As the 2016-2017 school year draws to a close, a host of local high school student-athletes were honored for their performances in the classroom and on the athletic fields for spring sports.
The Miami Herald recognized a group of students who were nominated for the Dade Scholar Athletes award, a winner for girls’ player of the year, a finalist for male athlete of the year and others named to the 2016-2017 All-Dade teams for baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, track and field, badminton and flag football.
The Dade Scholar Athletes nominees included American’s Denvil Dixon (football, track, wrestling) who recorded a 4.087 GPA and scored 1140 and 22 on the SAT and ACT; Goleman’s Cesar Delgado-Vara (swimming and water polo), who recorded a 4.22 GPA and scored 1040 and 21 on the ACT, and Natalie Costero (softball) who recorded a 4.83 GPA and scored 1200 on the SAT; and Mater Academy’s Angel Bu (soccer and volleyball) who recorded a 5.20 GPA and scored 1410 on the SAT, and Liz Travieso (swimming), who recorded a 4.63 GPA and scored 1180 and 27 on the SAT and ACT.
Pace baseball player Jeter Downs was a finalist for the 6A-1A male athlete of the year and named to The Miami Herald All-Dade First Team.
Downs, who batted .422, belted 12 home runs and 35 RBI, led the Spartans to one of the best records in school history and an appearance in the regional final.
Goleman badminton player Alyssa Moore was named girls’ player of the year for winning the singles championship at the GMAC and made the All-Dade First Team.
All-Dade Teams
For baseball (Class 6A-2A), besides Downs, Pace had two other players named to the All-Dade First Team – Senior first baseman Santos Grande (.449, two home runs and 25 RBI) and junior second baseman Michael Montes (.439, 10 home runs and 43 RBI).
Their teammates, pitchers Nick Fusco and Manny Rodriguez, were named to the All-Dade Second Team, and Spartans’ first baseman Andres Sanchez and teammate, outfielder Kenny Gonzalez, were named to the All-Dade Third Team as well as Goleman pitcher John Urena.
Honorable mentions included Goleman players Xavier Posada and Juan Rodriguez, and Pace player Sammy Infantel.
For baseball (Class 9A-7A), American senior first baseman Michael Glordano was named to the All-Dade Second Team, while Mater Academy junior player Raynel Delgado was named to the All-Dade Third Team.
Honorable mentions included American players Michael Diaz, Darian Oliva, Sean Dieppa and Steven Martinez; and Mater Academy players Joe Soto, Chris Lopez, Brandon Dudley and Luis Diaz.
For softball (Class 9A-7A), American had two players named to the All-Dade First Team – Pitcher Ashley Alfonso (14-2, 137 strikeouts and 1.34 ERA), and catcher Alexis Guzman (.752 batting average, 13 home runs and 59 RBI).
Their teammate, infielder Karla Soza, was named to the All-Dade Second Team, while two other team members, infielders Melanie Arauz and Tyenna Colon, were named to the All-Dade Third Team.
For softball (Class 6A-2A), Goleman player Natalie Costero (14-2, 1.57 ERA, .610 batting average, nine home runs and 34 RBI) was named to the All-Dade First Team, while her teammate, catcher Emily Bacallao, was named to the All-Dade Second Team.
Honorable mentions included Hialeah Miami Lakes players Samantha Romeu, Noelys Martinez, Sujay Garcia and Carmen Pardo.
For boys’ volleyball, Hialeah Miami Lakes player Abraham Castillo was named to the All-Dade Third Team, while honorable mentions included his teammates, Franky Zamora, Marvin Castellon, Ariel Centurion and Andrew Uria. American players Pedro Franco and Ernesto Gutierrez also received honorable mentions.
Making the All-Dade Second Team for flag football was Pace’s junior quarterback and defensive back Ericka Pratt, and making the Third Team was her teammate senior linebacker Starla Labady.
Honorable mentions included Goleman players Emily Wong, Dayanis Oliva and Catherine Baltodano; and Pace players Kathleen Rios, Monica Marque, Jaesha Morley and Cortniann Palmer.