Tate Softball Coach, Nine Others Inducted Into PSC Athletics Hall Of Fame
February 18, 2019
Pensacola State College inducted 10 charter members into their Athletics Hall of Fame, including a current Tate High School softball coach.
Pensacola State has a long and storied sports and athletic tradition. The Hall of Fame has been a long time coming with such rich heritage,” said PSC Athletic Director Bill Hamilton. “This Hall of Fame will stand as a reminder for all time that these awesome individuals got their start here.”
The inaugural Hall of Fame class includes student-athletes, advisers, coaches, game officials and volunteers:
Dana Gilmore is the most-decorated female athlete in Pensacola State history. She was a First Team All-Conference for two years in softball and volleyball, a two-time First Team All-State in softball and First Team All-State her sophomore year in volleyball. She also was a two-time Academic All-American and the winner of the FCSAA’s Softball Jean Williams Award for scholar-athletes. She holds six softball records at Pensacola State and is the College’s all-time leader for volleyball aces. Gilmore was named to the 2003 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association NJCAA Division I All-America Team and went on to play softball at University of Central Florida for one season. She transferred to University of Mobile where she was a member of the 2006 NAIA National Champion team. She’s now an assistant softball coach at Tate High School where she helped coach the 2015 State Champion team in girls’ softball.
Joel Anthony, a native of Canada, was recruited by Pensacola State and played basketball for the Pirates from 2002-04. He transferred to University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He signed with the Miami Heat, helping the team win back-to-back NBA Championships. He also played for the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks. He now plays for Argentina’s San Lorenzo de Almagro basketball club league.
Mary Bailey established the softball program at Pensacola State in 1982. A 1967 Pensacola State graduate, she was head softball coach from 1982-94. In 1988, Bailey led the Lady Pirates slow-pitch softball team to the NJCAA Division I Softball National Championship and she was named the 1988 NJCAA Division I National Softball Coach of the Year. During her time at Pensacola State, she compiled a 498-166 record. The Panhandle Conference Softball Championship trophy was named in her honor.
Bill Brantley taught in the College’s Physical Sciences Department from 1965-95. After retirement, he taught as an adjunct professor until 2009. He generously contributes to the PSC Foundation and PSC athletics and created the William T. Brantley Scholarship Endowment for Physical Sciences. A former basketball player, Brantley attends a majority of Pirate basketball games with his wife Patsy and is a member of the Pensacola State Booster Club.
Jim Donovan was the College’s golf coach from 1987-1993. After serving in the U.S. Navy for 32 years, he coached golf at Catholic High School from 1985-87 before joining the coaching staff at PSC. He led the Pirates golf team to the NJCAA Division II National Championship in 1993 while winning the 1993 NJCAA Division II National Golf Coach of the Year, and missed a second title by one stroke the following year.
Charles Fairchild was a charter member of Pensacola State College Athletic program’s first boosters. He played basketball at Pensacola State from 1962-64 and was a member of PSC’s first state championship basketball team in the 1962-63 season. He was the MVP of the team and the leading scorer and second leading rebounder in both years that he played at PSC. He went on to play at Florida State for two years. Always a basketball fan, he was a member of the group that brought the Pensacola Tornados professional basketball team to the city. He served as color commentator for WCOA radio and later WSRE-TV when those stations broadcast the PJC basketball games.
Dennis Lindsey was Pensacola State’s first full-time assistant coach, coaching men’s and women’s basketball, from 1994-96. He joined the Houston Rockets organization in 1996, and eventually worked his way up to become the franchise’s vice president. He also served as vice president and assistant general manager of the San Antonio Spurs. He has been the general manager of the Utah Jazz since 2012.
Greg Litton played baseball for the Pirates in 1983-84 and signed to play at Mississippi State University, however he was drafted in the first round of the 1984 draft by the San Francisco Giants. After five seasons in the minor leagues, Litton moved up as a rookie and hit a home run in Game 4 of the 1989 World Series. Litton played with the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1995. A true utility player, Litton played every position on the field during his Major League career.
