Rodriguez pitches Belen to Catholic Classic title

Belen Jesuit defeated Columbus 7-3 to win the inaugural South Florida Catholic Baseball Classic.

Esteban Rodriguez struck out 10 in five innings, and Marco Fuentestotaled three strikeouts in two innings to combine for the win.

Columbus opened the top of the first with a towering two-run home run by FIU commit Gabriel Perez. The Wolverines retaliated in the bottom of the inning with University of Miami commit Dorian Gonzalezhitting a three-run home run to straight-away center field off Wake Forrest commit Kainen Jorge.

Rodriguez, a Richmond commit, then settled down, striking out 10 in five innings. Belen’s depth proved too much as Fuentes, a junior, relieved Rodriguez and shut the door on the Explorers.

González was 1 for 2 with a home run, three runs and three RBI. Andy Gutierrez went 2 for 4 with a triple and a run, and Jorge DeGoti was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. DJ Perez was 1 for 3 with an RBI, and Gio Cueto added a run and an RBI.

Belen improved to 12-6. Columbus is 18-3.

The event featured all the Catholic schools in South Florida: Belen Jesuit, Columbus, St. Thomas Aquinas, Archbishop McCarthy, Cardinal Gibbons, Chaminade-Madonna, St, Brendan and LaSalle.

Belen coach Jerry Albert said: “It was excellent. Everyone loved it. The plan is to do it every year with teams from outside and inside the state. We had one planned for last year, but COVID hit. Figured this year nobody would travel, so we kept it local. A lot of coaches already asked about next year.”

Belen opened the tournament with Amherst commit Jack Sampedro tossing a one-hit shutout in a 15-0 win overLaSalle.

Belen then avenged a loss from earlier in the season by defeating Cardinal Gibbons 4-2. Pitcher Andres Bello went the distance, striking out seven.

After the Explorers posted victories against St. Brendan and St. Thomas Aquinas, the championship game was set.

DORAL BEATS CALVARY

Michael Torres drove in the winning run as Doral Academy edged Calvary Christian 5-4 in a battle of nationally ranked baseball teams.

Calvary is ranked third in the nation. Doral (163-1) is ranked 25th.

Tied at four in the top of the sixth, Manny Marinsingled, reached second on a Justin Ruiz sacrifice and scored the winner on Torres’ RBI.

Adrian Santan was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Marin went 2 for 3 and scored.

Winning pitcher Jake Gorelick did not allow an earned run in three innings while striking out three.

HISTORY MADE

Senior Evan Padron played all nine positions as Southwest (10-6) defeated Sunset 12-0. Also, five pitchers including Padron combined on a no-hitter. They are Padron, Ish Espinoza, Alex Lage, Joel Cabrera and winning pitcher Kyle Araujo.

HIALEAH GARDENS UNDEFEATED

Hialeah Gardens boys’ track & field team went undefeated during the regular season at 15-0.

The Gladiators hosted six meets. They had few first-place finishers at each meet. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th place points keyed their team success, a collective team effort.

Hialeah Gardens does not have district, regional or state titles in its young history, but Gladiators second-year coach Gregory Magner said, “We're always working on the titles of being competitive and developing character in our young people.”

They will seek their first district championship Wednesday at Traz Powell Stadium.

FLAG FOOTBALL

The GMAC Tournament continues through Friday.

Teams competing include American,

ATM, Barbara Goleman, Braddock, Carol City, Central, Coral Park, Coral Reef, Edison, Ferguson, Homestead, Jackson, JC Bermudez, Killian, Krop, Miami Beach, Miami High, Norland, North Miami, Northwestern, South Miami, Southridge, Southwest, TERRA, Varela.

Corla Reef, Homestead, Miami Beach and TERRA won on Tuesday.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Belen Jesuit d. iMater 25-15, 25-13, 25-12: Robert Henao 6 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks, 18 assists; Evan Martinez 5 kills, 6 digs; Carlos Grundler 8 aces. BEL (5-4).

Hialeah Gardens d. Mater Academy Charter 25-16, 25-11, 25-10: Captain Alex Cabrera 7 aces, 27 digs, 2 assist, 32 receptions; Christian Robles 2 kills, 3 aces, 6 receptions; Diego Quevedo 6 kills, 3 aces, 1 solo block.

South Broward defeated unbeaten Cypress Bay in 3 sets: Cameron Thorne 14 kills; Jonathan Hurst highest kills %.

GMAC Tournament is this week.

Teams featured are Barbara Goleman, Braddock, Columbus, Ferguson, Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Krop, Miami High, Mourning, Palmetto, Reagan, Southwest, Sunset, TERRA, Varela, and Westland Hialeah.

SOFTBALL

Braddock 15, Edison 0: WP Daniela Pavon 9 K, also 2 for 2, 3B, 2 RBI; Nathalia Suarez 2 for 2, 4 Runs; Juliette Avila 2 for 2, 2B, 4 Runs.

Miami Beach 19, Westland Hialeah 4. Palmetto 10, Marathon 0: WP Melody Vizcaino (11-2), LP Kratzert. Top Performers: Alexis Ortega 2-3, 2B, HR, R, 4

RBI; Sophia Wylie 2-3, RBI; Daniela David 2-3, R; Olivia Rapp 2-3, 2B. PLM (14-4).

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Gulliver Prep 11, Coral Shores 10: Trailing 8-3 at halftime, the Raiders roared back in the second half for the close comefrom-behind win. Caro Hassan 4 goals, Nati Guillamon 3 goals, Morgan Vazquez 2 goals, Ari Hernando 1 goal, Bella Egea 1 goal.

SUBMIT RESULTS

For high schools in Broward and Miami Dade counties, if you have varsity game results for this column, email hssports@miamiherald.com. Varsity only.

MIAMI HERALD ALL-COUNTY

The Miami Herald All-County selections for Miami-Dade and Broward winter sports will be revealed on Wednesday.

Roundup compiled