Latest news with #Springs
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
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.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitcher Rankings: Welcome to a great streaming week!
This is a good week to find some two-start pitchers on the waiver wire, as the list includes one especially exciting option and several hurlers who should post solid results. Things are less exciting on the hitting side, as few teams play four games over the next four days. However, those who are desperate for a hitter can likely find some help from the Giants. Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference) Eury Pérez, Marlins, 56% (@PIT, @WSH) Pérez's roster rate will surely skyrocket prior to first pitch on Monday. After all, the 22-year-old is one of the most talented young starters in baseball, as he showed in 2023 when he logged a 3.15 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP and a 10.6 K/9 rate at age 20. Despite the long layoff, Perez is easily the best streamer this week and will likely stay on rosters for the remainder of the season. Check if he's still available. Griffin Canning, Mets, 48% (vs. WSH, vs. TB) Canning bounced back from a pair of subpar outings when he struck out seven across six shutout innings against the high-scoring Dodgers. The right-hander walks too many batters (10.4%), but he minimizes the damage by getting his share of strikeouts and ground balls. Having two starts at his pitcher-friendly home park against average offenses makes Canning one of the safest options on this list. Jeffrey Springs, Athletics, 31% (@LAA, @KC) Springs is one of a few Athletics pitchers who have fared best when pitching on the road, logging a 3.86 ERA in those contests (5.51 ERA at home). The lefty had a hiccup in Toronto on May 30 (2 IP, 6 ER) but even when factoring in that start, he has recorded a 3.66 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in six outings since the calendar flipped to May. Springs belongs in most lineups this week, as both of his opponents rank among the bottom-10 teams in OPS vs. southpaws. Shane Smith, White Sox, 26% (@HOU, @TEX) Smith continued to overcome his expected stats last week, as he held the Tigers off the scoreboard for 5.1 innings. The 25-year-old has benefited from a .245 BABIP, and all of his ERA estimators are between 3.50-4.00, but that still makes him good enough to be a viable streamer in 12-team leagues. He will face two disappointing offenses this week that rank 20th and 28th in runs scored. Advertisement [Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all] Mitch Keller, Pirates, 35% (vs. MIA, @CHC) Keller has been consistently mediocre for several years, and in each of the past three seasons, he has logged an ERA between 4.13-4.25 and a WHIP between 1.25-1.30. The right-hander has polarizing matchups this week, as the Marlins rank 23rd in runs scored and the Cubs place second. Overall, he's an uninspiring option who makes the most sense for managers who are aggressively chasing volume. Luis L. Ortiz, Guardians, 34% (vs. CIN, @SEA) Ortiz strikes out plenty of batters (25.4%) but the good news stops there. The right-hander gives up too many walks (11.8%) and too much hard contact (93.0 mph average exit velocity) to have consistent success. His matchups are average this week, and I would be much more comfortable using him in points leagues, where he could make a major impact by striking out 12+ batters. Colin Rea, Cubs, 15% (@PHI, vs. PIT) Rea followed up a pair of six-run starts by shutting out the Nats across 5.1 innings last time out. Unfortunately, his scoreless start came with seven baserunners and zero strikeouts. The 34-year-old is not as safe as is suggested by his 3.59 ERA, and managers would be wise to heed the warnings of his 1.35 WHIP. Advertisement He's on this list for one reason — a Sunday start against the Pirates, who rank 29th in runs scored. It's enough to get him into some deep-league lineups. Shane Baz, Rays, 46% (@BOS, @NYM) Baz has had a couple of serviceable starts of late, but his overall ratios since May 1 (7.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP) leave plenty to be desired. The right-hander still carries some name value in fantasy circles thanks to his former prospect status. But I would avoid using him for a pair of road starts against above-average offenses. One-Start Streamers In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in parentheses. Advertisement Lance McCullers vs. CWS (Tuesday, 46) Bryce Elder vs. COL (Friday, 10) Cade Horton vs. PIT (Friday, 32) Hayden Birdsong @COL (Wednesday, 37) Ryan Weathers* @WSH (Saturday, 31) Luis Severino @KC (Friday, 28) Chris Paddack @HOU (Friday, 33) Tomoyuki Sugano vs. LAA (Saturday, 49) Chad Patrick vs. ATL (Wednesday, 28) Bailey Falter vs. MIA (Wednesday, 17) Cal Quantrill @PIT (Wednesday, 3) Jack Leiter @MIN (Wednesday, 39) Tyler Anderson @BAL (Saturday, 22) Erick Fedde @MIL (Friday, 18) Grant Holmes @MIL (Tuesday, 32) Will Warren @KC (Thursday, 39) José Soriano vs. ATH (Tuesday, 19) Michael Lorenzen vs. ATH (Saturday, 19) Slade Cecconi vs. CIN (Tuesday, 4) Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchups Giants @ Rockies: The Giants get their turn to face a beleaguered Rockies staff (6.16 home ERA) at Coors Field. Wilmer Flores (43%) and Tyler Fitzgerald (18%) are the best options to add from the waiver wire. Cardinals vs. Blue Jays, Brewers: St. Louis is one of just a few teams that play four games over the next four days, and it does not face an ace in any of its contests. Victor Scott II (24%) is the most obvious player to add in roto leagues, and those in shallow formats who sometimes bench Masyn Winn, Ivan Herrera, Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Arenado may want to move them into the active lineup.
Mail & Guardian
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
Rhythm, culture and class: The Mercedes-Benz CLE cabriolet is a Bollywood special
The Mercedes-Benz CLE cabriolet During my childhood, Bollywood movies were an important part of growing up. I am almost certain that I knew who Shah Rukh Khan was before I knew about Mufasa and Simba. In fact, I am almost certain that I was singing songs from the movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge before I knew the words to any nursery rhyme. That movie is actually still running at the Maratha Mandir Theatre in Mumbai — and it was released in 1995. It holds the record for the longest-running film and somehow still enjoys 50% occupancy on weekends and holidays. The movie actually ignited a small fantasy that I have finally managed to fulfill. During the song Ho Gaya Hai Tujhka To Pyaar Sajna in the movie, Khan drives his convertible Mercedes-Benz R129 SL on a country road with the Swiss Alps in the background. Being one of my childhood movie heroes, I always told myself that one day I would also drive a convertible Mercedes-Benz on a country road with the top down. When I received the Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 cabriolet on test, you can imagine what I did. Almost immediately, I put the top down, got onto Welgedacht Road here in Springs and drove to the tune of the Ho Gaya Hai Tujhka To Pyaar Sajna. One childhood fantasy fulfilled — but there was a difference. The song refers to how Khan's character has fallen in love with the female protagonist. For me, the song was referring to how I had fallen in love with the car. This vehicle completely epitomised the essence of the Bollywood movies that I grew up with — and continue to watch. They all stick to the culture of the industry, have infinite class and unmatched rhythm. Culture To begin with, Mercedes-Benz has continued with its tradition of four-seater open-top cars. The CLE is based on the CLE coupe but the marque has incorporated elements of both the C-Class and E-Class into the design of the vehicle. From the front, it takes the shape of the E-Class with a short overhang and long bonnet. I like how this makes the car dazzle from the front. The back takes a more minimalist approach, just as the old C-Class and E-Class coupes did, with the Mercedes-Benz badge in the centre of the trunk. However, the strip across the back that connects the tailights is a new addition from those coupes and, while it keeps the minimalist approach, it does just add a touch of pep to the back of the vehicle. It comes fully equipped with the AMG line body, giving the vehicle a sporty feel. The CLE keeps with the tradition of good-looking, upmarket vehicles that Mercedes-Benz has produced throughout the years. Class The CLE does its best work inside the vehicle. Aesthetically, it is a shining star when you enter. From the fully digital driver display to how the ambient lighting flows effortlessly throughout the cabin, the vehicle embodies class from the moment the door opens. As well as the driver display, there's an 11.9-inch infotainment screen called the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX). The MBUX offers a new level of personalisation with automated convenience functions. For example, 'Cold days' (seat heating switches on at a certain outside temperature) or 'Date night' (romantic music plays via Bluetooth audio; the ambient lighting turns pink). The class continues with the generous space offered in this two-door, which is actually quite lengthy. Backseat passengers benefit from these dimensions. But it doesn't stop there. We are used to heated and cooled seats in most vehicles these days but it is still rare to find vehicles with massaging chairs. The driver and passenger can enjoy a number of different massages. For a sport addict like myself, this was especially helpful during the long drives back to the tip of the East Rand after an intense game of padel. The cold weather meant that, even during the day, I was reluctant to put the roof down and cruise. Mercedes-Benz has added features to assist with that but the aircap system, which is meant to deflect wind, was not particularly effective. Although the cold air was not slapping me across the face, it didn't make much of a difference. However, the 'airscarf' system built into the headrest, which blows hot air to your neck and around your throat, assisted big time in keeping me warm while I had the roof down. Rhythm The rhythm in the CLE cabriolet starts off with the optional 3D Burmester surround sound system. Loudspeakers level with the head restraints create a particularly personalised and immersive music experience, with Dolby Atmos and spatial audio close to the ear. This premium sound system has a total of 17 loudspeakers. This meant that when I went onto the open road with the top down, and sang my heart out to my Bollywood tunes, I didn't have to increase the volume because of outside noise. When the roof is up, you really feel like you are a part of the song. However, the actual rhythm of the CLE cabriolet comes with the drive. Both variants, the CLE 200 and 300 come with a four cylinder, 2-litre, turbocharged petrol engine, paired to a mild hybrid system. Each has an integrated starter-generator and 48-volt on-board electrical system. The CLE 200 delivers 150kW of power and 320Nm of torque, while the CLE 300, which is a four-wheel drive, delivers 190kW of power and 400Nm of torque. But the power is not what this vehicle is about. Yes, it has enough, and can be quick when you need it to, but this is a luxury cruiser. Even on heavy inclines, the cruise remains effortless. There's just something about a cabriolet that can move around so effortlessly and has the level of comfort that the CLE has. The fuel consumption was also not bad. I managed 7.7 litres/100km with open road and urban driving combined. That is the exact figure Mercedes-Benz claims on the CLE 300. The car also has the ability to open and close the roof when driving up to 60km/h. Verdict Mercedes-Benz has produced a special vehicle with the CLE cabriolet. I am pretty certain the vehicle won't prove as timeless as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge , but just like that movie, it is an industry leader and an innovative, exceptionally put together product that has the ability to make you fall in love with it. But cabriolets are not common in South Africa these days and it won't be a top seller. It also does not fit into the category of a sports car, so if you are looking for a comfortable, luxurious, open-top cruiser, the CLE cabriolet is for you. It is fairly priced as well. The CLE 200 cabriolet starts from R1 515 350 and the CLE 300 starts from R1 573 651.
Mail & Guardian
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
Is the exceptional BYD Sealion 7 the best value electric SUV in South Africa?
The BYD Sealion 7 provides incredible comfort and a smooth drive. BYD has become an unstoppable force in the world of new-energy vehicles globally after surpassing Tesla with sales figures in late 2024. Its momentum in South Africa has been slow, however, but it didn't enter the local market very loudly. In April, BYD finally decided to announce loud and clear that it was here with three new models: the Shark 6, which is a plug-in hybrid bakkie; the Sealion 6, a plug-in hybrid SUV and the Sealion 7, a fully electric SUV that is the flagship model in South Africa. The Mail & Guardian had the Sealion 7 on test for a week. It's always exciting to get hold of EVs to get to understand them better because they are still fairly rare in South Africa. I remember my time with the Volvo EX30 and how I struggled to charge the vehicle because I live about 60km out of Johannesburg. Luckily, a home charger is included with the BYD Sealion 7, so that took my early anxiety away. The Sealion 7 comes with BYD's blade battery, offering 82.56 kilowatt-hour capacity. This means that you get a maximum range of 482km on a full battery, which is a good amount. I drove the vehicle from Sandton to Springs and back and made multiple trips from Springs to Boksburg. I also used it around town for the time I had it on test and only needed to charge it once. While the portable wall charger is only 2.2kWh, and takes about 24 hours to charge from 30% to 80%, BYD does include a 7kWh wallbox charger, when you purchase the vehicle. This means that you could charge it to 100% in 12 hours at home. However, if you are out and about, and can find a fast charging station in the city, the Sealion 7 can charge from 20% to 80% in 30 minutes. The exterior In the last quarter of 2024, BYD released the sporty Seal 7 sedan and the Sealion 7 is meant to be an extension of that vehicle. The Sealion 7 maintains that sporty look with very distinctive headlights in the front and subtle daytime running lights that run sharply below the headlights. The shape in the front is capped off by two bonnet lines that come down towards the headlights. What I love about the Sealion 7 is that it is a very attractive vehicle but the manufacturer has not overdone anything to give it a sporty feel. The back is a treat. The SUV does not become boxy but rather follows the curve shape all the way to the boot with a superb lightbar across the back that gives off Porsche Cayenne vibes. The best word to use for the entire exterior of the BYD Sealion 7 is 'sexy'. There's no doubt that it's a head turner and BYD's intention of producing a sport-coupe SUV is embodied by the exterior. The interior BYD does its best work inside the Sealion 7. The interior is plush, comfortable, spacious and packed with technology. From the time you enter the vehicle, you are treated to beautiful ambient lighting that extends all the way around the vehicle. The leather seats are extremely comfortable and there is ample space even at the back. The BYD Sealion 7 offers 500 litres of boot capacity, with the rear seats in place, and there's also 58 litres of front boot space that is ideal for an overnight bag. The centre console is neatly done but the highlight of the interior is the 15.6 inch infotainment screen that can be rotated to either portrait or landscape. 15.6 inches is huge for a screen in a vehicle. This screen allows you to change interior settings in the vehicle, like colours and themes, and even allows you to schedule charging. There is an exceptional amount of quality and tidiness on the door panels that I appreciated greatly. For me, the interior of the Sealion 7 is appealing, yet calming. There's a type of zen energy that it gives off while still keeping the sporty-coupe aura. The drive Driving EVs is always interesting. The silence when starting the vehicle and moving at slow speeds feels great, but as you pick up speed, that is where you can really understand the ride quality of the vehicle. One issue that I generally face with EVs is that when you press down on the accelerator, because you get instant torque, the kick feels too powerful and there is no gradual pick up in speed. BYD has managed this quite well in the Sealion 7. Yes, there is an instant kick but not so much that you are pushed back in your seat. I also liked that, once you passed 100km/h, the speed picked up gradually but the vehicle still felt very powerful. Of course, with 230kW of power and 380Nm of torque, power is never going to be a problem. The variant I was in went from 0 to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds. You also get the performance all-wheel-drive variant that delivers 390kW of power and 690Nm of torque and goes from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, which is ridiculous. While there was not much wind noise, and the cabin remained silent, I could feel the smoothness of the drive evaporate slightly when I approached the national speed limit. Safety The BYD Sealion 7 has earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating and comes with all the safety features you need. They include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and driver-attention warning. The BYD Sealion 7 also comes with predictive collision technology, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed-limit control. One thing that was impressive was that the steering wheel was not terribly sensitive to the lane-keep assist as it is in most vehicles. Of course, it would warn you if you tried to move out of the lane without indicating but it was not a constant fight with the steering wheel to assert control over the vehicle. Verdict The BYD Sealion 7 is stunning both inside and out, has exceptional features and is more spacious than it looks from the outside. All this, coupled with the fact that it is a fully electric SUV, makes it an exceptional all-round vehicle. Priced at R1 099 900 for the premium variant and R1 299 900 for the performance variant, it is still great value for money, given how EVs are priced in the country.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami Springs baseball wins state title, breaks school's 37-year title drought
Even though there were plenty of fans in the stands making a lot of noise, Magdiel Estevez heard none of it. He knelt down behind the pitchers mound, dropped his head, closed his eyes and shut off the rest of the world. The Miami Springs senior pitcher was about to pitch what he hoped was the last inning of his high school career and the most important one. He needed a moment. With the pressure of an entire team, school, alumni and community on his shoulders and the Golden Hawks nursing a one-run lead and three outs away from making history, all he did was deliver in a remarkably clutch way. Estevez not only retired the side in order but struck out all three batters he faced, sending his Hawks teammates running to the middle of the field for the traditional dog pile celebration. Miami Springs edged Santa Rosa Beach South Walton 2-1 in the Class 3A state championship game at Hammond Stadium. South Walton, which also was a state runner-up a year ago, losing in the final to Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, brought a 31-3 record and a No. 1 Class 3A state ranking into the game. But just 24 hours after upsetting hometown favorite Fort Myers Bishop Verot in the semifinal, Springs once again relished the underdog role and delivered. And with it came the school's first state championship in any sport since 1988 when the Hawks' girls' soccer team defeated Melbourne in February, 1988. It also was only the second state title for any program in the last 55 years dating all the way back to boys swimming in 1970. Springs also became only the third Miami-Dade County public school team to win a state title over the last 22 years, joining South Dade and American who both won it in 2014. 