House Targets Florida High School Athletic Association
April 23, 2015
Legislation that would overhaul the Florida High School Athletic Association easily passed the state House on Wednesday, sending the proposal toward an uncertain future in the Senate.
A handful of Democrats joined Republicans to pass the measure (HB 7137) in an 86-29 vote.
The proposal would overhaul the organization’s governance, setting up a 16-member board to oversee the association. It would also require a third-party review for students suspected of being ineligible and allow students to continue to play while their eligibility is reviewed, though games could be forfeited if a student is later ruled ineligible.
High schools would also be allowed to join the association for some sports, but not in others — particularly football. And students, particularly those at small, private schools, would have more opportunities to participate in sports.
However, lawmakers dropped perhaps the most-controversial provision in the bill, which would have required the education commissioner and the State Board of Education to make a decision in 2017 about whether to keep the association or replace it.
Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., the Hialeah Republican who pushed the bill through the House, said the provision was meant to keep an eye on the association while the changes were made. He suggested to reporters that there were other ways to do that.
“We meet every year, we have session every year, so we can readdress this issue at any time,” Diaz said. “And I think it’s our duty to (do so), because they’re given a statutory monopoly basically, and so we have to review to make sure that they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.”
The bill is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between lawmakers, particularly those in the House, and the association. Like the NCAA, the organization’s attempts to enforce rules sometimes anger those affected by its decisions. Lawmakers who backed the legislation said the bill was helped along by the association’s attitude.
“I did not see a cooperative spirit that said, ‘You’ve pointed out some good things, let me run back and implement them,’ ” said House Education Chairwoman Marlene O’Toole, R-Lady Lake. “We saw none of that. Should we have had that, we might not have needed a bill.”
Opponents of the legislation said that it could lead to the organization being less vigilant about students being recruited to switch high schools for athletic reasons, though that is technically illegal and would remain so under the bill.
Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, said that only 11 disputes went to the association recently, out of more than 250,000 athletes, and roughly half were decided in favor of the student. Three of the cases, he said, were caused by academic requirements.
“We are trying to change the state of Florida law on a non-profit organization that takes no money from the state for basically less than a handful of kids,” Rader said.
But the bill could run into trouble in the Senate. After the upper chamber’s version of the legislation stalled, it was attached Tuesday to an omnibus education bill (SB 948) during a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee. However, so-called legislative “trains” sometimes have difficult passing because of their complexity.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Northview Girls Track Holds Awards Banquet
April 23, 2015
The Northview High School Girls Track Team recently celebrated their season at their annual banquet. Numerous awards were presented. Award winners are listed under the photos below.
Jumper: Autumn Albritton. Sprinter Award: Audriene Odom. Thrower: E’Layzha Bates. Mid distance: Myisha Syria. Long Distance: Moriah McGahan.
Team Award: 4×8 District Team: Maddi Weber, Bethany Reynolds, Emily Walston and Tamara Barrows.
Seniors: E’Layzha Bates and Lakelynn Parker.
Coaches Award: Mallory Gibson.
Earning their first Varsity Letter were Celeste North, Carly Ward, Tyanna Magee, Maddi Weber, Kayla Galvan, Audriene Odom.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Advance In Playoffs
April 23, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies rallied with five runs in the sixth inning to beat Lincoln 6-0 in the Region 1-7A softball quarterfinals.
Pitching the win was Tori Perkins, who allowed just four hits and had 12 strikeouts in seven innings. Hitting for Tate were: Lauren Brennan 2-3, R, 2 RBIs, Casey McCrackin 1-3, RBI, 3B; Tori Perkins 1-2, BB; Hadley Starratt 2R, 2B; Rachel Wright 1-3, R, RBI; Samantha Burks 1-3, R, RBI.
The Lady Aggies will host Niceville next Tuesday, 7 p.m. in the Region 1-7A semifinals.