Bob Marlin was a Pensacola State basketball coach from 1990-95. In 1993, he led the College to the NJCAA Division I Basketball National Championship and was named the 1993 Division I NJCAA National Basketball Coach of the Year. In his five seasons at Pensacola State, Marlin compiled an astonishing 123-35 record.
Bill McArthur, a youth sports advocate, was a longtime supporter of Pensacola State basketball. He played basketball for Pensacola High and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He graduated from Pensacola State in 1953, and transferred to Florida State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He also earned his master’s degree from Mississippi State College. During the Korean conflict, McArthur served in the U.S. Army, returned to Pensacola and worked with the Escambia County School District for many years. He worked the table at basketball games for several local high schools, the Pensacola Tornados professional basketball team and the News Journal and Blue Angels tournaments. As a table coordinator at Pensacola State for 42 years, he enjoyed a relationship with every president, athletic director and coach who served at the College.
Pictured: Tate High softball assistant coach Dana Gilmore at her induction into the PSC Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Girls Weightlifting Presents Annual Awards
February 18, 2019
Northview Girls Weightlifting celebrated their accomplishments during a recent year-end banquet.
The following awards were presented:
MVL — Most Valuable Lifter — Hailey Harigel
MVL -Most Valuable Lifter — Chanalei Auelua
Spirit — Destiny Cleckler
Leadership — Lexxi Baggett
Team — Shelby Bashore
Coach — Ayiana Courtney
Dedication — Destiny Braddock
Lettering in Weightlifting
Mia Starns
Anna Adams
Miyhanna Davidson
Payton Gilchrist
Taylor McMinn
Ayiana Courtney
Shelby Cotita
Chanalei Auelua
Jayla Barron
Maggie Amerson
2nd Year Letter
Lynnsey Holzapfel
Destiny Braddock
Destiny Cleckler
Shelby Bashore
Libby Pugh
Naudia Carach
Hailey Harigel
Abigail Nelson
3rd Year Letter
Crystal Douglas
4th Year Letter
Lexxi Baggett
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC: Truth About Florida’s Deer Rut; Gun Season Ends, But There’s A Week Left To Hunt
February 17, 2019
There are a lot of theories and differing opinions on what causes the white-tailed deer rut. Hours of daylight decreasing, geographic latitude, genetics, climate, evolution and moon phase are many factors that hunters and deer enthusiasts have debated over the years. To get to the science behind it and learn the facts about what impacts the rut, I asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) white-tailed deer research biologist Elina Garrison.
“As winter approaches, decreased daylight triggers does to come into estrus,” Garrison said. “Latitude therefore plays a part as seasonal day length varies with geographic latitude.”
Some hunters believe deer from other states released in Florida years ago is one of the reasons why the deer rut here is the widest ranging of any state – from July in extreme south Florida to early March in extreme northwest Florida and the Green Swamp Basin.
“While it seems unlikely that genetics due to restocking is the only explanation for the variation in Florida’s breeding dates, there is some research that suggests it may play a part,” Garrison said. “Florida, as were many other southeastern states, was part of restocking efforts in the 1940s through the ’60s when deer were introduced, mostly from Wisconsin, Texas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania. The main stocking source for the Green Swamp Basin was from Louisiana. South of there, deer from Texas were mainly used, and north Florida received mainly Wisconsin deer.”
Garrison said climate is a factor, but it really only plays a part in northern, colder states, where the timing of the rut occurs so fawns are born in the spring after the late winter storms and when the most food is available. But they must be born early enough to put on suitable weight and fat to survive the following winter. That’s why there’s such a short window for when breeding must occur in northern states.
The reason the rut varies so much in Florida is because it can, Garrison said. Florida’s relatively mild climate and long growing season allows fawns to be born at various times of the year.
“As far as I know, there are no other states where breeding occurs as early as July and August like it does in extreme south Florida,” she said. “And although difficult to prove, it seems likely it is driven by the hydrological cycles down there. The rut is timed so fawns are born during the driest time of the year, giving them the greatest chance of survival and allowing them to grow to an adequate size before the beginning of the wet season in June.”
