Chiefs Week: Toby Weaver’s Very Special Championship Delivery
December 13, 2012
The Northview Chief’s Class 1A state football championship trophy received very special treatment as it was transported from Orlando back to Bratt.
Toby Weaver, son of Northview Principal Gayle Weaver and her late husband Tommy Weaver, kept the trophy for his boys after the win. Toby, mom Gayle said, held the trophy close practically the entire trip back from Orlando. He even kept the trophy in his room Sunday night before delivering it Monday morning to head coach Sid Wheatley at Northview.
Toby is a Friday night fixture on the Northview sidelines, cheering on his Chiefs and motivating the team. Under his No. 7 jersey during the state championship game, Toby wore a t-shirt that simply said “Tommy”. The Chief’s 2012 football season was dedicated to his dad Tommy, a beloved Northview teacher and coach who passed away in March.
It’s Chief’s Week on NorthEscambia.com — we will continue our look back at Northview’s Class 1A state championship win all week long. Coming up tomorrow, more of our hundreds of photos from the Citrus Bowl.
Pictured top: Toby Weaver holds the Northview Chiefs Class 1A state football championship trophy on the way back from Orlando, courtesy photo. Pictured below: Logan Weber (left) and Toby Weaver pose last Friday night with the trophy. Pictured bottom: Toby Weaver (bottom right, No. 7 garnet jersey) poses with his Chiefs and the state championship trophy. Pictured inset: Toby Weaver runs onto the field at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl last Friday night. Northescambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Announce New Manager, Riggleman Heads To Louisville
December 13, 2012
In an off-season coaching change not uncommon to minor league baseball, the Cincinnati Reds have announced that 2012 Blue Wahoos Manager Jim Riggleman will be moved to manage the Red’s Triple-A team in Louisville, KY. Replacing Riggleman at Pensacola will be Delino DeShields, who most recently managed the Dayton Dragons (Dayton, OH) the past two years.
Bruce Baldwin, president of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, said that the coaching shuffle was part of the territory for minor league baseball, and that he was grateful for Riggleman’s service and excited about DeShields’ arrival.
“The Blue Wahoos are so fortunate to be partners with the Cincinnati Reds, an organization that truly takes their farm teams and player development seriously,” said Baldwin. “It was great to have Jim Riggleman here for our Inaugural Season, and I appreciate the way he jumped right in and became a part of the community here,” he continued.
“I’m also really excited to have Delino DeShields coming from Dayton to manage the Blue Wahoos this year. Delino has a strong track record as both a player and a coach, and as a part of the Reds organization, he understands and is committed to player development,” said Baldwin, “and I’m sure our fans and supporters will enjoy having someone of his caliber here on our ball field.”
DeShields just finished his second year as Dragons manager after leading the club to a franchise-record 83 wins (83-57) and a second half Eastern Division title in 2011. With the youngest team in Dragons history, the club improved dramatically over the course of the season, finishing the first half at 35-35 before posting a 48-32 record in the second half. Under DeShields, the Dragons led all of professional baseball in stolen bases in 2011.
DeShields is now in his fifth season with the Reds organization. He served as manager of the Billings Mustangs in 2010 and was the hitting coach at Billings in 2009. As a player, DeShields spent 13 years in the Major Leagues with the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago Cubs. He finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting with the Expos in 1990. His best season came in 1997 with the Cardinals when he batted .295 with 11 home runs, 55 stolen bases, and a league-leading 14 triples. DeShields finished in the top three in the league in stolen bases six times during his career (10 times in the top eight) and ranks among the top 50 all-time in career stolen bases with 463. He batted .290 or higher in five different seasons of his big league career.
DeShields was originally signed as a first round draft pick in 1987 (12th overall selection) by the Expos out of Seaford High School in Delaware. He was slated to play college basketball at Villanova (point guard) before selecting a career in baseball. DeShields’ oldest son, Delino DeShields, Jr. was the eighth overall selection of the first round in the 2010 draft and signed with the Houston Astros.
The Reds also announced that Tony Jamarillo, Tom Brown, and Charles Leddon would remain as the Blue Wahoos’ hitting coach, pitching coach, and trainer, respectively.
Pictured: Delino DeShields.
Rosters Announced For Friday’s Subway All-Star Football Game
December 12, 2012
Rosters have been announced for the 9th Annual Subway High School All-Star Football Game scheduled for Friday night. The roster includes several players from North Escambia area schools, including members of the state champion Northview Chiefs.
The game will include seniors from Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa County. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Pace High School.
The coaching staff for the West Team, which includes teams from Escambia County, will be led by the head coach from Washington High School, Craig Laborde. Coaches from the other county high schools will assist Laborde with his game plan. The East, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties, will be coached by John Hicks from Niceville High School. He will be assisted by the other head coaches from the two-county area high schools.
