FORT MYERS
In the end, the “ask” was just a little too much for the Miami Springs Golden Hawks baseball team. Taking on a team ranked No. 1 overall in the state, No. 11 in the nation and up against a pitcher projected to be a first round pick in the upcoming MLB draft, Miami Springs hung tough but in the end came up short, dropping a 6-2 decision to Santa Rosa Beach South Walton in a Class 3A state semifinal on Wednesday afternoon at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. Despite being the reigning 3A state champions from a year ago, this year was a different story for the Hawks. Hit hard by graduation and then having the head coach, David Fanshawe leave for Doral Academy, the 2026 version of this team was nearly a complete overall and facelift from the title-winning team of a year ago.
But, despite barely qualifying for the postseason as a No. 8 seed in Region 4-3A, the Hawks put together a remarkable Cinderella run to the state final four, becoming only the second No. 8 seed in the state to ever make it to state, matching the feat by Winter Springs High School (near Orlando) in 2023. But any dreams of a police escort back into town, a victory parade down Westward Drive and designing another championship ring, all the perks that came with last year’s team winning the school’s first state title in ANY sport since 1988, were dashed by South Walton, which exacted a measure of revenge after Springs upset them 2-1 in last year’s state title game.
After having to settle for runner up medals each of the last two years, the Seahawks finished off their quest for the program’s first state title one night later by edging Coconut Creek North Broward Prep. 6-5 in the 3A state championship game to finish the season with a 30-4 record. Springs finished 19-12. “You never want to make it to this stage and lose and we’re not ones for moral victories, but we’re very happy to have been here today and once again represent the school and the City of Miami Springs,” said first year head coach Corey Estrada. “I’m proud of my guys for battling, especially against such a great and experienced team. We were in the game until the last inning and that’s all we can ask from our boys. To go out there and give us100 percent and a chance to win the game.”
The Hawks did not back down against South and its ace pitcher Coleman Borthwick, a projected first round MLB draft pick this summer and Auburn signee. Springs faced Borthwick last season in the championship game but the Hawks’ revamped roster was facing a pitcher, who entered the game with a miniscule 0.12 ERA and having allowed just one earned run and 11 hits all season while striking out 110 batters. So what did the Hawks do? Despite striking out 12 times against Borthwick, they also mustered eight hits and plated an earned run against him in the top of the fifth. “They drove his pitch count up with quality at-bats and that was probably the highest it’s been early in the game all year,” said South Walton head coach Nick Borthwick, Coleman’s father. “You’ve got to give Miami Springs credit for those at-bats.” The problem for the Hawks is that they were unable to do much damage with those hits. Springs wound up stranding 12 runners on base and most of the hits came with two outs.
“My main focus was having my arms back and being ready early,” said junior center fielder Taylor Ancheta, who had two hits, including a double and was the hero of last year’s championship game when he homered over the right field fence. “The idea was to really make him work hard and throw a lot of pitches and we managed to do that. Adrian Henriquez, who opposed Borthwick on the mound, also had two hits and Kris Mederos also had two hits and a walk. “It helped knowing who we were going to face having faced him (Borthwick) in the state championship last year,” Estrada said. “We prepared for him in batting practice the last couple of days, focusing on being able to hit velo (velocity). To get eight hits on a guy like that is impressive. Unfortunately, we had some chances and couldn’t get it done and he barreled down and got out of jams.”
The Hawks weren’t able to hold down South Walton’s big-hitting lineup for long, and a defensive miscue began a three-run second for the Seahawks. Carter Hawk singled to left, and two batters later, Declan Fowler scored after Hudson Quinn hit a high chopper that second baseman Matthew Munoz could not handle cleanly. Two batters later, Nathan Whitney roped a two-run single. “Coming from last year and winning last year, you wanted to do it again, but we faced an experienced team and it was a real battle for us,” said Henriquez. “But we’re still proud of the season we had and the way we were able to come together at the end when we were struggling midway through the season.”
The good news for Estrada and the Hawks is that, unlike last year when 12 of the 23 players on the roster did not return, almost everyone, including Ancheta and Henriquez will be back in 2027. “When you lose 12 guys off your roster, it’s tough,” Estrada said. “We only had one senior on the field so for us to get this opportunity, it’s a great accomplishment for these boys. It’s tough as a program when you lose all those players. I’m happy these kids stuck with it and they see what our program can offer. We’re very sophomore and junior heavy so we feel like we’ll have the pieces coming back to maybe get back here again next year.”
