By Dave Brousseau

FORT LAUDERDALE – Senior outfielder Nick Sabatino stood at the plate with a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning.

St. Thomas Aquinas, the defending Class 6A state champion, was down by a run in the deciding game three against West Boca Raton.

The two-year starter delivered one of the biggest hits in Aquinas playoff baseball history with a with a two-run double scoring Tyler Burpee and Jaden Doverspike as Aquinas escaped with a 15-14 victory regional semifinal victory on Saturday.

“I knew their guy was throwing hard and I had to get on top of it,” said Sabatino, who led the team with five RBI. “I hit the outside pitch the other way. We knew we could battle back because we’d done it all year. We knew we had a chance and we’ll take it.” 

The teams combined for 32 hits, six extra bases and 11 pitchers in a game that lasted  just over four hours.

The Raiders (24-5) advance to the regional finals against Miami Southridge in the best of three series beginning on Friday.

The combined 29 runs in a playoff victory were the most by the Raiders since their first playoff appearance in 1970. The 15 runs tied the team record for most in a playoff win, second only to the 17 scoring against Ida Baker in game one of last year regional quarterfinal.

“That baseball team we played battled,” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Joey Wardlow. “It was an incredible day of baseball. It seemed six of seven times the game was over and then it wasn’t. Our kids believed in themselves. If you leave the game on the line to Sabatino, he’s going to get it done.”

Down 14-12 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, two players reached base on errors, while another was hit by a pitch after Aquinas closed the score at 14-13.

Aquinas led 6-1, entering the top of the fifth inning before the Bulls put six runs on the board for a 7-6 lead. The lead was short lived as the Raiders added four runs in the bottom of the inning, two coming on a Sabatino two-run single.

West Boca went up 14-10 in the top of the sixth inning with six runs, two coming on a single from  Christian Fallacara-Saunders.

A Sabatino RBI single helped cut the Raiders deficit to 14-12 entering the seventh inning.

Brady Buxbaum added three hits and three RBI for the Raiders. He also pitched the top of the seventh inning, while holding the Bulls scoreless.

West Boca won game two of the best-of-three series 5-0 to force the deciding game three.

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.

During their 10-game winning streak which included a huge win over 7A power Miami Christopher Columbus, there was still that one huge obstacle that loomed in the third round of the state playoffs.

For head coach Greg Laffere and his Miami True North Classical Academy football team, the 10 wins that they compiled in their seventh year as a program was a program builder and something that gave his player and coaches confidence, but that region final against 1A power Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna was still a major hurdle that this team had not been able to conquer.

The 35-14 loss to the Lions ended the streak, season and dashed any hope this program had of playing for a state title.

Fast forward to the off-season, and that dark cloud started to give way to an eye-covering bright light.

This football program which could only dream of getting to the state final saw a major weight lifted – when Chaminade-Madonna and defending state champion West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman were moved to 2A, leaving the Titans as the team to watch for in 1A for the 2026 season.

While there are still going to be major obstacles for this program with key 1A teams across the state, True North found themselves coming off a 10-3 season with plenty of optimism.

As it would have been real easy for the Titans to just play a competitive schedule, Laffere is not cut out of that type of cloth. He gave his team a challenge. One that perhaps gave them the toughest schedule in the state – with defending state champions Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and Plantation American Heritage, state runner up Chaminade-Madonna, regional finalists Miami Southridge and Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, and Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy, Key West, Miami Norland, Fort Pierce John Carroll and Coconut Creek in the prestigious Broward County National Showcase.

While a few prospects graduated or transferred from last year, some key returners come back – such as rising seniors (2027) Zac Katz (QB), Ronald Riley (OL) and athlete George Harris, rising sophomore Ricky Carter (LB) and talented rising freshman athlete Gregory Florence.

Here is a look at this solid team as year No. 8 begins:

CLASS OF 2027

Jaden Daniels, WR, 5'7, 160 – 4.4 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/24250080/69220866776090401ccda781

Davarious Dean, WR, 6'3, 155 – 3.0 GPA.

TAPE: 21.8 (305) 610-6299  3 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/26917870/68f8851dec5609ef43ac6004

Dante de la FE, OL, 6'0, 283 – 4.0 GPA.

