BayBears Stun Wahoos With Three-Run Ninth
September 1, 2013
Nick Ahmed capped a three-run ninth with a two-out, two-run walk-off single against Trevor Bell, giving the Mobile BayBears a 4-3 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. It was the fourth loss in a row for Pensacola.
Mobile entered the last of the ninth trailing 3-1, but put a couple runners on base thanks to walks from Jamie Walczak. Bell (L, 0-1) came on with two on and one out and gave up a pinch-hit RBI double to Garrett Weber to make it 3-2. After Justin Greene struck out, Ahmed laced a first pitch fastball into the gap in left center to score two runs and give the BayBears the win.
Pensacola had rallied in the eighth against reliever Matt Gorgen. Devin Lohman started the rally with a walk before Corey Wimberly singled up the middle to put two on with just one out. Yorman Rodriguez then came through with a two-run double to the right-center field gap to give Pensacola a 2-1 lead. Rodriguez would later score on a single from Brandon Short to make it 3-1.
Both starting pitchers were dominant in the contest with Andrew Chafin and Jon Moscot tossing five scoreless innings apiece. In his final start of the 2013 season, Moscot allowed four base hits but struck out five for Pensacola. Chafin answered by allowing just two base hits with a pair of punchouts.
Mobile’s lone run prior to the ninth came on a Raywilly Gomez RBI double in the sixth inning against Michael Lorenzen. Blake Cooper (W, 5-2) picked up the win for the BayBears with a scoreless 1.1 innings.
The Wahoos will look to snap their four-game losing streak on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. Josh Smith (10-9, 3.41) gets the ball for Pensacola in search of his franchise-record 11th win of the year while Mobile will go with southpaw David Holmberg (5-7, 2.66)
Chiefs Beat Bozeman (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2013
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Panama City Bozeman Bucks Friday night, 34-14, in a non-district game. And even though it was win for the defending 1A state champs, at times it was just a plain sloppy game, according to Northview coach Sid Wheatley.
“We had way too many mistakes in the game,” Wheatley said, “We are taking points away from us by doing that and we are also enabling them to capitalize and get points when that’s unnecessary.”
Most of the mistakes, he said, were the little things that the team will have to work to drill into their minds.
“It just made it extra tough on us, and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to be better than that. And we are going to address those things on Monday…I know it’s still a young bunch we are dealing with and there are going to be mistakes. But it can’t be habitual week after week.”
For a football action photo gallery, click here. Cheerleading, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.
Despite the problems, Wheatley said there was also a lot of good in Friday night’s game for the No. 1 ranked Chiefs.
“Daulton Tullis played well. Our thought our receivers played well, and I thought our running backs made nice runs. We were able to get to the edge and use our speed. Ladarius Thomas ran the ball extremely well in the second half. Those are good things to see with a young offensive line doing better.”
The first touchdown of the game did not come until about three minute before the half. Quarterback Daulton Tullis found Brannon Freeman with 11-yard pass. A missed point after, and the Chiefs were on the board 6-0. The Chiefs expanded their lead to 14-0 at the half with an 8-yard touchdown from Neino Robinson and a good two point conversion from Dezmine Moorer.
The defending state champs increased their lead to 20-0 on a Tullis to Nathan Shipps pass from the nine. Bozeman got on the board, 20-6, before Northview struck again with a 43-yard Robinson touchdown and a good extra point, 27-6. With a 35-yard touchdown run by Shipps and a two pointer from Shipps, Northview was up 34-6.
The Chiefs will be on the road next week to take on the Bulldogs of Marianna at 7 p.m. Last year, the Chiefs lost to Marianna 48-42 on an overtime forth down with a fumbled ball just inches from the goal line.
For a football action photo gallery, click here. Cheerleading, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.
Pictured top: Northview senior Brannon Freeman tips the ball away from a Panama City Bozeman Buck Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Northview’s Neino Robinson tries to evade a tackle. Pictured bottom inset: Junior Ladarius Thomas gains yardage for the Chiefs. Pictured below: Northview coach Sid Wheatley motivates his No 1. ranked Northview Chiefs during a huddle Friday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
West Florida Beats Tate (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2013
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Tate Aggies Friday night, 45-3, at Woodham Middle School.
The Aggies strongest showing came in the first quarter, allowing the Jags just 7 points on a run by quarter back Joey Baker. Tate answered with a field goal from Dylan Mancuso to keep it a close 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Baker was in again on a QB keeper in the second half, followed by a touchdown for the Jags from Daylan Abrams. West Florida was up 21-3 headed into the half. In the second half, 11 plays totaling 80 yards ended with an 11-yard run by Lawrence Lee, 28-3 Jaguars.
