BELLE GLADE – Ever since the seventh grade, Marquis Clarke has made it a priority to be at his best in all things.
The Glades Day senior has made plenty of strides over the past six seasons in baseball and football.
All one needs to do is look at the bevy of awards and honors that the 5-foot-9, 175-pound athlete has amassed down through the years. Here are some of Clarke’s top achievements:
•Florida Minority Baseball Alliance – Inside the Diamond Shining Star Award (2024; baseball)
•Palm Beach Post First Team All-County Selection (2022, 2023; baseball)
•Sun-Sentinel First Team All-County Selection (2022, 2023; baseball)
•Glades Day Player of the Year, Hitter of the Year, and Pitcher of the Year (2023; baseball)
•ESPN Top 63 selection (2023; football)
PLEASE NOTE: Let us know if we are missing any other accomplishments by Clarke so we can add them in this story.
With that said, we are now entering the climax point of Clarke’s illustrious high school sports career. It just happens to be his senior baseball season with Glades Day, as he has helped lead his team to a respectable 7-4 record to date.
Let us take a look at Clarke’s statistics in 10 games played to date.
BATTING
•31 at-bats
•11 runs
•9 hits
•8 RBI’s
•2 doubles
•8 stolen bases
•5 walks
•1 hit by pitch
•6 strikeouts
.290 batting average
PITCHING
•2-1 record
•3.50 ERA (earned run average)
•26 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched
Best game so far: February 23 against Glades Central in 15-0 win for Glades Day
BATTING
•2 at-bats
•3 runs
•1 hit
•2 RBI’s
•1 stolen base
•1 strikeout
PITCHING
•4 innings pitched
•7 strikeouts
•2 hits allowed
•1 walk allowed
•Winning pitcher
Glades Day baseball head coach Rene Leon Jr. (Glades Central alum) spoke on the significance of the February 23 win over his alma mater.
“It felt great just like any other game that we win,” Leon Jr. said. “I tell my players to treat every game like it’s a championship game.”
Clarke has another one tonight (April 2; 6 p.m. first pitch) at Glades Central (3-8 record).
And after that, he and the Glades Day Gators have nine regular season games left.
Glades Day baseball head coach Rene Leon Jr. (Glades Central alum) spoke on Clarke’s play as a batter, a shortstop on the field, and a pitcher on the mound.
“Marquis is an elite overall baseball player,” Leon Jr. said. “He is a leader on and off the field. He is dedicated to the game, coaches and teammates. He will continue to be a great player at the college level.”
At this time, Clarke has college scholarship offers from the likes of Florida A&M, Southern, and North Carolina A&T.
Clarke said he is choosing baseball over football as his college athletic path for two reasons.
“Less injuries and the money,” Clarke said. “Money guaranteed.”
For some more on Clarke’s high school journey at Glades Day – which included a recap of his senior football season – you can watch his interview below.
We will follow the rest of Clarke’s high school baseball journey for this month and possibly in May. He will be graduating from Glades Day School on Friday, May 17.
PHOTO AND VIDEO CREDITS: Nichelle Spells
Muck City Media Enterprises 
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