Tri-County Beats Atmore For 8U District Championship
June 13, 2012
The Tri-County All-Stars beat Atmore 5-4 Tuesday evening at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill to claim the 2012 8U Machine Pitch District Baseball Tournament.
Scores from the tournament were as follows:
Atmore 14, Northwest Escambia 2
Tri-County 14, Atmore 2
Atmore 12, Northwest Escambia 3
Tri-County 5, Atmore 4
Members of the Tri-County All- Stars are: Cason Burkett, Andrew Diamond, Cole Dunsford, Kaitlyn Gafford, Jamarcus Jefferson, Landry Locklin, Todd Macks, Caden Odom, Devin Sauls, Bryson Scott, Nathan Smarr, and Preston Smith. Coaches are Shane Burkett, Jamie Gafford, Frank Smarr and Rusty Steele.
Pictured: The Tri-County All Stars celebrate Tuesday after winning the 2012 8U Machine Pitch District Baseball Tournament in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos submitted by Hollie Sims, click to enlarge.
Tri-County, Atmore Gets Wins In 8U Tournament
June 12, 2012
The 2012 8U Machine Pitch District Baseball Tournament continued Monday night at the Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park.
In Monday night’s first game, postponed from Saturday morning by rain, Tri-County’s All-Stars easily defeated Atmore 14-2.
Atmore came back in the second game of the night to beat Northwest Escambia 12-3.
Wahoos Washed Out
June 12, 2012
Inclement weather and the resulting field conditions forced the fifth and final game of the series between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Birmingham Barons to be cancelled in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Wahoos up 2-1 on Monday night at Regions Park in Hoover, AL. The game is not expected to be made up, and all events that took place in the game will be erased from stats.
The Blue Wahoos took each of the first four contests of the series over the Barons and will now return home to Pensacola for a five-game series with the Mobile BayBears, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the first game slated for a 7:00 start on Wednesday evening. Fans attending Wednesday’s game are encouraged to show their support for their state’s school with a Florida vs. Alabama theme that night for the Bay-to-Bay Series with Mobile.
Wahoos Take Fourth Straight With 4-3 Win In 10 Over Birmingham
June 11, 2012
It took 10 innings, but the Blue Wahoos have extended their win-streak to a season-high four games with a 4-3 win over the Birmingham Barons on Sunday evening at Regions Park in Hoover, Al. The win marks the first time Pensacola has won four games in a series since the season-opening series with the Montgomery Biscuits in early April (5-9).
The Blue Wahoos got it started with a single tally in the top of the first inning. Joel Guzman drove home Josh Fellhauer from third with a sacrifice fly to right field. The lead was short lived. Birmingham was quick to answer with a run against Blue Wahoos starter J.C. Sulbaran in the bottom of the first. The Barons loaded the bases, but only scored one run. Sulbaran was able to coax a double play ball out of Seth Loman to end the threat.
The Blue Wahoos reclaimed the lead in the third. Josh Fellhauer doubled with one out and scored two batters later on a two-base hit by Guzman, his second RBI of the game. Didi Gregorius walked and scored on an RBI single by David Vidal to give the Blue Wahoos a 3-1 advantage.
The Barons got a leadoff single against Sulbaran in the top of the second before he proceeded to retire the next 10 batters he faced through the first batter in the fifth inning. They got to the Wahoos starter for three singles in the fifth, but didn’t score. The Barons evened the game with back-to-back home runs in the sixth by Tyler Saladino and Seth Loman to make it 3-3. Pensacola’s bullpen kept the game tied as five relievers combined to work 4.2 scoreless innings.
In the top of the 10th, Mark Fleury singled to open the inning before Gregorius singled him home from second with two outs. That proved to be the winning run as Justin Freeman (2) worked a perfect bottom of the 10th to earn his second save of the season. Drew Hayes (1-2) pitched a one-two-three ninth and got credit for the win. Kyle Bellamy (0-1) took the loss after surrendering the winning run in the 10th inning.
The Blue Wahoos look to earn their first series sweep in franchise history as they wrap up the five-game set on Monday. The Blue Wahoos will send right-hander Daniel Corcino (2-4, 3.77) to the mound against lefty Matt Wickswatt (1-4, 13.32). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from Regions Park in Hoover, Al.
By Tommy Thrall
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Auburn Shooter On The Run; AU Players Among Six Shot, Three Killed
June 10, 2012
A massive regional manhunt is underway for 22-year old Desmonte Leonard of Montgomery after six people were shot and three died during a shootout at an Auburn apartment complex Saturday night.
At about 10:03 p.m. Saturday, the Auburn Police Division responded to a report of shots fired in the area of a clubhouse at the University Heights apartments located in the 200 block of West Longleaf Drive.
When officers arrived on the scene they located multiple gunshot victims — former Auburn football player Edward J. Christian, age 20, of Valdosta, GA, was pronounced dead at the scene by Lee County Coroner Bill Harris. Two others, former Auburn player Ladarious K. Phillips, age 20, of Roanoke, AL, and Demario A. Pitts, age 20, of Opelika, AL, were transported by ambulance to East Alabama Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.
Three additional victims, Xavier D. Moss, age 19, and John Q. Robertson, age 20, both of Roanoke, AL, and current Auburn football player Eric R. Mack, age 20, of Cameron, SC, were transported by ambulance to EAMC for treatment of gunshot wounds. Moss was treated and released while Mack was admitted to EAMC and Robertson was transferred to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Mack was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon.
Auburn police say they have a motive in the shooting, but they are not yet releasing it.
The shooter, who fled the scene in a vehicle along with two other men, has been identified as Leonard, according to police. The vehicle was later found abandoned off Wire Road in Macon County, AL.