'I don't really like to pray for hits, strikeouts or wins,' said Estevez, a Miami-Dade College signee who was nothing short of brilliant, allowing just two hits over his seven innings of work while striking out six including those final three. 'My prayer to the Lord was mainly, 'put your hands over me and I need you to guide me at this moment.' I know that, win or lose no matter the outcome that people would love me regardless. That really helped me find peace at that moment. Such a big blessing to be here and be a part of something so special today. I thank God that he allowed me to perform the way I did today and that I was blessed with such great teammates.' He's right about those great teammates. As great as Estevez was, he was the first to make sure his infielders got recognized. And for good reason. The Hawks' infield of third baseman Jordany Gonzalez, shortstop Roydan Perez and second baseman Yordan Torres have been nothing short of brilliant all season long. And on a day that they needed to be at their best, they delivered, especially Gonzalez who had a stretch in the fourth and fifth inning that might have reminded some of Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson in the 1970 World Series. Over a six-batter span, Gonzalez made four incredible defensive plays, two of them diving to his left to throw South Walton runners out and prevent the Seahawks from mounting any kind of a rally. 'Everytime Mags (Estevez) has gone out on the mound this season, he would leave everything on the field for us,' Gonzalez said. 'So today it was my turn and our entire infield's turn to leave everything on the field for him. It all starts in practice. You work day-after-day-after-day taking ground ball after ground ball and it prepares you for moments like today. So it was just a matter of all of us doing our job out there and protecting our pitcher.' Springs coach David Fanshawe, completing his ninth season since taking over the program in 2016, could not have praised his pitcher more. 'Magdiel, the way he pitched today was basically the way he has pitched for us all year,' Fanshawe said. 'Coming into this game I saw just how calm he was out there. Like all season, he never would get rattled no matter how big the moment was and the moment didn't get any bigger for him than it was out there today. He was truly magnificent at the most important time we needed him to be.' Going up against some impressive South Walton starting pitching, unlike the 12-2 mercy rule win over Bishop Verot on Monday, offense would be tough to come by for the Hawks. The Seahawks threw University of Florida commit Braxton Varnes out there to start the game before Auburn-bound Coleman Barthwick replaced him in the third inning. But Springs designated hitter Taylor Ancheta didn't seem to be impressed with either one. Because somebody who had not hit a home run in over a year, stunned even perhaps himself when the lefty got a Varnes fastball in the second inning and launched it over the right field fence for a solo home run and 1-0 Hawks lead. 'Honestly, the whole thing is still kind of a blur right now,' said Ancheta with a wry smile. 'I got a first pitch fast ball down and in and I just turned on it and got barrel on it. Honestly, I couldn't believe I hit it that far. I knew it was gone when it when it left the bat.' Desperately needing an insurance run, after squandering a golden chance when No. 9 hitter Justin Mercado led off the fourth inning with a triple into the right field corner and wound up not scoring, the Hawks plated that valuable run in the top of the sixth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Torres ripped a shot right at South Walton first baseman Jaie Cunningham who could not handle the sharp grounder as the ball trickled into shallow right field. Perez never slowed down, flying around third and crossing the plate without a throw to make it 2-0. The run proved to be the difference as the Seahawks touched Estevez for their only run in the game in a tense bottom of the sixth. After Hudson Quinn led off the inning with only the team's second hit of the game, he was sacrificed down to second, Estevez walked leadoff hitter Frank Wells. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third before Cameron Tipton-Thomas hit a ground ball out to second scoring Quinn from third and advancing Wells to third. With the tying run 90 feet away, Varnes, the team's No. 4 hitter hit a line drive to right but Andres Suarez was right there to cooly make the catch to end the inning. 'Not yet,' said Fanshawe when asked if what his team has just accomplished for the school and the community had sunk in yet. 'I just want my team to enjoy this moment and try and embrace the history. We knocked off two very good teams, we have a lot of people back home in Miami Springs waiting for us. School, community, my ex players, my phone is blowing up right now which is so great.'
