Coaches honored for breakthrough seasons
The Miami Herald has announced its 2026 Miami‑Dade Baseball Coaches of the Year, recognizing three leaders who steered their programs to historic milestones. Manny Ojeda, Adrian Nieto, and Corey Estrada were celebrated for the extraordinary campaigns that defined their teams' successes.
Ojeda’s tenure at Southridge culminated in a district title and the program’s first GMAC tournament championship since 2001, a remarkable feat achieved in just his third year as head coach.
Adrian Nieto, a former pitcher in the Miami Marlins organization, guided True North to its inaugural state final and secured the team’s first regional crown, marking a watershed moment for a program he helped launch five years ago.
Corey Estrada of Miami Springs, the No. 8 seed, defied expectations by advancing to the state playoffs, becoming only the second eighth‑seed from Dade ever to do so and the first from the county to reach the final eight.
The accolades also reflect the broader baseball ecosystem, with the Miami Marlins’ developmental roots evident in the coaches’ pathways, underscoring the region’s deep talent pipeline and its impact on local programs.
Community members, alumni, and fellow coaches alike are celebrating the achievements, heralding a new era for high school baseball in Miami‑Dade and anticipating the next chapter of competition.