Latest news with #St.ThomasAquinas'
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Douglas' Rojas, Aquinas' Malvasio are Broward 7A-5A Baseball Players of the Year
Stoneman Douglas' Giovanni Rojas put together one of the most dominant pitching seasons in recent history. St. Thomas Aquinas' Zachary Malvasio spearheaded one of the best hitting seasons for a team in county history, led by his own remarkable senior campaign. Their efforts helped lead their respective teams to state championships. Rojas, a junior, is therefore the Miami Herald's Broward County Baseball Pitcher of the Year for Classes 7A-5A. And Malvasio, a power-hitting outfielder, is the Broward 7A-5A Baseball Player of the Year. Rojas, a University of Miami commit, helped Douglas make history as the first team in Florida to win five consecutive state championships. At a school already rich in tradition when it comes to dominant pitchers, Rojas stood out. A 6-4, 190-pound lefty, Rojas was nearly unhittable at times, going 12-0 with 120 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 68 innings and compiling an 0.72 ERA. Rojas' performances often helped Douglas navigate through tough stretches of the regular season as the Eagles found their footing and put together another impressive march to a championship. 'It's a once in a lifetime chance you get to do that. It's a feeling you can't re-create,' Rojas said about being part of a historic state title streak. 'It's only in that moment that you can experience something like that.' Rojas worked his way back from an arm injury, which kept him from pitching during his sophomore season. But this year, even as he hit .375 with two home runs, eight doubles and 32 RBI, Rojas didn't miss a beat on the mound. Rojas threw a no-hitter against Flanagan and had four more one-hitters and three more games allowing two hits. The future potential early MLB Draft pick is committed to continuing to develop his game. 'I really work on my focus on the mound and try to stay consistent with it whether I'm in the bullpen, or playing catch, I just try to keep everything consistent,' Rojas said. 'This offseason, I'll be working more, trying to improve off this past season.' The same can be said for Malvasio, who is itching to get to Orlando and join UCF where he will play his college ball this fall. Malvasio hit .414 this season and a staggering 16 home runs as the key cog in a prolific Aquinas lineup, which hit 68 home runs overall. 'One of my favorite parts about this year was that up and down our lineup, we had studs,' Malvasio said. 'If one didn't get it done, the other did. I always got four or five at-bats per game and that's how you knew we were always scoring runs.' Malvasio wasn't just about power at the plate, though. His consistent bat also produced 16 doubles and 48 RBI overall. 'It all started with the work in the offseason, in the weight room, outside of practice,' Malvasio said. 'I just had the discipline to keep going.' Malvasio's efforts helped the Raiders secure their first state championship since 2018 and the program's fourth overall. 'It was an incredible ride from the start in the fall. To have that core returning, we all pushed each other and had the focus of winning a state title,' Malvasio said. 'We took it all pitch by pitch, game by game and stuck to the fundamentals and our team chemistry was off the charts. Everybody was together and wanted to win.'
Miami Herald
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
St. Thomas Aquinas' Sherice Newton is the Broward Flag Football Player of the Year
Sherice Newton knew a little bit about how to play quarterback in flag football even before her senior season. But she hadn't formally been given the keys to St. Thomas Aquinas' offense until this season. The Raiders valued Newton for her leadership qualities and felt she was the best choice to fill their vacancy at the position. The decision paid off. Newton turned into one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the state while leading St. Thomas Aquinas back to the regional finals in Class 3A. And so, Newton, a senior who is headed to FIU to study biochemistry, is the Miami Herald's Broward County Flag Football Player of the Year. Newton completed 369 of 469 pass attempts this season for 3,937 yards and threw 73 touchdown passes with only nine interceptions. She also showed off her quickness when she kept the ball, running for 336 yards on 45 carries. But one of her biggest improvements was her decision-making and patience as a passer. 'I used to just roll out and throw it, but this year I learned to stay in the pocket more and I played much better than I had in the past,' Newton said. The Raiders graduated all of their quarterbacks after the 2024 season and Newton was one of two possible options to take the reins this season. An injury made Aquinas' decision simple and Newton took it and ran with it, leading the Raiders to one of their best seasons in school history. 'I feel like being a senior they felt like I could be a leader to the younger players,' Newton said. 'I had good timing and I just got the ball to my receivers.' Aquinas finished 16-2 before losing to Homestead in the playoffs. Newton feels like it's a matter of time before the Raiders bring home a state championship. 'They just have to stay together and when times get tough not blame each other, just stay together and push through as a team,' Newton said.