Warrants for three counts of capital murder have been obtained on Leonard and officers are working to determine his whereabouts. Police are also working to locate and question the two men who fled with Leonard. Their identities are not being released at this time.
“This is a sad, sad day for everyone associated with the entire Auburn family. I am devastated by the passing of three young men, including two that I personally knew in Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips and my heart goes out to their families,” Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik said.
“My thoughts and prayers are with their families and all of the victims involved in this tragic incident. Nobody should ever have to endure such unimaginable grief, and we will love and support the victims’ families during this terribly difficult time. We have a lot of people on our football team that are hurting right now and we’re going to do everything we can to help them get through this. We are relieved that Eric Mack, who was also a victim in this incident, is expected to make a full recovery. This is a very trying time for everyone involved, and I would just ask that you lift up the victims and their families in your prayers,” Chizik continued.
The case is being investigated by the Auburn Police Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Lee County Coroner’s Office, and the State Medical Examiner’s Office. The Montgomery Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office are also assisting in the case.
Anyone with information pertaining to the case is asked to contact Auburn Police Division detectives at (334) 501-3140 or anonymously by text or voice to the tip line at (334) 246-1391 or by phone to their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured below: Police stand guard at the entrance to the University Heights Apartments in Auburn, Ala., Sunday morning as the investigation continues into a shooting with multiple victims. Photo courtesy al.com for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight
June 10, 2012
Blue Wahoos pitchers allowed just one unearned run in Pensacola’s 3-1 win over the Birmingham Barons on Saturday night at Regions Park in Hoover, Al. The win is the Blue Wahoos’ third straight win over the Barons and their fifth win in their last six games.
Pensacola did all of their damage in the top of the first. Ryan LaMarre led off the game with a solid single before Didi Gregorius doubled down the right field line which plated LaMarre all the way from first base. Gregorius came home later in the inning on a double by Josh Fellhauer. He later scored on a groundout by Yordanys Perez. After the Blue Wahoos claimed a 3-0 lead, the pitching took over.
Kyle Lotzkar went five innings in the start for Pensacola. The only run he allowed was Tyler Saladino after he reached on an error in the bottom of the second. Erik Morrison singled home Saladino for the Barons only run of the game, which was unearned. Lotzkar only allowed one more hit over his final three innings as he earned his third win of the season.
The bullpen took over in the sixth and allowed just two singles over the final four frames. Wilkin De La Rosa worked two scoreless innings allowing just one single. Curtis Partch came in to earn the save by working a pair of scoreless innings. He struck out two over his two innings. The save was his first of the season.
Birmingham starter Nester Molina didn’t allow more than one baserunner in an inning after the second. He was charged with all three first-inning Blue Wahoos runs in his fifth loss of the season.
The Blue Wahoos have already secured their first series win since beating Jacksonville three-out-of-five May 17-21 in Jacksonville. Pensacola improves to 6-2 against the Barons this season.
Pensacola will look for their fourth straight win on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Wahoos will send right-hander J.C. Sulbaran (4-4, 4.40) to the mound against Birmingham righty Brandon Kloess (2-2, 1.91). This will be the first start of the season for Kloess and the just the third of his career. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.
Rain Delays 8U Tourney At NWE; Games Monday
June 10, 2012
Saturday’s game was rained out in the 2012 8U Machine Pitch District Baseball Tournament at the Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park.
Atmore defeated Northwest Escambia 14-2 Friday night in game one. The tournament will continue Monday and Tuesday between Atmore, Tri-County and NWE.
The revised game schedule is as follows:
Monday
5:30 p.m. — Tri-County vs. Atmore
7:30 p.m. — Loser of the 5:30 game vs. NWE
Tuesday
5:30 p.m. — Teams TBA
7:30 p.m. — (if needed) Teams TBA
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 6-18, and free for children under 5.
Blue Wahoos All-Star Closer Advances To Triple-A Louisville
June 10, 2012
Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph, who was recently named to the Southern League All-Star Team, has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville. Joseph leaves Double-A tied for the league lead in saves with 13, also good for tops among the entire Cincinnati Reds organization. Joseph was named the Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May just prior to getting named an all-star.
In 25 relief appearances for the Fish, Joseph owned a 4-2 record and a dazzling 0.93 ERA (3 ER in 29.0 IP).
“Donnie moving up to Triple-A, I think, is certainly well deserved and probably overdue,” said Blue Wahoos manager Jim Riggleman. “It was very generous of the Reds to keep him in Pensacola for as long as he was here. He did a great job. I think the key is he threw strikes. His slider speaks for itself, nobody really hit his slider. I didn’t see him last year, but looking at the walk totals, it appears that he threw more strikes this year to go along with his great slider, and he’s ready for the next step.”
To fill the spot on the roster, RHP Mark Serrano has been activated from the disabled list.
Pictured: Wahoos’ closer Donnie Joseph has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Hunter Safety Course Offered In Escambia County
June 10, 2012
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Escambia County.
The course will be held at W.J. Woodham Middle School at 150 East Burgess Road in Pensacola. Instruction will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on June 12, 14, 19 and 21. The range portion of the class will be June 23 from 7-10 a.m.
An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 at all times. Students are encouraged to bring a pencil and paper with them to take notes.
The hunter safety course is required for people born on or after June 1, 1975, to purchase a Florida hunting license. The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
People interested in attending this course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676. For more information on this course, call George Warthen at (850) 265-3676.
Cantonment Cowboy Football Registration Open
June 9, 2012
Registration is now open for the fall football season for the Cantonment Cowboys.
Players can register each Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon through August 4 at the Cantonment Cowboys Football Field at 681 Well Line Road.
For more information, visit www.cantonmentcowboys.org or www.facebook.com/CantonmentCowboys.