Five high school baseball teams face tough competition during regional playoffs this week

Five local high school baseball teams punched their tickets to the regional playoffs this week as they try to knock off some tough competition from teams from Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
For girls’ softball, three local teams fell in the regional quarterfinals after winning their district championships.
Defending state champion Monsignor Edward Pace High’s baseball team started the postseason strong with a victory over St. Brendan (9-1), and won another district title with a 10-4 victory over iMater Charter.
The Spartans advanced to the regionals where they face tough competition from teams from Broward County.
iMater Charter, which defeated Mater Lakes Academy 5-4 in the district semifinals, also advanced to the regionals as the district runner-up.
Miami Springs claimed the district championship with a victory over rival Barbara Goleman and both teams could meet again in the regional semifinals if they can get past their opponents.
Goleman defeated Hialeah Miami Lakes High 16-6 in the opening round of the district playoffs ending the Trojans’ promising season in which they defeated top ranked teams, Varela, 13-2, and Archbishop Carroll, 9-2, to close out the regular season.
American High’s baseball team lost the district title game against Hialeah as the Thoroughbreds defeated the Patriots, 3-2, in the finals of the tournament.
Despite the loss, American advanced to the regionals against an opponent to be announced this week.
Mater Academy, which lost the district title game against Westland Hialeah, 6-0, prepares for a regional quarterfinal game this week against McArthur.
The Mustangs won their district title with a 6-1 victory over Cooper City.
In softball, Monsignor Edward Pace High won the 2018-2019 district championship last week with a 13-3 victory over Mater Lakes Academy before losing to Gulliver Prep, 15-0, in the regional quarterfinals.
The Lady Spartans defeated St. Brendan High School 8-4 in the district semifinals in a tough match up that saw both teams go toe-to-toe before Pace broke the game open.
Mater Academy High’s softball team also won the district championship with a victory over Westland Hialeah before losing to Nova, 9-7, in the regional quarterfinals.
Like Pace and Mater Academy, Barbara Goleman’s softball team won the district championship with a victory over Hialeah Miami Lakes before losing to American Heritage, 15-0, in the regional quarterfinals.
Mater Lakes Academy’s softball team, which defeated favorite LaSalle in the district tournament lost to Key West, 15-0, in the district finals.