West Team: Nate Crawford, Demetrius Smith, Luke Jackson, Frank Herbert, and Cory Ness from West Florida Tech, Jeff Linzy, T.J. Myers, Shay Oakley from Escambia, Chris Simms, Vihola Pohiva, Kevontarius Williams, and Josh Johnson from Washington, Lorenzo Long, Todd Ryals, Chris Shelby, Andrew Briske, and Matt Burke from Tate, Jace Banfell, Frankie Castagna, and Simon Smiley from Catholic, Blake Norwood, Darian Pickett, Reggie Warren, Deondre Farrington, Jonathon Bennett, Keith Coleman, and Preston Sellers from Pensacola High, La’Mikal Kyles, Neiko Robinson, Roderick Woods, Blake McCall, LeDaerious Franklin, and Kevin Vaughan from Northview, Siosia Finau, Trebian Suggs, Dante Young, DeMarcus Glover, JonDarius Gardner, Lawrence Colston, Terrence Sims, and Ronald Brown from Pine Forest.
East Team: Darryl Johnson, Gaston Rackard, and Eric Brelia from Choctaw, Zach Cresse John Marvin, and Chris Baudin from Fort Walton Beach, Devin Vazquez, Andrew Mitchell, Nick Haynes, Austin Campbell, Denzel Applewhite, Carter Fletcher, Barrett Perry from Niceville, Jacob Holcomb from Rocky Bayou, Colton Williams from Jay, Tommy McMillion, Austin Rollins, J.C. Curry, Brice Moore, Blake Ladouceur, and Jeffery Wright from Pace, Alex Pagonis, Austin Droogsma, and CJ Nelson from Gulf Breeze, Jay Warren, Nick Benton, Johnny Robinson-Pettus, Andrew Rieves, Jonathon Shaw, and Devin Colonel from Navarre, Blake Parker, Micah Reed, Jonathon Longman, Jordan Waddell, and Damarious Bethune from Crestview, Cody Chunn, Taylor Brown, and Logan Nixon from Baker, and Dejon Funderburk, Trevor Wheeler, and Christian Walker from Milton.
Tickets to the game are $7 or $5 with a canned good. The PSA is teaming with Manna Food Bank for a canned good drive and encouraging everyone to help families for Christmas by bringing a canned good item.
Chiefs Week: Football Action Photos, Part II
December 12, 2012
This is Chiefs Week on NorthEscambia.com — we are taking a complete look back at Northview’s Class 1A state championship win over Trenton Friday night in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.
Today, we have an action photo gallery from the second half of last Friday night’s game.
To view the photo gallery, click here.
Coming up later this week, we will have more game info and hundreds of photos as Chiefs Week continues.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Plan State Championship Celebration
December 11, 2012
The Northview Chiefs are planning a state championship ceremony for Saturday night.
The public is invited to attend the event in the school gym beginning about 6 p.m. Certificates of appreciation will be presented, and the state champion Chiefs will sign t-shirts. At 7 p.m., the Class 1A state championship game will be played in the gym on a large inflatable screen.
Bleacher seating will be available. Those that wish to bring a lawn chair to watch the game from floor should bring a beach towel or mat to go under the chair as to prevent damage to the gym floor.
Chiefs Week: Football Action Photos, Part I
December 11, 2012
This is Chiefs Week on NorthEscambia.com — we are taking a complete look back at Northview’s Class 1A state championship win over Trenton Friday night in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.
Today, we have an action photo gallery from the first half of last Friday night’s game.
To view the photo gallery, click here.
Coming up later this week, we will have more game info and hundreds of photos as Chiefs Week continues.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Video: Northview Chiefs Say ‘Thank You’ For Support
December 11, 2012
It took the work — and financial contributions — of scores of individuals and businesses for the Northview Chiefs to travel to Orlando last Friday night in order to win the Class 1A state football championship.
The Northview Chiefs have created a video thanking everyone for their support.
(If you do not see the video above, it is because your work or school firewall is blocking external videos.)
Chiefs Week: Final, Complete Statistics From State Championship Game
December 10, 2012
This is Chiefs Week on NorthEscambia.com — we are taking a complete look back at Northview’s Class 1A state championship win over Trenton Friday night in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.
For a look at the final play by play game summaries and final statistics from both Trenton and Northview, click here.
Coming up later this week, we will have more game info and hundreds of photos as Chiefs Week continues.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat Trenton for the state 1A crown Friday night in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
All Stars: Escambia Academy Players, Cheerleaders, Coach
December 10, 2012
The Alabama Independent School Association recently held their annual East-West All Star game in Prattville, AL.
Escambia Academy was represented with three players, two cheerleaders and head coach Hugh Fountain taking part.
EA’s Reid Bell was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Back for the West team after he accounted for 64 yards on the ground and one touchdown for the West.
Pictured above: Escambia Academy coach Hugh Fountain, Bo Bishop, Caitlyn Bruley, Tehron Stallworth, Page Lancaster and Reid Bell. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Halteman Awarded Junior Orange Bowl Scholarship
December 9, 2012
Northview’s Justin Halteman was presented the Junior Orange Bowl Committee Scholar Athlete Award Friday night prior to the Class 1A championship game at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.
The award is presented to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average from each teach in the FHSAA finals.
With the sponsorship and support of the Orange Bowl Committee, scholarship funds are donated to each recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award.
Pictured, Charles Knight of the Junior Orange Bowl presents the 2012 Junior Orange Bowl Scholarship to Northview senior Justin Halteman Friday night in the Citrus Bowl. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.