A first for Pines Charter. Miami Springs softball coach retires, and St. Brendan wins districts
After 34 years of coaching the girls’ softball program at Miami Springs High School -- making him the longest-tenured softball coach in Miami-Dade County -- Charlie Green announced recently that the 2024 season is his last.
The Hawks had a solid 7-6 regular season. In the playoffs, the season ended on a disappointing note.
Needing a district title in order to qualify for regionals, Miami Springs saw a late five-run lead disappear and dropped a 14-13 heartbraker to LaSalle in the District 15-3A championship game.
Green’s career win total: 716.
“I know I’ve been thinking about it for awhile, but I finally decided it’s time,” said Green. “It’s been a long time, a lot of games, plenty of ups and downs, but it’s been a really rewarding experience for me.”
A lot of winning seasons? Sure. But, even with winning a district title 15 times, postseason success as far as any kind of deep run has always eluded Green and the Hawks.
There were plenty of trips to the regional playoffs (13 out of 14 years at one point between 2006 and 2019) but no trips to the state final four. And only once, 2008, did Springs actually make it to a regional final and have the program at the doorstep of the final four. Unfortunately things did not go well as the Hawks were soundly beaten by defending state champion Palmetto 14-0.
But Green will be the first to tell you that it was never about getting to state or any of the 716 games he won. It was always about “his girls” and doing right by them.
“Sure, like any coach I would’ve liked to have gotten to state, maybe even won the title but those things are really hard to do,” said Green. “Everything needs to fall in line perfectly for something like that to happen and to be honest, it was never really about that. What it was all about and the thing I took the most pride in doing was helping my girls go to college to move on and excel at the next level. Even more importantly, get their college degrees. To me, that was and always will be the biggest responsibility a high school coach has no matter what sport they coach. That’s why you work so hard at it. That’s what I loved.”
Asked what kind of legacy would Green like to leave on the program? Green didn’t hesitate.
“Just a coach who helped kids in any way he could,” said Green who regularly got his most talented girls tryouts with out-of-town schools and drove them upstate on his own dime for a tryout session. “When I went to school here (Grren was a star running back on back-to-back undefeated Springs football teams in 1979 and 1980), I had coaches that helped me in my life so when I got back here, I knew that was something I had to do for others.”
--Bill Daley
District softball
St. Brendan softball broke open a scoreless game with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to defeat Key West for the District 16-4A title.
District 16-4A Championship: St. Brendan 8, Key West 3: StB: WP Jules Miranda 7 IP, CG, 3 R, 10 H, 2 BB, 6 K; Coral Latshaw 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R; Aubrey Piaia 2-3, RBI, R; Taylor Neilson 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI; Maddie Llerandi 2-3, 2B, BB, R; Jules Miranda 1-3; Rachel Rodriguez 1-4, R. KW: Nevaeh Arnold 2-2, 2B, R, RBI; Alexa Condella 2-4, RBI; Alexandra Rodriguez 2-3, 2B, R. StB 12-11, KW 6-14.
Region flag football
The Pembroke Pines Charter girls’ flag football team advanced to the FHSAA state quarterfinals for the first time in program history by winning the region title over Pompano 30-12.
QB Ava Rivera has more than 50 touchdown passes this season, which is a school record and makes her one of the top passing leaders in the nation. She threw for 301 yards and five touchdowns on 28 completions against Pompano in the region final and did not play in the fourth quarter. Touchdowns were caught by 1,000-yard receivers Jocelyn Garcia and Madison Ojeda.
Also, Kayla Gomez caught a highlight reel touchdown pass through traffic between multiple defenders on a fourth down play.
A dominant defense was led by CB Kiara Gomez, who did not allow any pass receptions on her side of the field. Sacks were recorded by Sylena Gilbert and Kaylah Josue, and Veronica Morales also made some big plays.
