Broward baseball preview: Three reigning state champs aiming for another big season

Broward County dominated Florida baseball last year, winning three state titles -- Douglas (Class 7A); Cardinal Gibbons (4A) and North Broward Prep (3A).

This year, however, Gibbons and North Broward Prep are both in 3A.

Douglas, which remains in 7A, is perhaps the top program in the nation.

A reminder: This year, Florida’s three regional rounds will now switch to a best 2-of-3 series. The state semifinals and final will continue to exist as a single-elimination format.

Here is a closer look at what else we can expect from Broward baseball in 2025:

DOUGLAS

▪ The Eagles have won four straight states, and they have also been voted No. 1 in the nation four times: in 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Over the past four years, the Eagles have built an incredible record of 113-9.

During that span, the Eagles posted a 59-game win streak – the longest ever by a Florida public school.

Can the Eagles win a fifth straight state title?

It would be silly to bet against coach Todd Fitz-Gerald. However, the top four hitters in Douglas’ 2024 batting order are all gone: Alex Rodriguez is at UCF; Rylan Lujo (Dayton); Devin Fitz-Gerald (Texas Rangers organization); and Niko Benestad (USF).

“Our pitching and defense will be good this year,” said Todd Fitz-Gerald, who is Devin’s father. “We need to shore up our offense.”

The Douglas pitching staff includes seven lefties, including junior Gio Rojas and senior Luke Cherry. Rojas, a Miami recruit, projects as a first-round pick in 2026. Cherry is a North Florida recruit.

Douglas’ offense includes senior left fielder Bennett Gary (Miami recruit); junior center fielder Lorenzo Laurel (Florida); senior right fielder Nick Diaz (Colege of Charleston); senior catcher Drew Freeman (Louisville); junior first baseman Jake Rizzo (Dayton); and senior shortstop Erick Torres (Eastern Kentucky).

CARDINAL GIBBONS

Jason Hamilton, 50, was a seventh-grader at Sunrise Middle when Cardinal Gibbons won its first state title.

Hamilton was the coach last year when Gibbons finally won its second state title and its first since 1987.

The Chiefs went 25-4-2 last year, winning their final 14 games in a row. That includes an 8-7 regional semifinal win over Key West that included a walk-off passed ball in the bottom of the seventh.

Pitcher Michael Kass was the Chiefs’ star last year, but he is now at UCF. The Chiefs also graduated six other players.

However, Hamilton will turn to three talented senior pitchers: Brenden Trujillo, Jack Campbell and Mike Ragusa.

Trujillo earned a complete-game 4-1 win over South Walton in the state final.

Campbell pitched three scoreless innings to earn a save in the state semifinals, a 3-2 win over Mulberry.

And Ragusa missed the playoffs last year due to injury but is back throwing gas at 96-97 mph. He has signed with North Carolina State.

The offense will be led by senior catcher Eddie Marshall, who has signed with Samford. He hit .378 with five homers last year.

NORTH BROWARD PREP

Coach Brian Campbell graduated Mateo Gray, the MaxPreps Florida Player of the Year.

Gray, who is now at UCF, led NBP at pitcher, first base and shortstop.

The Eagles also graduated utility player Riley Luft (now at Appalachian State); pitcher Ryan McPherson (Mississippi State); catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic); and third baseman Gian De Castro (Arizona State).

This year, the team’s top player is senior shortstop/closer Kiernan O’Neill. He had three hits in the state semifinal, and he was on the mound to close out a 5-4 win over Westminster Christian in the championship game.

O’Neill also tied NBP assistant coach Kevin Fagan’s school record for most hits in a season (43).

Other top returners include senior outfielder Maxwell Burkholz (Bryant recruit); and senior outfielder Anthony Mestre (uncommitted).

NBP is 99-27-1 over the past four years. The Eagles won state titles in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and they finished second in 2023.

“This year, we’re very young,” Campbell said. “But our sophomore class is one of the best I’ve ever coached.

“The first three weeks of our schedule is difficult. So, it might take us a minute to get up to speed.”

MORE OUTLOOKS

▪ American Heritage (21-11, state runner-up) appears primed to make another run at a state championship if its hitting and fielding can stay consistent to match its deep pitching staff. Senior catcher Sebastian Garavito returns to lead the Patriots along with senior third baseman RJ Machado and sophomore shortstop Brayden Caballero. Seniors Talan Holiday and Mark Aleman top Heritage’s starting rotation.

▪ Westminster Academy (15-13 last year) should be much improved with seniors such as catcher Jesus Garvin and shortstop Calvin Martin. Garvin, an FIU recruit, hit .375 last year. Martin, possibly the fastest player in South Florida, signed with Palm Beach State. Watch out for freshman infielder Jorge Ferrer.

▪ Western went 19-10 last season, reaching the regional quarterfinals. This year’s team will be led by junior right-hander Jimmy Huard, senior right-hander Zach Beyra and Junior Mason McGeehan. Junior catcher Jorge Falagan does a good job handling pitchers. Huard, who throws up to 96 mph and has a high spin rate, has committed to Vanderbilt. Beyra signed with UCF, and McGeehan has committed to South Florida.

▪ West Broward (23-6-1, regional finals) returns seven starters and all nine players in its lineup have quality varsity experience. The Bobcats also return four of their five top pitchers from last season’s team. Juniors Ivan Sabater and Adrian Bermudez are at the top of that rotation. Junior outfielder Ethan Lindor and junior first baseman Reggie Rodriguez highlight their lineup.

▪ Flanagan (16-11 last year) is led by senior shortstop Miguel Colmenares; junior second baseman Caden Corzo; and senior pitcher Adrian Garcia.

▪ Pine Crest (12-10) has a young team that is strong defensively. The team is led by junior Cooper Obst, a switch-hitting catcher who batted .383 last season. Junior first baseman Stephen Gladding and senior shortstop Troy Ceritelli are other standouts.

▪ Coral Glades (11-11 last season) lacks power hitting. However, the team’s strengths are pitching, defense and speed. Coral Glades’ biggest star is sophomore right-hander Jason Lincoln, who could become a Division I pitcher. Senior center fielder Brayden Hoskins and senior shortstop/pitcher Aso Lindo are other standouts.

▪ Pembroke Pines Charter (10-17, regional quarterfinals) will feature strong pitching and defense. The team’s top pitchers are junior Dean Jaworski and seniors Justin Probst and Sebastian Gonzalez. Senior Samuel Morillo is a stellar defensive catcher.

This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM.