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Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami Herald Lifetime Achievement Award: Marty Cooper, American Heritage Softball
When honoring the best of the best with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Marty Cooper is in that category for sure. The Miami Herald decided to make it official, and Coach Cooper is a 2025 recipient of a Miami Herald Lifetime Achievement Award. It's been a long time coming. Cooper, who retired from coaching softball at Plantation American Heritage after the 2022 season, not only put American Heritage softball on the map in Broward County, South Florida, statewide and nationally, but he helped so many student athletes attain college scholarships -- hundreds, maybe thousands -- when you also consider the many softball players who competed for his competitive travel softball teams and in a showcase created by he and his wife Cyd. Based in Plantation, where he resides, the Coopers planted the seeds for Plantation Athletic League softball (rec and travel) and later the Gold Coast Hurricanes, a travel team, under the direction of them, that changed the course of fast-pitch softball in South Florida. If you're talking Marty Cooper and softball in Broward County, you have to mention Cyd, too. A top notch travel program, the Hurricanes competed on a high level statewide, regionally and nationally. In 1994, Marty and Cyd were running the slow-pitch softball program (recreational and travel) in Plantation under the Plantation Athletic League banner. They brought rec and travel softball to 500 girls in that area. They offered clinics with college coaches to teach skills to the rec and travel players. Their two daughters participated in the program, too, but Marty and Cyd's attention focused on all the kids -- their unofficial extended family -- registered in PAL softball. When fast-pitch softball became a thing in high school, the Coopers formed Gold Coast Hurricanes Fast-Pitch Softball, and they made it top notch, nationally ranked. From 2004 to 2010, the Gold Coast Hurricanes were ranked Top 5 in the nation. Gold Nationals was the pinnacle of travel softball. Only 64 teams from across the country qualify to attend Gold Nationals. A team must win a sanctioned tournament to earn a berth. The Gold Coast Hurricanes not only competed several times but won the prestigious tournament in 2009. They became the first East Coast team to win it all. They were also second twice and third once. Furthermore, the Gold Coast Hurricanes were the only Junior Olympic Team invited to play at the Canada Cup, where they competed against Olympic teams from other nations. How about this achievement? Marty and Cyd even created a dynamic travel softball tournament, Rising Stars Showcase, in Broward County, which attracted teams from across the country and many college coaches. They offered the coaches/scouts food daily prepared by chefs. Nice touch. It marked the first recruiting showcase tournament in Broward, starting with 20 teams and 20 college coaches and growing to 250 fast-pitch softball teams from throughout the United States and Canada with more than 350 college coaches/scouts. Their efforts produced thousands and thousands of college scholarship opportunities for players in the event's 25-year history. What Marty and Cyd did for Broward County, city of Plantation, American Heritage, the sport and the players just phenomenal. They changed the game, literally and figuratively, branching into the college level with their players, which greatly helped shape SEC softball into a standard barrier in college softball. Marty Cooper took the high school softball coaching reins at American Heritage in Plantation in 2004. What a job he did in 18 years with the Patriots. Look at his American Heritage high school numbers. Very impressive. ▪ 18 district titles ▪ 13 regional titles ▪ 13 state final four appearances ▪ 8 state championships Prior, Cooper coached high school softball at University School in Davie, his first high school softball coaching stint, beginning in 1992. Then, he took over South Plantation, before coaching American Heritage. Coupled with those above championships, he amassed 648 career wins. He also coached University School to its first district championship. University School and South Plantation advanced to regionals. St. Thomas Aquinas, a softball power, was in the same district with South Plantation, so the Paladins qualified for regionals as a district runner-up a few times. Those efforts and overall numbers -- coupled with the amount of players who competed in the NCAA College World Series, graduated college and made a mark in the professional workforce -- make him one of the most successful coaches in high school and travel softball in the state. Stephanie Brombacher, a three-time All-State pitcher and two-time state champion at American Heritage, garnered a scholarship to the University of Florida, where she became the Gators' ace in 2010 and 2011. In four seasons at Florida, the Gators made the College World Series each year. Florida finished second nationally in 2009 and 2011. A four-time All-SEC selection, Brombacher also received All-America honors in 2009 and 2010. In addition to being a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, she was a three-time Academic All-American. Currently, she is a physician assistant in Florida and remains in contact with Cooper, as do many of his former players. Brombacher recalled: 'I was 12 when we first met. One of my coaches at the time, Joe DellaRocca, who coached at American Heritage and learned from Marty, asked Marty if he could take a look at me. I threw some innings against an 18-and-under team, and then he invited me to play in a tournament at the University of Florida for his Plantation Pressure 18-and-under team.' Full circle, six years later Brombacher would become a University of Florida Gators star pitcher and star student. She continued: 'I was grateful for the opportunity. I started to play [high school varsity softball] for him as an 8th grader, when he became coach at American Heritage. He is somebody that you want to play for and want to make proud. He cares about you as a person, and he would always have your back. He coached us during practice for big moments on the field, and we would be confident in ourselves to make those decisions and believe the right decisions. He is also a cool guy. He knew when it was time to focus on practice and the game, but also let us be kids, relax and have some time -- when we went to Canada, California for tournaments -- to enjoy being there, go walk the beach, have life experiences. Things at the time I never thought I would be doing.' She noted: 'There is no one more deserving to be honored.' A humble Cooper made his mark in cities throughout Broward County, including Davie, Plantation and of course 'Cooper' City, During his illustrious career, Cooper earned All-Broward Softball Coach of the Year honors via the Miami Herald. Cooper's impact on Plantation American Heritage softball still remains as his assistant coach, Samantha Banister, leads the charge. The Patriots, under the direction of Banister, were runners-up in the state this season, a state semifinalist in 2024 and a region finalist in 2023. American Heritage Athletic Director Bruce Aven, who has coached the baseball team since 2012, said : 'Marty brought an excellence to the softball program at American Heritage, up to the highest level. He gave those girls a chance to be proud of playing at American Heritage. He impacted the girls not only on the field but also off the field. You could see that in their character, their professionalism, how they carried themselves on and off the field.' An example: one of the high schools not proficient in softball, wrote a letter to Coach Cooper, after a game, thanking him and his American Heritage players for the respect they displayed toward them, making them feel good about themselves even in defeat. Wayne Lenoff, executive director of summer programs for American Heritage, who provided much of the background on Coach Marty Cooper, listed above, with a help from a close source, added: 'Bottom line. Coach Marty Cooper changed many young ladies' lives. He always emphasized 'great character' as well as practicing your skills to be a great player. Dozens of Gold Coast Hurricanes played in the [NCAA] Women's College World Series over the past two decades.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after.
A Texas man has died after being attacked by a swarm of bees. Steven William Daniel of Cisco died on April 27 in Eastland, Texas, about 130 miles southwest of Dallas, according to an incident report obtained by USA TODAY on Monday. Eastland Police Department officers responding to a call about a crashed vehicle found Daniel swarmed by the bees, the agency said in a news release. Officers took Daniel out of his truck and put him in a police car until an ambulance could arrive and take him to a hospital. During the ambulance ride, Daniel stopped breathing and became unresponsive, the department said. Although Daniel, 66, was not allergic to bees, he died later that evening of circulator collapse from the bee stings, according to the incident report. Circulatory collapse, or circulatory shock, occurs when the body's circulation system is compromised, resulting in inadequate blood flow to the body's vital organs. Cyd Daniel, Daniel's wife, told Texas television station KTAB/KRBC that her husband had been mowing a property they owned in Eastland when he encountered the bees. Over the seven years the couple owned the property, he had never had an issue with bees, Cyd said. Bee swarm: Bees attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up' Cyd described her late husband to KTAB/KRBC as funny and quiet, someone who believe in safety first. "I believe this happened for a reason, and I think it's to warn the rest of us," Cyd told the local television station. "And if it helps one person or one kid or people at a birthday party, then he helped. He made a difference." Cyd did not immediately respond when contacted by USA TODAY on May 19. Another fatal bee attack in region happened less than two weeks after Daniel's death. On May 9, a swarm of what are believed to be Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, attacked and killed three horses in Comanche, Texas, just about 50 miles southeast of Eastland. That attack involved millions of bees that also attacked the owner of the horses. "They attacked me as soon as I got outside," Baillie Hillman told USA TODAY. "They were in my ears, my glasses, my hair." She escaped and got back inside. It's unclear what kind of bees attacked Daniel. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 72 people died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021. Spring is a busy time for bees. They're emerging to forage, reproduce and sometimes, look for a new home, Texas Beeworks founder Erika Thompson told USA TODAY. If you encounter bees this spring, the best thing to do is stay calm. Avoid sudden movements, swatting and loud noises because bees are sensitive to vibrations, Thompson said. Thompson said if you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger as soon as possible because it can continue to release venom even after the sting. Regularly inspect your property for gaps, cracks or open vents − areas that bees can squeeze into, Thompson said. Seal any unwanted openings with fine mesh, caulk or weather stripping. If you find a hive in an unwanted area on your property, contact a local beekeeper or bee removal specialist for ethical relocation. Don't try to handle the hive on your own. Maintenance: Here's how to get rid of bees around your home Contributing: Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas man mowing grass dies after being attacked by swarm of bees
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after.