The Jaguars went on to win with Lee returning a touchdown, a Vonche Hale touchdwon. and a field goal from kicker Tristan Parsley.
West Florida will host Milton next Friday night at 7:00, while the Aggies will be at home against Pensacola High School’s Tigers at 7:30 p.m.
Darryl Singleton contributed to this report.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Final Football Scores
August 31, 2013
Here are final high school scores from around the are tonight:
- Northview 34, Bozeman 14 [Read more...]
- West Florida 45, Tate 3 [Read more...]
- Jay 18 – Cottage Hill 12 [Read more...]
- Flomaton 34, Monroeville 22
- T.R. Miller 50, Atmore 18
- Catholic 45, Navarre 22
- Choctaw 34, Pace 27
- Niceville 62, Rutherford 21
- Gulf Breeze 40, Washington 13
- W.S. Neal 36, Holtville 0
- Fort Dale Academy 32, Escambia Academy 26
- Baker 42, Graceville 27
- Cottondale 52, Freeport 26
Pictured top: The Northview Chiefs beat the Bozeman Bucks 34-14 Friday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Jay Tops Cottage Hill (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2013
The Jay Royals beat Cottage Hill 18-12 Friday night in Mobile, Ala. The Royals (1-0) will host Rocky Bayou next Friday night, September 6. Jay’s next game, September 13, will be an early homecoming for the Royals.
The Jay quarterback Tate Upton put the Royals on the booard with a 17-yard touchdown run. Braden Cross also added two touchdowns for Jay.
Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Offers Saltwater Fishing Without A License This Sunday
August 31, 2013
In an effort to introduce newcomers to the activity, on Sunday, September 1, Florida residents and visitors can saltwater fish for the day without obtaining a recreational fishing license.
License-free fishing days, including freshwater days, were held earlier this year on April 13 and June 8 for freshwater and June 1 for saltwater, however, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) may add four more license-free fishing days to the calendar before the end of the year. All other regulations still apply.
An annual license for residents can be purchased at 1-888-FISH-Florida or at License.MyFWC.com. All fishing license fees are used to support Florida fish and wildlife conservation and help attain additional funding for Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration projects.
All bag limits, seasons and size restrictions apply on these dates. For fishing tips, locations and rules, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing.
No. 1 Ranked Northview Faces Bozeman Tonight
August 30, 2013
The No. 1 ranked Northview Chiefs will host 1A Panama City Bozeman in a non-district game tonight.
For the Chiefs, it’s been a week of not only physical preparation, but mental conditioning as well.
“We are going to be OK. Physically, I think we’ve got a chance to be pretty good,” coach Sid Wheatley said after last Friday night’s draw against 5A Bay High School. But after watching the game video, Wheatley said he was set on seeing strengths and weaknesses and working for mental improvement.
“We are going to correct mistakes while it is fresh on their mind,” he said. “We are going to be mentally prepared.”
And regardless of the opponent this year, whether it be a large 5A team like Bay or a 1A team like this week’s Bozemen, Wheatley knows that the stigma of playing the 1A state champion Chiefs will provide some extra motivation to any Northview opponent this year.
“I know how I am as a coach,” he said. “As a motivator, we always try to find some ammunition against the other guy, so I’m sure they’ve probably heard that a little bit.”
The Chiefs are ranked No. 1 in Class 1A by MaxPreps.com, followed by Trenton at No. 2.
The Northview Chiefs will host Bozeman at 7 p.m. in Bratt in the first regular season game of the year. The Chiefs are coming off their first ever state championship year, while Bozeman finished last year at 8-3. Bozeman is 0-4 all time against the Chiefs, with Northview outscoring the Bucks 154-33.
Pictured top and inset: Action from last Friday night’s preseason Northview game against Bay High. Pictured below: Coach Derek Marshman (front) and most of the Northview coaching staff at last week’s scrimmage. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
BayBears Beat Pensacola
August 30, 2013
Bradin Hagens continued his dominance of the Blue Wahoos with seven superb innings, leading the Mobile BayBears to a series-opening 2-1 win over Pensacola at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. Mobile has now won 15 of the 21 meetings in the Bay-to-Bay series this year.
Hagens (W, 11-8), who entered the contest having given up just five earned runs in 24 innings in four starts against Pensacola, escaped trouble in the first two innings before settling in and cruising through seven. Tucker Barnhart drove home the only run of the game for the Wahoos with a two-out single in the first after an error prolonged the inning. Overall, Hagens gave up just the unearned run on six hits to go along with four strikeouts.
Mobile tied the game up in the last of the third on a solo homer from Dustin Martin, which stayed just fair inside the right field foul pole to tie the game at one. That was the only run Pensacola starter Carlos Contreras gave up in his final start of the 2013 campaign. The right-hander allowed three hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 5.1 innings.
