Molino Ballpark Spring Registration Now Underway
January 5, 2018
It’s time to register to play ball at the Molino Ballpark.
Registration will be held at the park every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Practices will begin February 5, so players must register by Saturday, January 27 in order to play this year.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Youth Sports Thriving at Escambia County Parks
December 30, 2017
More than 1,000 local youth participated in football and cheerleading this season at Escambia County athletic parks, offering children and teens opportunities to develop athletic skills and make friends in a fun, structured environment.
Through partnerships between the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department and local youth sports associations, youth participate each fall in football, cheerleading and flag football at several county-owned parks.
Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said the department is proud to partner with local athletic associations to offer sports to local youth, and it wouldn’t be possible without the many volunteers who dedicate their time to the programs.
“The parks and recreation department knows the importance of youth involvement in athletics and other recreation programs and knows the benefits that can be reaped throughout childhood and teenage years when involved in athletics at a young age,” Rhodes said. “Without the volunteer support and long hours put in by these parents, relatives and friends, youth sports in Escambia County would not thrive as it does today.”
And for the kids and teenagers who participate, youth sports represent so much more than just a game, said League Commissioner Brian Reed with the North West Florida Youth Sports Alliance. Just wrapping up its fourth season, the league has about 125 teams in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with more than 4,000 youth ages 5-14 participating, Reed said.
“I don’t think anybody puts enough emphasis on what youth sports does,” Reed said. “It goes beyond just the game…It provides them an activity to do, but I think more than that it’s providing them positive role models, and they’re learning the sport the correct way. I think the guys who are out here involved, they’re out here trying to make a positive influence on the youth.”
Reed said the partnership between the league and the county is essential to keeping football and cheerleading programs running, especially when it comes to maintaining fields so the athletes have a safe place to play. The Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department always works hard to keep up the fields and quickly address any issues as they arise, Reed said.
“They take so much weight off of my guys, the guys that are running these parks,” Reed said. “I don’t know what we would do without the parks and recreation department. Anytime I have an issue or one of my parks has an issue, I just pick up the phone and it’s handled. It’s a priceless, symbiotic relationship.”
Youth football and cheerleading finished their approximately four-month season in November, and the youth flag football league kicked off shortly after at Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park.
Along with football teams, each ballpark also has cheerleaders who participate through the Emerald Coast Cheer Association, cheering at each game and taking part in an annual cheer competition. The cheer association has athletes in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, with participants ranging from ages 4-14.
Emerald Coast Cheer Association President Andi DeVito said the program focuses on skill progression, with the rules established to prepare young athletes to enter high school cheer programs.
DeVito said the importance of youth cheerleading and other sports is huge, and she hopes to continue to grow the cheer program in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“Kids need to have some kind of organized social interaction, whether it’s a sport or some kind of program to be involved in,” DeVito said. “And being involved in community recreational programs makes those kids a part of our community – they’re our future leaders.”
Escambia County provides its facilities to youth sports organizations, and Rhodes said the county is happy to support them in their continuous efforts in the community.
“Ultimately, the parks and recreation department is pleased that we can have parks under our purview that offer several options to parents, whether it be tackle football, flag football, cheerleading, lacrosse or other sports,” Rhodes said. “This supports our goal of being involved in youth sports and its tremendous benefits to young people in our community.”
Lifetime Sportsman’s License Cost Reduced For Children, Young Adults
December 21, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott has signed a proclamation authorizing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to offer Lifetime Sportsman’s Licenses for Florida children and young adults at a reduced cost. The license currently costs up to $1,000 but from now through Dec. 31st, the price will be reduced by 25 percent for Florida residents who are 17-years-old and younger. The lifetime license covers saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing, hunting and most associated permits.
Governor Scott said, “Our state’s natural treasures give families all across the state opportunities to spend quality time together, and I’m proud to reduce the cost of the Lifetime Sportsman’s Licenses for Florida’s children and young adults this holiday season. I encourage Florida’s children and young adults to take advantage of this opportunity to spend time enjoying Florida’s great outdoors.”
A Lifetime Sportsman’s License allows fishing and hunting in Florida for the rest of the license holder’s life, even if that person is no longer a resident of the state.
The license may be purchased online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, and at Florida county tax collectors’ offices. Residency must be verified. For more information about a Lifetime Sportsman’s License and this limited time offer, CLICK HERE.
Granat Returns To Tate As Pitching Coach
December 18, 2017
James Granat has bee named the new pitching coach for the Tate High School Aggies baseball team. He is a 2013 Tate High School graduate. He won a JUCO national championship with Florida State in 2015 and completed his career at UWF, before assisting with the PSC Baseball program. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to to enlarge.
UWF’s Dream Season Comes To An End in National Title Game
December 17, 2017
UWF saw its amazing postseason run come to an end in a place few envisioned when the season kicked off in early September. The Argonauts finished as the Division II National Runner Up following a 37-27 loss to No. 8 Texas A&MCommerce in the championship game at Children’s Mercy Park.
UWF (11-4) grabbed the attention of the nation with its postseason run that saw it reach the title game in just its second season of competition – and its 26th all-time game.
But on Saturday night, the winners of Super Regional 2 were unable to contain the Lions and Harlon Hill Trophy winner Luis Perez. He had 323 yards on 23-of-30 passing with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
A&M Commerce (14-1) had 477 yards of total offense and never trailed, leading by as many as 17 midway through the fourth quarter.
“First off, congratulations to A&M Commerce on a fantastic game,” UWF head coach Pete Shinnick said. “They had an amazing year, really played one heck of a game, well deserving of today’s win. Extremely proud today of our guys. Just how they’ve continued to fight and continued to play, throughout the course of the whole season.
