Miami Edison's Vince Hall is the Miami-Dade Flag Football Coach of the Year
Miami Edison's flag football team had come close so many times in recent years to winning a state championship.
It was only fitting that the finish was worth the wait for Red Raiders and their longtime coach Vince Hall.
After five previous trips to state ended with losses in either the state semifinals or finals, Edison finally cleared the remaining hurdle.
And the Red Raiders did it in style with a Hail Mary touchdown pass with no time remaining to secure a 26-20 victory in the final over Wildwood.
Hall has seen the rise of the program, which has become a state title contender for nearly a decade to finally being a champion.
And so, once again, Hall is the Miami Herald's Flag Football Coach of the Year.
The triumphant moment came when Miami Herald Player of the Year RaKiya Louis heaved a pass to the end zone to Miami Herald first team selection Poetry Auguste, who was standing all alone and caught it for the winning score.
'As soon as Rakyia let it go, I knew it was six points,' Hall said after that game.
Hall led Edison to a 19-1 record with its only loss coming during the regular season against crosstown rival Homestead.
The Red Raiders stormed through the playoffs and scored two nail-biting wins at the state final four including a 21-14 semifinal win over Tallahassee Florida High.
Hall had previously led Edison to state in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023, including state runner-up finishes in the first two of those seasons.
Edison figures to have a strong chance to repeat its success next season as it is set to return six freshman on its roster.
'It's a very well-deserved championship. We finally got one and Coach (Hall) finally got one under his belt,' Louis said.
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Boston Globe
12 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Bruins trying to sift through the science of finding value in the NHL Entry Draft haystack
The Black & Gold dropped their Spoked-B marker on him at No. 45 in 2003, with no one — including the Canadiens, who passed on him twice — expecting the little-known, demure kid from Quebec City would turn into one of the game's greatest two-way centermen. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Would it be fair, these 20-plus years later, to look at Bergeron, who had yet to turn 18 the day of that draft in Nashville, and think the Bruins could use his amateur career path and experience as a sort of template for future picks? Advertisement 'It's somewhat not fair,' said a smiling Ryan Nadeau , here in his eighth season as the Bruins director of amateur scouting, 'but we do it anyway, right? 'Some of what are considered the best picks in the draft tend to be outliers … players when you look and you see maybe the statistics don't stand out the way they do for some other guys. They don't have the [physical] frame of some other players or they don't have sort of the production and pedigree of those top guys. It's a funny business, the draft.' Advertisement As Nadeau noted, Sidney Crosby (No. 1, 2005) and Connor McDavid (No. 1, 2015) can't be credited as 'great picks,' per se, by the Penguins and Oilers, respectively. True, too, of Mario Lemieux , Eric Lindros , and Vincent LeCavalier , all No. 1 picks who fulfilled the 'franchise player' expectations they carried into their draft years. High, high quality, and easy draft pickings as low-hanging fruit. 'Straight forward, easy picks and they are great players,' Nadeau said. 'But when you really look at the value in the draft, we all are amazed at the picks that tend to defy the logic of where they got picked. Usually, a lot of it is that they are coming from a lower level of [competition], where it's sort of hard to correlate or justify where they're going to get to in the NHL, or players whose production wasn't that high.' Exhibit A, Bergeron, who played one full season of top Canadian junior hockey and finished third in scoring (23-50—73) for QMJHL Acadie-Bathurst. Its top producers were Olivier Filion , who was never drafted, and Jonathan Ferland , chosen No. 212 by the Canadiens in the prior year's draft. Ferland played all of seven games for the Habs and shipped off for an extended career in Europe after five seasons at AHL Hamilton, which then was Montreeal's top farm team. Nadeau began working for the Bruins in an entry-level communications role only a week or two before the Bruins drafted Bergeron. He was the wide-eyed kid in Nashville that day who was among the first to shake Bergeron's hand and lead him around to various media interviews. Advertisement 'He didn't speak a ton of English, and I didn't speak a ton of French,' recalled Nadeau. 'But we were able to get along pretty well and . . . just such an amazing human.' Related : Approximately this time next year, Bergeron will be eligible for Hall-of-Fame consideration for the first time. Feel free to book hotel rooms for the November 2026 induction in Toronto, for that No. 45 pick whose credentials were decidedly comme ci comme ça entering his draft class. 