South Florida baseball roundup: Stoneman Douglas dominant out of the gate (2/23/2024)

Eagles toss a combined no-hitter; Opening week also featured a walk-off grand slam and several early upsets

Opening week of the high school baseball season has lived up to the hype in South Florida.

We had at least one combined no-hitter, some upsets as well as a walk-off grand slam.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the No. 1 ranked team in Florida, per SBLive Sports Florida, enjoyed two blowout wins, including a combined no-hitter. More on that in a bit.

SBLive Sports Florida has you covered during the season. Here’s our Week One roundup. (Reminder, on Monday, we’ll have our first South Florida Baseball Player of the Week poll of the year).

Top 25 Florida high school baseball rankings: Stoneman Douglas tops 2024 preseason rankings

Stoneman Douglas Eagles soaring out of the gate

After pulling out a couple of close-call 4-3 wins in a pair of preseason games, Stoneman Douglas has really turned it on now that the games are counting.

On Thursday night, against a quality Miami Springs squad, the Eagles hammered out a convincing 8-0 victory.

The story of the night was sophomore left-hander, Gio Rojas, who threw five hitless innings in a combined no-hitter.

Rojas, a Miami recruit, struck out 10 and walked two.

At the plate, Devin Fitz-Gerald drove in two runs, and Rylan Lugo and Niko Benestad each scored two runs.

The no-hitter followed a 14-0 rout of state-ranked Westminster Academy, on the road on Opening Day.

Lugo, Bennett Gary and Lorenzo Laurel each homered in the blowout.

Miami Christian starts strong with an upset of American Heritage

Ranked 11th in the SBLive Sports Florida preseason poll, Miami Christian is showing why it’s a Class 2A state championship contender. After blanking Schoolhouse Prep (Miami), 6-0, in the opener, the Victors went on the road and upset No. 3 ranked American Heritage Plantation, 7-6. Right-hander Jeffred Fermin fanned 10, and Willy Mendez belted a two-run homer.

To show just how strong baseball is in South Florida, on the very next day, the Victors fell to Archbishop McCarthy, 11-6.

American Heritage stumbles out of the gate

The defending Class 5A state champions are off to a slow start.

The Patriots endured a disappointing 8-4 loss to South Fork (Stuart) in the opener, and they created some defensive mistakes that led to their 7-6 loss to Miami Christian.

The schedule doesn’t get easier with state ranked Westminster Christian in town on Friday night.

Andrew Ortiz and Zack Wilson each homered for the Patriots against Miami Christian.

North Broward Prep impressive in first two games

The Eagles, ranked No. 5 in our preseason Top 25, are likely moving up, with a couple of lopsided wins.

In an 11-0 victory at American Heritage Delray Beach, North Broward Prep's Mateo Gray struck out nine in five scoreless innings. Riley Luft drove in three and had a triple.

On opening day, the Eagles won, 6-1. Kiernan O’Neill had four hits, including a double and triple. TJ Gramesty had a double and an RBI.

Doral Academy making some early noise

Once again, the Firebirds are a championship caliber club. The No. 7 rated team in Florida has breezed to two early wins. In a 15-4 victory against Hialeah Educational Academy, George Pardo had three hits, a home run and three RBIs.

Sebastian Berrios had a home run and double in an 8-0 season-opening win against St. Brendan.

Columbus finds a way

The Explorers edged Hialeah Educational Academy, 4-3, in the opener with Aquiles Arzeno delivering a home run. Zahir Barjam added two and two RBIs.

Western slams Pembroke Pines Charter

In a thrilling game, AJ Bertsch belted a walk-off grand slam in the Wildcats’ 7-3 win over Pines Charter.

Walk off grand slam #1 on the season pic.twitter.com/W9DTvBn9HP

— Austin Bertsch (@AustinBertsch3) February 21, 2024

Braden Rosenthal strikes out nine for Calvary Christian Academy

Strong pitching is the Eagles’ strong suit. In a 1-0 win over Miami Killian, Braden Rosenthal struck out nine in 5-2/3 innings.

NSU University tosses a shutout

The Sharks are dealing with some injuries, yet, the strong pitching of Landon Petty (five shutout innings) helped lead the way in a 3-0 win over West Boca Raton.

St. Thomas Aquinas rolling

The Raiders cruised to two early wins. Anthony Ciscar (Miami commit) struck out five in four shutout innings against Cypress Bay in the opener. And Quinn O’Keefe gave up two hits in five scoreless innings against Pembroke Pines Charter.