Northview Dominates Central on Senior Night
September 14, 2024
The Northview Chiefs cruised to a 40-0 victory over the Central Jaguars on Friday night in Bratt, capping their senior night celebration with a shutout performance.
For more photos, click here.
A strong start set the tone for the Chiefs. Junior quarterback Dane King led the way with a quarterback keeper on the opening drive, setting up Zikel Jones for an 8-yard touchdown run. Sam Reid’s impressive catch-and-run play followed, leading to Moses Delarosa’s touchdown run to give Northview a comfortable 14-0 lead over the fledgling first year Central program.
The Chiefs continued their dominance in the second half, with Delarosa adding a 56-yard touchdown run and Jamaris Durant finding the end zone from 2 yards out.
With the victory, Northview improved to 2-2 on the season. They will look to keep their momentum going as they travel to Bonifay next Friday night to face the Holmes County Blue Devils.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Great Place To Be: Tate Is Now 4-0 With Homecoming Win Over Milton (With Gallery)
September 14, 2024
“We are 4-0. We are proud of that. It’s a great place to be.”
That’s how Tate Head coach Rhett Summerford described the Aggies 30-14 homecoming night win over the Milton Panthers.
It’s a revival of sorts for the Aggies. Tate has not started a season at 4-0 since 2016, and they dropped that fifth game that year to Niceville on the way to a 9-3 season.
The Aggies are coming off a 5-5 season last year and, before that, several tough years that saw them win just one game in each season from 2019 to 2022.
Before a huge crowd at Pete Gindl Stadium, Tate opened the scoring Friday when senior quarterback Taite Davis connected with Elijah West for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give the Aggies a 7-0 lead with 35 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Milton responded with a touchdown of their own but missed the extra point, leaving Tate with a narrow 7-6 advantage. Carson Secchiari added a 23-yard touchdown to extend the Aggies’ lead.
Nicco White later contributed 23-yard touchdown with 4:32 to go in the fourth, and Milton scored a late touchdown with less than a minute to go.
“Good things, bad things,” Tate head coach Rhett Summerford said following the win. “We’ve still got work to do. It was ugly at times. I think we got into the red zone plenty of times to score a lot of points, and we just didn’t capitalize enough.”
“Defense kind of played bend but don’t break; it was kind of grindy. It was only 14, and one of those they scored at the end, but offensively, we can’t get into the red zone and not score. I think that’s the frustration part of the night, and I told the kids we’ve got work to do.”
The Aggies will face a quick turnaround as they travel to West Florida next Thursday night. With a short week of preparation, including a JV game on Monday, Summerford said the Aggies “have got to kind of get after it.”
Loor for photo galleries over the next few days from the homecoming parade, the alumni cheerleaders, cheerleaders, student section, band, fans and more.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
September 14, 2024
Here are this week’s high school football scores from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Tate 30, Milton 14 [Story, photos...]
- Northview 40, Central 0 [Story, photos...]
- Jay 41, Baker 0
- Walton 48, West Florida 21
- Escambia 30 Panama City Bay 29 (OT)
- Pine Forest 27, Choctaw 21 (OT)
- Pace 55, Gulf Breeze 0
- Pensacola 20, Destin 7
- Montgomery (AL) Catholic 28, Pensacola Catholic 14
- Washington Fort 22, Walton Beach 0 (Thurs)
- Mosley 30, Navarre 0 (Thurs)
ALABAMA
- T.R. Miller 56, Flomaton 7
- Mobile Christian 13, Escambia Co. 6
- Orange Beach 42, W.S. Neal 32
Pictured: The Tate Aggies went to 4-0 Friday night with a win over Milton. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Clinch Eighth Consecutive Winning Season After Beating Biscuits
September 14, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos missed out on a playoff berth this season.
But they now have continued an impressive feat.
In a performance Friday that reminded of early summer success, complete with a near-capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium filled with energy, along with quality pitching and a big inning, the Blue Wahoos clinched an eighth consecutive winning season with an 6-2 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos (69-65) have now had winning seasons since 2016 with three different affiliations. This one is the fourth in a row for Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel – the only manager in franchise history to do it – and he guided this season’s ballclub with 60 different players.
Pensacola is the only team in the Miami Marlins organization in 2024, from the big-league club through Class A, that will end the season with a winning record.
After the game, a sizable portion of the crowd remained in the ballpark to cheer Jessica Webster, a stomach cancer survivor and member of the Miracle League of Northwest Florida and ARC-Gateway, as she took a trip around the bases with Blue Wahoos mascot Kazoo.
The crowd cheered when learning after six months of treatment, Jessica is now cancer-free.
It provided a poignant finale to a game the Blue Wahoos needed to end a three-game losing streak this week and bring good vibes back to their dugout.
