By Dave Brousseau

The greatest of opportunities come and go, but on this Saturday the St. Thomas Aquinas baseball teams’ chance finally came to fruition.

Since the Raiders first state championship in 1995 under the leadership of former coach Ed Waters, Aquinas has fallen short three times of winning back-to-back titles.

Led by sophomore Mauricio Clements three RBI, St. Thomas finally snapped the drought with a 5-1 victory for the Class 6A title over Gainesville Buchholz at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on Saturday.

 After championships seasons in 2003 under coach Robert Lawson and under coach Troy Cameron the Raiders fell short of successfully defending their title.

With the win, St. Thomas (28-6) joined Douglas, Nova, Archbishop McCarthy and North Broward Prep as the only Broward County teams with consecutive state baseball titles.

With consecutive championships, coach Joey Wardlow has led his team to 57-12-1 record. The combined two-year victory total is the most in the past 25 seasons for the Raiders.

Senior starting pitcher Joseph Hendren held Buchholz to two hits over five innings, allowing a single earned run, while striking out three.

Hayden Robinson added a pair of hits and an RBI. Brady Buxbaum also had an RBI.

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Last year when they played for the 1A state girls’ flag football title, it took the final play of the game when quarterback Rakyia Louis found Poetry Auguste with a “Hail Mary” pass from 32 yards out and a 26-20 state title. The first in school history.

This season, the Miami Edison Red Raiders didn’t need the same magic in repeating as state champions at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa. Once again it was Louis, who led the way in a convincing 33-12 victory over Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons.

The senior threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns as head coach Vince Hall and his team finished 19-1 as they held the trophy high for the second straight season.

Getting to the title game was actually tougher than the championship itself as Edison battled Jacksonville Bolles on Friday as sophomore Torri Cotman caught seven passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns and also returned an interception 22 yards for another score.

In addition, the Red Raiders had key performances on offense from senior athlete Malaysia David (six receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns), and freshmen Mikeira Miller (five catches for 45 yards), and Saryah Williams (three passes for 32 yards).

On defense, Edison saw sophomores Jennifer Burton (LB), Briana Bogans (Athlete) and Tykonder Ponder (DB), and freshman Saryah Williams all come up with big plays during the weekend – the season.

Besides Louis, Cotman, David, Miller, Williams, Burton, Bogans, Ponder and Saryah Williams, there were others who helped this team throughout the years.

There were Tagerlily Blount (Jr., S/WR), Angelina Sifralien (Fr.), Mia Sanchez (Fr.), Talayah Akhdar (Sr.), London Harris (So.), Saia Jean-Pierre (Fr., WR), Jayde Major (Fr., QB), Brianna Romain (Fr.), Abigael Castor, Parrette Macena and Mia Sanchez, who will be back for a three-peat in 2027!

In addition to head coach Vincent Hall and Tiara Jones (Assistant Head Coach), Ken Simmons (Offensive Coordinator) and Mikey Sheehan (Defensive Coordinator) guided this team once again.

The season saw the Red Raiders outscore the opposition, 636-82, with an impressive 13 shutouts.

ROAD TO A 1A STATE TITLE

Hialeah Gardens, W 19-0

Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, W 26-6

Miami Palmetto, W 12-0

Coral Gables, W 27-6

Miramar Everglades, W 35-0

Miami Central, W 41-0

Mater Lakes Academy, W 39-0

Miami Carol City, W 52-0

Miami Jackson, W 50-0

Davie Western, W 20-19

Homestead, W 20-7

Miami Dr. Krop, W 58-0

GMAC TITLE GAME

Miami Northwestern, L 25-15

Downtown Doral, W 39-0

Miami Sports Leadership & Management, W 40-0

Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, W 38-0

STATE PLAYOFFS
Miami Carol City, W 31-0

Miami True North Classical Academy, W 27-0

1A STATE SEMIFINAL

Jacksonville Bolles, W 14-7

1A STATE FINAL

Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons, W 33-12

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For the past 56 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By Dave Brousseau

In the 104 years since a high school state baseball championship has been played in Florida, no team has accomplished the remarkable run of Stoneman Douglas.

