Wahoos Ride Homers To Opening Day Win
April 5, 2013
The Blue Wahoos opened up their 2013 season with a bang, smacking four home runs en route to a 7-3 triumph over the Tennessee Smokies. The sellout crowd of 5,038 was the first of the season and 41st in 69 home dates in the history of the Pensacola franchise.
Pensacola was in control for nearly the entire game thanks to its balanced attack and powerful hitting. Travis Mattair started the show launching the first pitch he saw in Double-A deep over the left field wall in the second inning. Bryson Smith followed suit a frame later, sending a line drive shot over the left field fence to square the game at two. In the fourth, it was Tucker Barnhart who crushed on 0-1 pitch off the batter’s eye in center field to put the Wahoos on top 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish. Donald Lutz joined the home run party in the seventh, lifting an opposite field shot to left to open the score up to 5-2.
The Wahoos also had RBI’s from Ryan LaMarre, with an RBI groundout in the fourth, and Devin Lohman, who added a two-RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Tennessee’s offense centered around shortstop Arismendy Alcantara. The Dominican native accounted for all three of the Smokies’ RBI’s, including a two-out, two-run tater in the top of third that gave Tennessee it’s only lead of the game at 2-1.
Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win for Pensacola, tossing five innings of four-hit ball while strking out four and allowing two runs. Yohan Pino, Drew Hayes, and Lee Hyde all earned holds in relief, with Hyde getting the powerful Justin Bour to ground out with the tying runs in scoring position in the top of the eighth.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler was harmed by three home runs in 5.1 innings and took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.
The balanced Wahoos attack saw eight of the nine starters record at least one base hit, including the pitcher Rogers. Barnhart and Brodie Greene attributed two base hits apiece while Lohman had the lone multi-RBI game.
The series continues tomorrow as Josh Smith takes the hill for the Wahoos against Alberto Cabrera for the Smokies. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Story By Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos opened their season Thursday night with a win over the Tennessee Smokies. Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Chipley
April 5, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat Chipley 4-2 Thursday night on the road.
Daulton Tullis went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up four hits. Kevin Vaughan was 2-4 at the plate.
The varsity Chiefs will travel to Freeport on Tuesday, April 9 before returning home to Bratt on Thursday, April 11 against the Baker Gators.
Tate Cheerleading Tryouts To Be Held Next Week
April 5, 2013
Tate High School Cheerleading tryouts will be held April 8-12 in the Tate gym after school. Information packets can be picked up at Tate’s main office or online by clicking here.
Tate’s Tanner ‘Robo’ Roberson Signs With Huntingdon College
April 4, 2013
Tate High School senior Tanner “ROBO” Roberson has signed to play football with Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
Roberson played football all four years at Tate High School as a tight end. He was chosen as this year’s Tate High’s Football Scholar Athlete.
In addition to his performance on the football field, Tanner was the leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was the 2013 Challenger Award recipient. He also was selected for inclusion in Tate’s 2012 – 2013 Hall of Fame.
Pictured: Tate High School senior Tanner “ROBO” Roberson signs to play football with Huntingdon College in Montgomery surrounded by family (above) and teammates (below). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Perfect Softball Seasons Spoiled For Jay, Northview; Jay Over NHS In Baseball
April 3, 2013
Perfect softball seasons were ruined Tuesday in Jay for both Northview and Jay, while Jay took two from Northview in baseball.
SOFTBALL
In varsity softball, the Northview Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season to the Jay Lady Royals, 6-0. The Chiefs, now 10-1 overall, were plagued by errors, according to Coach Amy Holland.
In JV softball, Northview beat Jay 8-2 to end the JV Lady Royal’s season at 14-1.
Northview’s Lady Chiefs will be on the road Saturday afternoon against Freeport (JV at 1:00, varsity at 3:00) before rounding our their season April 9 at Escambia Academy. Jay’s varsity softball team will travel to Holmes County on Thursday (6:00 p.m.), before hosting Pace on April 11 and Pensacola High on April 12.
The District tournament begins Monday, April 15 in Chipley.
BASEBALL
In JV baseball, Jay beat Northview 5-2..