Molino 16U Team Wins Mid Season Pace Tourney
April 23, 2015
Molino softball 16U Pensacola Honda recently won the “A bracket” of the mid-season tournament in Pace with an undefeated record. This was the first time that a Molino softball team had won a mid-season tournament in the “A bracket”. Pictured are team members (front, L-R) Kendall Enfinger, Tori Herrington, Aubree Love, Kayla Godwin, Siobaun English, (middle) Rose Flowers, Ivy New, Claire Pierce, Krystal Whitehead, Kirsten Warlick, (third row) Summer Hodo, Breana Hundley, Katie Snyder, Elyssa McQuaid and coaches (back row) David Snyder, Scott Herrington and Scott Pierce. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barons Beat Wahoos
April 23, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (3-8) made it interesting in the end, but fell to the Birmingham Barons (6-6) by a score of 3-2 in midday Southern League action.
The Wahoos were in a hole early, trailing 3-0 after five innings. A pair of runs in the eighth brought them to within a run, but Barons reliever Cody Winiarski earned his first save of the season with three consecutive strikeouts in the top half of the ninth.
Birmingham starter Myles Jaye (1-1) earned the win with six scoreless innings to open the game. Wahoos starter Daniel Wright (0-2) earned the loss, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts. Wahoos reliever Layne Somsen came in relief of Wright to pitch three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four batters.
First baseman Marquez Smith led the way at the plate for the Wahoos, going 2-3 and scoring a run in his second consecutive multi-hit game. Catcher Chris Berset added the lone RBI of the day for the Wahoos with a single in the eighth. Right fielder Jason Coats led the way for Birmingham, going 2-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
The Barons struck first in the bottom half of the second with an RBI double from Coats. The Wahoos were able to avoid further damage after catching Coats in a rundown and a subsequent strikeout from Daniel Wright.
The Wahoos were able to put runners at the corners with one out in the top half of the third, but a pickoff, a walk and a fly out left two runners stranded.
The Barons were able to load the bases in the top of the fifth and capitalized with a two RBI single from third baseman Marcus Lemon. With the score at 3-0, the Barons loaded the bases once again with a Jacob May infield single. However, a strikeout and a groundout put the inning to an end.
The Wahoos got on the board in the eighth inning, as Berset was able to drive Smith home with a single to left center. After a Zach Vincej double put runners at second and third, a wild pitch from Barons reliever Onelki Garcia allowed Berset to score and make it 3-2.
The Wahoos are back in action tomorrow for the fourth game of the series in Birmingham at 7:05 pm.
Northview Beats Jay In District 3-1A Semifinals
April 22, 2015
The Northview Chiefs are headed to the District 3-1A championship game Thursday after a 4-3 over Jay Tuesday in Bonifay.
The game-winning RBI came on a sacrifice fly by Brody Amos that sent Roman Manning across the plate in the bottom of the sixth.
Northview hitters: Thomas More 2-2, double; Quentin Sampson 1-4, run; Chasen Freeman 1-3, run, SB; Aaron McDonald 0-2, RBI; Brian Cantrelle 1-3, run; Roman Manning 1-3, run; Zach Payne 1-2, triple, RBI; Brody Amos RBI. Freeman took the win for Northview with just over two innings on the mound, allowing no runs, one hit and striking out two.
The Chiefs (16-2) will face Chipley at 7 p.m. Thursday in Bonifay for the district title.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat Jay 4-3 in the District 3-1A semifinals in Bonifay Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Win District 1-7A Softball Championship
April 21, 2015
The Tate High School Lady Aggies won the District 1-7A softball championship Monday night 6-4 over Niceville.
In the fifth inning, Tate’s Casey McCrackin hit a three-run homer, followed by a home run from Savannah Rowell. Tate hitters were Casey McCrackin 1-3, 2R, 3 RBI; Savannah Rowell 1-3, R, RBI; Tori Perkins 1-4, 2 RBI; Lauren Brennan R; Hadley Starratt R; Savannah Ulrich R.