Parker Frazier (L, 2-3) entered to get the final two outs in the sixth inning, but ran into trouble in the seventh as he gave up an RBI single to Mike Freeman to give the BayBears a 2-1 advantage. Willy Paredes and Jake Barrett (S, 14) got the final six outs to nail down the win for the BayBears.
The series continues on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. Daniel Renken (6-8, 3.66) gets the ball for Pensacola opposite Mobile’s Archie Bradley (11-5, 1.98).
Douglas, Aggies Look Toward Winning Season
August 29, 2013
First year Tate High School Coach Ronnie Douglas started off the 2013 football preseason with a 25-7 victory over Gulf Breeze in two-quarter jamboree last Friday night. This week, the Aggies face a very strong West Florida High School Jaguars team.
“They have six or seven Division I football players over there, and they are a very, very good team,” Douglas said. Expectations are high around Tate, and this week will defiantly test all aspects of the Aggies team.
Douglas said he will depend heavily on senior linebackers Deonte Nicholson and Jesse Samuel this week against the Jags.
Nicholson had an interception and several key tackles last week, but he was most proud of a pass he tipped that was intercepted for a touchdown and a block for the quarterback on a long run for a touchdown. Samuel said he was proud to be able help the team last week.
The Aggies have shown some big improvements over last year when they went 1-8 and won their first game since 2010. But Douglas and his Aggies are looking to put the first of many wins on the books this Friday night against West Florida. Friday night’s game kicks off at 7:00 at Woodham Middle School.
Story by Darryl Singleton
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Leading Rusher Long Has Some Giant Wofford Shoes To Fill
August 29, 2013
Tate graduate and leading rusher Lorenzo Long is expected to be a stats leader for Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, this season, after the graduation of their all-time leading rusher Eric Breitenstein.
In fact, Long will wear the same No. 7 jersey, despite some belief that the Terriers would not issue that number, a sentiment that grew when it was absent during training camp.
Long said he was well-aware of the significance of No. 7 when he arrived on campus earlier this month.
“A lot of people were telling me about it and that I had big shoes to fill,” Long said. “I’m just going to do my best to get the job done. I’m not going to feel too much pressure. It’s just a number.”
If someone is to wear No. 7, perhaps it’s best that it be a freshman who never saw Breitenstein play. There were no returning players who offered to switch. And it also seems fitting that Long would be that one to wear it.
“He’s a young talent with a lot of potential,” said Donovan Johnson, who is taking over as the starting fullback in an offense that ranked second in the country last season. “He runs really hard. He’s going to be a good one in years to come.”
Long (5-foot-9, 205 pounds) was the second-leading ground gainer in a recent scrimmage, going for 30 yards on four carries. Like Breitenstein, he has powerful legs that just keep churning and it takes a gang to make the tackle.
“Lorenzo is not afraid to drop the hammer on you,” Wofford head coach Mike Ayers said. “If you’re coming to tackle him, you’d better bring it because of the way he runs.”
“If there is a hole,” Long said, “I’ll try to accelerate through there. But if somebody is in my way, I’m going to have to give it to him.”
Long left Tate as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,227 yards and also scored 37 touchdowns. He was all-state for two years. A mixture of power and speed, Long also lettered four years in weightlifting and in track as a 100-meters runner and long-jumper. He also played three years of soccer as a goal-scoring forward. Add brains and leadership, too. Long was senior class president.
“He’s going to be a special guy,” Ayers said. “He’s got tremendous quickness, he’s got a burst, and he’s very, very strong. He’s a guy who muscles up to contact. When you tackle him, he’s going to make you pay. He also has very good lateral speed, excellent hands and blocks really well.”
“It was a little tough in the beginning,” Long said. “I feel more comfortable now with the playbook and how to run the plays. It’s pretty exciting.”
Breitenstein finished with 5,730 career rushing yards with 65 touchdowns. He owns three of the top four seasons in program history. Last year, he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award given to most outstanding player at the FCS level.
“Eric was his own guy. He had his own way,” Ayers said. “Lorenzo is also a guy who can play. He’s also a high character guy. He’s soft-spoken but a competitor, just like the No. 7 we had last year.”
No. 7 Wofford opens their regular season this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Baylor on Fox SportSouth. Lorenzo Long is the son of A.J. and Clara Long.
Story by Todd Shanesy, Spartanburg-Herald Journa, GoUpstate.com. Reprinted with permission.
Pictured top: Wofford fullback Lorenzo Long, in a No. 4 jersey during preseason, will take over No. 7 when the season starts. The No. 7 previously belonged to Wofford’s leading career rusher. Photo by Alex C. Hicks, Jr., Spartanburg-Herald Journal for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.