In 6A, Flanagan (Pembroke Pines), ranked No. 7, enters the state championships as one of the hottest teams in the nation. The Falcons (23-2) are currently on a 10-game win streak and have outscored opponents 7-4 throughout that stretch. Flanagan reached this point after defeating Coral Springs, 2-1, in nine innings in the regional final, led by the standout pitching of Pichi Torres. Torres (9-1), at one point, went on a stretch where he retired 15 of 16 batters late in the game. The Falcons will play Timber Creek in the state semifinal on Friday.
American (Hialeah) has also proven its worth amongst the state’s best after defeating national power Columbus, 5-4, in the Class 6A regional final. The Patriot baseball team (23-7), which will play Alonso (Tampa) on Friday in the state semifinal, is the first of its three major sports (football, basketball and baseball) to reach the state final four in the school’s 34-year history. The Patriots will have their hands full on Friday as Alonso (25-5) is the third-ranked team in Florida. Should American win, as well as Flanagan, the Class 6A state championship game could stir up drama in south Florida in its ongoing saga for closure as to who has the best athletes and programs in the region, Broward or Miami-Dade County?
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), ranked No. 11, will represent the region in the Class 5A bracket as it prepares for its state semifinal game against Armwood on Monday. The Raiders (20-5) have not been back to the state championships since they won the whole thing in 2003. They reached this feat after defeating Melbourne, 6-4 in the regional final, led by back-to-back home runs by Dillon Rose and Vinnie Mauro. Rose hit the go-ahead two-run homer to seal the deal for St. Thomas.
In 4A, Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale), ranked No. 6, will need to get past Dunnellon on Friday in order to reach the state championship game. The Mavericks (24-5) are on a six-game winning streak, but what's even more impressive is how they fared in their last two postseason outings. Archbishop dominated its last two opponents to get to this point, including a 17-1 win over Cardinal Gibbons and a 12-2 victory over Lincoln Park last week.
Gulliver Prep (Miami), ranked No. 8 and fresh off a 2-0 win over Cocoa in the state semifinal, will face Bolles in the championship game on Thursday and have arguably the best individual talent on one team in Florida. As a unit, the Raiders (26-5) have an overall batting average of .415, with 33 home runs and 203 RBI. Sophomore standout Eric Neitzel was instrumental in Gulliver’s 6-4 regional final win against national power American Heritage (Plantation) after hitting two home runs, including a two-run walk off. Neitzel has been on fire as of late, going 12 for 12 with four walks and four home runs in Gulliver’s last three regional playoff games.
Along with Neitzel, who is hitting .519, the Raiders are also powered by big hitters such as Chris Chinea (.438), who also leads the team with 47 RBI, Ricky Eusebio (.469) and Adrian Marin (.418). Junior lefty Chris Diaz handles things from a defensive perspective with 59 strikeouts in 47 innings and a 2.30 ERA. For a team led by four sophomores, who are accompanied by two freshmen and eight juniors, this baseball program could be one of the top teams in Florida for the next few years.
Westminster Christian (Miami), ranked No. 17, will look to continue its quest for a Class 2A state title when it faces Orangewood Christian on Monday. The Warriors (26-6) have won nine of 10 games, including a 7-6 win over state power Florida Christian (Miami).
In Class 1A, Trinity Christian Academy (Lake Worth) will prepare to take on defending state champion Trinity Chrisitan (Deltona) on Thursday in the state title game. The Warriors (23-3) are fresh off a 3-0 win over Eagle’s View, a team that has won the Class 1A title four times in the last five years, and is trying to win its first state title. However, they must get through Deltona Trinity Christian, which is also coming off a decisive 12-2 win over Highlands Christian in the state semifinal.
Recruiting tracker: Vargas signs with Kentucky
After obtaining some of the most coveted high school basketball stars this season, Kentucky coach John Calipari isn’t done with his list of impressive signees after gaining a commitment from former American Heritage (Plantation) standout Eloy Vargas. Vargas, a 6-foot-11 power forward, graduated from Heritage in 2008 and signed with the University of Florida but played only one season after suffering from ankle problems. After his freshman season, Vargas transferred to Miami Dade College where, as a sophomore, he averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots per game. In high school, Vargas was one of the nation’s top recruits and will have the chance to play with former rival and two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year Brandon Knight.
Dubins named first-team All-American
Krop tennis standout Brittany Dubins is one of 16 girls to be selected a first-team All-American by the National High School Tennis Foundation. Dubins recently led the Krop girls tennis team to its fourth consecutive Class 4A championship after winning the overall doubles championship this season with Sonya Latycheva. She will take her game to the next level next year, but will not travel too far after signing with the University of Miami.