South Sumter’s Run Ends In State Semifinal Defeat

The South Sumter coaching staff during the Class 3A state semifinal.

The North Broward Prep Eagles delivered a championship performance on Wednesday, and because of it they now have positioned themselves for a chance to win the title. Behind a stellar start from ace Jack Rostock and a relentless defense that gobbled up every play, North Broward Prep earned a 4-0 shutout victory over the South Sumter Raiders in the Class 3A state semifinal, at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

The Eagles (25-7) now have the opportunity to add their fourth state title in program history, all within the last six seasons. North Broward Prep won its first state championship in 2021, and then won it all again in 2022 and 2024. On Thursday night the Eagles will face off against the South Walton Seahawks (29-4) for the right to hoist the 2026 Class 3A crown.

“It’s where you want to be, right? It’s a really good baseball team and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” North Broward Manager Brian Campbell said. “To get here and earn another chance to play for a state championship is special and we’re really looking forward to it.”

They head into that game coming off a near-perfect performance in Wednesday’s semifinal. The Eagles collected seven hits and got contributions all up and down the lineup, Rostock delivered another gem and the defense played high-caliber, error-free baseball.

Rostock was exceptional. The senior right-hander mowed down the Raiders with precision, needing just 80 pitches to go the full seven innings to earn the complete-game shutout. He scattered four hits and hit one batter, but did not issue any walks. Rostock had just three strikeouts, as he filled up the zone and enticed the Raiders to swing away and challenge his defense.

South Sumter’s Gabriel Sabilona at the Class 3A state semifinal.

“Our defense was very good,” Rostock said. “I didn’t have as many strikeouts as I envisioned, but I put the ball exactly where I wanted it and I threw strikes. I played my game and my defense was there to back me up numerous amounts of time. I’m able to trust my defense, especially with runners on in a very critical game in very critical situations. Plus, every time I looked up at the scoreboard I saw the runs and that we had the lead.”

North Broward got on the scoreboard to take control right away in the bottom of the first inning, quickly positioning itself in the driver’s seat to victory with a lead it never relinquished. Alejandro Cabral smacked a double to left and then scored on an RBI single from Julian Rodriguez that plated the deciding run.

North Broward steadily added more insurance to its total, scoring in each of the next two frames and adding one final run in the fifth. Gabriel Coupet drove in Anthony Diaz with an RBI double in the second, Alex Smith scored off a sac-fly RBI on a liner to left from Nico Di Bella in the third and Smith drove in Caden Coleman with a sac-fly RBI in the fifth.

While it takes runs to score and win games, the way the North Broward Prep defense performed all night was even more impacting in keeping the Raiders from generating any momentum. The Eagles defense was incredibly disciplined and smooth, making tough plays look routine, communicating effectively to make the right decisions with the baseball, while playing error-free baseball even though nearly every out came from a ball put into play.

“They talk and communicate, and they are together,” Campbell said. “It’s fun to watch and I’m super proud to be a part of it.”

Rostock agreed that pitching with the lead gives him so much more confidence. He fearlessly attacked the zone to keep throwing strikes and give the Raiders pitches to hit.

South Sumter (19-12) delivered quality at bats, but just could not get the results that approach usually produces. The Raiders kept plugging away and staying in the fight, though finding holes through the North Broward Prep defense proved incredibly challenging. Marcelo Moreno singled to lead off the second, but the Eagles answered with three consecutive outs to quell the threat. Samuel Craig then provided a spark with a shot into the right-field corner for a lead-off double in the fifth, but he was stranded at third after the Eagles retired the next three batters.

With the outs running out, Ishmael Rodriguez singled with one out in the top of the sixth. But the Eagles buckled down to strand Rodriguez at third, and they got a swinging strikeout to end the game with Aramis Rodriguez at first after a two-out single that momentarily kept the Raiders’ hopes alive.

Ryan Ogden takes a cut during the 3A state semifinal.

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