Former Northview Coach Named New Escambia County High Head Coach
April 8, 2010
Former Northview High School offensive coordinator Mark Heaton has been named the new head football coach at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Heaton’s appointment was unanimously approved Thursday afternoon by the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board after a short executive session. Heaton was one of seven candidates for the job interviewed by School Superintendent Billy Hines and Assistant Superintendent Randall Little. Escambia County High School Principal Harvey Means was left out of the selection process because his contract was non-renewed in March by the school board.
“I was excited that this opportunity presented itself,” Heaton told NorthEscambia.com. “God really opened the door wide open and kicked me through it. I hope we are going to be blessed and prosper.”
The new Blue Devils head coach believes he can return the program to glory. And he’s not aiming low, setting a goal of state championship, something Escambia County High School has not seen since 1983.
“There’s a lot of deep tradition at Escambia County,” he said. “This is a great time and a great opportunity to build on that tradition.”
Heaton admitted that he will miss J.U. Blacksher where he was 13-9, including a trip to the state playoffs.
“I’m going to miss a lot of those kids,” he said. “I am so proud of them and the program.” He spent early Thursday evening calling his J.U. Blacksher seniors to tell them about his decision to take the Escambia County job. He will meet with the entire team on Friday to announce that he’s leaving.
Heaton’s first day as the new Blue Devils head coach will be April 18.
Heaton is a 1997 graduate of Demopolis (Ala.) High School where he was a student teacher for one year. He then joined the coaching staff at Oglethorpe County High School in Crawford, Georgia under Cody Keene. Two years later, he would eventually follow Keene to Northview High School.
Heaton joined the Northview coaching staff as an offensive coordinator in 2004 under Keene. After four seasons with the Chiefs, Heaton was hired from a field of 28 as head coach at J.U. Blacksher in Uriah, Ala.
He is a 2001 graduate of the University of West Alabama where he played on scholarship as a quarterback and punter.
Heaton’s wife, Betty Heaton, will remain at Northview High School where she currently is the head volleyball coach and teaches reading. The couple lives in Atmore, and they have two preschool daughters, Jae and Payton.
Heaton replaces Kyle Davis at Escambia County High. Davis was fired with a 16-35 record over five seasons.
Pictured top: New Escambia County High School Coach Mark Heaton. Pictured bottom: (L-R) Jay, Betty, Payton and Mark Heaton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Falls To Bozeman
April 8, 2010
The Northview Chiefs will stay on top of District 1-2A despite a Wednesday night loss to Bozeman.
Bozeman beat the Chiefs 8-0 in a non-district game. Bozeman held the Chiefs to just two hits in Bratt.
The Chiefs will be just across the state line Friday against Escambia County High School in Atmore. The JV plays at 4:00, and the varsity is scheduled for 6:30.
Northview Diamond Club Plans Baseball Tournament
April 7, 2010
The Northview High School Diamond Club will sponsor a baseball tournament on Saturday, April 17 at Showalter Park in Century.
The entry free is just $50 per team for the round-robin two game guarantee tournament. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis.
For more information about the tournament and contact information, click here.
Photo Gallery: Molino 16U Jags Beat East Milton
April 5, 2010
The Molino 16U Jags recently beat East Milton. For a submitted photo gallery from Donnie Nicholson, click here.
If you would like to share your photos from baseball, softball or t-ball action in the area, email them to news@northescambia.com.
Northview Chiefs Beat T.R. Miller
April 4, 2010
The Northview varsity and junior varsity baseball teams both beat T.R. Miller Saturday in Bratt. The varsity Northview Chiefs (15-4) beat the T.R. Miller Tigers 9-8 . The JV Chiefs beat T.R. Miller 4-3. Pictured after the game are: (front, L-R) Jansen Bodiford, Kaleb Purvis, Hunter Black, Austin Arrington, Shakel Holmes, Austin Lowery, Josh Scott, (back, L-R) Head Coach Sid Wheatly, Tyler Brooks, Dakota Stuckey, Aaron Chancery, Austin Reid, Coach Tommy Weaver, Brad Lowery, Heath Burkett, Taylor Martin, Brandon Sheets, Colton Sims, Dabney Langhorne and Coach Joseph Chastain. Submitted photos by Becky Lowery for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Capture Tournament With 11-1 Win Over Gibbs
April 3, 2010
The Tate High School Aggies won the Aggie-Gata National Baseball Classic tournament Friday night with 11-1 win over Gibbs.
