Miami Springs' Fanshawe and Mater Academy's Bencomo are Dade Baseball Coaches of the Year
The list is probably a short one.
Coaches who have won a state baseball championship as a head coach, assistant coach and a player.
It's one that David Fanshawe joined a few weeks ago when he watched his Miami Springs team complete a dream season.
The Golden Hawks went 20-3 during the regular season, rolled to six straight regional playoff wins in Class 3A and then upset both Fort Myers Bishop Verot and Santa Rosa Beach South Walton to win not only the program's first state title, but the first state championship for the school in any sport in nearly four decades.
For that, Fanshawe is the Miami Herald's Class 4A-1A Dade Baseball Coach of the Year.
Fanshawe, who just completed his ninth season at Springs came over from Brito Miami Private in 2016 where he won back-to-back state titles as an assistant under Pedro Guerra in 2014-15. It was also the same place he won it as a player when he was on the mound as the winning pitcher in the 2006 championship game when Brito edged Jacksonville Eagle's View 4-3.
'The sport of baseball has been awfully good to me,' Fanshawe said. 'I've had some great experiences at a couple of great programs. I guess maybe I'm one to add to that list if there is one. The nicest thing about what we just did is that I got to watch those kids get to experience what I experienced as a player in high school.'
Speaking of short lists, with Fanshawe's two players, Kevin Roque and Magdiel Estevez nailing down Pitcher and Player of the Year honors, respectively, Springs completed the Herald's triple sweep with him getting Coach of the Year.
'It's an honor to be recognized but obviously if it weren't for these kids and what they accomplished, there would be no coach of the year award for me,' Fanshawe said. 'They played their hearts out for me and the coaching staff and in order to have this success, you need to have great assistants as well which I was lucky to have.'
For Humberto Bencomo, Mater Academy's state title in Class 5A was the program's second, but his first, as a head coach, assistant or player.
For that accomplishment, Bencomo is the Herald's 7A-5A Coach of the Year.
'I'm truly humbled and honored to be recognized like this,' Bencomo said. 'This recognition is not just about me, it's a testament to the incredible heart and dedication of my players and coaches, the unwavering support from our administrators and the constant encouragement from our parents. Without all of that, none of this happens.'
The Lions, who won their first championship in 2014, overcame a 1-5 start to the season, rolled to six straight regional playoff wins and then upended Fort Myers 8-5 in the state semifinal (battling back from an early 5-0 deficit) before defeating Wesley Chapel 6-1 for the title.
'In baseball you have to be willing to do whatever it takes,' Bencomo said. 'Whether it's a clutch hit, a perfect bunt, or a diving catch. That's what makes a championship team and that's exactly what we showed this past season.'
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