andrew Cutler 1-2, 2B, BB, R, 2 RBI; WP Yoel Tejeda Jr. 5.1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 5 BB, 6 K; Jonathan Xuereb 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. The Eagles (19-9) host Gulliver Prep (17-9) in a region semifinal on Saturday.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Gulliver Prep 6, Monsignor Pace 3: Leading 4-3, the Raiders scored two in the fifth. Chris King 1-3, HR, BB, R, 3 RBI; George Lombard 1-3, 3B, BB, 2 R, RBI; Will Bettridge 1-2, HR, R, RBI; Erick Delgado 2-4; WP Brixton Lofgren 7 IP, CG, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Region 4-2A quarterfinal - Miami Christian 8, Jupiter Christian 2: Jonathan Gonzalez 2-3, 2 2B, 4 RBI; Bryant Zayas 2-4, HR, 2 SB, R, RBI; Freddy Oquendo 2-4, SB, RBI; Anthony Fernandez 1-3, 2 R; David Bosque 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K; Derek Arrocha 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K. The Victors (25-3) host Westminster Academy (18-9) in a region semifinal on Saturday.
Region 4-2A quarterfinal - Westminster Academy 14, Sagemont 4: Robert Nedry 4-5, 2B, SB, 2 R, 2 RBI; Alexander Basto 3-4, 2B, BB, SB, R, 3 RBI; Jacon Serrano 4-4, BB, 2 RBI.
Region 4-2A quarterfinal - John Carroll-Fort Pierce 5, Champagnat Catholic 4: The Lions ended the season 11-15.
Region 4-2A quarterfinal - Trinity Christian-Lake Worth 7, Archbishop Carroll 0: The Bulldogs finished the season 14-8.
Region finals
Boys’ volleyball
South Broward d. Flanagan 26-24, 23-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-13: Cameron Thorne 36 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace, 13 digs, 25 serve rec; Colton Bueter 10 kills, 2 blocks, 8 digs, 25 serve rec; Jonathan Hardaway 7 kills, 2 aces, 6 digs, 12 serve rec; Dagoney Stoudt 40 assists, 5 blocks, 17 digs; Christian Thorne 18 assists, 8 digs; Ben Aguerre 27 serve rec.
The region champion Bulldogs (18-5) will play top seed Cardinal Gibbons in a state quarterfinal on Friday at Archbishop McCarthy. Flanagan finished its season 18-4.
Cardinal Gibbons d. Boca Raton 25-18, 25-23, 25-19: Caden Day 20 kills, 6 digs, 17 serve rec; Elisha Edwards 8 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs, 12 serve rec; Logan Keothavy 6 kills, 3 blocks, 3 digs, 21 serve rec; Thiago Zamprogno 5 kills, 3 blocks, 3 digs; Gino Briglio 46 assists, 4 digs.
The region champion Chiefs improved to 27-2.
Southwest d. Belen Jesuit 27-25, 25-18, 25-18: Gabriel Suarez 7 kills, 22 serve rec; Marcelo Morales 5 kills, 3 blocks; Federico Marino 6 blocks; Lorenzo Torres 13 digs, 14 serve rec; Robert Henao 16 assists, 6 digs; Tomas Torres 8 assists; Joseph Gonzalez 29 serve rec.
The region champion Eagles (22-8) will play Orlando-Freedom (27-3) in a state quarterfinal at Archbishop McCarthy on Friday. Belen Jesuit ended its season 23-7.
Miami High d. Hialeah Gardens 25-10, 25-13, 25-13: Denzel Madrigal 20 kills, 2 blocks, 8 digs, 11 serve rec; Jefferson Moreno-Maldona 10 kills, 5 blocks; Bryan Meraz-Sanchez 7 kills, 4 aces, 15 digs, 10 serve rec; Eduardo Hernandez 7 kills, 3 aces; Aurel Nyemeck 7 kills; Hector Alarcon 25 digs, 11 serve rec; Gabriel Cabanzon 39 assists, 8 digs; Thomas Santos 7 assists.
The region champion Stingarees (24-6) will play Winter Park (25-2) in a state quarterfinal on Friday at Archbishop McCarthy. Hialeah Gardens completed its season at 15-8.
Region finals
Track & field
REGION 4-4A
Team scores - Girls: 1. Flanagan 121; 2. Fort Lauderdale 88; 3. North Miami 60; 4. Braddock 45; 5. Coral Reef and Douglas 32.
Girls’ individual winners or top South Florida finishers - 100: Jassani Carter (Flan) 11.75; 200: Jassani Carter (Flan) 24.09; 200 adaptive: Sofia Elia (Pal) 39.38; 400: Jaellene Burgess (CR) 56.11; 800: Kayla Feeney (BR) 2:21.65; 800 adaptive: Sofia Elia (Pal) 3:51.56; 1600: Penelope Sosa (CP) 5:17.64; 3200: Annabella Cardona (BR) 11:34.21; 110 hurdles: Infinity Thomas (Flan) 15.11; 300 hurdles: Infinity Thomas (Flan) 44.67; 400 relay: Fort Lauderdale 47.05; 1600 relay: Flanagan 4:00.58; 3200 relay: Braddock 9:52.97; High jump: Callia Harris (Flan) 5-3.75; Long jump: Zaniya Wilson (NM) 17-2.75; Triple jump: Zaniya Wilson (NM) 36-5.5; Pole vault: Camryn Givens (Pal) 9-10; Discus: Tamaiah Koonce (NM) 136-1; Javelin: Nicole Rodriguez (Gol) 123-6; Javelin adaptive: Sofia Elia (Pal) 41-10; Shot put: Tamaiah Koonce (NM) 41-5.75; Shot put adaptive: Sofia Elia (Pal) 20-11.25.
Team scores - Boys: 1. Columbus 202.5; 2. Fort Lauderdale 93.5; 3. Miramar 75.5; 4. Braddock 42; 5. McArthur 36.
Boys’ individual winners or top South Florida finishers - 100: Darren McQueen (Col) 10.48; 200: Durian Moss (Col) 21.36; 200 adaptive: Liam Moore (CP) 32.90; 400: Nathan Metellus (DB) 47.47; 800: Marc Dabby (Col) 1:55.01; 800 adaptive: Jonathan Mizrahi (CR) 3:07.38; 1600: Gian Valentin (Flan) 4:25.47; 3200: Gabriel Garcia (BR) 9:47.91; 110 hurdles: Dejamar Binns (SP) 15.39; 300 hurdles: Darren McQueen (Col) 38.96; 400 relay: Columbus 41.22; 1600 relay: Fort Lauderdale 3:18.32; 3200 relay: Columbus 7:56.72; High jump: Asmar Francois (McA) 6-7.5; Long jump: Shaddai Carter (Col) 23-3.5; Triple jump: Shaddai Carter (Col) 43-6.5; Pole vault: Ernest Joseph (FtL) 11-9.75; Discus: David Lobaina (SW) 145-6; Javelin: Gustavo Alfonso (Col) 152-1; Shot put: Narrson Tulloch (Mir) 50-6.75.
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.
--
Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 11:32 PM.
