AIE softball makes school history. Area teams win region track & field titles and more results

Miami Herald Staff Reports
·8 min read

The Academy for Innovative Education Charter (AIE) softball program won the young school’s first team district championship by beating the top two seeds.

AIE softball started six years ago in 2017 with a middle school team. In 2021, the Aviators began its high school program.

In 2023, this marked the first time AIE softball competed in the district tournament for the District 15-2A softball championship.

The team was challenged with a 22-game schedule in the regular season, competing with top 10 teams from Miami Dade and Broward counties. The Aviators went 8-14.

AIE’s top performers in the regular season were pitcher Mia Gil who struck out 122 batters. She also contributed on offense with a .269 batting average and 17 RBI. Fellow juniors Alexa Torres (.432 batting avg, 38 hits, 15 RBI) and Sofia Garcia (.343 batting avg, 23 hits, 15 RBI) led the young team.

Sophomore Alexa Garofalo ( .418 batting avg, 38 hits, 20 RBI) caught almost every game with a .977 fielding percentage and threw out 8 out 22 runners stealing. Also helping AIE are sophomore Emily Gonzalez (a track star, too), freshmen Amanda Torres, Mia Gonzalez, Selenia Martinez and Maddy Baldwin; 8th graders Lily Gil and Olivia Garcia; and 7th graders Bella Barreiro and Sarah Utrera.

District Championship: AIE 8, Chaminade-Madonna 2: Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, the Aviators got on the board as Olivia Garcia scored on an error off the bat of Maddy Baldwin.

Behind 2-1 in the seventh, Alexa Torres singled to center to start a one-out rally. Alexa Garofalo then reached on an error. Sofia Garcia followed with a walk. One out later, Mia Gil stepped up to the plate and delivered a line drive to left center to score three runs and give AIE the lead 4-2. The rally continued in the seven-run inning.

With a runner on first in the bottom of the inning, AIE pitcher Mia Gil struck out the next batter, and then fielded a comebacker to start a double play with shortstop Sara Utrera and first baseman Alexa Torres to seal the title.

District Semifinal: AIE 5, Miami Country Day 0: Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, Miami Country Day loaded the bases with two outs. Sophomore Emily Gonzalez then made the play of the game with a diving catch to save three runs. The Aviators’ offense added insurance runs en route to the victory.

Mia Gil: 12 strikeouts vs. Miami Country Day; 8 strikeouts vs. Chaminade Madonna; 1 earned run; game winning double against Chaminade-Madonna.

Emily Gonzalez: Game saving diving catch vs. Miami Country Day.

Alexa Torres: Double against Miami Country Day to drive in the first run; seventh inning hit with one out to start the rally against Chaminade-Madonna.

Alexa Garofalo: Exceptional catching performance throughout district playoff.

Region track & field

Track & field region team championships for the Cardinal Gibbons girls’ team, Carol City boys, Columbus boys, Palmer Trinity girls, and Southridge girls.

REGION 4-1A

Team scores - Boys: 1. North Palm Beach-Benjamin 178, 2. Chaminade-Madonna 112, 3. Palmer Trinity 62, 4. Atlantic Christian 61, 5. Westminster Academy 47.

Boys’ individual winners - 100: D’Angelo Ponds (CM) 10.47; 200: D’Angelo Ponds (CM) 21.72; 400: Kwame Smith (CM) 48.44; 800: Joe Licata (JC) 1:59.49; 1600: Jonathan Pena (WA) 4:31.48; 3200: Eduardo del Rosal (PT) 9:58.37; 110 hurdles: Jeremiah Smith (CM) 14.67; 400 hurdles: Jeremiah Smith (CM) 56.89; 400 relay: Chaminade 42.69; 1600 relay: Atlantic Christian 3:30.53; 3200 relay: Palmer Trinity 8:19.74; High jump: Amaree Williams (Ben) 1.87m; Pole vault: Robert Letsche (Ben) 4.05m; Long jump: Hardley Gilmore (Pah) 6.84m; Triple jump: Brandon Drakeford (Berean) 13.70m; Shot put: David Lobaina (TN) 15.00m; Discus: Jackson Hamilton (Ben) 47.87m; Javelin: Quinn Broderick (Ben) 50.67m.