'When you think of Patrice Bergeron as a second-round pick,' mused Nadeau, with increasing enthusiasm in his voice as he spoke, 'or Trying to figure out which ones will do that? Pin up that dart board and take aim? 'To some degree,' said Nadeau. 'We're going to do as much as we can to give us the best chance to draft a player who we believe will continue to progress, get better, and adjust their game.' Longtime Bruins scout and advisor Scott Bradley spent 10 seasons in Nadeau's role as director of amateur scouting, including when the Bruins selected Bergeron. Advertisement 'I spent a lot of time with Scott and he was just an amazing mentor,' recalled Nadeau. 'I remember talking to him about Bergeron and he said, 'Well, if we knew he was that good, we shoulda picked him in the first round.' It's one of those things, and I know how much they loved [Bergeron], but you do have to project the draft and understand where players are valued and where they may go.' Related : The Bruins hold the No. 7 pick — their first in the top 10 since they took Dougie Hamilton at No. 9 in 2011. Per Nadeau, they interviewed some 85 prospects (max 15 minutes each) during Combine week as a means of building their knowledge base for whatever is to come. In part, he noted, that's also to prepare for a scenario that would include GM Don Sweeney moving the pick — be it for a slot higher or lower in the draft order, or to land a player who can become an immediate roster part of the franchise's rebuild. In all likelihood, a No. 7 pick, though prized, would need to develop elsewhere before being considered for the Boston varsity. As the director of amateur scouting, to see No. 7 disappear would have to be crushing, no? 'The ultimate goal for all of us is to get the Boston Bruins back to winning the Stanley Cup,' said Nadeau. 'So if Don Sweeney gets offered something that he feels he can't refuse and moves the seventh pick, we're going to focus on our two second-round picks, our third-round pick. We're still sitting there with 51, 63, 69, which from our standpoint is really exciting.' Advertisement Which is not to say that Nadeau cares to look past the prospect of bringing home No. 7. In his current position, the club's highest picks have been, dating back to the '18 draft, Nos. 57, 30, 58, 21, 54, 92, and 25. 'But we also understand the value of that to the organization — the context of where we are in terms of getting back in the playoffs next year,' he added, 'and the plan that Cam [Neely] and Donny and the Jacobs family have in place. While you look at it and say, 'Yeah, we worked really hard and it would be exciting to pick at No. 7,' it also would be exciting to think of what Donny might be able to bring on to our team with a trade. Our job is to be prepared for anything.' Patrice Bergeron was the steal of his draft class, going from little-known, demure kid from Quebec City to one of the game's greatest two-way centermen. CHIN, BARRY GLOBE STAFF PHOTO REUNION ARENA Bergeron, Chara on bench? Dream on. Symbolically, Marco Sturm's tenure behind the Bruins' bench begins Tuesday when the ex-Black & Gold winger steps behind a microphone on Causeway Street and shares his vision for how to guide the struggling franchise back to the playoffs. Some of you expected something bolder there, such as 'back to being a perennial Cup favorite.' If these last 2-3 seasons have underscored anything, it's to have full appreciation for what's needed for roster talent, temerity, and intelligence to collect 16 Ws in the playoffs. The Bruins have done that Much of Sturm's success will be tied directly to July 1, the day Sweeney will pick through the NHL's annual free-agent swap meet and, ideally, hand his new coach at least a couple of bona fide point producers. A body or two with the kind of pop Sturm delivered in his playing days — eight seasons of 20-plus goals — would be just what the franchise rehab doctor ordered. Related : Advertisement A No. 1 center would be the gift of gifts for the new coach. What's a swap meet without a pipe dream? Key to Sturm's success, and a point Sweeney did not address on Thursday in The 2024-25 Bruins couldn't score enough and couldn't defend at crucial times. Other than that bit of Tesla spontaneously combusting in the driveway, you know, great ride, was it not? What an intriguing thought to have Sturm aided back there by both Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara . Like Sturm, neither of those future Hall-of-Famers ever has coached at the NHL level, but so what? All three were good pals during Sturm's five years here. All three helped create and curate the culture of discipline and professionalism and competitiveness that defined the team until it began to erode, in chunks, following the summer '23 retirements of Bergeron and Krejci. Best to think, for now, of Bergeron and Chara in coaching roles as two more pipe dreams. Bergeron in his latter playing years repeatedly evinced very little interest (read: zero) in coaching upon retirement, particularly any time soon after calling it quits. 'For now, it's the same answer. I don't think it's in the cards,' said Bergeron on Friday in an interview with the Globe. 