Tri-County Falls To Niceville
June 19, 2010
Tri-County held a 3-2 lead over Niceville-National in the sixth inning in their recent All-Star tournament game in Chumuckla, but they were unable to hold on for the win. Niceville-National came back for an 8-3 win in the Florida District 1 Little League game.
Members of the Tri-County team are Trevor Flower, Haley Watson, Slater Nash, Nathan Archer, Blayne Miller, Seth Killam, Zac Blackmon, Avarie Jackson, and Tanner Macks.
Submitted photos by Tiana Ivey for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cats Scratch The Pelicans
June 19, 2010
A good old fashion pitching duel ended in a 4-0 win for the Fort Worth Cats (14-19) over the Pensacola Pelicans (14-19) Friday night.
It was a scoreless pitcher’s duel until the fifth inning when the Cats got on the board first. Stantrel Smith would bloop in a double to right center scoring Kelley Gulledge and Rob Ruencenco to make it a 2-0 lead for Fort Worth.
Fort Worth added to the lead in the eighth when Jeremy Sauceda lined a double into deep right center to bring in Nick McCoola and Brian Fryer to open the lead for the Cats at 4-0.
The Pelicans offense struggled all night long as they only mustered four hits off Cats pitching. Pensacola also hit into three double plays in the game which deflated possible rallies for the squad.
Tim Bittner (2-5) gets the win as he pitches five shutout innings giving up only one hit on the night.
David Nathanson (1-3) takes the loss despite pitching a complete game going eight innings giving up four runs-three earned while striking out eight batters.
ECUA Golf Tourney Raises $28,000 For Children’s Hospital
June 18, 2010
Emerald Coast Utility Authority employees raised $28,000 for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
ECUA Employee’s Golf Tournament organizers and Diamond Sponsor Gilbert Pump & Mechanical, presented a check for $28,000 recently to Dr. Henry E. Roberts, president of the Sacred Heart Foundation. The donation was the result of the 2010 tournament held at the Marcus Pointe Golf Course in April.
“Over the past 12 years, the ECUA Employees Golf Tournament has contributed over $108,000 in the hospital’s ministry with children,” said Dr. Roberts.
According to the ECUA Employees’ Golf Tournament event organizers Bill Ellis, Doug Gibson, Ron Doolittle, Tammy Clemmons, and Timothy Colley, “Over the past 12 years we’ve made the employees’ event a top priority. The money generated will contribute to the building and construction of the Children’s Garden and Playroom Renovation project to be located within the Purple Heart Kids’ Gang unit at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. In 2010, we pledged to exceed $100,000 in total contributions, and we surpassed that goal.”
“The tournament is successful because of the financial support we receive from sponsors such as Gilbert Pump & Mechanical, our 2010 Diamond Sponsor, and the other 132 participants. We’re dedicated to continuing this tradition and look forward to many more successful events,” said Ellis.
The ECUA Employees’ Golf Tournament contributions to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital have helped to make it a state of the art facility. It is Northwest Florida’s only Level III intensive care nursery, serving 14 counties throughout the region.
(Golf tournament winners are listed below their pictures at the bottom of this story.)
Pictured top: $28,000 in proceeds from the ECUA Employee’s Golf Tournament is presented to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Pictured are: (front, L-R) Brian Widman, Danny Gilbert, Doug Gibson, Cathy Laird, Dr. Henry Roberts, (back, L-R) Timothy Colley, Bill Ellis, Ron Doolittle. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
First place: Camp Dresser McKee — (L-R) Wes Malone, William Blocker, Casey Smith, Robert Hyman.
Second place: South Baldwin Plumbing — (L-R) Lain B. Cheney, Shain Cheney, Robert Barnes, Brian Alberson.
Third place: Baskerville Donovan, Inc. — (L-R) Jim Waite, Claude Duvall,Larry Goodwin.
Jay Varsity, JV Cheerleaders Win Top Honors At Auburn Camp
June 17, 2010
The Jay High School cheerleaders recently won top honors at a Universal Cheerleaders Association camp at Auburn University.
Both the varsity and junior varsity squads received superior scores for their cheer and dance routines. On the final day of camp, a “Camp Champs Competition” was held with about 30 squads.
The Jay junior varsity squad won first place in the JV Division for “Best Cheer”. The Royal varsity squad won second place in “Overall Best Cheer” and second in “Overall Best Dance” in the Large Varsity Division.
Tessa Hendricks, a member of the Jay varsity team, was named to the All-American Cheerleading Squad and received a pin for her leadership skills at camp.
Members of the Jay varsity cheerleading squad are: Katie Borders, Crystal Brown, Bethany Diamond, Camille Driver, Kyrah Dunsford, Ashton Edwards, Katheryn English, Tessa Hendricks, Sha Kinder, Morgan Lewis, Sierra Mills, Carly Owens, Meredith Owens, Jody Paramore, Abby Raney, Hannah Roberts and Summer Simmons.
