Northview Chiefs Drop Friday Night Game To The Escambia Gators (Gallery)
February 22, 2025
Down by four in the sixth inning, a Northview comeback fell short as the 1A Chiefs lost to the 5A Escambia Gators on a cold Friday in Bratt.
Grayden Sheffield took the loss for the Chiefs, allowing two runs on six hits, walking four and striking out seven in five innings. Jackson Bridges threw two innings, surrendering two runs on three hits with no walks or strikeouts.
Jackson Bridges, Luke Chavers, Cole Davis, Jase Portwood, Grayden Sheffield, and Brady Smith each record one hit for the Chiefs. Portwood and Jayden White each had one RBI for Northview.
Up next, the Northview Chiefs will host their neighbors to the north, the Blue Devils on Escambia County at 6 p.m. next Thursday.
NorthEscamiba.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Foiled by Evansville’s Third-Period Comeback (With Gallery)
February 22, 2025
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
There was a natural mix of emotions Friday night when Rod Aldoff walked to the Ice Flyers bench, preparing for a third different return as the team’s head coach.
“Just even in pregame and walking on the ice (before opening face), to be honest, it felt like yesterday,” said Aldoff, who was named Monday as the Ice Flyers coach to finish the season, replacing Gary Graham, who he knew well.
“It felt like … I’ve done it so many years here, it just felt like the next game and here we go. But it has been two years, But it felt good behind the bench and competing.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Unfortunately for Aldoff and the Ice Flyers, what seemed to be a perfect capper for the evening, suddenly turned into disappointment.
Leading 2-0 with less than nine minutes remaining, the Ice Flyers yielded two power play goals against the Evansville Thunderbolts in a three-minute span, then a go-ahead and empty net goal to follow, resulting in a 4-3 loss to begin a three-game series that is a must-win situation for playoff hopes.
It left a crowd of 4,084 at the Pensacola Bay Center going from hopeful to deflated from the third period fall.
“I thought overall we were the better team, so it was a tough one,” Aldoff said.
The Ice Flyers called timeout and pulled goaltender Cody Karpinski with 1:57 left in the game for an extra attacker. That resulted in Eimantas Noreika scoring with 48 seconds remaining to halve the deficit. In the final seconds, several Ice Flyers players had the puck on their stick near the goal area but were denied.
“I think in the last 10 seconds we had four sticks in the slot,” Aldoff said. “The guys battled back. They pushed hard. It was a tough one.”
Midway though the third period, however, a different feeling existed. The Ice Flyers led 2-0 on a second-period goal by Cale List and early third period goal by Blake Tosto.
But a delay of game penalty against Nick Pryce for an attempted puck clear that went over the glass, began the downfall.
Just 39 seconds after that penalty was called, Evansville’s Tyson Gilmour scored the power play goal. A couple minutes later, Sam Dabrowski was called for tripping as he chased an Evansville player behind the Thunderbolts’ goal cage.
That led to Gilmour assisting on the game-tying goal by Scott Kirton.
The Ice Flyers have been great this season on home ice penalty kills. They had allowed just eight goals in 20 home games, second best percentage in the league.
“I just told the team, there were a lot of positive things that happened in this game,” Aldoff said. “You take those two power plays away… but at end of the day, those were just some unfortunate incidents.
“Shooting the puck over the glass, those are penalties we just cannot do. We have to control what we can control and those are things that we just cannot do.
“We’re getting pulled all the time. We don’t need to help pull the wrong way. We have to stay away from that stuff.”
With 3:23 left, Kirton got a rebound from his own shot and buried the go-ahead goal past Karpinski. The Thunderbolts then got an empty net goal immediately after the faceoff that followed the Ice Flyers timeout in the final two minutes.
“I thought overall, up and down the ice, we were the better team,” Aldoff said. “We outplayed them. We deserved better, but it doesn’t matter, they (Thunderbolts) won the hockey game.
“It just comes down to licking our wounds and try to get better and I hate to say that, because I know what (Ice Flyers) been through. It was just a real tough one.”
A quick recap….
FIRST PERIOD
No scoring. The Ice Flyers didn’t get their first shot on goal until four minutes into the opening period. Each team had only three shots midway through the period.