'Never say never. Time will tell. Right now I don't see it as something I would like to pursue. I guess I'm getting started coaching two of my sons. We'll see exactly. Never say never.' All that said, who wouldn't want Bergy in the mix? Even if his job description was just 'assistant coach, special services, solely in charge of the power-play bumper.' Chara, in the late stages of his playing career here, was a tiny bit more open to something in the coaching sphere. He has been around the team more in recent months at Sweeney's behest. It has been an unofficial role, one that both have yet to define. In my conversation with Chara last week, just days after he was 'We're still determining the specifics of the role right now. I'm some sort of advisor, mentor and … we still have to determine which part of that need is the most important," he said. 'I enjoy the part of leadership and helping guys to be better leaders and better players, and that also depends on the new coach. You need to have that conversation, like, where am I going to be needed the most?' Overall, Big Z added, he wants to help the franchise grow, inspire players, and 'just be part of it.' 'Because, to be honest, my heart is always going to be with the Bruins,' he said. 'I spent the majority of my career with the Bruins and I really care about them. When I came here in '06, and when I left in [ Brad Marchand ] and many other players, I was very proud of what we accomplished. Not just me, but what we as a group accomplished with the help of many other players. 'So I am attached. I am emotionally attached and living here, so I am physically here, too. I care. I care. I want to help. I want to be part of this turnaround and make it work again . . . but anything I do is for a new coach and Donny to sign off on it.' Joe Sacco's Bruins were rarely, if ever, at full power during his tenure. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff QUIET GOODBYE Sacco's long stint was unfair judge With zero fanfare, Joe Sacco's 12-year tour on the Bruins coaching staff came to an end Thursday when he signed on to new Ranger coach Mike Sullivan's staff on Broadway. The Blueshirts will be the third Original Six franchise for Medford's 'JoJo.' Less than a year after his third and final season at BU, he entered the NHL as a 21-year-old winger with the Maple Leafs in 1990-91. Sacco was a total pro in his time in the Hub of Hockey, right up to Jim Montgomery's 8-9-3 roster. The already compromised lot only grew worse with the injured All that considered, the Bruins won more than they lost (19-15-3, .554) in the 37 games under Sacco's tutelage prior to losing McAvoy. A tour de force? No. But again, Sacco never had the services of Hampus Lindholm, had yet to see Elias Lindholm wake up and smell the Dunkin', and Nikita Zadorov needed months to separate the bountiful tricks from the treats in his game. The only fair review of Sacco's work has to be those 37 games, even then with asterisks attached. He whipped up a whole lot of chicken salad from the detritus he was handed, only to have more detritus heaped on as the season played out. Meanwhile, Sullivan (BU '90) also added David Quinn (BU '87), an ex-Ranger head coach, to his staff. The Ranger GM is Chris Drury (BU '98). The other NYR assistant coach named Thursday was Ty Hennes , who spent the last two seasons on Sullvan's staff in Pittsburgh. Hennes, 45, played four seasons (2000-04) at Boston College, a lesser-known institution located on the rural western portion of Comm Ave. Henceforth, the hue of that trimming on the Blueshirts' sweaters, along with their pants, will be identified as 'Terrier Red.' Loose pucks Cam Neely on Friday celebrated a milestone birthday — his 60th. The Hall-of-Fame winger, then with 51 goals in 201 games with the Canucks, was dealt to the Bruins on his 21st birthday in 1986. That day, Neely wrote via text, 'still is the best birthday gift.' . . . Matt Keator , who became Chara's agent early in the big defenseman's career with the Islanders, was in Stockholm last month for Big Z's induction into the IIHF HOF. Asked about Chara's new love for endurance competition — such as running marathons and IRONMAN competitions — Keator said, 'Of course, you knew he was going to do something to punish himself.' Keator recently added son Ryan Keator to his Win Hockey Agency masthead. Ian Moran , ex- of the Bruins and the Belmont Hill blue line, also is a 'Win' agent. Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
Texas beats Texas Tech 10-4 in decisive 3rd game of WCWS to win its 1st national championship