The region champs are Jocelyn Garcia, Kayla Gomez, Madison Ojeda, Kaylah Josue, Meagan Berger, Sylena Gilbert, Veronica Morales, Angelina Berger, Kiara Gomez, Sofia Rodriguez, Camila Rojas, Jennah Pierre, Abigail Santos, Ava Rivera, Kameron Dacosta, Arielle Francis, Tracey Jean-Louis, Khaila Sprouse, Jasmyn Daniels, Lucy Fishman, and Isabella Pascqual.
Coach Keidran Willis and Coach Colon.
Team Managers: Skyler Morejon, Juliette Othon, Heavyn Elizee, Krystal Castro.
Team Assistants: Keidran Willis Jr., Justin Morales, Dylan Echeverria.
The Jaguars are ranked third in the state and 13th in the nation.
Other local region final scores: Homestead 27, Miami Edison 26 (2 OT); Miami Palmetto 13, Miami Southridge 0.
Boys’ volleyball
District 28-1A Semifinal: LaSalle d. Miami Beach 25-16, 25-23, 25-16: Logan Aungst 15 kills, 7 blocks, 8 digs; Daniel Auza 9 kills, 6 blocks, 2 aces, 4 digs; Christian Bagshaw 6 kills, 9 blocks, 4 digs; Lucas Barragan 37 assists, 2 aces, 8 digs. LaS 14-7.
Basketball honors
Source Hoops presents the 2023-24 Boys’ Basketball All-State Teams.
These fifteen players represent the best of the best for those schools that participate in Class 5A. Players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams selected by media from around the state, and without regard to a player’s travel team or high school affiliation or his ranking by other outlets.
CLASS 5A: FIRST TEAM: Marcus Allen, 6-6 SR, Miami Norland; Ryan Blount, 6-6 SR, Rockledge; Josh Lewis, 6-6 JR, Tampa Blake; Ian Smikle, 6-9 SR, Riviera Beach Suncoast; Narayan Thomas, 6-4 SR, Daytona Beach Mainland.
SECOND TEAM: Trey Murray, 6-3 SR, Wesley Chapel; Ryan Rodriguez, 6-4 SR, Port St. Lucie; Alex Jasquith, 6-6 SR, Pensacola Washington; Landen Joseph, 6-3 JR, Oakland Park Northeast; Tristan Wilson, 6-5 SR, Miami Norland.
THIRD TEAM: Tae’shaun Gelsey, 6-4 JR, Jacksonville Riverside; Nate Boakye, 6-2 SR, Tampa Jesuit; Marcus Schade, 6-4 SR, Bradenton Braden River; Marcus Kelly, 6-1 SR, Cape Coral Mariner; Calvin Russell, 6-6 SO, Miami Northwestern.
These fifteen players represent the best of the best for those schools that participate in Class 6A. Players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams selected by media from around the state, and without regard to a player’s travel team or high school affiliation or his ranking by other outlets.
CLASS 6A: FIRST TEAM: Josh Harris, 6-7 SR, Pembroke Pines Charter; Zay McCoy, 5-10 SR, Ocala Forest; Donovan Williams, 6-4 SO, Orlando Edgewater; Jeremy Elyzee, 6-7 SR, Pembroke Pines Charter; Sam Ritchie, 6-2 SR, Ponte Vedra.
SECOND TEAM: Paker Walton, 6-4 SR, Gainesville Buchholz; Darius Cunningham, 6-3 SR, Navarre; K.J. Smith, 6-2 JR, Wiregrass Ranch; Kaiden Francis, 6-1 SR, South Plantation; D.J. Sandi, 6-0 SO, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
THIRD TEAM: Treymar Jones, 6-2 JR, Milton; Calven Charles, 6-4 SR, Naples Palmetto Ridge; Isaiah Newson, 6-1 SO, North Fort Myers; Daniel Delgardo III, 6-2 SR, Tampa Leto; Amari Nealey, 6-2 SR, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer.
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
This story was originally published May 7, 2024 at 1:13 AM.
