Vote Now: Who is the South Florida baseball Player of the Week (April 24-29)?

Here are this week's top performances on the diamond

The regular season has concluded, but not before another stellar week of baseball in South Florida.

Teams and players have been gearing up for the district playoffs, which increased the intensity down the stretch. 

Based on how much talent is on display, it’s easy to see why South Florida has several schools with realistic chances of winning state championships. Marjory Stoneman Douglas, North Broward Prep, Doral Academy are all rolling towards the playoffs, with hopes of winning more playoff hardware. 

But they aren’t the only powerhouse schools in South Florida looking to advance to Fort Myers, host of the state finals. Before we look ahead to the playoffs, SBLive Sports Florida looks back at the top performers in South Florida in our Player of the Week poll (April 24-29).

As always, these polls are for fun, and are aimed at recognizing players from as many programs as possible. 

The candidates are as follows:

Paul Abolafia, Pembroke Pines Charter: To close out its regular season, Pines Charter edged Goleman, 7-5. Abolafia had two hits, a home run, and drove in two runs in the win. His teammate, Bryan Barcenas, added a homer.

Richard Bello, Flanagan: A junior, Bello held a powerful West Broward lineup in check in a 2-1 win. In 5 1/3 innings, the left-hander gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts.

Sebastian Berrios, Doral Academy: Berrios showed his power against Downtown Doral, clubbing a home run and collecting two hits, while driving in four runs. It’s also worth noting, his teammate, Adrian Santana, projected to be drafted in the early rounds, had two home runs and three hits against Pembroke Pines Charter. Santana has been a frequent POW nominee. This week, we recognize Berrios.

John Bishop, Cooper City: The Cowboys finished with a 15-5 record, and in their season finale, they beat Somerset Academy. Bishop came through with a double and two hits, and he scored twice.

Jake Butter, Western: In a road game at Palmetto Ridge (Naples), Butter was charged with two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings.* Cole Cleveland, Calvary Christian Academy: The junior outfielder had two doubles and two RBIs in a 6-3 win over Jupiter Christian. The outfielder also had a double and scored a run in a 16-1 blowout of Lake Worth Christian.

Nicholas Falla, St. Thomas Aquinas: In two games last week, Falla logged four innings of relief, giving up one run with four strikeouts. 

Cayden Freels, Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Douglas capped a perfect 22-0 regular season, and the Eagles are getting production from everyone. Freels had two hits, two RBIs, and a home run against Hialeah Educational Academy.

Antonio Jimenez, Archbishop McCarthy: One of the top players in the state, Jimenez is a Miami commit. The switch-hitting shortstop had two hits and three RBIs in a lopsided, 10-0, rout of Schoolhouse Prep. Jimenez added another hit earlier in the week against Gulf Coast (Naples), in a 11-3 drubbing.

Zack Gonzalez, ABF Academy Hialeah: Gonzalez threw five no-hit innings, before surrendering a disputed infield single in the sixth inning in ABF Academy’s 1-0 loss at Sagemont. Gonzalez gave up one unearned run on one hit with seven strikeouts in his final prep game.

Anthony Hernandez, Sagemont: Hernandez is a hard-throwing freshman, who struck out four in three innings of scoreless relief in Sagemont’s 1-0 win against ABF Academy.

Tugg Hollandsworth, Cardinal Gibbons: Hollandsworth has been the leader on a Chiefs’ team that is peaking at the right time. In an 8-1 win at Pembroke Pines Charter, Hollandsworth had three hits, including a home run. He followed that up with a hit in a 4-3 win over Saint Andrew’s (Boca Raton).

Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep: The freshman infielder certainly has a bright future. Lombard had three hits, including two doubles and two RBIs in a 10-0 rout of Somerset Academy Silver Palms. Against Riviera Prep, in a 7-6 victory, Lombard homered, had two hits and four RBIs.

Riley Luft, North Broward Prep: The junior homered and had three hits, drove in two runs and scored twice against Palm Beach Central. Luft also homered and had two hits in a win over West Boca Raton.

Luke Pfister, NS University: The Sharks had a busy final week of the regular season, winning three games. Pfister had six RBIs in the three games.

Anthony Quigley, Taravella: Quigley doubled and drove in two runs against Dade Christian, and he homered in a win at McArthur.

Jordan Rich, American Heritage Plantation: One of the fastball players in South Florida, Rich covers plenty of ground in center field, and he’s a speedster on the bases. In a 10-1 win over Flanagan, Rich had two hits, including a double, scored two runs and drove in three runs.