Ferguson boys’ volleyball repeats as champs. Plus big wins for True North and Western baseball

Miami Herald Staff Reports
·6 min read

For the second consecutive year, Ferguson boys’ volleyball won the Gold Bracket Championship of its own tournament -- the Falcon Invitational.

Ferguson (9-5) handed Mater Lakes Academy (14-2) its first two losses of the season during the two-day event, including beating the Bears in the finals.

In the final match in pool play, Ferguson came from behind to beat Mater Lakes Academy 21-25, 26-24, 17-15. In the championship match, the Falcons won 25-21, 25-22.

The event featured eight teams: Ferguson, Celebration-Orlando, Columbus, Mater Lakes Academy, Palmetto, Ransom Everglades, TERRA, True North Classical Academy.

Each team played five matches.

Pool A had a three-way tie with Mater Lakes Academy, Ferguson and Celebration. Celebration beat Ferguson in three sets but lost to Mater Lakes Academy. Ferguson beat Mater Lakes Academy to advance to the gold bracket. Ransom went 0-3 and Celebration 2-1 to move into silver.

In Pool B, Palmetto went 2-1, and Columbus certified its way into gold by beating Palmetto in two sets in the final match of the night. True North finished 1-2 but handed Columbus its only loss in pool play and advanced to silver with TERRA which lost to Columbus and Palmetto.

Day 2 featured many close games. Palmetto, Mater Lakes Academy, Ferguson, and Columbus reached the gold bracket. TERRA, True North, Ransom, and Celebration silver.

In the first semifinal in gold, Mater Lakes Academy beat Palmetto in three sets. Palmetto dominated the first set, winning 25-11 but lost the next two sets 25-22 and 15-9. Ferguson then played Columbus and beat the Explorers in three sets 25-20, 22-25, 15-8.

Palmetto placed third, after beating Columbus 25-18, 25-23 in the gold consolation match. True North beat Celebration in a thrilling, three-set match, 25-18, 28-30, 15-12. TERRA beat Ransom, and then True North defeated TERRA in the silver final in three sets 25-17, 23-25, 15-12.

Falcon Invitational All Tournament Team (as selected by the coaches at the tournament): Ethan Bustos (Ferguson), Henry Masson (Ferguson), Jesus Montes (Mater Lakes Academy), Ibrahim Perez (Mater Lakes Academy), Ronen Dircie (Palmetto), Ignacio Brito (Columbus).

Baseball

Sophomore pitchers Austin Simmons and Yankee Cordova combined on the win as the True North baseball team defeated American Heritage-Plantation 5-1.

Pitcher Austin Simmons of the True North baseball team.
Pitcher Austin Simmons of the True North baseball team.

Leading 2-1, the Titans broke open things with three runs in the sixth.

In another good game, Western edged Taravella 3-1 with starting pitcher Alex Pena recording a complete game victory.

True North 5, American Heritage-Plantation 1: WP Austin Simmons (So) 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 9 K; Save Yankee Cordova (So) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3K; Matias Fischer (Fr) 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Sam Fischer (Sr) 1-3; Luis Flores (Fr) 1-2, 2B, RBI; Mikey Cuenca (Fr) 1-1; Angel Garcia (So) 1-2, R. TN (8-6), AH (11-3).

Western 3, Taravella 1: WP Alex Pena (5-1) CG, 1 R, 2 H, 8 K; Aiden Andreu 2-4, HR, R, RBI, SB; Tyler Jenkins 3-4; Cristian Alvarez 2-2; Zach Beyra 1-3, BB, RBI; Bryce Huffman 1-4, RBI. Wst (9-6), Tar (9-5).

Softball

Ransom Everglades 4, Gulliver Prep 2: WP Leah Maduro complete game, 13 K; Tea Vallone 1-2, RBI; Trinity Haisch HR; Leah Maduro 3-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI. RE (5-3).

Water polo

The Gulliver Prep girls’ and boys’ water polo teams won regional semifinals.

GIRLS: Gulliver Prep 24, Miami Beach 6: Sr. Captain Gabby Montalvo 9 goals, 2 assists, 4 earned exclusions; Sr .Captain Giorgia Pascual 3 goals, 3 assists, 4 steals; Soph. Kathleen Serig 5 goals, 3 assists, 3 steals; 7th grader Sophia Beltran 1 steal, 6 blocks. The Raiders (21-1) play MAST on Tuesday for the region title.

BOYS: Gulliver Prep 10, Ransom Everglades 7: Sr. Captain Daniel Preston 4 goals,1 assist, 3 steals, 3 earned exclusions; Sr. Captain Harry Sharma 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal; Jr. Gabe Lewis 3 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 earned exclusions; Sr. Leo Isom 16 blocks, 1 steal, 1 assist. GP (22-3-1).

Boys’ volleyball

Southwest Miami d. Cardinal Gibbons 14-25, 26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 20-18: CG: Gabriel Nejad 55 assists; Daniel Sappia 24 kills; Logan Keothavy 23 kills, 16 digs. CG (14-3).

Mater Lakes Academy d. SLAM 25-14, 25-14, 25-19: Nicholas Aranda 25 assists, 2 aces, 3 digs; Jesus Montes 12 kills; Kevin Llerena 7 kills, 5 digs; Enzo Diaz 7 kills, 2 aces; Alejandro Graveran 15 digs. MLA (16-2).

Tennis

GIRLS: Florida Christian School 4, Lourdes Academy 3: No.1 Maya Ortiz (FCS) d. Mia Perez 8-5; No.2 Annabella Degot (FCS) d. Adriana Incera 8-1; No.3 Daniella Pavon (FCS) d. Sara Vega 8-4; No.4 Gabriela Soler (L) d. Victoria Kaddour-Moore 8-1; No.5 Isabela Gugliotta (L) d. Sophia Castillo 8-1.

Doubles: No.1 Maya Ortiz/Annabella Degoti (FCS) d. Mia Perez/Sara Vega 6-1; No.2 Isabela Gugliotta/Gabriela Soler (L) d. Daniella Pavon/Sophia Hernandez 6-2. FCS (3-6).

GIRLS Flanagan won by default over Nova: The Falcons are 5-4. Season record: Singles: Maribel Caraballo 4-4; Luciana Marcano 3-6; Natalia Marcano 4-5; Kylie Solorzano 5-4; Abrie Thompson 5-4; Amber Elcock 2-1.

Doubles: Maribel Caraballo & Kylie Solorzano 2-2; Maribel Caraballo & Luciana Marcano 1-1; Maribel Caraballo & Amber Elcock 0-1; Luciana Marcano & Natalia Marcano 3-1; Nathalia Marcano & Kylie Solorzano 2-0; Luciana Marcano & Amber Elcock 0-1; Abrie Thompson & Kylie Solorzano 2-0; Abrie Thompson & Amber Elcock 1-0.

BOYS: Flanagan won by default over Nova: The Falcons are 4-5. Season record: Singles: Santiago Pineda 3-2; Andres Leon 4-4; Melvin Ayebah 5-3; Manuel Ayebah 6-3; Sebastion Cordero 4-5.

Doubles: Santiago Pineda & Andres Leon 2-1; Santiago Pineda & Manuel Ayebah 1-0; Andres Leon & Manuel Ayebah 1-1; Andres Leon & Melvin Ayebah 0-2; Melvin Ayebah & Manuel Ayeba 3-1; Andres Leon & Sebastian Cordero 1-0; Melvin Ayebah & Sebastion Cordero 1-1; Manuel Ayebah & Sebastian Cordero 0-2.

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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone

jvarsallone@miamiherald.com