But then the Ice Flyers found stride with 10 shots, including several good looks on their power play opportunity, but couldn’t a puck in the net.
SECOND PERIOD
Cale List scored his fifth goal of the season, after making move to his left to deke a defender inside the blue line and then rifled a wrist shot through traffic into the net with 10:30 left for the game’s first goal. Pryce and Tosto both had assists.
Evansville got its first power play chance with 7:14 remaining, but the Ice Flyers killed that one off.
THIRD PERIOD
Ivan Bondarenko made a perfect pass to Tosto in the crease area and he flicked the puck into the net at 2:59 into the third period for the Ice Flyers second goal. Pryce set up the play with good work behind the net.
The Ice Flyers then got a big chance to further their lead when Evansville’s Matthew Hobbs was called for a double-minor (4 minute penalty) for a high sticking penalty that drew blood at 4:51 into the period. But the Ice Flyers were thwarted and that shifted some momentum back to Evansville.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Evansville Thunderbolts vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Tate Softball Beats Crestview; Tate Baseball Bests Washington
February 21, 2025
SOFTBALL
Tate 17, Crestview 3
The weather was freezing cold, but the bats were hot as the Tate Lady Aggies powered past Crestview 17-3 in a rule-ruled four inning game Thursday night.
Mykamia Padget drove in five runs on three hits for the Lady Aggies, including a homer to left field. Taylor Robinson had a solo home run to center field.
Peyton Womack and Blakely Campbell both went 2-4 for Tate.
Jordan Smith earned the win for Tate, allowing three hits and one run in four innings while striking out two and recording no walks. Padgett tossed one inning, allowing two hits and two runs with one strikeout and three walks.
Up next, the Lady Aggies will travel to Gulf Breeze on Friday night.
BASEBALL
Tate 11, Washington 1 (Varsity)
With a six-run fourth inning, the Tate Aggies beat Washington 11-1 on a cold Thursday night.
Kaleb Posta earned the win on the mound for Tate. He gave up four hits and one run in five innings while striking out four and walking none. Bryton McLellan had one non-run inning for the Aggies.
Posta went 2-4 at the plate, leading the Aggies with three RBIs. Nathan Conners was 2-3.
Tate 12, Washington 1 (JV)
The Tate junior varsity bested Washington 12-1 Thursday night .
Cooper Halfacre started for Tate, giving up no hits and one unearned run in three innings while striking out five and a walking two.
Brody White went 2-3 for Tate, leading at the plate with three RBIs.
FCA Above The Rim, Beyond The Goal Awards Presented To Local Athletes
February 19, 2025
The Northwest Florida Fellowship of Christian Athletes recently presented their “Above the Rim” Basketball Awards and “Beyond the Goal” Soccer Awards to local athletes.
Girls’ Basketball
- Central: Autumn Boutwell
- East Hill: Claire Utter
- Escambia: Demi Liu
- Gulf Breeze: Layla Gronert
- Jay: Brady Godwin (not coming)
- Milton: Alexis Hawthorne
- Navarre: Jolee Storer (not coming)
- Northview: Madison Levins
- PHS: Zion Perkins
- Pensacola Catholic: Morgan Smith (not attending)
- Pine Forest: Chrisshona Bargaineer
- Tate: Taylor Malone
- Washington: Chamiah Francis
- West Florida: Macey Vegas
- UWF: Delaney Trushel
Boys’ Basketball
- Central: Donovan Dean
- East Hill: Austin Lockard
- Escambia: Peter Brasfield
- Milton: Elliot Wilson
- Navarre: Kaleb Woodward
- Northview: Brian Yoder
- PHS: Khlyen Eccles
- Pensacola Catholic: Terius Mason (not attending)
- Tate: Bryce King
- Washington: Pierce Bizerra
- West Florida: Heston Burns
- UWF: Rodney Bryant Jr.
