Tate’s Wyatt Named Coach Of The Year; Perkins Runner-Up For State Miss Softball
June 5, 2015
Tate High School’s Tate coach Melinda Wyatt has been named the overall coach of the year and Tori Perkins has been named runner-up for Florida’s Miss Softball, the state’s top player, by the Florida Dairy Farmers.
Perkins was a member of this year’s Class 7A state championship team. She has committed to the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Wyatt coached that Class 7A state championship team. She had been at Tate for 11 years.
Pictured: Tori Perkins (L) shortly after Tate won the Class 7A softball championship, and Coach Melinda Wyatt (right) tosses a ceremonial first pitch for the Blue Wahoos. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat The BayBears
June 5, 2015
Robert Stephenson put together his most complete start for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos this season to help propel the team to a 3-1 win over the Mobile BayBears.
The Cincinnati Reds first-round pick, and top prospect the past two seasons, tossed a one-hitter in a career-best eight innings. Stephenson’s dominance allowed the Blue Wahoos (22-30) to defeat the BayBears (27-26) at Hank Aaron Stadium to snap its five-game losing streak.
After losing his first four decisions, Stephenson has won his last three. He improved his record to 3-4 on the year and lowered his ERA to 3.81. He allowed just one hit, one walk and one unearned run, while striking out seven Mobile batters.
His 10th start of the year followed one of his best outings of the season when he fanned 10 Mississippi Braves over seven shutout innings Wednesday, May 27. He now has 17 strikeouts and two walks in his last two starts.
Mobile scored its only run in the first inning, when Socrates Brito beat out an infield dribbler to third base, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Pensacola catcher Cam Maron. Brito then scored on a ground out by Brandon Drury to shortstop. Stephenson started and ended the inning with strikeouts.
Pensacola took the lead for good when it scored two runs in the fourth inning. Reds No. 2 prospect Jesse Winker started the rally with a leadoff single. Ray Chang and Kyle Waldrop also singled to load the bases with no outs.
Zach Vincej hit a sacrifice fly to score Winker for a 1-1 tie. Then, Chang scored on a sharp single by Maron to right field to put Pensacola up, 2-1. Pensacola added another run to go up, 3-1, in the seventh when Vincej scored on an error by third baseman Drury on a ball hit by Beau Amaral.
Amaral is now hitting .290 over his last nine games (9-for-31) and .400 over his last five (6-for-15).
The Blue Wahoos close out the series Friday night in Mobile as RHP Daniel Wright (2-4, 6.34) takes the mound against RHP A.J. Schugel (2-1, 2.45).
The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jacksonville Suns June 6-10.
Northview Summer Running To Begin; Free Physicals For All NHS Athletes
June 4, 2015
Free sports physicals will be offered for all Northview High School athletes on Saturday, June 13 at 7 a.m. at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze. All forms must be complete and signed by a parent prior to the physicals. Click here to download the physical form.
Northview’s summer running program will begin on June 8 at 7 a.m. in the ROTC room. Summer runners will need a current physical and are reminded that the student parking lot is closed.
Blue Wahoos Lose Fifth Straight Game
June 4, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped its fifth consecutive game, 6-0, Wednesday to the Mobile BayBears at Hank Aaron Stadium.
The third game of the five-game series was called in the seventh inning due to rain. Mobile improved on the season to 27-25 overall for third in the Southern League South Division, while Penascola fell to 21-30 on the year and remained in fourth place.
Mobile pitcher Braden Shipley shut down the Blue Wahoos lineup, throwing six scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, one walk and struck out five to improve his record 3-4.
Meanwhile, Mobile’s offense primarily came from left fielder Zach Borenstein, who went 2-3 and is now hitting .356 this season. He drove a line drive over the right center field wall for a three-run home run in the third inning that put the BayBears up 5-0.
Mobile tacked on one run in the first, second and fourth inning. In the fourth, right fielder Socrates Brito, who was 3-4, tripled in shortstop Raul Navarro to go ahead, 6-0.
Pensacola’s left fielder Jesse Winker (1-3), first baseman Ray Chang (1-2) and third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean (1-2) were responsible for the Blue Wahoos three hits.
Pensacola starting pitcher Tim Adleman lasted 2.1 innings, giving up four runs on three hits and two walks before being replaced by Jacob Johnson. Adleman fell to 2-5 on the year. Johnson gave up four hits and two runs over the next 2.2 innings.
Tate Senior Sawyer Smith Commits To UCF Knights
June 3, 2015
Tate High School senior quarterback Sawyer Smith has committed to the University of Central Florida Knights.
The 6-foot-3, 196-pound Smith has a state football championship in mind this fall at Tate; then he’ll head to UCF after a December graduation.
“I’m obviously focused on my senior year and looking to get better as the season goes on,” Smith told UCFSport.com “We’re trying to get to the state championship game. Then I’ll get to UCF and start grinding…I’m just looking forward to competing and helping everybody around me get better. I just want to be a good competitor.”
Photo courtesy UCFSports.com.