In varsity baseball, Jay rallied to beat Northview 7-6. The Royals scored three in the seventh inning for the win.
The Royals will be on the road Friday at Freeport (4:00 JV and 6:00 varsity), while Northview will be at Chipley on Thursday (4:00 JV and 6:00 varsity).
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball To Hold Hit-a-Thon, Silent Auction Saturday
April 3, 2013
The Northview Chiefs will hold a Hit-a-Thon and Silent Auction Saturday to raise funds for the school’s baseball program.
The Northview Diamond Club has spent well over $2,000 this year on field improvements, and there are still needs including new uniforms and equipment.
The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Northview baseball field with the hit-a-thon, silent auction and bake sale. The concession stand will be open during the event.
Tate’s Stacey Signs Scholarship With Huntingdon College
April 3, 2013
Tate High School senior Austin Stacey, recently signed with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. He was awarded the college’s highest academic award, the Bellingrath Scholarship, and will be playing soccer for the college.
He played soccer all four years for the Tate Aggies. This past season, Stacey had 10 goals and six assists for the Aggies.
Stacey currently has a 4.2 GPA, is a member of the Tate Student Council, National Honor Society, Interact Club and yearbook. He is also a Children’s Ministry intern at Hillcrest Baptist Church.
Pictured: Tate High School senior Austin Stacey signs with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Kids House 5K, Fun Run Is Saturday
April 2, 2013
In honor of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Santa Rosa Kids House is hosting a 5K Race and 1 Mile Fun Run at NAS Whiting Field this Saturday, April 6.
Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., and the race starts at 8 a.m. The cost is $20 for early registration, or $25 day of the race. The first 200 entries are guaranteed a t-shirt, and awards will be given to the top finishers in all age groups.
Register early at the Santa Rosa Kids’ House, 5643 Stewart Street in Milton anytime, or during packet pick-up at the Kids House on Friday, April 5th from 4-6 p.m. For more information call (850) 623-1112 or email coordinator@srkidshouse.org.
Softball Tourney To Benefit Wreck Victim Mark Shipps, Jr.
April 1, 2013
A Molino man and Northview High graduate is facing a long road to recovery from a March 24 wreck in Molino, and his friends are organizing a softball tournament in May to offset some of the family’s financial expenses.
Mark Allen Ships, Jr. was traveling west on Molino Road near Chestnut Road about 3:30 a.m. on March 24 when he crossed over the eastbound lane and onto the shoulder. He continued on the shoulder until he struck a cement culvert and cement embankment with the front of his 2002 Jeep Liberty.
At the time of the wreck, Shipps was returning home from a formal banquet for the Kappa Sigma Fraternity of University of West Florida. Shipps, a 2010 Northview graduate, is the vice president of the fraternity at UWF, where he is majoring in electrical engineering.
According to Shipps’ mother, Heather, Mark planned to spend the night with a friend in Pensacola. She said he apparently decided to come home because he was scheduled to work Sunday morning in the meat market at Piggly Wiggly in Davisville. He wrecked less than a half mile from his parent’s home.
Shipps’ injuries include intestinal damage, two broken femurs, bruised lungs and a fracture above his left eye, according to his mother. “Most of the damage was done by the seatbelt and airbag, but if he hadn’t had the seatbelt on he probably wouldn’t have survived,” she said.
He has undergone several abdominal surgeries to repair the damage, and rods were inserted in surgeries to repair his broken legs.
“Thankfully he did not suffer any head injuries,” Ms. Shipps said. “They have done CT scans and have found no injuries.”
“He is expected to make a full recovery,” Ms. Shipps said. “It is just going to be a long process.”
Junior Classic
The Junior Classic Softball Tournament will be held beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10 and continuing Saturday, May 11 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
It will be based on USSSA slow pitch softball rules, with three females on the field per team at all ties. There will be a two loss elimination in effect. Registration is $150 per team.
The event will also include food, music and more. Volunteers are needed in any form — from playing on a team, to umpiring and more. For more information or to register, contact Bradley Lowery at (850) 232-3205 or BJL0005@auburn.edu.
