Fall Football Pratice Begins (With Photo Gallery; NHS, Tate, Jay Schedules)
August 10, 2010
The prep football season got underway Monday in North Escambia, with teams hitting the practice field.
(Schedules are included below for Northview, Tate and Jay high schools.)
The Northview Chiefs finished last season at 7-3 under first-year Head Coach Sid Wheatley, one spot away from a playoff berth and a huge turnaround from the previous year’s 2-8 record. Wheatley said he had playoff plans for the Chiefs’ 2010 season.
Monday morning’s first practice of the fall season focused on the fundamentals and dealing with the heat. The Chiefs will continue morning practices through Wednesday with no pads. The full pads will be on as the Chief’s move to afternoon practices on Thursday.
For a photo gallery from the Chiefs’ Monday morning practice, click here.
The Northview Chiefs open their regular season on the road September 3 against Graceville. Here is the complete schedule for the 2010 Northview Chiefs:
- September 3 Graceville — Away
- September 10 South Walton – Away
- September 24 Bozeman — Home
- October 1 Baker — Away
- October 8 Bonifay — Homecoming
- October 15 Freeport — Away
- October 22 Jay — Home
- October 29 Sneads — Away
- November 5 Vernon — Home
- November 12 — West Florida Tech — Home
The Tate Aggies will begin their season on August 27 in Pensacola against West Florida at 6:30. The first regular season game will be away against Washington on September 2. The Aggies will play their first home game on September 17. Here is the complete Tate Aggies schedule:
- August 27 Kick-Off Classic Vs. West Florida — Away
- September 2 Washington Away
- September 10 Pensacola High – Away
- September 17 Crestview – Home
- September 24 Pace — Away
- October 1 Catholic — Away
- October 8 Pine Forest — Away
- October 15 Brother Martin — Homecoming
- October 22 Milton — Home
- October 29 Escambia — Away
- November 5 Navarre — Home
The Jay Royals will open their season at home against Holmes County. Here is the complete Jay High School football schedule:
- September 10 Holmes County — Home
- September 17 Freeport — Away
- September 24 Flomaton — Home
- October 1 Sneads — Home
- October 8 Vernon — Away
- October 15 South Walton — Homecoming
- October 22 Northview — Away
- October 29 Bozeman — Away
- November 5 Baker — Home
- November 12 Wewahitchka — Away
Pictured top: Northview High Head Coach Sid Wheatley (top center of photo) watches the first practice of the season Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century’s Showalter 5-1
August 9, 2010
Around Baltimore, they are all calling the boy that grew up on the little league fields of Century a “comeback kid”.
Century’s Buck Showalter’s record as the new Baltimore Orioles manager stands at 5-1 after a disappointed weekend loss.
Showalter, Nat as the locals like to call him, was handed his first loss Saturday night at Camden Yards as his Baltimore Orioles lost to the White Sox 4-2. But Showalter’s O’s surged Sunday as Baltimore beat the White Sox 4-3.
As the Orioles head into Monday’s finale of a seven-game homestand, the pitching rotation is at a 1.94 ERA.
“We pitch like this with our starting pitching,” Showalter said. “We’ll play with anybody or any club.”
Century’s Buck Showalter 3-0 As Orioles Boss
August 6, 2010
Things are looking up for the Baltimore Orioles under the leadership of Century’s Buck Showalter. The Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels Thursday night 5-4.
Since Showalter’s debut as manager on Tuesday, the Orioles have won three in a row, putting 20 points on the scoreboard. Before the Century grad became boss, the Orioles had lost 14 of their last 17 and were averaging under three runs per game.
It was the first Oriole sweep over the Angels since 1999.
Heath Burkett Inks Baseball Scholarship
August 6, 2010
Nothview High School’s Heath Burkett signed a scholarship Thursday afternoon to pitch for Emmanuel College near Atlanta.
