Belen track second at FSU relays. Westminster Christian softball no-hitters, hoop stars & more
The Belen Jesuit boys’ track & field team finished second at the FSU Relays in Tallahassee.
Joseph Socarras, a junior, won the 800m in 1-minute 51.82 seconds, improving on the school record he claimed last season.
Freshman Marcelo Mantecon was fourth in the 3200m, setting a school record in 8:55.72 and becoming the U.S. No.2 freshman all-time. Also placing in the 3200m was senior Joseph Ruiz (5th, 9:02.17), breaking the previous school mark.
The Wolverines were third in the 4x800m relay with seniors Matthew Viña, Joseph Ruiz, Charles Carreño and Daniel Lurigados in 7:53.77. In the 1600m, Socarras became a double winner, taking first in 4:14.45. Mantecon was runner-up in 4:16.19, and senior Joshua Ruiz placed third in 4:16.97.
Also competing for the Wolverines were junior Justin Ruiz, (3200m, 9th, 9:05.40; 1600m, 10th, 4:20.77) and freshman Armando Cruz (3200m, 9:44.65; 1600m, 4:34.05).
Belen is preparing for the Arcadia Invitational in Los Angeles on April 5-6.
Softball
Westminster Christian freshman pitcher Kaley Dyer tossed back-to-back no-hitters during the Doc4Life Tournament in Ocala.
The Warriors shut out Westport-Ocala 15-0 in four innings. Dyer allowed no runs, no hits and no walks while striking out five.
Westminster Christian then beat George Jenkins-Lakeland 5-1. Dyer allowed one run, none earned on no hits and three walks, while striking out four in seven innings.
Doc4Life Tournament in Ocala: Westminster Christian 15, Westport-Ocala 0: Gigi Khoury 3 H, 2 RBI, 3 R; Kaley Dyer 3 H, RBI; Dylan Lesman 3 H, 2 RBI, 3 R; Mya Rodgers 3 H, 3 RBI, R; Abi Barboza 3 H, RBI, 2 R; Jas Armenteros 2 H, BB, RBI; Alexa Bender H, RBI, R. WC 5-2.
Doc4Life Tournament in Ocala: Westminster Christian 5, George Jenkins-Lakeland 1: Kaley Dyer 2 H, RBI; Dylan Lesman H, R; Mya Rodgers H, RBI, R; Jas Armenteros H, RBI; Gigi Khoury H, R; Casey Lesman H. WC 6-2.
Baseball
Palmetto baseball scored twice in the bottom of the fourth and one more in the fifth to defeat IMG (Silver) 3-1 at the Florida High School Invitational in Sanford.
Jackie Robinson Tournament in Daytona Beach: Semifinal: Doral Academy 3, Viera 2: Ignacio salaverria 2-3, RBI; Mike Torres 1-3, RBI; Sebastian Barrios 1-3, RBI; WP Jadyn Nunez 6 IP, 2 ER; P Mike Torres second tournament save. Dor 14-1.
Florida High School Invitational in Sanford: Palmetto 3, IMG (Silver) 1: WP Lucas Ramirez (2-2); Ryan Ortega 2-3, 2B, R; Christian Dixon 1-2, R; Max Sotolongo 1-3, RBI. Plm 9-5.
Basketball all-star games
Broward defeated Dade in the boys’ and girls’ basketball all-star games at Mater Academy in Hialeah.
BOYS: Broward 97, Miami-Dade 84: Game MVP Jeremy Elyzee of Pembroke Pines Charter 16 pts; Semaj Mentor of Cooper City 15 pts; Triston Wilson of Norland 17 pts.
AWARDS: Mr. Basketball Miami: Cameron Boozer (Columbus). Boys’ Coach of the Year Miami: Anthony Shahbaz (Riviera Prep). Mr. Basketball Broward: Shon Abaev (Calvary Christian). Boys’ Coach of the Year Broward: David Roe (Sagemont).
GIRLS: Broward 77, Miami-Dade 75: Game MVP Khadee Hession of St. Thomas Aquinas 14 pts; Shanii Gamble of Southridge 13 pts.