A benefit account has been established at United Bank in Atmore for Mark Shipps, Jr. The account information is: Mark Shipps Jr. Benefit Account, account #151892711, P.O. Box 8, Atmore, AL 36504. Checks should be made out to “Mark Shipps Jr. Benefit Account”.
The Junior Class Facebook page (click here) also offers more information.
Pictured top and bottom: Mark Allen Shipps, Jr. was critically injured in this accident at about 3:30 a.m. on March 24 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FHSAA Warns Legislation Will Create High School Free Agents
March 27, 2013
The association that dictates rules for Florida’s middle and high school athletes is fighting what it says is a power grab by legislators that will lessen the oversight of mid-season transfers and allow some schools to become recruiting giants.
The Florida High School Athletic Association is objecting to measures (HB 1279, SB 1164) by Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, and Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that could restrict their investigations into student-athlete transfers, limit the amount of fines and fees member schools pay, and revamp the makeup of the association’s board.
FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing, during a media teleconference on Tuesday, claimed the legislation would essentially allow middle and high school student-athletes to become “free agents.”
“This legislation opens the door for nefarious people who might want to circumvent rules in order to do what they may think is getting students scholarships to college, or even open the door to professional athletics,” Dearing said.
The measure by Metz also further expands the state law that allows students to play for the school of choice if the public or charter school they attend does not offer the sport.
Stargel’s companion proposal adds more legislative oversight to the FHSAA board by having the House and Senate each make four appointments to the board, with the Commissioner of Education getting to name three.
While the board would be expanded from 16 to 25, the majority of appointments would come from Tallahassee.
Currently, FHSAA member schools select 13 board members, with the three others coming from the Department of Education.
The proposals also call for replacing Dearing by having the commissioner of education name the FHSAA executive director rather than the association’s board.
Dearing said his job being on the line was less a concern than keeping the playing field level for students and schools as they compete across the state if each school district is given powers to self-regulate transfers.
Stargel, in a release from Access for Student Athletes Coalition sent out prior to the teleconference, denied her proposal will allow illegal recruiting or create student-athlete “free agency.”
“This proposal would not prevent the FHSAA from fulfilling their primary role,” Stargel stated. “However, it would help combat their predisposition to consider students as guilty until proven innocent, and would establish true due process and rights for student athletes, which the current system of conducting investigations clearly lacks.”
The coalition, which contends the FHSAA displays overreaching and arbitrary authority when conducting investigations on student eligibility, is an initiative launched by the Naples-based conservative-policy think tank Floridians for Government Accountability, Inc. The think tank is run by former Maine legislator Tarren Bragdon.
The FHSAA doesn’t directly receive state funding, but in addition to relying upon corporate donations for funding draws public dollars through membership fees from public schools.
FHSAA Chief Financial Officer Linda Roberston said the expected reduction in revenue by capping fines and fees could hinder the non-profit association’s ability to promote and run championship events at professional fields, along with training and certification for coaches and officials.
“The quality of our events will certainly suffer,” Robertson said.
“Mike Alstott, the football coach at Northside Christian High in St. Petersburg, said an athlete shouldn’t be allowed to play for one school in the fall for football, another in the winter for basketball and a third in the spring for baseball.
“This could really change the playing field, to not be fair,” said Alstott, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer fullback.
The high school student-athlete proposal follows a law enacted a year ago that pushed back on the FHSAA for clamping down on mid-school year transfers and students following coaches to new schools.
The law, sponsored by Stargel – then a member of the House – allows students-athletes to change schools at any time without having to sit out a year as was the prior rule after the first 20 days of a school year. Meanwhile it is up to the school districts to self-police themselves for recruiting violations by coaches, parents and alumni.
The FHSAA initially fought the law, noting that none of its member high schools had requested the change.
Months before the bill was introduced, the FHSAA imposed more than $62,500 in fines against the Lakeland High Dreadnaughts after seven of its athletes, including five from the school’s perennial football powerhouse, were found ineligible to play for infractions ranging from falsifying addresses, failing to make a full and complete move before enrolling, and receiving impermissible benefits that included free rent.
Stargel argued that the bill serves Florida’s student-athletes, while regulating FHSAA investigators.
By The News Service of Florida