Teams Needed For Coed Softball Tournament
August 11, 2009
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will host a coed softball tournament on Saturday, August 22 at Showalter Park In Century beginning at 8 a.m.
The entry fee for the double elimination tournament is $200 per team. The proceeds will benefit the football program at Northview High School.
Organizers are encouraging all businesses, churches and local organizations to support the football program at Northview High School by organizing a team and joing in a great day of fun.
For complete details and contact information, click here (pdf).
Pelicans Crash Air Hogs 11-10 in Eleven Innings; Pels Extends Lead in First Place to Three Games
August 11, 2009
he Pelicans won an improbable game on Monday night, topping the Air Hogs 11-10 in 11 innings Monday night. Even though Grand Prairie led by three in the bottom of the ninth, and in the bottom of the eleventh, Pensacola still rallied to overcome the deficits and pull out the victory. The Air Hogs went through seven pitchers in their third straight loss to the Pelicans. With the win, Pensacola increases their lead atop the American Association South Division to three games.
The Air Hogs took a four-nothing lead in the very first inning, three of which came on Chad Gabriel’s sixth home run of the year. The Pelicans started chipping away at the Air Hogs’ lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Chase Burch walked with one out and Darby followed with a walk of his own. Dallas Christison singled to drive in Burch, and Palmisano hit a base hit to drive in Darby and the Pelicans cut the Air Hogs’ lead in half. The Pelicans pulled within one run an inning later.
With one out, Antoin Gray walked. After a groundout advanced Gray to second base, Gray scored when Burch hit an infield single to the shortstop. The Pelicans trailed the Air Hogs by one from the bottom of the third until the top of the seventh.
In the seventh, the Air Hogs added three more runs to their total by plating Tucker, Dziomba, and Garza. Mike Conroy drove in two of them with a one-out single, and the game seemed over.
Key word: “seemed”. The Pelicans added a run in the bottom of the eighth when Dallas Christison doubled. He scored when Lou Palmisano drove him in with a base-hit. The Pelicans rallied to tie the game in bottom of the ninth, scoring their first run of the frame when Francisco Leandro singled and stole second, coming home on an Antoin Gray base knock. Rodriguez walked to follow, and Chase Burch hit a RBI single to bring Gray in. Dallas Christison grounded out to the shortstop, but Rodriguez came home on the play and the Pelicans had tied the game at seven to force extras.
In the eleventh inning the Air Hogs rallied for three runs, one coming in on a bases-loaded single by Chad Gabriel, and two more coming home when J.B. Tucker doubled. Things looked grim for Pensacola, but the Pelicans had overcome larger deficits against Grand Prairie: on May 29 of this year Pensacola rallied back from a four-run Air Hogs’ tenth to score five runs and win 10-9. History would repeat itself tonight.
After the Pelicans’ first two batters were retired to start the bottom of the eleventh, Pensacola started scoring. Adam Darby singled. Dallas Christison walked. Lou Palmisano walked to load the bases, and Lou Huggins delivered a two RBI single to left. Trailing by one, Kevin Reynolds hit an infield single to the shortstop that brought Palmisano home from third to tie the game. After Francisco Leandro walked, Antoin Gray lifted a trouble-ball to shallow left. The Grand Prairie shortstop couldn’t secure the ball, and as the sphere hit the turf, Huggins touched home plate and the Pelicans won 11-10.
Tyler Wilson earned win, improving to 4-1, while Jose Cordero was hit with the loss. The Pelicans started Dane DeValk, but after six innings, six (earned) runs, eight hits, three walks, and a strikeout, Ron Hill relieved him. Hill pitched through the end of the ninth, allowing one earned run on five hits, walking one and striking out two. Tyler Wilson pitched the tenth and eleventh innings, yielding three runs on four hits with a pair of both strikeouts and walks.
Leandro, Burch, and Christison all went 2-5, with Burch and Christison picking up two RBI and Leandro stealing two bases. Lee Huggins made his debut for the Pelicans, but not his debut at Pelican Park: the 2009 UWF Argonaut went 1-4 with two RBI, scoring the game-winning run on his Alma Mater Terra Firma.