Although it is a popular theory among hunters, Garrison says several research projects have proven there is no relationship between the rut and the moon phase. Another interesting fact is the average time a doe stays in heat is about 24 hours.
“The breeding chronology study we did shows that conception dates within an area vary as much as from nine to 110 days, with an average of 45 days, and most does breed within 60 days, meaning rutting activity can occur over a two-month period,” Garrison said.
If a doe is not bred during her first heat, she will come back into estrus again in about 26-28 days, Garrison says. If the doe doesn’t conceive, this cycle can be repeated but normally not more than a few times unless there are not enough bucks to breed all the does. In which case, an area could experience a second or even third peak rut.
If any of this deer talk is getting you fired up to continue hunting this season, then grab your favorite primitive method of take and follow the rut up to the Panhandle and take advantage of Zone D’s late muzzleloader season.
Zone D’s late muzzleloader season
General gun season ends Feb. 17 in Zone D, but if you’d like to keep hunting deer, Zone Dhas a late muzzleloading gun season that extends deer hunting opportunities by a week and runs Feb. 18-24 on private lands. The season was established to give hunters an opportunity to continue hunting northwest Florida’s late rut, which runs mid-January through February.
On private land, a $5 muzzleloading gun season permit is required along with a hunting license and $5 deer permit (if hunting deer) to hunt during this season, and hunters have the choice of using a muzzleloader, bow or crossbow. But the only muzzleloaders allowed are those fired by wheel lock, flintlock, percussion cap or centerfire primer (including 209 primers) that cannot be loaded from the breech. For hunting deer, muzzleloading rifles must be at least .40-caliber, and muzzleloading shotguns must be 20-gauge or larger.
Public hunting opportunities
There are 14 wildlife management areas in Zone D that have a late season in February, but it’s referred to as the archery/muzzleloading gun season. Those areas are Apalachicola, Apalachicola River, Beaverdam Creek, Blackwater, Chipola River, Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek, Eglin AFB, Escambia River, Escribano Point, Perdido River, Point Washington, Tate’s Hell and Yellow River. Season dates vary by WMA, so be sure to check the brochure for the area you want to hunt.
Hunters may use bows or muzzleloaders, but no crossbows – unless they possess a Persons with Disabilities Crossbow Permit. Besides a hunting license, $26 management area permit and deer permit (if hunting deer), hunters who choose to hunt with a bow must have a $5 archery season permit, and those using a muzzleloader need a $5 muzzleloading gun season permit.
All the licenses and permits you’ll need can be obtained at most retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies, Florida tax collector offices, by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Legal to take; bag limits
Deer and wild hogs are most commonly hunted during this season. Only legal bucks may be taken (even if using a bow). South of Interstate 10 in Deer Management Unit D1, one antler must have at least two points. North of I-10 in DMU D2, all bucks must have at least three points on one side or have a main beam of at least 10 inches long to be legal to take.
On private land, the daily bag limit is two. Bag limits for deer on WMAs differ, so consult the area brochure before you go.
Hunting regulations
During the late muzzleloader season on private lands and archery/muzzleloading gun season on WMAs, dogs may not be used to hunt deer. However, you may use a leashed dog for tracking purposes. You’re allowed to take deer and hogs over feeding stations on private land, but it is illegal to use such feed on WMAs. And it’s important to know that turkeys are not legal game during this season.
Happy hunting!
The 2018-2019 fall/winter hunting seasons may be winding down, however, there are still great opportunities to get out there. This February, catch the hunting excitement of the late rut that occurs during Zone D’s late muzzleloader season.
Tate Aggies Win District Championship
February 16, 2019
The Tate Aggies defeated Niceville 50-41 for the District District 1-8A championship Friday night in Niceville. It was the first district championship for the Aggies since 2010.