The game began with Montgomery’s leadoff batter, third baseman Brayden Taylor, smashing a home run off Blue Wahoos starter Tristian Stevens. Taylor is one of nine Biscuits players ranked in the top 10 of the Tampa Bay Rays’ best 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline.
He was also a big part of why the Rays won the first three games of this series to clinch the second half Southern League South Division title, following their first-half division win.
But from that point Stevens settled into a groove and did not allow another run in his four innings of work. He struck out four and had zero walks.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game in the fourth inning on Johnny Olmstead’s two-out single to score Joe Mack, who had led off the inning with a walk.
The Biscuits reclaimed the lead in the fifth against reliever Adam Laskey when Jalen Battles hit an RBI double in the gap to score Willy Vasquez.
And then, the Blue Wahoos produced a rally they had lacked earlier this week.
They scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth, beginning with Nathan Martorella’s leadoff homer. The next three batters reached base on a walk and two singles. Graham Pauley’s single scored Jared Serna, who had walked and stolen second.
Paul McIntosh followed with a sacrifice fly to score Mack. Olmstead delivered another RBI single.
The lead expanded to 6-2 in the sixth when Serna’s sacrifice fly scored Andrew Pintar, who had led off the inning with a single. Pintar, Martorella and Olmstead all had two hits as part of the Blue Wahoos’ 11-hit attack.
Laskey earned his sixth win in relief, working four innings and allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out four batters. Woo-Suk Go finished the game in the ninth with a scoreless inning.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: BlueWahoos Stadium
Northview Chiefs Edge Hoboes in Three Set Battle (With Gallery)
September 13, 2024
The Norview Chiefs defeated the Hoboes of Laurel Hill in three sets Thursday evening on their home court in Bratt.
The Chiefs took the first set by a score of 25-20. The Chiefs secured a 25-21 victory in the second., and Northview took the third set 25-23.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Chiefs will travel to Laurel Hill for a rematch with the Hoboes on Thursday, September 19.
The Northview Chiefs will host the Escambia Gators on Monday at and J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs on Tuesday. All of next week’s games will begin at 5:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Biscuits Blast Past Blue Wahoos For Twinbill Sweep And Second-Half Crown
September 13, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
After fringes of a hurricane interrupted this final homestand, the Blue Wahoos returned Thursday and were hit with a power surge.
The Montgomery Biscuits blasted five home runs, including four by different players in the first game and a big first-inning blast in the nightcap, to sweep a doubleheader with 10-3 and 4-3 wins that clinched a second-half division crown and eliminated the Blue Wahoos from playoff contention.
Following the game, the Biscuits (80-54 overall, 40-25 in second half) celebrated in the visitors’ dugout with a variety of beverage sprays and chugs of beer.
Their playoff opponent in the Southern League divisional series next week will likely be the Biloxi Shuckers, who led late in their Thursday game over the Mississippi Braves with a magic number of one.
For the Blue Wahoos (68-65 overall, 30-35 in second half), it’s the first time they’ve missed the playoffs since 2021.
They faced long odds this week, needing to win at least five games against a Montgomery team loaded with nine of the top 10 prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system.
Following Wednesday’s postponement – the first time the Blue Wahoos were forced to postpone a home game in two years — the Biscuits’ dual wins in two seven-inning games at Blue Wahoos Stadium continued a season trend. The weather Thursday turned sunny with a wind blowing out to left field and the Biscuits took full advantage.
They are now 19-8 this season against the Blue Wahoos. They’ve won all three games so far this week heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
The first game Thursday had the Biscuits holding a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning. The Blue Wahoos scored the game’s first run on newcomer Kemp Alderman’s second inning homer.
But in the sixth, the Biscuits got a pair of runs against Blue Wahoos reliever Chandler Jozwiak, then walloped three homers in the seventh against relievers Josh Ekness and Josh White in a five-run rally that blew open the game.
In Game 2, Montgomery shortstop Carson Williams, the No. 2 rated prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, hit a three-run homer off starter Jacob Miller. The Biscuits then made it 4-0 in the second after Jalen Battles reached on an error, then scored on Williams’ RBI single.
The Blue Wahoos halved the deficit on Johnny Olmstead’s two-run homer in the fourth inning. They added another on Andrew Pintar’s RBI double in the fifth inning, but left the bases loaded with one out in a sequence that proved decisive.
The Blue Wahoos did not get a base runner in the final two innings against the Biscuits bullpen.
These losses dropped the Blue Wahoos to a losing home record (32-34) this season. They have not won a six-game home series since the first week of June.
They will now try to get a win Friday in the fourth game of the series with righthander Tristian Stevens (2-3, 3.98 ERA) on the mound.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Friday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: BlueWahoos Stadium
High School Golf: Tate And Northview Girls And Boys This Week
September 12, 2024
BOYS GOLF
The Tate and Northview high school boys golf teams placed in the top ten at the Byron Nathan Classic held this week at the Stonebrook Golf Club in Pace.
