During a Special Council Presentation in June, student athletics in the City of Homestead once again took center stage as the South Dade High School Buccaneers Baseball Team was honored for their state title victory.
In true team fashion, the Buccaneers defeated Valrico Bloomingdale High School with a convincing 3-1 win last May, thus becoming the first Miami-Dade Public School team to bring home a title since 2002 and the first to do so in the state’s largest classification since 2003. The victory was a culmination of an exemplary season for the Buccaneers as they overwhelmed their competition and finished strong with a sterling 21-7 record.
“When I attended one of their games earlier this year, it was evident that this was a true team in every sense of the word,” said Mayor Porter. “From the great pitching to timely hitting and their stingy defense, it was a joy to see the game of baseball played so well. Coach Fred Burnside and his staff should be commended for leading these young men towards a historic accomplishment that is so well deserved.”
Coach Burnside then addressed the room. “These kids are proof that you can realize your dreams. I’ve said many times that success starts at the top and we are truly blessed at South Dade to have the support of administration, a caring faculty and an involved community and the enthusiasm and energy that they all bring transfers to the field of play. I said to my team before we got off the bus prior to the championship, ‘You deserve this, our school deserves this and our community deserves this.’ After that, they just went out and did it.”
Mayor Porter then issued a proclamation designating the 17th day of May, 2014 as South Dade Senior High School Baseball Team Day.
