Vote: Who should be the South Florida baseball Player of the Week (2/26/2024)?
What an exciting opening week to the South Florida baseball season.
We had upsets, late-inning heroics and at least one no-hitter. If week one is any indication, the South Florida prep baseball season should be as good as ever.
SBLive Sports Florida has you covered with all the action.
Now, it’s time for you to help us decide which player rose above the rest in our first South Florida baseball Player of the Week poll of the new year.
Reminder, our polls are intended to be fun, and entertaining while providing recognition to as many players and schools as possible. Players, coaches and schools are encouraged to send nominations to @JoeFrisaro on X.
Vote as often as you’d like, and help us spread the word! Voting will conclude on March 3rd at 11:59 p.m.
This week, the choices are:
Brayden Allison, LHP, Flanagan: In a 4-0 win over Hialeah Gardens, Allison struck out 10 and allowed one hit and no runs.
Zahir Barjam, SS, Columbus: The Explorers won both their games in the first week, with Barjam combining for four hits, including a double, and two RBIs.
AJ Bertsch, DH/3B, Western: Western received a big lift for Bertsch, who delivered a walk-off grand slam in a 7-3 win over Pembroke Pines Charter.
Jesus Garcia, C, Westminster Academy: Garcia had a triple and two RBIs in the Lions’ win against Dade Christian.
Cash Clementi, LHP, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Raiders are off to a good start, and Clementi chipped in with a strong pitching performance against Monarch, striking out seven while allowing one run in five innings.
Mateo Gray, RHP, North Broward Prep: Gray was dominant on the mound against American Heritage Delray Beach, striking out nine in five shutout innings.
Talan Holiday, RHP, American Heritage: The junior and North Carolina recruit was on point against Westminster Christian. Holiday held the Warriors without a hit for 5 1/3 innings, and finished with six innings, nine strikeouts, one hit and two runs allowed.
Danny Machado, SS, and Greg Caban, C, Archbishop McCarthy: We couldn’t pick just one from Archbishop McCarthy, we included two. Machado collected three hits and scoring three times in the Mavericks’ 11-6 win against Miami Christian. And in McCarthy’s 5-2 victory over North Broward Prep, he drove in a run. Caban had seven hits in the week, including four in the Mavericks upset over the Eagles.
Manny Marin, SS, Westminster Christian: Great players step up in the clutch, right? Marin (Tennessee recruit), one of the top players in the state, did just that with a dramatic, two-run home run in the sixth inning that rallied the Warriors to a 2-1 win over American Heritage.
Willy Mendez, OF, Miami Christian: Mendez belted a key two-run homer and had three RBIs against American Heritage, and he followed that up with two RBIs against American Heritage.
Miguel Moreda, RHP, Sagemont: Moreda fanned five in three innings in the Lions’ blowout win against David Posnack Jewish Day.
Jaydn Nunez, OF, Doral Academy: Nunez hit a double and home run and drove in two runs while scoring twice in the Firebirds’ 6-5 win over Palmetto.
Justin Parson, INF/OF, Gulliver Prep: The junior homered and drove in three runs in a 9-8 win against JC Bermudez Doral.
Landon Petty, RHP, NSU University: Petty threw five shutout innings in the Sharks’ 3-0 win against West Boca Raton.
Anthony Quigley, RHP/1B, Taravella: Scouts are paying close attention to Quigley (South Florida commit). The senior hit two home runs in two games, and as a pitcher, struck out four in two innings.
Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Just a sophomore, Rojas struck out 10 in five innings, and the Eagles combined to no-hit a tough Miami Springs team.
Braden Rosenthal, RHP/1B, Calvary Christian Academy: The junior impressed with nine strikeouts and no hits allowed in 5 2/3 innings in a 1-0 win over Killian. And in a 12-0 win against King’s Academy, Rosenthal had a double and three hits.
Manuel Sarcos, C, West Broward: Have yourself a day, Manuel Sarcos. The catcher belted two home runs and drove in four against JC Bermudez Doral.