The Tate Lady Aggies will play host to Tallahassee Lincoln at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the regional quarterfinals.
Northview Assistant Coach Headed To Tennessee
April 21, 2015
Northview High School assistant football coach Derek Marshman has announced that he’s headed to a new job in Tennessee.
Marshman has been named an assistant coach at Signal Mountain High School just outside Chattanooga. There, he will join the school’s new head coach, Ty Wise. Marshman and Wise were part of the coaching staff that led the Northview Chiefs to a state football championship in 2012. Wise departed in 2013 to take the head coaching job at Graceville.
Marshman will remain at Northview through the end of the school year before moving to Tennessee with his family, including his wife Brittany, a teacher at Byrneville Elementary School.
“It was a great opportunity for my entire family,” Marshman said Monday night. “We visited this past weekend for the first time, and it was just beautiful up there. The entire town just blew us away.”
Marshman said he will miss the Northview Chiefs, which he predicted will do great things this fall.
“There’s a really good group of juniors moving up as leaders. Northview will have a very strong team this fall.”
Pictured top: Northview assistant coach Derek Marksman (center) is resigning and taking a job in Tennessee. Pictured inset: Marshman reacts to the Chiefs falling behind during a home game. Pictured below: Marshman calls a play. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Barons
April 21, 2015
Scoring one run in six different innings, the bats slowly came to life as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos topped the Birmingham Barons 6-5 in the first game of the series.
Pensacola posted season highs in almost every offensive category in tonight’s win with highs in runs (6), hits (11), doubles (7), triples (2), RBIs (6), walks (8) and extra base hits (9).
It started in the third inning as Juan Silva doubled to start the inning. Sean Buckley drove him home with a soft fly ball single to the right field as the Blue Wahoos took a 1-0 lead.
RHP Robert Stephenson made his first start since Opening Day and posted four strikeouts in the first two innings. The bats also came to life for the Barons in the third inning as Jeremy Farrell homered to right center. In the next at bat, Joey DeMichele got a triple and then scored off of Tim Anderson’s single to right field. Anderson stole two bases and then scored off of a sac fly by Christian Marrero.
Despite the Barons three runs in the third, the momentum continued to build for the Blue Wahoos as the team scored a run in the fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth inning to win the game. Marquez Smith scored in the fourth off of a sac fly by Chris Berset. In the sixth inning, Juan Silva was walked home.
The Barons held on tight as Birmingham came to bat in the sixth inning and scored their final run of the night to head into the last third of the game with a 5-3 lead.
Smith doubled in the seventh inning and then was brought home off the bat of Seth Mejias-Brean as he registered a triple. The Blue Wahoos tied the game back up in the eighth inning as Silva scored off of a single by Jesse Winker.
Mejias-Brean drove in Kyle Waldrop for the final run of the game in the top of the ninth to give the Wahoos their third win of the season.
Carlos Gonzalez got his first win of the season after throwing one inning of relief in the eighth as Ben Klimesh got his first save of the year by allowing only one hit in the ninth. Stephenson finished the night with 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5R, 2 BB, 9 SO and 1 HR.
Since the Wahoos scored five runs in tonight’s game, fans win with 50% off Papa John’s pizza when they order online using promo code WAHOOS on Tuesday, April 21.
The two teams will square off Tuesday night in Birmingham at 7:05 p.m.
Blue Wahoos At Smokies Rained Out
April 20, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos’ series finale against the Tennessee Smokies was postponed on Sunday due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader in Pensacola on Wednesday, May 6th beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Pensacola hosts Tennessee next month on May 5-9. This is the third game postponed due to rain for the Blue Wahoos this season.
The Blue Wahoos travel to Birmingham to face the Barons in a five-game series with the opening game scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Monday night. Scheduled to take the mound is RHP Robert Stephenson (0-1, 4.76) for Pensacola and RHP Frankie Montas (0-0, 1.69) for Birmingham.
The Blue Wahoos return home to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on April 25 against the Biloxi Shuckers.