TAPE:  https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19337270/691031c390223eab69d4353c

Damian Font, TE/OL, 6'2, 240 – 3.2 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/20996439/Damian-Font/highlights

George Harris, SS,RB,WR, 5'11, 188 – 2.56 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17631972/George-Harris/highlights

Sebastian Ibarra, LB, 6'0, 200 – 4.0 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16929773/68f3b77cf045037b7c8cdaae

Zac Katz, QB, 6'2, 199 – 3.5 GPA. FIU Commitment.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17908883/Zachary-Katz/highlights

Walter Maestre, WR/S, 6'3, 185 – 3.1 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19384739/69d85e762833847363ee40e0

Jahmir McCall, WR, 5'6, 123 – 2.5 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/23266725/Nathan-Wilson/highlights

Luis Quevedo, OL, 6'0, 247 – 4.0 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/19594896/Luis-Quevedo/highlights#

Ronald Riley, OL, 6'4, 336 – 3.2 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17569464/Ronald-Riley/highlights

Alejandro Valdes, OL, 5'10, 258 – 3.3 GPA.

TAPE:  https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19337261/69812f5fa165df2122e956b3

Jayden Williams, DB, 5'8, 175 – 3.8 GPA.

TAPE: 20.9 (954) 305-5081  3.8 https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20359042/68fe994fad5c89f57c94ea5b

AWAITING SPRING/SUMMER VIDEO

Gabe Garcia, OL/DL, 6'4, 283 – 3.8 GPA

Derek Rhodd, TE, 5'11, 180 - 2.9 GPA

CLASS OF 2028

Ricky Carter, LB/DE, 6'2, 194 – 3.8 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/22328895/Ricky-Cater/highlights

Jermaine Green, RB, 5'8, 161.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/26924963/68fe68872903f84385faa03c

AWAITING SPRING/SUMMER VIDEO

Dominic Caiaffa, DB, 5'8, 140

Emerson Heffernan, LB, 5'11, 187

Mason Hernandez, QB, 5'8, 159

Patrick Lane, LB, 5'10, 197

Damian Lago, DL, 6'0.5, 205

Jack Partagas, DL, 5'10, 231

CLASS OF 2029

Juan Gonzalez, OL, 6'3, 280 – 3.7 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/26571203/69eb873fe3150b10624fe8ab

AWAITING SPRING/SUMMER VIDEO

Damian Agudelo, OL, 5'9, 214

Bradley Alvarez, DB, 5'8, 127

Kingston Cocking, OL, 5'10, 215

Deacon de la Fe DL 5'7 197 (305) 337-6891

Mason Gilmore LB 5'9 183 (786) 783-8806

Myon Gore, DB, 5'9, 165

Micheal Gilmore, DL, 5'11, 181

Luke McCloud DB 5'7 145 (786) 905-7623

Jamari Morrison, Athlete, 5'8, 168

Max Oyarzun, K, 5'7, 137 – 3.8 GPA

Jayden Perez, WR, 5'8, 156

Derrius Thompkins, DL, 6'3, 360 – 3.4 GPA

CLASS OF 2030

Gregory Florence, Athlete, 5’7, 142.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/26348153/690cd4ced73efefe8c0f76f0

AWAITING SPRING/SUMMER VIDEO

Traelon Chambers, TE/DE, 6'1, 166

Tyrese Johnson, DE/LB, 6'1, 175

Reese Laffere, OL, 6'1, 205

Darrius Lee, Athlete, 6'1, 144

Jayden Lopez, RB, 5'5, 126

Robert Mancha, DL, 6'1, 185

Mason Massana, DB, 5'9, 152

Jason Molina, OL, 5'10, 200

Kristopher Rodriguez, QB, 5'8, 128

Justin Selent, K, 5'4, 118

Bryan Silva, DL, 6'1, 235

Dallas Solis OL, 5'8, 161

Dyllan Solis, OL, 5'9, 150

Javarius Thompson, Athlete, 5'6, 154

Sammy Tusitala, OL, 6'2, 340

Steven Williams, QB, 5'5, 131

2025 Miami True North Classical Titans

Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, L 41-14

Fort Myers Bishop Verot, L 44-34

Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, W 49-18

Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, W 31-6

Jacksonville University Christian, W 28-8

Miami Jackson, W 42-0

Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons, W 42-0

Miami Christopher Columbus, W 34-15

Miami Westminster Christian, W 35-6

Miami Archbishop Carroll, W 49-20

STATE PLAYOFFS

Miami Palmer Trinity, W 42-17

Boca Raton St. Andrew’s Academy, W 62-28

Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, L 35-14

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

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

PARKLAND – The Douglas High baseball team proved they are driven in its bid to win a sixth straight state championship.

And Southwest Miami was painfully on the receiving end of a 20-4 loss in the second game of the  Class 7A regional semifinal best of three series on Saturday afternoon.

Douglas (24-5) will host West Broward (22-8) in the regional final best of three series beginning on Friday. The Bobcats defeated Douglas earlier this season 9-5.

After struggling to produce timely hits in Friday’s game one 1-0 victory, Douglas produced 17 hits, including a grand slam from Jake Rizzo in the first inning and another by Gio Rojas in the fourth inning.