Burkett said he chose the Lions over Tennessee Temple University, Greensboro College in North Carolina and Brewton Parker in southeast Georgia. The Emmanuel Lions are in the NAIA and the Southern States Athletic Conference.
During his senior year on the mound for the Chiefs, Burkett had a 2.35 ERA and was 5-1.
Pictured top: Heath Burkett (center) signs a baseball scholarship with Emmanuel College Thursday afternoon as his father, Rodney Burkett (right) and Northview Coach Sid Wheatley (left) looks on. Pictured inset: Burkett on the mound during his senior season with the Northview Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Making Plans To Dedicate Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex
August 5, 2010
The Town of Century is working on plans to dedicate the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex this fall.
Mayor Freddie McCall said he is currently trying to obtain the lighting for the park from the Kayo Stanton Stadium at the former Century High School. Otherwise, the park is mostly complete. Dedication organizers will work toward having Pleasant at the dedication.
The 22 acre park was named after Century native Anthony Pleasant (pictured), a former pro football player selected in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. During his 14 year NFL career, Pleasant played for the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots. He played a total of 202 NFL games and racked up 58 sacks and two interceptions and a defensive end.
Pleasant is currently the defensive line coach for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
Pictured top: Action between the Century Blackcats and the Flomaton Hurricanes last fall at the Anthony Pleasant Sports Complex. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century’s Showalter Wins Debut With The Orioles
August 4, 2010
Century’s Buck Showalter won his managerial debut with the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night, 6-3 over the Los Angeles Angels.
The Orioles were fresh off a 1-6 road trip, with Showalter welcomed with hearty applause during the pregame introductions in front of 16,723 at Camden Yards. The Orioles made few mistakes and executed well for the win. With the win, Showalter is 3-1 in managerial debuts. He has two Manager of the Year titles.
“Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. “We believe Buck’s extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a more successful future.”
Showalter’s contract with the O’s is through 2013. Overall, he is 882-833 during an 11 season career.
The Orioles fired Dave Trebley as their manager after he went 15-39 .
Showalter, who now lives in Dallas, previously had three different managerial stints in the majors with the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Texas Rangers. Showalter first managed the Yankees from 1992-1995 for 581 games posting a 313-268 record finishing 45 games over .500 with a .539 win/loss percentage. He was voted 1994 AL Manager of the Year after the Yankees finished first in the AL East going 70-43. There was no post-season in 1994 due to the strike. He made it to his first post-season appearance in 1995, losing the divisional series 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners.
He moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he managed 486 games from 1998-2000 with a 250-236 record. His best season with the Diamondbacks came in 1999 when they finished first in the NL West going 100-62 and eventually losing in the divisional series 3-1 to the NY Mets. Showalter took over as Texas Rangers skipper in 2003-2006 posting a 319-329 record in 648 games. He was selected 2004 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers going 89-73 with a .549 win/loss percentage.
Showalter’s father was a high school coach and principal, moving to Century in the late 1950’s. He played Little League ball in Century in a thriving program. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after his family.
Images courtesy MLB.com
Twirlers Place At Nationals
August 2, 2010
Three members of the Santa Rosa and Escambia Twirlers won national honors at the National Baton Twirling Competition in South Bend, Ind.
Winning national honors were Leslie Miller, 14; Hali Horne, 14; and Whitney William, 12.
Miller, a five year member of the group, won third place in the three baton solo division and was ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
Horne, who is the junior fire instructor for the Santa Rosa and Escambia Twirlers, won eighth in the dance division, fifth in the two baton solo division and placed in the Top 10 nationally.
William, a two year twirler for the group, won the national title for one baton solo, seventh in two baton solo and was ranked nationally in the Top 10.
The Santa Rosa and Escambia Twirlers have won 12 state titles, six regional titles and three world titles. The group also won several medals in junior twirling Olympics. The group is led by Melissa Majors, who has twirled for 38 years. Classes are conducted in Century, Pace and Pensacola.