Team score - Girls: 1 (tie). Palmer Trinity and West Palm Beach-Oxbridge Academy 103, 3. Chaminade-Madonna 84, 4. North Palm Beach-Benjamin 71.5, 5. Pahokee 63.

Girls’ individual winners - 100: Tyra Cox (CM) 11.71; 200: Tyra Cox (CM) 24.63; 400: Tyra Cox (CM) 55.90; 800: Jordan Johnson (Pah) 2:22.74; 1600: Keira Hodum (Ben) 5:13.96; 3200: Marlo Hibler (WA) 11:40.90; 100 hurdles: Noelani Sadler (PT) 14.89; 400 hurdles: Kashia Hoo (CM) 1:02.51; 400 relay: Oxbridge 48.42; 1600 relay: Chaminade 3:53.63; 3200 relay: Benjamin 9:46.95; High jump: Maria Camposano (PT) 1.47m; Pole vault: Mariana Mendoza (PT) 2.85m; Long jump: Murielle Jeanite (Ox) 5.44m; Triple jump: Octavia Massena (Ox) 11.51m; Shot put: Danyla Sanders (Pah) 10.67m; Discus: Jasmin Morgan (HC) 33.05m; Javelin: Miranda Anderson (AC) 31.17m.

REGION 4-2A

Team scores - Boys: 1. Carol City 170, 2. Calvary Christian 100, 3. Jackson 61, 4. Ransom Everglades 41, 5. Key West 39.

The region champion Carol City boys’ track & field team.
The region champion Carol City boys’ track & field team.

Individual winners - 100: Larry Tarver (CC) 10.65; 100 adaptive: Seth Kavanaugh (Calv) 11.56; 200: Mekhi Gammons (HML) 21.39; 200 adaptive: Seth Kavanaugh (Calv) 23.88; 400: Mekhi Gammons (HML) 47.48; 400 adaptive: Giovanni Jones (CC) 59.48; 800: Noah Scheinblum (BTW) 1:58.25; 800 adaptive: Taraves Washington (CC) 2:25.48; 1600: David Serra (RE) 4:09.32; 3200: David Serra (RE) 9:04.22; 110 hurdles: Byron Holt (Jac) 14.15; 400 hurdles: Byron Holt (Jac) 55.46; 400 relay: Carol City 41.32; 1600 relay: Carol City 3:21.27; 3200 relay: Carol City 8:15.22; High jump: Emmanuel Jackson (Pomp) 6-3.5; Pole vault: Suharevskis Niks-Davis (KW) 12-3.5; Long jump: Marlon Simms (SomC) 22-2.5; Triple jump: Marlon Simms (SomC) 44-9.75; Shot put: Liam Marley (Calv) 51.8.25; Shot put adaptive: Aaron Gold (Gul) 35-6; Discus: Xavyer Arrington (CS) 146-10; Javelin: Michael McGrath (NBP) 165-6; Javelin adaptive: Aaron Gold (Gul) 83-5.

Team scores - Girls: 1. Cardinal Gibbons 86.5, 2. Carol City 51, 3. Pine Crest 50.5, 4. Carrollton and Key West 48.

The region champion Cardinal Gibbons girls’ track & field team.
The region champion Cardinal Gibbons girls’ track & field team.

Individual winners - 100: Bay’Andria Hodges (GC) 11.90; 200: Savannah Chadic (KW) 24.59; 400: Savannah Chadic (KW) 55.69; 800: Emily Baldwin (CG) 2:18.80; 1600: Brooke Hooper (PC) 5:01.27; 3200: Brooke Hooper (PC) 10:58.18; 100 hurdles: Akerah Jones (CG) 14.43; 400 hurdles: Arianna Garcia (Carr) 1:04.55; 400 relay: NSU University 48.67; 1600 relay: Carrollton 3:59.35; 3200 relay: Ransom Everglades 9:59.21; High jump: Tianna Demeritte (KA) 5-3.75; Pole vault: Paulina Guerra (Gul) 9-4.25; Long jump: Nyla Davis (CG) 16-7.25; Triple jump: Ella Munoz (NBP) 35-8; Shot put: Rhema Cruse-Chipman (Pace) 36-11.75; Discus: Emma Ramsingh (CG) 134-9; Javelin: Alexa Schwartz (NBP) 109-2.