The Aggies picked up the win on the mercy rule in five innings with four of nine hits coming in the final period against the Knoxville, Tenn. school.
Brandon Blackwelder was 4-4 for the Aggies, including RBI doubles.
Tate High Aggies Advance To Tournament Championship
April 2, 2010
The Tate Aggies are headed to the championship game of the Aggie-Gata National Baseball Classic tournament Friday night after a win over Bartow.
The Aggies beat Bartow 5-4 Thursday to advance to play Gibbs High Friday night.
Bartow jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Tate closed the gap to 3-2 with a single by Adam Mack and Tevin Padgett was hit by a pitch.
Lee Hunter moved runners over to second and third. Tino Benjamin then hit a ground ball to the third baseman who made an error, scoring both Mack and Padgett.
Bartow scored a run in the top of the fourth to go up 4-2. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Tate had a single by Brandon Blackwelder and a double by Lee Hunter.
Benjamin hit a ground ball to Bartow’s shortstop scoring Blackwelder and tagging out Hunter. After two walks and with bases loaded, David Lee hit a high chopper in front of the pitcher who threw the runner out at home.
But the catcher hit Lee running to first trying to turn the double play. Two runs score and Lee ended up at third making the score 5-4 Tate.
In the top of the seventh, after two singles for Bartow and a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third with one out, Bartow tried a squeeze and popped it up to the catcher who threw to second for the double play to end the game.
Zach Mcculley picked up the win with six innings of work.
The Aggie-Gata tournament is a four-day, six-team tournament. Tate, Escambia and Pine Forest from Escambia County; Coral Reef High School from Miami; Gibbs High School from Knowville, Tenn.; and Bartow High School from Bartow, Fla., are taking part in the week.
Friday’s games are:
- 1:30 Pine Forest vs. Bartow
- 4:00 Coral Reef vs. Escambia
- 6:30 Tate vs. Gibbs (Championship)
Northview Remains Undefeated In District With Win Over Freeport
March 31, 2010
The Northview Chiefs remain on top of District 1-2A with a perfect district record after a 4-3 win over Freeport Tuesday night.
The Chiefs are now 13-4 overall and 7-0 in the district, outscoring district opponents 63-8 this year.
Winning pitcher was Austin Reid (5-1) with two and one-third innings on the mound. Reid gave up one run, three hits, one base on ball and had three strikeouts. Brad Lowery pitched four and two-third innings. Lowery had five strikeouts and gave up two runs.
Hitters for the Chiefs were Brad Lowery 1 for 3 with one RBI; Austin Reid 1 for 4 with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh; Dabney Langhorn 2 for 4 with a double and the winning RBI; Dakota Stuckey 1 for 3; Heath Burkett 1 for 3; Austin Lowery, 1 for 2 with a homerun, two runs and one RBI; Aaron Chancery, 1 for 3 with a triple and one RBI.
The Chiefs scored four runs on eight hits and had one error.
The Northview Chiefs will be back in action on Saturday, April 3 at home against T.R. Miller. The junior varsity plays at 10, and the varsity will play at 12:30.
Tate, Escambia Get Wins At Aggie-Gata Classic
March 31, 2010
The Aggie-Gata National Baseball Classic tournament continued Tuesday at Tate High School with wins for the Aggies and Escambia, and a loss for Pine Forest
In Tuesday’s action, the Escambia Gators beat the Pine Forest Eagles 14-4 and the Tate Aggies beat Coral Reef (Miami) 10-1.
The four-day, six-team tournament continues Thursday:
- 1:30 p.m. Pine Forest vs. Gibbs
- 4:00 p.m. Escambia vs. Coral Reef
- 6:30 p.m. Bartow vs. Tate
Tournament championship games will be played on Friday.
Tate, Pine Forest Lose; Escambia Wins In Tate Tourney
March 30, 2010
Two of three Escambia County teams lost in round won of the Aggie-Gata National Baseball Classic tournament at Tate High School Monday.
The Aggie-Gata tournament is a four-day, six-team tournament. Tate, Escambia and Pine Forest from Escambia County; Coral Reef High School from Miami; Gibbs High School from Knowville, Tenn.; and Bartow High School from Bartow, Fla., are taking part in the week.
In Monday’s action:
- Coral Reef 7 Pine Forest 6
- Escambia 11 Bartow 11
- Gibbs 5 Tate 3
Tuesday’s games are:
- 1:30 Escambia vs. Pine Forest
- 4:00 Gibbs vs. Bartow
- 6:30 Coral Reef vs. Tate