OKLAHOMA CITY — Mia Scott hit a grand slam, Teagan Kavan earned another win and Texas defeated Texas Tech 10-4 in Game 3 of the Women's College World Series championship series Friday night to win its first national title. Kavan, a sophomore, allowed no earned runs in all 31 2/3 innings she pitched at the World Series. She went 4-0 with a save in the World Series for the Longhorns and was named Most Outstanding Player. Leighann Goode hit a three-run home run, Kayden Henry had three hits and Scott, Reese Atwood and Katie Stewart each had two hits for Texas (56-12). Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady, who had thrown every pitch for the Red Raiders through their first five World Series games, was pulled after one inning in Game 3. The two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association Pitcher of the Year gave up five runs on five hits and only threw 25 pitches. The loss came after she signed an NIL deal worth more than $1 million for the second straight year. Not even support from former Texas Tech football star Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, who were in attendance, could put the Red Raiders (54-14) over the top. Texas had lost to Oklahoma in the championship series two of the previous three years. Oklahoma was one of the teams Texas beat on its way to the championship. Canady's night started like many of her others, as she struck out the first batter she faced. After that, she didn't resemble the pitcher entered the game leading the nation in wins and ERA. Goode's homer in the first put the Longhorns up 5-0. Scott's blast came in the fourth inning and gave Texas a 10-0 lead. Hailey Toney was a bright spot for the Red Raiders. She singled to knock in two runs in the fifth, then singled to knock in another run in the seventh.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Texas thumps Texas Tech for first Women's College World Series championship in program history
OKLAHOMA CITY — As Devon Park broke out into a cacophony of deafening white noise, near-lifesize cutouts of Mia Scott, Reese Atwood, Teagan Kavan, Leighann Goode and just about every Longhorn bounced up and down in the bleachers. The Texas faithful beckoned everyone and anyone nearby to join in celebrating the 10-4 demolition of Texas Tech for Texas' first national title in Game 3 of the Women's College World Series final on Friday, one that felt like a long time coming after reaching the championship stage three times in the last four years. After Scott blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth to push Texas' lead to 10-0, a fan walked as close to the team bench as possible and turned, holding up a sign for fans to read: 'The only rings in Lubbock will be onion rings.' It only took seconds for the Longhorns' mascot to steal the sign and then use it to conduct the 'Texas Fight!' chant among the crowd. Advertisement 'Texas!' the Longhorn demanded from the fans to its right; 'Fight!' he conjured from those to his left. All the while the sign was the instrument used to conduct the orchestra. The cutout players had first begun flying in the first inning, along with dozens of burnt-orange laminated cardstock signs reminding everyone of the 'Texas Fight,' when the Longhorns took a commanding 5-0 lead to start the game. Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady's five earned runs in the first inning were the most she allowed in a game since her Stanford days. Canady was pitching through a 'tired' arm after throwing every ball for the Red Raiders from the super regionals on, coach Gerry Glasco said on the ESPN broadcast. Glasco used two more pitchers throughout the game, junior Chloe Riassetto and freshman Samantha Lincoln. Canady did not return to the circle. It only took roughly 30 minutes until the Red Raiders dug themselves a 5-0 hole and quieted the half of Devon Park in scarlet and black. Advertisement Fans who previously blended together like tie dye began to mix more like water and oil. Longhorns fans stretched throughout the stands parallel to third base, with their most faithful stationed directly behind their bench, and Red Raiders fans mirrored that almost exactly along first. Potential once-hopeful fans in UCLA shirts, Washington button-downs and Oregon baseball caps stood out among the scarlet and burnt orange. Tech supporters, too, brought signs, seeming to bring more homemade options, with personal handwritings of 'Raider Power' and 'NiJa's fastball has its own ZIP code' taking up feet of white poster paper. Tech injected life back into the crowd when it found three runs at the top of the fifth. It found one more in the seventh, but the additions stopped at 10-4. Texas has been waiting for this. The Longhorns fell to Oklahoma in the 2022 and 2024 WCWS finals. As a freshman, Kavan pitched 2.1 innings against the Sooners in last year's final. After leading the charge in this year's Game 1 by allowing just three hits, she finished the WCWS as the MVP, allowing no earned runs to help grab victory — and history — by the horns in Game 3. Advertisement Texas Tech fans — headlined by alumnus Patrick Mahomes, who was in attendance with his wife, Brittany — will wait another year to try to capture their first title. The Red Raiders failed to reach the postseason in 2024 and turned around to make their first WCWS appearance in 2025. Promise hangs in the air for the program after re-signing Canady to another million-dollar deal to return to Lubbock for next season, as The Athletic confirmed Friday. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. College Sports, Women's College Sports, women's sports 2025 The Athletic Media Company