REGION 4-4A

Team scores - Boys: 1. Columbus 102, 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 99, 3. Miramar 61, 4. Taravella 57, 5. Coral Springs 40.

The district and region champion Columbus boys’ track & field team.
The district and region champion Columbus boys’ track & field team.

Individual winners - 100: Durian Moss (Col) 10.45; 100 ambulatory: Amir Escolastico (Brad) 18.70; 200: Durian Moss (Col) 20.88; 200 ambulatory: Amir Escolastico (Brad) 34.52; 400: British Wilkerson (STA) 47.62; 400 ambulatory: Adrian Delancy (CR) 1:13.36; 800: Anthony Herrera (STA) 1:53.88; 800 ambulatory: Adrian Delancy (CR) 2:41.88; 1600: Ryan Sarafoglu (CR) 4:20.07; 3200: Shamar Henry (Flan) 9:33.41; 110 hurdles: Tristan Simmons (Mir) 14.87; 400 hurdles: Kahneil Budham (STA) 54.87; 400 relay: Columbus 41.17; 1600 relay: St. Thomas Aquinas 3:17.47; 3200 relay: St. Thomas Aquinas 7:54.24; High jump: Christian Cabrera (Nova) 1.92m; Pole vault: Jason Olivera Jr. (STA) 4.66m; Long jump: Josiah Gaynor (Pip) 7.14m; Triple jump: Jabari Lewis (SD) 14.32m; Shot put: Shaquille Young (Pip) 14.71m; Shot put ambulatory: Amir Escolastico (Brad) 6.16m; Discus: Mario Blanco (Brad) 44.54m; Javelin: Lucas Lapido (Col) 50.78m.

Team scores - Girls: 1. Southridge 167, 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 124.5, 3. Flanagan 58, 4. Braddock 42, 5. Taravella 38.

Individual winners - 100: Cynteria James (SR) 11.46; 200: Cynteria James (SR) 23.52; 400: Cynteria James (SR) 52.52; 800: Cha’iel Johnson (STA) 2:11.12; 1600: Grace Finneran (STA) 5:01.63; 3200: Annabella Cardona (BR) 11:32.41; 100 hurdles: Takiyah Ferguson (SR) 14.54; 400 hurdles: Takiyah Ferguson (SR) 1:01.95; 400 relay: Southridge 46.48; 1600 relay: St. Thomas Aquinas 3:49.93; 3200 relay: Southridge 9:33.58; High jump: Callia Harris (Flan) 1.62m; Pole vault: Camryn Givens (Pal) 3.45m; Long jump: Amaya Pleas (SR) 5.53m; Triple jump: Infinity Thomas (Flan) 11.25m; Shot put: Larrisa Francois (DB) 11.98m; Discus: Lydia Kentis (Gol) 45.90m; Javelin: Lydia Kentis (Gol) 34.66m.

Region boys’ volleyball

Local teams advance to region semifinals in boys’ volleyball.

Region Quarterfinal: Belen Jesuit d Braddock 25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 25-10: Marcelo Morales 11 kills, 4 blocks; Morrison Hadad 11 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces; Joseph Gonzalez 9 kills, 5 digs. Bel (24-3).

Region Quarterfinal: Cardinal Gibbons d. Pompano 25-18, 25-10, 25-14: Daniel Sappia 12 kills, 14 assists; Logan Keothavy 12 kills, 16 assists. CG (24-3).

Region Quarterfinal: Mater Lakes Academy d. St. Thomas Aquinas 25-18, 25-15, 25-11: Jesus Montes 15 kills, 10 digs; Kevin Llerena 6 kills, 3 aces, 4 blocks; Ibrahim Perez 4 kills, 3 blocks; Nicholas Aranda 22 assists,4 aces. MLA (25-3).

Submit sports results

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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone

jvarsallone@miamiherald.com