The Pelicans and Air Hogs resume their series tomorrow, playing the middle match of this three-game set at 6:35 p.m.
Molino Duo Win Pensacola’s Outcast Mega Shark Tournament
August 10, 2009
A Molino duo claimed the top spot in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola.
Anthony Adams and Jeff Jordan reeled in a massive hammerhead shark weighing in at 399.4 pounds aboard Adam’s boat “My Amy”. The hammerhead was tops in the hammerhead divison of the fourth annual tournament at Palafox Pier, and it made My Amy the top small boat.
The almost 400-pound hammerhead was also large enough to give the Molino men the biggest overall shark in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament by about 150 pounds. The second place finishers, Matt Bosler and Mark Bosler pulled in a bull shark at 246.6 pounds. The Bosler brothers were last year’s overall winners.
Funds raised in the shark tournament benefit the United Cerebral Palsey Foundation.
Pictured top: Jeff Jordan (left) and Anthony Adams won the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola with this 399.4 pound hammerhead shark. Pictured inset and below: More photos of the winning shark. Submitted photos by Deni Deron for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cats Scratch Pelicans; Pels Remain In First Place
August 10, 2009
The Fort Worth Cats salvaged a game in this three game series with the Pelicans, topping Pensacola 10-3. The Cats used a three run second inning to drive Pensacola’s starter Ulysses Roque from the game in his first start of the year.
John Allen led off the top of the second with a double, scoring when Kelley Gulledge singled. Both Gulledge and Matt Combs scored as well when Brian Fryer hit a double and the Cats jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
The Cats added another run in the third when Allen again led off with a double. He moved to third when Michael Bell flied out to right, and scored when Gulledge hit a sacrifice fly.
Another run came in for the Cats in the fifth inning, when John Allen walked, stole second, moved to third on Bell’s single, and scored when Gulledge hit into a double play.
The Pelicans tagged the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth on Adam Deleo’s first professional home run. The Pelicans wouldn’t score again until the ninth inning, watching as the Cats put up five runs in the eighth.
After Ulysses Roque pitched the first two innings, Bubba Nelson handled the Cats until the end of the fifth. Although Joey Wedner retired the Cats in order through innings six and seven, Fort Worth started hitting again in the eighth. Gulledge scored after reaching via walk. Garcia doubled, Combs did too, and Spenser Davis earned a base on balls. Fryer followed with a two RBI base hit, and Cameron Blair hit a RBI double. John Allen hit a RBI single, and after eight innings, the Cats led the Pelicans 10-1.
Pensacola rallied, but too late, in the bottom of the ninth. Against Cats’ closer Scott Vander Weg, the Pelicans put Antoin Gray on first with a single, and he moved to second when Marcos Rodriguez reached on an error by the shortstop. Chase Burch brought Gray in with a base knock, and Rodriguez scored when Dallas Christison doubled. The three Pelicans’ runs were no match for the Cats’ ten, and Joel Kirsten picked up his ninth win while Ulysses Roque was hit for the loss.
Roque lasted two innings allowing three runs on four hits, walking two batters and striking out one. Nelson pitched for nine outs, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks. Joey Wedner finished the game, yielding five runs (four earned) on six hits, walking one, and striking our four batters.
Dallas Christison went 2-4 with a RBI double, and Burch went 2-2 as well with a RBI. Adam Deleo went deep for the first time this year.
The Pelicans remain at home and will host the Grand Prairie Air Hogs for a three game set beginning Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Pelicans Win Four In A Row
August 9, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans extended their winning streak to four games with a 7-5 victory over the Fort Worth Cats Saturday night. Luis Guance hitting his first home run of the year and Lou Palmisano going deep solo proved the difference in the game.
The Cats started Nat Harris against Pensacola, who gave up four Pelicans’ runs in the bottom of the third. Kevin Reynolds led off with a walk and stole second and third. Francisco Leandro was hit by a pitch, and Antoin Gray followed with a double to score Reynolds. Marcos Rodriguez picked up an RBI with a base knock that plated Leandro, and Gray came home on a Chase Burch RBI single. Adam Darby reached on a fielder’s choice, but Rodriguez came home on the play and the Pelicans led 4-0 after three innings.
