Award Winners and Team Triumphs
Tavis Honeycutt, a junior from Newberry who has pledged to play at the University of Florida, finished fourth in the 2026 Florida Mr. Baseball competition and was crowned Class 2A Player of the Year. His 16 home runs placed him among the nation’s top ten hitters, and he earned a single first‑place vote in the prestigious ballot.
Gio Rojas of Stoneman Douglas captured the overall Mr. Baseball award, leading his team to a 28‑6 record and the Class 7A state title. He finished the season with an 11‑1 record, a 0.58 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 73 innings, becoming the first repeat winner in the award’s 34‑year history.
Coach of the Year Recognized
Nick Borthwick of South Walton High School was named the Florida Dairy Farmers 2026 Baseball Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to a 30‑4 record and delivering the school’s first state championship. His leadership transformed a talented roster into a cohesive championship unit.
Both Honeycutt’s commitment to the University of Florida and Rojas’s historic repeat underscore the depth of talent emerging from Florida’s high school ranks, while Borthwick’s coaching accolade highlights the pivotal role of mentorship in shaping championship programs.