Pace took first place with a team score of 292, followed by Tate in fourth with 311 and Northview in ninth with 335.
Tate was led by a solid performance from Baylor Touchstone and Jacob Drysdale, who tied for fifth place with scores of 74 each. Ben Robinson finished 22nd with an 80, while Parker Hassel and Landon Ray rounded out the top five for Tate with scores of 83 and 90, respectively.
Northview’s Jack Boutwell placed 12th with a score of 76, followed by Luke Godwin in 22nd with an 80. Miles Smith at 88, Kelan Jurey with 91, and Jackson Bridges at 95 completed the scoring for Northview, finishing 55th, 62nd, and 70th, respectively.
GIRLS GOLF
Tate High School
The Tate High School girls golf team dominated this week against Jay and Milton at The Tanglewood Golf & Country Club in Milton.
The Aggies showcased their exceptional talent, posting a team score of 184 to easily outdistance their opponents. Jay finished second with 229, while Milton placed third with 231.
Tate’s dominance was further highlighted by their complete sweep of the top five individual spots. Talia Smith led the way with a score of 40, followed by Jordan Smith (46), Kara Wine (47), Paige Raiter (50), and Kinzlee Biggs (51). Alessa Lloyd also contributed to Tate’s success, tying for fifth place with a score of 51. Destiny Owen rounded out the top six for Tate with a score of 61.
For Jay, Presley Hawthorne led the team with a score of 52, followed by Kaitlyn Cooley, Layla McCullough, and Kinzie Nevels, who all tied for 10th place with scores of 59. Natalie Hendricks finished 17th with a score of 62.
Northview High School
The Northview High School girls golf team had a third-place finish at The Club at Hidden Creek in Navarre recently.
Pensacola Catholic dominated the tournament with a team score of 174, while Navarre finished second with 191. Northview’s total of 236 placed them third overall.
Leading the way for Northview was junior Anna Kunkel, who delivered a stellar performance, earning second place individually with a score of 41. Bailey Burkett and Payton Daw also contributed significantly to the team’s success, finishing ninth and 11th, respectively, with scores of 59 and 67.
Kaylee Long, Amberly Dunn, and Presley Amos rounded out Northview’s top six, placing 12th, 15th, and 16th with scores of 69, 75, and 77.
Northview Lady Chiefs Fall To Jay (With Photo Gallery)
September 11, 2024
The Jay Lady Royals defeated the Northview Lady Chiefs Tuesday in Bratt.
Jay took the four-set victory by scores of 25-17, 30-28, 25-21, and 25-17.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The second set was a thrilling nail-biter as Northview and Jay went back and forth, fighting fiercely for every point on a scoring run that went from 23-23 to a final win for Jay of 30-28.
On Thursday, Northview will host the Hoboes of Laurel Hill at 5 p.m., and Jay will host Rocky Bayou Christian at 6 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baker Defeats Ernest Ward Middle (With Gallery)
September 11, 2024
The Baker Gators blank the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles 28-0 on a soggy Tuesday night in Walnut Hill.
Click here for a photo gallery.
The Eagles will look to bounce back in their next game against W.S. Neal on September 17.
They will then face a three-game road series against Baker, Escambia County Middle School of Atmore, and T.R. Miller. Ernest Ward’s season will conclude under the leadership of Coach O’Darius Williams with a home game against ECMS on October 15.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Begin Final Homestand With 6-1 Loss To Biscuits
September 11, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped the opener of their final series of the regular season on Tuesday night, falling 6-1 at the hands of the Montgomery Biscuits.
After a pregame rain delay of one hour and 37 minutes, the Blue Wahoos kept the game in check before a four-run Montgomery fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Mason Auer.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos backed themselves into a corner in their bid for a wild card playoff spot. The Blue Wahoos trail the Biloxi Shuckers by 4.0 games with five to play, and now need to win all five of their remaining games to keep their hopes alive.
Pensacola starter Evan Fitterer (L, 6-6) worked around command trouble to put up 3.0 scoreless innings before he paid the price in the fourth. A Dominic Keegan double was followed by two walks, setting up a Willy Vasquez sacrifice fly to give the Biscuits a 1-0 lead. Auer’s big three-run homer capped the rally, extending the Montgomery advantage to 4-0.
That would be more than enough run support for Yoniel Curet (W, 4-0), who returned to the site of his August Double-A debut and twirled a gem for the Biscuits. The young righty worked 6.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out eight and allowing only a Nathan Martorella solo homer in the fourth among seven scattered hits.
Montgomery added a run in the fifth on a Tanner Murray RBI single, and another in the seventh on a Carson Williams solo homer. The bullpen trio of Evan Reifert, Keyshawn Askew and Paul Gervase each contributed an inning of scoreless, hitless relief for the Biscuits to complete the 6-1 final.
The series continues Wednesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium, with a first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.