After opening the year with inconsistency and a rough stretch of games, Miami Dade College’s baseball season could have gone in a different direction.
Instead, the Sharks stayed together.
That belief eventually carried them to a state championship and back to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado—an ending built on months of trust, chemistry and a program that kept believing even when the results early in the season did not reflect it.
The Sharks finished the season 39-20-1 overall, captured the Florida College System of Activities Association state championship and returned to the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series for the first time in three seasons, finishing tied for fifth nationally. The run marked steady growth for the program after finishing 28-26 in 2023-24 and 31-23 in 2024-25.
For head coach Lazaro Llanes, the biggest takeaway from the season was not a trophy or a postseason result.
“By far, the camaraderie among the players and the unity was the most important thing from the whole year and the success we had,” Llanes said. “When things started off slow, they stuck to the plan and they stuck together.”
That belief eventually became part of the Sharks identity.
Sophomore outfielder William Polanco said the turning point came when the team committed to a simple phrase “best team in the conference.” It became motivation and a daily reminder of their mission.
“The start of the season was not easy,” Polanco said. “We lost some games early, but we kept saying we were the best team in the conference—and we bought into that every day.”
The inspirational phrase, which began with freshman infielder Miguel Colemenares, quickly spread. Freshman outfielder Antonio Fawcett said the message became something the team leaned on during its turnaround.
“Eventually it turned into ‘best team in the nation,’” Fawcett said. “We just had that camaraderie and support for each other, and I think that’s what got us where we ended up.”
The rallying cry became even more meaningful after the team’s early-season struggles. The Sharks sat at 14-12 before a team meeting helped reset the group. They responded with a 17-4 run, turning their season around and building momentum heading into the postseason.
Even though they finished second in the conference behind College of Central Florida, the Sharks never stopped believing they could compete with anyone in the state. As wins followed, they backed up that confidence with results, winning the state championship and earning another trip to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction.
Several players played major roles in the run. Polanco appeared in 57 games, batting .302 with 30 RBIs, 48 runs scored, and contributing on the basepaths while playing nearly every game in the outfield. Center fielder Willy Mendez led the lineup with a .354 batting average, nine home runs, 60 RBIs, 44 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 58 games. Colemenares added a strong freshman season, batting .323 with seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 32 runs, and 10 stolen bases in 46 games. Fawcett also made key contributions in 49 games. He finished with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 35 runs scored, and seven stolen bases.
On the mound, sophomore Xavier Pelzer helped anchor the Sharks pitching staff with 21 appearances. He made nine starts, posted a 4.21 ERA, 69 strikeouts, a 1.34 WHIP, and a 7-2 record.
Llanes said the run represented more than one season. It was the continuation of a culture the program has built during the last several seasons.
“We would not have been as successful this year without last year and the previous year,” Llanes said. “It’s buying into a system.”
That culture was especially visible in Miami Dade’s younger players, many of whom gained postseason experience while helping the Sharks reach the World Series.
“This team will now allow the ones that come later to understand what it takes,” Llanes said. “The leaders of next year’s team are the guys that went through this and understood it.”
Miami Dade won eight postseason games on the way to a state championship and a top-five finish nationally. The Sharks’ postseason run ultimately ended short of a national championship, but Llanes made sure the group understood what they had accomplished.
“Obviously we didn’t want it to end,” Llanes said. “But when you look back at all the great things we were able to accomplish, it’s an incredible feat.”
Looking back on the Sharks postseason run, freshman pitcher Jordan Bermudez said the team’s chemistry is what stood out most.
“Out of all my years playing baseball, this team was very special,” Bermudez said. “Everybody got along, and I think that pushed us to be better.”
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