Tate advances to host Tallahassee Chiles in the Region 1-8A quarterfinals Thursday at 7 p.m.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Lady Royals Beat Franklin County; One Win Away From Final Four
February 15, 2019
The Jay Royals beat Franklin County 53-37 Thursday night. It was the first playoff win in 23 years for the Lady Royals, and their 24th win in the last 25 games.
Jay was led by Madison Mathis with 20 points.
The Lady Royals are one away from a trip to the 1A Final Four in Lakeland. Jay will travel to Port St. Joe for the Region 1A finals.
Spring Ball Registration Extended At Cantonment, Continues In Century
February 15, 2019
Spring ball registration has been extended through Saturday at the for the Cantonment Youth Sports Association, and registration will continue through March 2 in Century.
Cantonment Ballpark
Registration at the Cantonment Ballpark been extended for T-ball, softball and baseball for all ages. Registration will be at the ballpark from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 16. . Registration is $80 and includes the team uniform jersey. For more information, email cantonmentsports@gmail.com. First practice will be Tuesday, February 19, and Opening Day is set for Saturday, March 30.
Century Little League
Century Little League registration for 2019 is continuing. The cost is $70 for the first child, $65 each additional through March 2.
Register online here, or in person registration will be held February 16 and March 2 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Showalter Park press box.
All fees are due at the time of registration. Credit and debit cards are accepted online. In person registration is cash or check only.
Note: Registration has closed from Northwest Escambia and Molino.
HS Basketball Playoffs: Win For Tate; Losses For Jay, Atmore
February 13, 2019
District 1-8A
The Tate Aggies advanced in district play Tuesday night with a win over the Navarre Raiders.
Top seed Tate beat Navarre 52-40 in the District 1-8A semifinals, and Niceville defeated Gulf Breeze 52-42. Love Bettis led the Aggies with 25 points.
The Aggies will face Niceville at 7 p.m. Friday in Niceville.
District 3-1A
In the District 3-1A semifinals Tuesday night, Chipley got past Jay 63-51, and Baker beat Freeport 44-39.
Baker will be at Chipley Friday at 7 p.m.
ALABAMA
In Alabama playoff action Tuesday, Clark County defeated Escambia County High School 54-47 in Atmore.
Four Northview Chiefs Named To 1-A All State Football Teams
February 13, 2019
FloridaHSFootball.com has named four Northview Chiefs to their 1A All-State football teams. They are:
Pictured top: Lance McLaughlin. Below, descending order: Seth Killam, Jaheem Durant. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Ernest Ward, Ransom Split Middle School Volleyball Games (With Gallery)
February 12, 2019
Ernest Ward and Ransom split wins in middle school volleyball Monday night.
In varsity action, Ransom Middle School defeated Ernest Ward 25-15, 25-11. In junior varsity play, Ernest War defeated Ransom 25-21, 24-26, 15-13.
Ernest Ward will travel to Beulah Academy of Science on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., and Ransom will travel to Beulah Middle School on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
HS Weightlifting: Northview Defeats Catholic
February 12, 2019
The Northview Boys Weightlifting team defeated Catholic, while falling to West Florida in a tri-meet Monday afternoon at West Florida.
The final score was:
West Florida 47
Northview 40
Catholic 19
Placing for the Chiefs were:
119-lb. class – Freshman Ashton Ray (3rd)
129-lb. class – Junior Trent Kite (1st)
129-lb. class – Junior Gary Clayton (4th)
139-lb. class – Sophomore Logan Bryan (1st)
154-lb. class – Senior Jarius Moorer (1st)
169-lb. class – Junior Aunterio Minor (2nd)
199-lb. class – Freshman William Swearengin (2nd)
199-lb. class – Sophomore Trevor Scott (3rd)
219-lb. class – Junior Jacob Hawkins (1st)
219-lb. class – Senior Lance McLaughlin (2nd)
238-lb. class – Junior Jojo Parker (2nd)
238-lb. class – Freshman A.J. Hasty (4th)
Heavyweight – Junior Cameron Findley (3rd)
The Chiefs return to action next Wednesday at Baker.