Fort Worth came back with a run in the top of the fourth, scoring Ryan Patterson after he doubled to start the frame. However, Pensacola got the run right back in the bottom of the inning, when Luis Guance went deep for the first time this year. The solo shot put the Pelicans back up by four.
The Cats rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth and tied the game at five apiece. Ryan Patterson singled; John Allen did as well, but was out at second when Michael Bell reached on a fielder’s choice. Kelley Gulledge hit a single that plated Patterson, Isa Garcia singled to bring Bell home, and Brian Fryer hit a double that brought two more runs in.
The Pelicans took the lead for good when Lou Palmisano hit his second dinger of the year, a mono-blast with one out. The Pelicans added another run in the bottom of the seventh when Leandro, who walked, made it to third on two groundouts and scored on an error by the third baseman that would have ended the inning.
Aaron Jackson started the game for Pensacola and went 5.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks. Tyler Wilson provided steady relief, allowing just two hits over eight outs, and striking out two while earning the win. Hunter Davis came on in the ninth and stung the Cats to pick up his nineteenth save, yielding only a walk.
Antoin Gray and Chase Burch each went 2-4, with Gray hitting the double. Guance and Palmisano both went deep, and Leandro walked three times going 0-1. Kevin Reynolds stole two bases on the evening, bringing his season total to nine.
The Pelicans will look for the sweep tomorrow as Ulysses Roque makes his first start of the year for Pensacola. He will counter Joel Kirsten with tomorrow’s first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Pensacola Pelicans Win Third Straight
August 8, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans extend their lead in first place to two games after defeating the Fort Worth Cats 8-3 on Friday night. Randy Beam earned his eighth win as the Pelicans led from the third inning on.
The Pelicans scored first in the incipient inning, bringing Kevin Reynolds home on a Marcos Rodriguez base hit. The Pels added another run in the inning when Antoin Gray came home on a fielder’s choice hit by Adam Darby.
Fort Worth tied it up in the top of the second. After John Allen walked, Michael Bell hit home run number 11 on the year to even the score at two.
The Cats actually went up by a run in the top of the third, bringing home Chuck Carter on a sacrifice fly.
The Pels added three more runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good. Marcos Rodriguez started the inning with a double, and moved to third when Chase Burch grounded out to second base. Adam Darby walked, and Dallas Christison picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice, scoring Rodriguez from third. After Lou Palmisano walked to load the bases, catcher’s interference put Luis Guance on first. That forced Darby home, Palmisano to second, and Christison to third. Reynolds followed with a sacrifice fly to score Dallas, and the Pelicans led 5-3.
Pensacola cemented the outcome with a three run sixth. Leandro led off with a single and stole second, coming home on a base knock by Marcos Rodriguez, his second of the night. Rodriguez stole second, and after Burch walked and Christison did the same, Palmisano hit a single that scored both Rodriguez and Burch.
The Pelicans bullpen handled things the rest of the way. Ron Hill allowed one hit while striking out three in the seventh and eighth, and Joey Wedner pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with a strikeout. The Pelicans’ starter, Randy Beam, went six innings allowing three earned runs on four hits, yielding two walks and striking out three.
At the plate, Lou Palmisano walked three times, and his only official at-bat was the two RBI single. Francisco Leandro went 3-3 with two stolen bases, two walks, and a run. Marcos Rodriguez went 3-4 with a double, two RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored.
The Pels and Cats play again on Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
NWE All-Stars Thank Community For Support (Updated)
August 7, 2009
Members of the 11-12 year old Northwest Escambia All-Stars and their manager thanked the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Thursday night for a donation that helped them travel to Coconut Creek near Fort Lauderdale for the 11-12 Year Old State Softball Tournament late last month.
Mallory Ryan (left), Manager Jerry Mason and Cheyanne Schoonover spoke to the Ruritan Club Thursday night, also offering their thanks to the many other businesses and community members that that supported the team.
The NWE All-Stars fell short of a state championship, dropping games to Mims from Cape Canaveral and South Tampa.