The duo combined for 10 RBI in the afternoon game. Matthew Toback and Reid Dadic each added two RBI apiece.

“Obviously a different outcome from the first game,” said Douglas coach Todd Fitz-Gerald. “We had big hit after big hit and being patient at the plate. We got good pitches to swing at and did a nice job.”

Rizzo’s slam was his fifth home run of the season, helping give the team 33 round trippers on the season.

“We could feel the energy right off the bat,” said Rizzo. “We were the away team and wanted to apply pressure first. We did our job with nine runs in the first. Nothing’s easy from here and we need to keep grinding.”

Douglas sealed the game in the top of the fourth inning with eight runs, keyed by Rojas’ slam.

The 20 runs were a team record both in a regular season or playoff game. It was the eighth time this season that Douglas scored at least 10 runs in a game.

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.

As spring football got under way across south Florida this week, there were a lot of colleges who flocked to many schools around Miami-Dade and Broward Counties to check out the prospects.

As you know from reading the things we do here on this website and throughout our social media, we cover EVERYONE. No matter the size of the school or success they are having, we have always bought in to the fact that if you want to play football in high school and are excited to continue competing at the next level, we are your best friend.

For six decades, which way longer than anyone in the state of Florida has had the honor to cover high school football, it is long been our objective to make sure that each and every student/athlete has the forum to showcase their skills and get the film and evaluations into the hands of colleges and universities across the country who can accommodate dreams.

When Wilkie Perez played at Miami High back in the day, he was a gifted TEAM player who not only was consumed about his own statistics but was a player who made sure that football remained a team game.

Nothing has changed. As head coach at Miami Beach, in his second season, Perez and his staff have made sure that this sport is still all about teaching and developing and providing a forum and canvas for these athletes to develop their game.

The Hi Tides are coming off a three-win season. But ask any of the players coming back from the 2025 team – such as playmakers Jaaden Turner (FB/DE) and Garlens Laurius (CB) – and they will tell you that while it may not show up in the wins and losses – there are some positives going at 2231 Prairie Avenue!

With a number of talented prospects on the roster, this spring and into the summer will be about getting game film for many of the prospects to show colleges and to head into the 2026 season with.

Here are some of those talented players to watch in the coming months: 

CLASS OF 2027

Kamar Gordon, OL/DL, 6'4, 250.

TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/v/2T7g3r

Jordan Greenfield, QB, 6'0, 195.

TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/v/2TRyzE

Kenneth Richardson, RB, 5'6, 140.

TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/v/2Td7u1

Stefano Stamos, CB,WR, 6'0, 160.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/20844721/Stefano-Stamos

Julien Valle, RB, 6'0, 180.

TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/v/2Te771

Christopher Yordy, OL, 5'11, 240.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/26421980/Christopher-Yordy

AWAITING SPRING/SUMMER VIDEO

Micheal Ditommaso, LB, 5'10, 175

Rocco Joldas, LB, 6'0, 180

Jacob Pierre-Louis, DT, 5'6, 200   

Franco Malatesta, OL, 6'2, 255

Elijah Royce, WR, 6'0, 155

CLASS OF 2028

Jerald Humbert, LB, 5'10, 190.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/29423761/Jerald-Humbert

Jaaden Turner, FB/DE, 6'1, 180.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/27317739/Jaaden-Turner

AWAITING SPRING/SUMMER VIDEO

Mickel Anderson, OL

Jake Caicedo, WR, 5'8, 155

Matthew Chavez, OL, 6'0, 215

Ian Devoto, OL, 5'7, 220

Valentino Dixon DT, 5'7, 230

Edison Nieto, DT, 5'7, 200

Christian Prince, WR, 5'10, 155

Cristian Chayyanne Aguilar Ruiz, LB/DT, 5'7, 170

Antonio Salcedo, RB, 5'6, 140

Dali Sanders, WR/CB, 5'4, 140

Gonzalo Villalba, K, 6'2, 195

CLASS OF 2029

Garlens Laurius, CB, 5'8, 145.

TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/26864169/69064fdd8116d5b9cefc9c04 786-538-9107

AWAITING SPRING/SUMMER VIDEO

Joaquin Blanco, K, 5'8, 150

Matthias DeSiena, WR,RB, 5'8, 135

Natan'el Ichak, WR, 5'11, 140

Thomas Torro, WR/RB, 5'10, 150

2025 Miami Beach Hi Tides

Miami Springs, W 7-0

Miami St. Brendan, L 28-17

Miami Dr. Krop, L 20-7

Pembroke Pines Flanagan, L 28-0

Miami Ferguson, L 28-14

Pembroke Pines West Broward, L 54-0

Coral Gables, W 29-20

Miami Florida Christian, L 21-13

Miami High, W 24-21

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

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..