A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after. Steven William Daniel died after he was swarmed by bees while mowing his property in Eastland. On average, about 72 people died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021. Show Caption Hide Caption Warmer temperatures could put western honey bees at risk Warmer temperatures could put western honey bees at risk of collapse. Researchers at Washington State University and the Department of Agriculture point to warmer autumns and winters causing big problems. Fox - Seattle A Texas man has died after being attacked by a swarm of bees. Steven William Daniel of Cisco died on April 27 in Eastland, Texas, about 130 miles southwest of Dallas, according to an incident report obtained by USA TODAY on Monday. Eastland Police Department officers responding to a call about a crashed vehicle found Daniel swarmed by the bees, the agency said in a news release. Officers took Daniel out of his truck and put him in a police car until an ambulance could arrive and take him to a hospital. During the ambulance ride, Daniel stopped breathing and became unresponsive, the department said. Although Daniel, 66, was not allergic to bees, he died later that evening of circulator collapse from the bee stings, according to the incident report. Circulatory collapse, or circulatory shock, occurs when the body's circulation system is compromised, resulting in inadequate blood flow to the body's vital organs. Cyd Daniel, Daniel's wife, told Texas television station KTAB/KRBC that her husband had been mowing a property they owned in Eastland when he encountered the bees. Over the seven years the couple owned the property, he had never had an issue with bees, Cyd said. Bee swarm: Bees attack and kill 3 horses in Texas: 'They didn't give up' Cyd described her late husband to KTAB/KRBC as funny and quiet, someone who believe in safety first. "I believe this happened for a reason, and I think it's to warn the rest of us," Cyd told the local television station. "And if it helps one person or one kid or people at a birthday party, then he helped. He made a difference." Cyd did not immediately respond when contacted by USA TODAY on May 19. More bees attack in region Another fatal bee attack in region happened less than two weeks after Daniel's death. On May 9, a swarm of what are believed to be Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, attacked and killed three horses in Comanche, Texas, just about 50 miles southeast of Eastland. That attack involved millions of bees that also attacked the owner of the horses. "They attacked me as soon as I got outside," Baillie Hillman told USA TODAY. "They were in my ears, my glasses, my hair." She escaped and got back inside. It's unclear what kind of bees attacked Daniel. How many people die from bee stings each year? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 72 people died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021. Keeping safe around bees this spring Spring is a busy time for bees. They're emerging to forage, reproduce and sometimes, look for a new home, Texas Beeworks founder Erika Thompson told USA TODAY. If you encounter bees this spring, the best thing to do is stay calm. Avoid sudden movements, swatting and loud noises because bees are sensitive to vibrations, Thompson said. Thompson said if you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger as soon as possible because it can continue to release venom even after the sting. Regularly inspect your property for gaps, cracks or open vents − areas that bees can squeeze into, Thompson said. Seal any unwanted openings with fine mesh, caulk or weather stripping. If you find a hive in an unwanted area on your property, contact a local beekeeper or bee removal specialist for ethical relocation. Don't try to handle the hive on your own. Maintenance: Here's how to get rid of bees around your home Contributing: Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