Mobile BayBears Sweep Pensacola Blue Wahoos
June 3, 2015
Mobile BayBears second baseman Brandon Drury flared a single to center field for a, 2-1, walk-off victory over its rival Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
The BayBears took the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader from Pensacola, too, holding on for a, 6-5, win at Hank Aaron Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos last played on Friday, May 29 — five days ago — after three consecutive rain outs. Those included the final two games on the road against the Mississippi Braves and Monday’s game against Mobile.
Pensacola appeared a little rusty, especially closer Kyle McMyne who gave up his first earned run since May 5 to earn the loss, 1-1. McMyne, who earned the Southern League’s BC Relief Pitcher of the Month for May, had gone 11.2 innings without an earned run and converted five of five saves, while his ERA plummeted from 1.46 to 0.76.
But with a, 1-1, tie on the line in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, Drury drove in a bases loaded, one out single for the game winner in the seventh inning. Southern League doubleheaders last just seven innings.
Mobile had tied the game in the sixth when first baseman Rudy Flores singled to left to score right fielder Zach Borenstein, who walked and stole second base.
In the top of the fourth inning Pensacola went up, 1-0, with two out when right fielder Kyle Waldrop doubled on a line drive to center field and then scored on a single by third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean.
In the first game, Pensacola scored five runs in the sixth inning but failed to overcome Mobile, losing, 6-5.
Mobile went ahead, 6-0, in the third inning when second baseman Gerson Montilla hit a grand slam to left center field, his seventh homer of the season.
In the sixth, Waldrop tripled to right to score first baseman Ray Chang, who singled to lead off the inning. Waldrop would cross the plate on a wild pitch by Mobile pitcher Aaron Blair to cut the lead, 6-2.
The Blue Wahoos then loaded the bases on walks to Mejias-Brean and catcher Cam Maron and a pinch single by Marquez Smith. Ryan Wright then had a pinch hit sacrifice fly to right field to score Mejias-Brean, which brought Pensacola within, 6-3. Left fielder Jesse Winker then smashed a two-out, bases loaded single to center that scored Smith and Maron and the Blue Wahoos trailed by one, 6-5. Pensacola went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the first game.
Lady Astros 18U Team Take Second In Weekend Tourney
June 3, 2015
The Molino Lady Astros 18U softball team took the runner-up spot in their first softball tournament of the summer last weekend.
On Saturday, the Lady Astros won one and lost won, before winning five straight games on Sunday for a chance to play for the tournament championship. Casey McCrackin, Hannah Brake, Ashley Allen and Kaley Workman each hit a home run.
In the final and championship game Sunday, the Lady Astros lost 2-1 for a second place finish.
“It was a great weekend for the team,” Coach Donnie Nicholson said. “Our pitching, offense and defense were great.”
Pictured: (front, L-R) Kaley Workman, Emily Loring, Savannah Colley, Breana Rogers, (back) Coach Donnie Nicholson, Shelby Willet, Dana Blackmon, Casey Mccrackin, Briana Morgan, Hannah Brake, Gracie Kilcrease , Ashley Allen and and Coach Pat Thomason. Not pictured are Tori Perkins, Laureen Brennan and Samantha Burks. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino 16U Wins All-Star Tournament
June 2, 2015
The Molino 16U All Stars won this weekend’s 2015 All Star Tournament at Tiger Point. After two wins Saturday, Molino earned a finals berth after a Sunday win. For the championship, they beat Myrtle Grove 6-0. Pictured: (front, L-R) Aubree Love, Tori Herrington, Ashley Ragsdale, Kayla Godwin, Siobaun English, (back) Coach David Snyder, Jasmine Crabtree, Mika King, Meredith Morgan, Ivy New, Kendall Enfinger, Katie Snyder and Coach Scott Herrington. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com by Creda Crabtree, click to enlarge.
Northview $162K Gym Renovation, Other Projects Begin; Parking Lot Closed
June 1, 2015
The Escambia County School Board has awarded a contract that will remodel and combine the boys and girls weight rooms inside the Northview High School gym into new facilities for female use. That gym and other construction projects are officially underway as of today, forcing the closure of the student parking lot.
The $161,750 contract was awarded to low bidder Birkshire Johnstone LLC, including a base bid of $145,00 plus add-ons of a smart projector, sound system and LED lighting. The next lowest bid came in at $199,000. The project is due to be completed before the start of school in August.
A new 3,500 square foot building including a weight room, locker room, coaches’ offices, storage and accompanying restrooms was recently completed on the campus for male use.
Because of the gym project, the student parking lot behind the gym is closed to all students and school personnel. The gym and theater are off limits to students for the summer.
Sidewalks and parking areas are also under construction in the athletic areas to the west of the main buildings, and HVAC upgrades are underway in the main building.
Pictured: Inside the new boys weight room at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Mississippi Braves, Blue Wahoos Rained Out
June 1, 2015
Sunday’s doubleheader between the Mississippi Braves and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos has been canceled due to inclement weather. The games will not be made up because the two teams do not meet again during the first half of the season.
Pensacola travels to take on the Mobile BayBears beginning Monday for a five game series. The Blue Wahoos return to play the Jacksonville Suns June 6-10.