“These guy have worked extremely hard to put a second year program in the National Championship. Our offensive line coach, Steve Sauliner said, ‘You know if we would have lost to West Georgia, people would have patted us on the back and said nice job for going 6-4 in your second season.’ From that point we put ourselves into the national championship.
For UWF, Mike Beaudry was 22-of-48 for 252 yards with a touchdown and interception. He was also sacked five times. The redshirt freshman ended the season with 3,215 passing yards and 29 touchdowns – both UWF single-season highs.
Antoine Griffin led all players with 112 yards on eight receptions, in addition to his first career interception on a Lion fake punt in the first quarter.
The Argos got the ball at midfield following the turnover and tied the game at 7-7 ten plays later on a Chris Schwarz 1-yard run. But the momentum swung back to TAMU-C when Reggie Kincade returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a lead they never relinquished.
The Lions stretched their lead to 20-7 with a pair of Kristov Martinez field goals before the Argos ended the half with one of their patented end of half drives. This was a 10-play, 77-yard march in 2:54 that ended with a 20-yard Beaudry-to-Griffin connection, pulling the Blue and Green within 20-14 at the intermission. It was the 11th time in 15 games to score before the buzzer.
UWF’s Johnathan Coleman came up big with a forced fumble that Austin Dukes returned to the five. The Argos moved to the one on two rushes before a sack had them settle for a 27-yard Austin Williams field goal.
Commerce converted a pair of third down plays on its next possession that stretched the lead to 27-17, before another Williams field goal – this one from 47 yards – made it a 27-20 contest.
The Lions got another quick score, going 61 yards in four plays late in the third and a Martinez 19-yard field goal with 7:41 left in the game to lead 37-20.
The Argonauts cut it to 37-27 on Schwarz’s second score with 4:45 on the clock. They got the ball one more time and moved it to near midfield but turned the ball over on downs as the Lions were able to get one first down and run out the clock.
The Argonauts had 276 yards of offense and a season-low 24 net rushing yards. Coleman had a game-high 14 tackles for his third double-digit effort in the last five games.
The future is definitely bright for the third year of the program in 2018. UWF’s starters for the majority of the playoff run had just three seniors on defense, one on offense and zero among the specialists.
Photos courtesy UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Cheerleaders Win Cheer Nation Competition
December 17, 2017
More Than A Dream: Northview Grad Very First To Sign With UWF Argos
December 16, 2017
The University of West Florida Argo football team fell in the national championship game on Saturday. Not a bad way at all to cap just the second ever season for the team..
Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the national championship game.
And for Northview High School graduate Blake McCall, the game marks the end of a three year dream. McCall made history in December 2014 as the very first student athlete to sign with the new University of West Florida football team during the NCAA midyear transfer signing period.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to be here,” McCall told NorthEscambia.com from Kansas City, KS, Friday afternoon, just over 24 hours ahead of kickoff of the NCAA Division II National Championship game against Texas A&M-Commerce. “I’m not sure anybody really thought we’d be here right now; it’s taken some of us by surprise.”
“I knew we would do well; it’s just unreal,” the UWF senior remarked.
Putting it all on the line in a championship game is not new to McCall. It wasn’t the national stage, but a first-ever state title for the Northview Chiefs in 2012.
McCall helped lead Northview to an 11-3 overall record and a 4-0 district record as a senior. Northview averaged 42.9 points per game and took the Florida Class 1A state championship with a 42-21 win over Trenton High School during his senior year. McCall was a three-year starter and played all five positions in the offensive line.
“That was a crazy senior year,” said Mccall, who grew up in Bratt about a mile away from Northview. “I keep telling the guys now about being in a championship game, even though it was on a smaller scale.”
In 2013, he redshirted during his freshman year at Division I Jackson State. And during the 2014 season, he saw playing time as a redshirt freshman at Jackson State. On the offensive line, McCall helped lead the team to 25.8 points and 376.1 total yards per game.
Then he met a coach named Pete Shinnick who was working to build a brand new team at the University of West Florida.
“He is one of the most genuine guys I ever met. He was selling a new team when he recruited me, and I have learned that he does what he says,” McCall said.
Perhaps partially due to the inspiration instilled by Shinnick, McCall hopes to coach college football when he graduates.
But in the here and now, he knows that folks back home in Bratt and North Escambia will be rooting for their hometown boy as they watch the game on ESPN2 beginning at 5:00. (The game is also available on the WatchESPN app.)
“I love that community,” he said. “I have received so many Facebook messages and texts from people back home. It means a lot.”
Now, he’s focused on Saturday evening as the DII national championship game kicks off.
“Knowing that you are here in the national championship game will take your breath away,” McCall said as he nears his final football game. “Man what a way to go out. It’s surreal.”
Pictured top: Blake McCall, John Williamson and Devin Gibson at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS — site of today’s NCAA Division II National Championship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Bloodworth Signs With Southern Union
December 13, 2017
Tate High School’s Ethan Bloodworth has signed to play baseball for Southern Union State Community College in East Alabama. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball: Jay Sweeps Northview
December 12, 2017
In high school basketball action, Jay swept four games across the board against Northview Monday in Bratt.
BOYS
Jay 42, Northview 38
Jay 38, Northview 22 (JV)
GIRLS
Jay 46, Northview 23
Jay 43, Northview 3
Both varsity teams will take part in the Jay Christmas Tournament later this week.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Madisen Nelson Commits To Pensacola State
December 12, 2017
Tate High School senior Madisen Nelson has signed her commitment to play softball at Pensacola State College. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.