The Eagles, led by perhaps one of the best pitchers in Broward County history in senior Gio Rojas, defeated Venice 2-1 for the Class 7A state championship at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on Saturday.

Venice (32-2) entered the championship game ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today, Baseball America and Prep Baseball.

Not since Calvary Christian (Clearwater) beat American Heritage-Delray for the Class 4A title in 2019 had a team defeated their opponent by the final score of 2-1 for a state title.

The victory extended the Douglas (28-6) record of consecutive state championships to six. Archbishop McCarthy held the previous record of four consecutive titles.

Saturday’s final score also marked the 18^th time in state history a team won the state championship by the 2-1 margin.

Rojas, among one of the top players in the country and likely a top 10 selection in July’s MLB Draft, was magnificent in the title game and each of his three regional playoff games.

Against Venice he went 6 2/3 innings, allowing one hit with 12 strikeouts and no earned runs.

During the Eagles title run Rojas went 23 innings allowed seven hits, one earned run, while striking out 41 strikeouts. Rojas and Ander Elorriaga.

Rojas also had a RBI bunt single that scored Cade Riely giving a Douglas 1-0 lead in the first inning. The eventual winning run came in the top of the seventh on a squeeze bunt by Elorriaga scoring Jake Rizzo from third.

Since the Dougles first state championship run in 2016, the team has a playoff record of 46-4. Over the six consecutive state championships, their record is 36-1, while outscoring their opponents 265-78.

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Dave Brousseau

FORT LAUDERDALE – Prior to the 2026 high school softball season, Coral Springs Charter owned a tight grip on Cardinal Gibbons having won 16 consecutive games dating back to 2008.

Then behind the strong pitching performances by senior Lydia Berent, Gibbons defeated Charter in the BCAA Big title game and for the district title.

The Panthers, winners of five consecutive state championships from 2015-19 finally had an answer for Berent’s dominance with a pair of home runs by junior Cameron Theile and freshman Jazzy Chung to earn  a 3-1 victory over the Chiefs in the Class 3A regional final on Thursday.

Charter (21-4) advances to a state semifinal game on May 21 at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood. The championship is scheduled for May 22 at 5 p.m.

“This particular group has never been there,” said Coral Springs Charter coach Mark Montimurro. “We tried to paint the picture how wonderful it is. We knew we had the group to do it. We brought our A-game against one of the pitchers in the state.”

The loss snapped Cardinal Gibbons 21-game winning streak and bid for the school’s first state championship. They ended the season with the best record (26-2) in school history.

“I don’t think disappointment is what comes to my mind,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Emily Estroff. “This hurts and it stings. We’ll feel good about it heading into next year.

We’re in a tough district and region. I think if you stick us and Charter away from each other anywhere else, we’d both win a state title.”

While junior pitcher Courtney Wahlbrink was shutting down the Chiefs hitters, Theile over the left-centerfield fence on the top of the third inning for a 1-0 lead.

“Going into this game I had high hopes,” said Theile. “I never had any doubt and we trusted each other. I never really was a home run hitter. I was just out there swinging for my team. When I hit that pitch, I knew it was gone.”

Chung hit her second round-tripper of the season in the top of the sixth inning, and the Panthers would lead 3-0.

“I knew from my first at bat what she was going to throw me,” said Chung. “I saw that pitch and I just went for it. It looked good and I swung and I knew off the bat it was gone.”

It would be more than enough runs for Wahlbrink as she held Gibbons without a hit through six innings.

The Chiefs finally produced a run following a Skylar Flack single and an RBI double from Morgan Beavers. Sloane Schaefer ground out to end the threat.

Walhbrink (20-4) finished the afternoon, allowing two hits, two walks and a hit batter on 69 pitches.  

“We all had that momentum after beating Somerset Academy on Tuesday,” said Wahlbrink. “We took that momentum and brought in here today. I knew the third time was the charm and I knew we could do it.”

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.