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
St. Thomas Aquinas barrels its way into the Class 6A state baseball final
Teams can sometimes succumb to jitters when it's their first time playing at the state final four. Not St. Thomas Aquinas' baseball team. The Raiders were itching to get on the field Friday at Hammond Stadium. And when they did, they barely stopped hitting. Aquinas unleashed an offensive barrage in its first trip to state since last winning a championship in 2018, and routed Valrico Bloomingdale 15-0 in four innings in a Class 6A semifinal. The Raiders (28-6-1) will next take on Gainesville Buchholz in the 6A state championship game on Saturday at 2. Aquinas is seeking its fourth state title all-time. 'We looked to this game with anticipation,' Aquinas coach Joey Wardlow said. 'We had a long last week after that regional final and during the week as we ramped up, we could feel the adrenaline. 'When we stepped out in that first inning, it went well on defense and well on offense and it took away any jitters we might have had.' Junior center fielder Nico Sabatino was the tone-setter for the onslaught, roping a leadoff double to left off Bloomingdale starter Hayden Porter to start a five-run first inning. Sabatino would later hit his eighth home run of the season on a solo blast to right field. 'My job is to get the team going,' Sabatino said. 'I saw that fastball and I took it. I was just in that flow state and now the offense is ready to go.' Aquinas' power was a major reason it made it to Fort Myers this season as it hit 67 home runs entering the state final four. 'We kind of look at baserunners and barrels,' Wardlow said. 'If we get baserunners, somebody is gonna barrel up a ball. If they stay in the middle, they'll open it up. If we can get out front and just stack up one and another, we can hold teams down.' Cole Lasher, who has seven homers this season, went 2 for 2 with a double and three RBI. Andrew Alvarez, who has 13 home runs, went 3 for 3 with two doubles and two RBI. And Zack Malvasio, who has hit a team-high 16 home runs, went 2 for 4 with two RBI. 'We just had to put it on them early and not let up,' Alvarez said. 'We had to keep that type of energy and not let up.' Senior Thomas Giltner did the rest as he gave up two hits over four shutout innings and struck out two, sparing Aquinas from having to use any more pitchers before Saturday's final.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Westminster's Troche and Aquinas' Andres are the Broward Water Polo Players of the Year
Westminster Academy's Matthew Troche has been regarded for some time as one of the top young boys water polo players in the nation. On the girls' side, St. Thomas Aquinas' Riley Andres has earned plenty of accolades during her first three years playing the sport at the high school level. This season, Troche and Andres each took their respective games to higher levels and elevated their teams in the process. As a result, Troche and Andres are the Miami Herald's Broward County Water Polo Players of the Year. Troche transferred to Westminster Academy from Cooper City and joined a team that was already loaded with talent. But Troche helped the Lions take things to a higher level and led them to their first-ever state championship. Trohe finished the season with 88 goals, 56 assists and 43 steals while helping Westminster Academy earn the top ranking in the state. The Lions then backed up that rating by securing two hard-fought wins at state by one goal over Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Mater Lakes. 'It's amazing. We knew we'd be a high-contesting team from the start. But from the way this team put it together, it's just amazing,' Troche said after the Lions won the state title in late April. 'We put our faith in God and kept pushing and pushing until the final buzzer. If you keep going, anything is possible.' Andres began playing water polo four and a half years ago and quickly showed her talent in the pool. This season, she became even more of a prolific scorer for the Aquinas girls team, scoring 175 goals and had 54 steals on defense to help the Raiders advance to the regional finals. 'I play this sport because I love the water, and I love winning,' Andres said. 'I swam competitively for nine years and later realized that wasn't really what I wanted to do. I have a great view of the pool and a strong shot and I worked hard.'
Miami Herald
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Aquinas quarterback among Broward's top football players honored at Piccolo Awards
St. Thomas Aquinas' Andrew Indorf silenced the doubters and developed into one of the top quarterbacks in the state this season. His efforts led the Raiders to a sixth consecutive state title. This week, Indorf and several other Broward County standouts were honored at the 50th annual Brian Piccolo Scholar-Athlete Awards banquet held at the Bahia Mar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Indorf, who threw for 5,141 yards and 50 touchdowns, in his two seasons as Aquinas' starter, was named the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital U-18 Sports Medicine Offensive Player of the Year. Indorf has signed with Towson University. 'With Brian Piccolo being a St. Thomas grad, it's good to even be named…it's a great honor,' Indorf said. 'This gives me the confidence I need to just get out there and to excel at the next level.' A total of 41 senior football athletes were honored by The Brian Piccolo Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for their academic excellence and community service. Other standouts honored were Fort Lauderdale middle linebacker Hunter Pangia was named the BSN Sports Defensive Player of the Year. Pangia, who ran track as well at Fort Lauderdale, plans to wrestle at the University of Florida. Coral Springs' Camden Hulse was named the Cerra Enterprises Special Teams Player of the Year. Hulse, a soccer, football and lacrosse standout for the Colts, was his school's Valedictorian. The Orange Bowl Committee also named its Overall Winners. The honorees were American Heritage cornerback and Harvard signee Mekhi Hicks, Deerfield Beach quarterback and Navy commit Jaxson Jewell, Douglas wide receiver Adam Shaikh and Pembroke Pines Charter defensive back Keidran Willis Jr. Hicks, who has a 4.9 GPA, had 90 tackles and 10 passes defended to lead the Patriots' defense during their run to a state championship this past season. Jewell, who has a 5.25 GPA is also a track and basketball standout. Shaikh, who has a 5.42 GPA, is enrolled at the University of Florida. Willis Jr. compiled over 1,600 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns this past season and has a 5.21 GPA. Blanche Ely alum and former Florida State University star Henri Crockett was honored as the Distinguished American at the ceremony. Crockett, a former NFL player with the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings, is the Orange Bowl Committee President. Longtime official Willie Roberts was recognized for his 55 years of service. Former Cooper City Athletic Director Paul Megna was also honored for his contributions to amateur athletics for over 40 years. Wake Forest football coach Jake Dickert was the event's keynote speaker.