Members of the Jay junior varsity cheerleading squad are: Kaitlyn Aguirre, Brittani Ashworth, Makenzie Bray, Launa Burkhead, Savannah Dubose, Kayla Flowers, Danielle Harrington, Summer Joyner, Leslie Kinder, Samantha Pearson, Alisha Roberts, Alaina Smith, Paige Smith, Brittany Tegenkamp, Brooke Tegenkamp, Jessica Thornton, Kendra Wells and Emily Wright.
FHSAA Creates Small School Rural Division: Jay In, Northview May Be Out
June 16, 2010
The Florida High School Athletic Association has approved a new rural school classification for schools like Jay High, but Northview may not be included.
Schools in the rural division would compete within their own division and have their own playoff series for boys and girls basketball, baseball, football, softball and girls volleyball, and boys and girls soccer.
“I’m very ecstatic,” said Jay Athletic Director Elijah Bell. “We’ve been working on this a long time in the pursuit of equality for small, rural schools.” Bell served on the FHSAA Urban/Rural Committee that drafted the proposal approved Tuesday.
An invitation to participate in the new rural classification will be extended to the 32 smallest schools that would be eligible — which would include Jay at number 13 but not Northview at number 39 by enrollment.
The FHSAA will next meet with the 32 small schools to determine which might choose to join the new “Division II” league. If any choose not to join, the next-smallest schools will be offered a slot to ensure the league has 32 teams as required for a state series. There are six school in line ahead of Northview that would have the option of joining the rural division.
“I hope we get in,” Northview Athletic Director Sammy Day said after learning the proposal passed the FHSAA board. If Northview does not make the division, it will create great hardship for the school, Day said.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Northview is rural,” Bell said, “as are other schools like Bozeman, Chipley and Perry. But we had to draw the line somewhere on the district, and that was the 32 (needed for a playoff series).”
Most of Northview’s past district opponents will be offered membership in the division — Jay, Sneads, Baker, Vernon, Holmes and Freeport. If they all become rural division schools and Northview does not, it will mean a lot of travel time for the Chiefs to play district teams.
“We may have a tough time unless we play much bigger schools,” Day said, adding the Chiefs would likely end up with schools like Catholic, Walton and Chipley on the schedule.
But Day is not giving up hope that Northview will make the 32-team rural Division II. Most of the schools on the list are in the Panhandle, while some are located much further south in Florida. Due to the travel time for those schools past Tallahassee, Day said he does not believe they will join the rural district. And some of those schools — like Peniel Baptist Academy just 44 total students — may not join the district.
“We will just have to wait and see,” he said.
Bell agreed that some of the schools on the small-32 list might not join the district. He cited Marathon High in Key West as an example. “It would be 200 miles on way for them to play a district game,” he said. “But we are still going to invite them to join.”
The FHSAA Division II for rural schools will be a pilot program for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. The final list of 32 eligible schools will be based upon fall 2010 enrollment, Bell said.
Those numbers could make a difference for Northview. According to Day, Northview had an enrollment of 560 in the fall of last year, but that number was down to 525 by the end of hte year.
“We had to draw a line somewhere,” Bell said the list of 32 small schools. He said he had hoped to see a small and larger division in the rural district, but that was not possible this year.
“I certainly hope we can do the small and large in the near future, he said.”It’s not over; we still have work to do.”
For now, Bell said he is happy to see the Rural Division become a reality; he’s been advocating such a plan since about 1990.
Pictured top: Brandon Sheets tries to avoid Jay defender Chris Carrigan during last year’s meeting of two rural schools. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tri-County 8-9 Year Olds Beat Niceville-American
June 16, 2010
The Tri-County All-Stars beat Niceville-American Tuesday night 11-4 in Chumuckla.
The 8 and 9-year old boys will advance to play the Niceville-National team at 7:30 Thursday as the All-Star tournament continues in Chumuckla. The Tri-County boys will be competing against five other teams for the tournament championship.
Coed Softball Tournament, Fish Fry To Benefit Cancer Patient
June 14, 2010
A coed softball tournament and fish fry this Saturday will benefit a Molino woman as she battles cancer.
The ball tournament and fish fry will begin Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Molino Ballpark to benefit Sonja Luker.
Teams and volunteers are needed. For more information, contact Christa Wilson at (850) 698-8491.
NWE Wins Beach King Of Swing Tourney
June 14, 2010
Northwest Escambia recently won the Beach King of Swing USSSA Baseball Tournament in Orange Beach.
NWE play four games in one day on their way to the championship.