Girls’ Soccer
- Escambia: Addisyn Cole
- Gulf Breeze: Sarah Cornwell
- Milton: Jacquelyn Marie Ruffini
- Navarre: Kennedy Kerns
- Pace: Ana Saenz
- PHS: Peyton Chester
- Pensacola Catholic: Emma Lacour
- Pine Forest: Angel Walden
- Tate: Bristol Guy
- Washington: Tyler Stubblefield
- West Florida Tech: Laney Jackson
Boys’ Soccer
- Escambia: Kayden Hall
- Milton: Sawyer Anderson
- Pace: Fletcher Carroll
- PHS: Zach Peterson
- Pensacola Catholic: Thomas Lawrence
- Pine Forest: Yeison Sosa
- Washington: Carson Smith
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
1A Northview Lady Chiefs Fall To Defending 6A State Champion Pace
February 19, 2025
The 1A Northview Lady Chiefs opened their season with a 3-0 loss on the road at Pace, defending 6A state champions.
Jamison Gilman started in the circle for the Lady Chiefs, giving up two runs on three hits, walking three and striking out five in five innings. Mikayla McAnally closed, allowing one hit and one run while striking out one and walking none in one inning.
Gilman went 1-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Chiefs for their only hit of the night.
Up next, Northview will be at Pensacola Catholic Thursday night.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
At The Bottom Of The SPHL Standings, Pensacola Ice Flyers Oust Head Coach
February 18, 2025
The Pensacola Ice Flyers have outsted their head coach as the team sits at the bottom of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) standings.
The Ice Flyers announced Monday that Gary Graham was been relieved of his coaching duties effective immediately.
Graham, who led the Ice Flyers to their first President’s Cup championship in 2013, returned to the team in July 2023.
“We are grateful to Gary for his dedication and hard work with the Ice Flyers and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” said owner Greg Harris.
Former Ice Flyers head coach Rod Aldoff will step in as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Aldoff brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record, having previously led the team to three championship victories.
“Rod has been an integral part of our organization’s success in the past. His familiarity with our team culture and his coaching acumen make him the right choice to guide us through the remainder of the season and become a playoff contender,” Harris said.
Northview Chiefs Beat W.S. Neal 6-1 Monday Night
February 18, 2025
The Northview Chiefs defeated the W.S. Neal Eagles 6-1 on Monday night in East Brewton.
Braynt Mason struck out 10 batters for the Chiefs, allowing two hits and one run while walking five in seven innings.
Grayden Sheffield led Northview with two RBIs. Cole Davis, Jase Portwood and Brady Smith each record two hits.
Northview will travel to Paxton on Thursday before hosting the Escambia Gators on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Padgett and Wine Homer As Tate Beats West Florida 11-4
February 15, 2025
The Tate Lady Aggies beat the West Florida Jags 11-4 on Friday night in their final preseason game.
Mykamia Padgett and Kara Wine both hit homeruns for the Aggies during an eight run third inning. Padgett’s dinger was to center field to score two runs and Wine homered to center field to score three runs.
Padgett earned the win for the Aggies in the circle, giving up two hits and one unearned run in three innings while walking one and striking out three. Peyton Womack three four innings in relief, allowing three hits and three runs (one earned) while waking six and striking out two.
Wine went 2-4 for the Aggies with her three RBIs. Padgett, Madison Smillie, Lacy Wilson, and Womack each had two hits for Tate.
Next, the Lady Aggies will take on Crestview on Thursday.
Pictured above: Mykamia Padgett (left) and Kara Wine both had homeruns to center field in the third inning Friday night. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Beat The Walton Braves 12-1
February 15, 2025
The Northview Chiefs beat the Walton Braves 12-1 Friday night in Bratt.
Grayden Sheffield earned the win on the mound for Northview, giving up three hits and one run (unearned) in four and two-thirds innings, while walking four and striking out nine.
Brady Smith led the Chiefs at the plate, going 2-3 with three RBIs.
Up next, Northview will travel to W.S. Neal on Monday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Jace Gandy Named New Flomaton Hurricanes Head Football Coach
February 14, 2025
The Flomaton Hurricane have hired Jacy Gandy as their new head coach.
Last season, he was a co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Spanish Fort Toros after working as defensive coordinator for the Northview Chiefs. He also served as a defensive coordinator for the Tate Aggies.
Longtime Flomaton High School head football coach Doug Vickery announced his retirement in December after 19 years with the Hurricanes. uring those 19 years, Vickery led the Hurricanes to their first-ever state championship in 2018, and there have been five quarterfinal appearances. Three of his boys played football for Flomaton during his tenure.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.