The following was submitted by the NWE All-Stars:
The NWE 11-12 year old girls’ softball team and coaches would like to thank the following for their support in sending our girls to the state playoffs in Coconut, Florida on July 24th:
Jeff Hester, Southern Plumbing, First Assembly of God, Buy-Rite, Jackie Helton, Atmore Animal Clinic, Midtown Auto Parts, Jerry’s Hardware, Buster’s, Millers Antiques, NAPA-Atmore Auto Parts, Gerry McGhee, Mayor Howard Shell, Escambia Lawn and Rental, Dale Ash, Modern Woodmen of America, Losson White, Ernie Hester, Escambia Grain, Walnut Hill Ruritan, State Line Pawn Shop, Creek Indians, Mike Stacey, Edward Jones, Linda Bailey, Brantley’s, R.J. Stuckey, Jr. Inc., Gilmore Services, Allen Walston, Petty Funeral Home, Pepsi, Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, and Southern Family Markets.
From the 11-12 year old Northwest Escambia All-Star girls’ softball team, we say THANK YOU, without you this trip would not have been possible.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Print A Copy: NHS Football Schedule
August 4, 2009
In just over two months, the Northview High School Chiefs will take to the football field for their Kick-off classic.
It will be a year of change for the Chiefs. They will be under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Sid Wheatley following the resignation of Head Coach Cody Keene. The Chiefs will also be in a new district taking on several different opponents this year.
Northview dropped to Class 2A District 1 into a district with with Jay, Baker, Vernon, Sneeds, Freeport, Holmes County, South Walton and Bozeman.
This year’s Northview High School varsity football schedule is below.
Click the graphic to download a printable pdf.
Pelicans Flirt With First
August 3, 2009
The Pelicans cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Fort Worth Cats on Sunday, momentarily tying them for first place in the division with Shreveport-Bossier. Randy Beam was fantastic through eight innings, and Ron Hill struck out two in a perfect ninth inning. Dallas Christison had two RBI-singles, two runs scored, and a stolen base as the Pelicans earned a 2-1 series win over the Cats.
The Pelicans prowess began in the bottom of the third with an Adam Darby double. After a ground out, Dallas Christison drove Darby in to score. Christison scored as well on a groundball to the shortstop by Francisco Leandro to give Pensacola a 2-0 advantage.
The Cats cut into the Pelicans’ lead with an Isa Garcia homer to start the fifth. That run would be the only one of the game for the Cats, as Randy Beam handled the Cats for eight innings, yielding just four hits, a walk, and striking out four in his seventh victory of the year.
Pensacola supported their starter the whole game, adding two more runs in the bottom of the fifth frame. Adam Darby led off with a walk and moved to second on an Adam Deleo sacrifice bunt. Dallas Christison hit his second RBI-single of the evening to drive in Darby, and then stole second base. Leandro drove in Dallas to put the Pels up 4-1 after five.
The Pelicans added another pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth when Leandro hit his second single of the night. He scored when Chase Burch followed with a double, and Burch scored on an Antoin Gray base hit to give the Pelicans their sixth and final run.
Ron Hill pitched the ninth and struck out John Allen, induced Michael Bell to fly out to centerfield, and struck out Ryan Patterson to seal the victory.
With the Captains losing the first game in a double-header against Lincoln, Pensacola was tied with the Captains for the division lead at the time of this publication.
Pensacola travels overnight to Grand Prairie to take on the Air Hogs for four games before returning to Pensacola. Fans can follow all the action tomorrow at 6:50 p.m. by tuning to NewsRadio 1620 or going online at SportsJuice.com.
Ball Tourney Raises $2,176 For Cancer Patient
August 2, 2009
Organizers are calling a coed softball tournament held Saturday in Walnut Hill a complete success, with $2,176.75 raised for cancer patient Marty Green.
There were seven teams that participated in the tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
The tournament winner was All Mixed Up, and Buck Wild. Other teams participating were Sold Out (the Christian Home Freewill Baptist Youth Group), Christian Home Freewill Baptist, Young Guns, High Voltage and Flora-Bama.
Tournament organizers, Northwest Escambia Little League and Northwest Escambia Football, expressed a heartfelt “thanks” to those that participated and volunteered to make the tournament a success.
To read a NorthEscambia.com story about Marty Green from Thursday morning, click here.