In the first game, NWE beat the Redstick Braves from Baton Rouge La. 25-0. Daulton Tullis pitched for the Eagles, allowing just runners on base the entire game. Tullis went 3 for 4 at the plate. Brannon Freeman hit a lead-off home run to start the scoring. Dalton Daniel went 3-4 as did Jody Bonner, Chasen Freeman, Reid Bell and Blake McCall. Wade Jernigan went 2-4.
In the second game NWE defeated the Saraland (Ala.) All-Stars 4-0. Jordan Coon pick up the win with a strong performance from the mound. Reid Bell and Blake McCall led the hitting going 3-4 with 2 RBI’s each.
The third game was a close pitching duel as NWE came out on top of the Pace Renegades of Pace 1-0. Blake McCall pitch a spectacular game allowing on one hit and one walk in seven Innings. NWE scored in the bottom of the seventh when Blake McCall hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded. Chasen Freeman hit a double in the fifth inning for the first hit of the game by either team.
In the championship game NWE beat the Gulf Coast Storm from Pensacola 13-11. Reid Bell started off pitching giving NWE four strong innings before being relieved by William Andriolli in the fifth inning. Leading tnwhe hitting again was Dalton Daniel going 3-4 with a triple and 2 RBI’s in the fourth. Brannon Freeman and Jody Bonner each went 2-4.
The tournament win qualifies NWE to play in the USSSA World Series Tournament later the month.
NWE has a record of 32 wins, four loses and one tie for the season. The Eagles are coached by Manager Matt Reynolds and coaches Trent Freeman and Matt Walker.
Pictured: Members of the NWE baseball team: Dalton Daniel, Daulton Tullis,Brannon Freeman, Chasen Freeman, Reid Bell, Blake McCall, Jody Bonner, Jordan Coon, Wade Jernigan and William Andriolli. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery, Results: The 5K Race For The Blueberries
June 13, 2010
About 170 runners and walkers entered the second annual 5K Race for the Blueberries Saturday during the Blueberry Jamboree in Barrineau Park.
For a NorthEscambia.com runner photo gallery, click here.
Winners are listed below by category.
12 & Under, Male
Nathan Andreo, 1st place
David Dobson, 2nd place
Dillon (Last Name Unknown), 3rd place
12 & Under, Female
Allie Nelson, 1st place
Sophia Tucker, 2nd place
Lakelynn Parker, 3rd place
13 to 18, Male
Brandon Nelson, 1st place
Trent Black, 2nd place
Micah Kemp, 3rd place
13 to 18, Female
Karisa Nelson, 1st place
Katie Neslon, 2nd place
Amber Nelson, 3rd place
19 to 35, Male
Neil McDonagh, 1st place
Sean Driffenburg, 2nd place
Matthew Dixon, 3rd place
19 to 35, Female
Leah Daughtery, 1st place
Erin Fergus, 2nd place
Tanya Petty, 3rd place
36 to 54, Male
Matthew Dobson, 1st place
Russell Orr, 2nd place
Scott Nelson, 3rd place
36 to 54, Female
Eva Tucker, 1st place
55 & Over, Male
Roger Dobson, 1st place
Huey Pearson, 2nd place
Ted Hassebrock, 3rd place
55 & Over, Female
Kathy Shealy, 1st place
Tina Tuttle, 2nd place
First Place Walkers
12 & Under, Dylan (Last Name Unknown)
13 to 18, Brittany Flota
19 to 35, Christy Smith
36 to 54, Delbert Tucker
55 & Over, Darryl Rice
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Win Thriller Over AirHogs 5-4
June 12, 2010
The Pelicans (11-16) and AirHogs (15-11) both put up a great fight at Quiktrip Park and in the end, Pensacola prevailed for a thrilling 5-4 victory Friday night. The Pelicans have now won three games in a row.
Grand Prairie struck first blood in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single from Juan Camacho and a two run homerun from Aaron Garza. All these runs came with two outs which gave the AirHogs an early 3-0 advantage.
The Pelicans loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth inning. Francisco Leandro would line a single into right field to score Adolfo Gonzalez and Kyle Brown to make it a 3-2 game. Chase Porch would follow with an RBI groundout to bring in Christison to tie the game up at 3. One batter later, Javier Brito would hit a sharp ground ball off the glove of the third baseman Jose Duran which would roll down the left field line scoring Porch to give Pensacola a 4-3 lead. Lou Palmisano would follow with a single up the middle to bring home Gray and make it a 5-3 Pelicans lead.
Grand Prairie scored a run in the fifth inning, but that would end the scoring as Pelican pitching shut them out for the last four innings to seal up the 5-4 victory.
Jared Gothreaux (3-2) gets the win as he battled through eight innings scattering 4 runs off ten hits, but making the big outs when he had too.
Ron Hill pitched a perfect ninth to get his second save of the season.
Ryne Tacker (1-1) takes the loss as he gives up five runs-none earned off five hits through seven innings pitched.