26-05-2025
Poll: Who should be the Miami Herald's High School Athlete of the Week? (May 26)
South Florida's top athletes were recognized recently in the sports of baseball, boys' volleyball and softball. in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
This week, we continue a feature where we ask you to vote for the best performer of the week from baseball, softball and water polo
Take our poll below to cast your vote. The poll will be open until Thursday, May 29, around 10 p.m. You may vote as often as you like until then.
Here are the candidates:
NOTE: You should see a Miami Herald box underneath this note for you to type Yes and click Submit. That will ignite the actual poll to vote.
▪ Isabella Benton, Plantation American Heritage softball: the freshman went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, a sacrifice, two runs and seven RBI as the Patriots (23-3) defeated Osceola 15-0 in an FHSAA Class 4A state semifinal. In the finals, Benton was 1-for-4 with an RBI, but Fort Walton Beach won 7-6.
▪ Magdiel Estevez, Miami Springs baseball: the senior allowed just one run on two hits and four walks over seven innings (complete game), while striking out six including the final three batters as the Golden Hawks (28-3) edged Santa Rosa Beach South Walton 2-1 to win the Class 3A state championship. It marked the school's first state title in any sport since 1988.
▪ Dane Fox, Westminster Academy water polo: the junior was voted Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Water Polo for the state as he greatly helped the Lions (24-2) win state. He scored the overtime goal in an 11-10 state semifinal win over Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and added two goals in his team's 11-10 title-match victory over Miami Hialeah Mater Lakes Academy. For the season, he had 103 goals with 51 assists and 39 steals.
▪ RJ Machado, Plantation American Heritage baseball: the senior was 1-for-3 with a double and scored the winner in walk-off fashion as the Patriots edged Panama City Beach Arnold 3-2 in the eight innings in the 4A state semifinal. Then in the state championship game victory, he went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help lift the Patriots (29-6) over Mulberry 6-1.
▪ Kathleen Serig, Gulliver Prep water polo: the senior was voted the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Water Polo for Florida. She helped lead the Raiders (27-1) to the state championship. She had 84 goals while adding 36 assists and 64 steals in this her fourth varsity season.
▪ Ava Stevens, Somerset Silver Palms softball: the sophomore pitcher won both games and also batted well as the Stallions (24-6) won their first state title. In the finals, she allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk and struck out two in a 12-2, five inning victory. She hit 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. In a 9-2 state semifinal win over Dunedin, she allowed two runs on four hits and no walks, while striking out seven for the complete game, seven inning effort. At the plate, she walked, scored and sacrificed.
▪ Meagan Villazon, Doral Academy softball: the senior pitcher not only pitched a 1-hit shutout in the 6A state championship win over Pace, but she also drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the fifth for the 1-0 victory. She was 1-for-2 with a walk and that RBI. That marked the second state championship for the Firebirds (31-1). Villazon walked five and struck out seven in the complete game victory. In the state semifinal, she went the distance, including an extra inning, as the Firebirds edged Valrico Bloomingdale 5-4 in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the eighth. She allowed four runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out five, and batted 1-for-4 with a key RBI.