Century’s Showalter Named Baltimore Orioles Manager
July 29, 2010
After lengthy negotiations, former Century resident Buck Showalter has been named the new manager of the Baltimore Orioles.
“Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a press release.
“We believe Buck’s extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a more successful future.”
Showalter, 54,will officially introduced as the Baltimore Oriole’s manager on Monday, and his first game will be Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.
“Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a press release. “We believe Buck’s extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a more successful future.”
The Orioles dismissed Dave Trebley as their manager back on June 4.
Showalter, who now lives in Dallas, had three different managerial stints in the majors with the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Texas Rangers. Showalter first managed the Yankees from 1992-1995 for 581 games posting a 313-268 record finishing 45 games over .500 with a .539 win/loss percentage. He was voted 1994 AL Manager of the Year after the Yankees finished first in the AL East going 70-43. Unfortunately, there would be no post-season in 1994 due to the strike. He made it to his first post-season appearance in 1995, losing the divisional series 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners.
He moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he managed 486 games from 1998-2000 with a 250-236 record. His best season with the Diamondbacks came in 1999 when they finished first in the NL West going 100-62 and eventually losing in the divisional series 3-1 to the NY Mets. Showalter took over as Texas Rangers skipper in 2003-2006 posting a 319-329 record in 648 games. He was selected 2004 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers going 89-73 with a .549 win/loss percentage.
His father was a high school coach and principal, moving to Century in the late 1950’s. Showalter played Little League ball in Century in a thriving program. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after his family.
Pelicans One Better Than The Diablos
July 26, 2010
Adolfo Gonzalez and Marcos Rodriguez each had 2 RBI’s the contest to lead the Pensacola Pelicans (15-4) over the El Paso Diablos (6-13) by a final score of 5-4.
El Paso got the game’s first run in the last of the third inning when Kyle Nichols hit a sacrifice fly to left to score J.D. Reininger and give the Diablos an early 1-0 advantage.
The Pelicans put two on with two out in the top of the fourth inning when Marcos lined a single to left center to score John Alonso evening up the score at 1.
Pensacola took their first lead of the contest in the top of the fifth inning when Adolfo Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Kyle Brown from third base giving the Pels a 2-1 lead.
It was a 2-2 contest in the top of the sixth inning when Marcos lined a single into center to bring in Lou Palmisano from second base and give Pensacola the lead back at 3-2.
The Diablos regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI hit from Hector Bernal and an RBI sacrifice fly from Arnoldo Ponce to give El Paso the lead back at 4-3.
Pensacola tied the game up at 4 in the top of the seventh inning when Adolfo Gonzalez singled in Chris Chiarappa from third base.
The Pelicans regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning when Dallas Christison hit a groundout to second scoring Lou Palmisano from third base giving Pensacola a 5-4 lead.
Ron Hill (3-2) pitches 2 2/3 innings to get the win. Seth Overbey tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his third save of the year.
Northwest Escambia 11-12 Softball Ends Season At State Tournament
July 24, 2010
The Northwest Escambia 11-12 year old softball team ended their season Friday in Fort Myers as the Florida Little League Section 1 Champions.
In state tournament action Friday afternoon, NWE fell 11-1 to St. Cloud in a three hour game in rain from Tropical Storm Bonnie. In their final game Friday night, South Tampa got past Northwest Escambia 1-0.
Members of the NWE 11-12 year old All-Stars are: Savanna Roux, Peighton Dortch, Courtney Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Kendal Cobb, Mallory Ryan, Kristin Byrd and Natalie Goetter. The team is managed by Jerry Mason, and coached by Ronald Peebles and Eddie Ryan.
Pictured top: The Northwest Escambia All-Stars 11-12 softball team finished their year as Section 1 Champions. Pictured below: The NWE girls pose while waiting for a break in the rain from Tropical Storm Bonnie in Fort Myers. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