AWARDS: Ms. Basketball Miami: Shanii Gamble (Southridge). Girls’ Coach of the Year Miami: Allison Bustamante (Doral). Ms. Basketball Broward: Khadee Hession (St Thomas Aquinas). Girls’ Coach of the Year Broward: Greg Farias (American Heritage-Plantation).
Submitted by Miamidadebb and DSBG
Basketball honors
Columbus junior forward Cameron Boozer was named Florida Dairy Farmers Class 7A Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. Pembroke Pines Charter senior forward Josh Harris was named the state’s Class 6A Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. Norland senior guard/forward Marcus Allen is the state’s Class 5A Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. Riviera Prep junior guard Dante Allen is the state’s Class 3A Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.
They are eligible for Florida Dairy Farmers (Overall) Mr. Basketball honors.
Cameron Boozer, Junior, Forward, Columbus, Class 7A Player of the Year:
The 2023 Florida Mr. Basketball led his team to a 27-4 record and the Class 7A championship by averaging 22.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.6 steals per game.
Josh Harris, Senior, Forward, Pembroke Pines Charter, Class 6A Player of the Year:
Led his team to a 25-4 record and the Class 6A state championship by averaging 19.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Signed with the University of North Florida.
Marcus Allen, Senior, Guard/Forward, Norland, Class 5A Player of the Year:
Led his team to a 21-10 record and the Class 5A state championship by averaging 18.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Signed with the University of Missouri.
Dante Allen, Junior, Guard, Riviera Prep, Class 3A Player of the Year:
Led his team to a 25-9 record and a second straight Class 3A state title by averaging 21.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.4 steals per game.
Andrew Moran of Columbus is the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 7A boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Dave Roca of Pembroke Pines Charter is the state’s Class 6A Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year, Lawton Williams of Norland is the state’s Class 5A Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Anthony Shahbaz of Riviera Prep is the state’s Class 3A Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. David Roe of Sagemont is the state’s Class 2A Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year.
They are eligible for Florida Dairy Farmers (Overall) Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year honors.
Andrew Moran, Columbus, Class 7A Coach of the Year:
Led his squad to a 27-4 record and the Class 7A state championship. In five years at Columbus he has posted a 114-31 record with another state title in 2022 and a state runner-up finish in 2023.
Dave Roca, Pembroke Pines Charter, Class 6A Coach of the Year:
Led his squad to a 25-4 record and the Class 6A state championship. In 15 years at Pembroke Pines, Roca has compiled a 255-107 record with another state title in 2021 and a state runner-up finish in 2020.
Lawton Williams, Norland, Class 5A Coach of the Year:
Led his team to a 21-10 record and the Class 5A state championship, Norland’s seventh state title under Williams, and its first since winning four straight from 2012-15. He matched former Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall for the most state titles and is the first coach to win seven titles at one school. Career record is 463-148.
Anthony Shahbaz, Riviera Prep, Class 3A Coach of the Year:
Led his squad to a 25-8 record and a second straight Class 3A state championship. In five years Shahbaz has posted a 141-54 record, including a state runner-up finish in 2022.
David Roe, Sagemont, Class 2A Coach of the Year:
Led his squad to a 25-6 record and a second straight Class 2A state title. In seven years, Roe has a 135-56 record at Sagemont, including a state runner-up finish in 2022.
Soccer honors
Gulliver Prep’s Scott Davidson, the 2024 Florida Dairy Farmers Class 4A Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year, finished third in the voting for state’s overall boys’ soccer coach of the year honors, following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of boys’ high school soccer coaches and media representatives.
South Broward’s Lionel Brown, the Class 6A Coach of the Year, was fifth.
Doug Smith won the state’s overall boys’ soccer coach of the year award, after leading his Tampa Prep team to a 19-1-2 record and the Class 3A state title. In 16 years, Smith has posted a 195-72-45 record with five state titles (2010-2012-2013-2022-2024).
Submit sports info
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results and top performers (with stats), 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
