Pelicans Win Seventh Straight in Sweep of Sioux City
July 27, 2009
Pensacola extended their winning streak to seven straight games with a 14-5 clobbering of the Explorers Sunday night. Adam Brandenburg’s first victory sealed the four-game sweep, though the Explorers initially jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Derek Schermerhorn led off with a walk and moved to second when Nick McCoola grounded out to first. Alex Llanos drove in Schermerhorn with a base hit, and scored himself when Jason Colson hit safely.
The Pelicans went on a tirade in the second and third innings, scoring a total of seven runs. Lester Contreras and Chase Burch each had RBI singles, and Adam Darby had two RBI: one on a double, and one on a single. Antoin Gray capped it all off with a two-RBI base knock to score runs six and seven.
The Explorers scored another run in the bottom of the fifth, plating McCoola on a Justin Nelson single, but the Pelicans responded with six more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. RBI singles were hit by Rodriguez and Deleo, and Chase Burch added two more RBI with a double. Contreras hit a sac fly and Guance grounded out but drove in a run.
The Pelicans added their fourteenth run of the game in the top of the ninth. Francisco Leandro led off the frame with a double and moved to third when Chase Burch singled. Marcos Rodriguez reached on a fielder’s choice and Leandro scored to put the Pelicans up 14-3.
After Adam Brandenburg finished the sixth inning, Ulysses Roque retired the next six Sioux City batters in order, striking out two. Joey Wedner pitched the ninth and allowed two runs on one hit and two walks, striking out one. The Pelicans won their seventh straight and swept the Explorers, but the win came at a price.
Four Pelicans were hit by Sioux City pitches: Antoin Gray, Luis Guance, and Kevin Reynolds twice. Despite the pummeling, no Pelican was hurt, and three of the four beanings resulted in a run.
Pensacola scored more runs in this game than they have in any other this year, exceeding the 12 they had on June 22 against Grand Prairie.
The Pelicans will carry their seven-game winning streak into a three game road series against the Wichita Wingnuts. The first-half North Division winners will throw Adam Cowart on Monday, a right hander with the lowest ERA in the league at 2.66. Pensacola will counter with righty Aaron Jackson. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and every pitch can be heard on NewsRadio 1620, with an internet broadcast provided by SportsJuice.com.
Mixed Day For Two Local Softball Teams In State Tournaments
July 26, 2009
Saturday was a mixed day for two local teams competing for state softball championships. Both Tri-County and Northwest Escambia remained alive in their respective tournaments after Saturday play, but both has losses.
Going into Sunday games, Tri-County is 1-1 in state tournament play, and Northwest Escambia is 0-2.
Tri-County All Stars
The 10-11 year old Tri-County All-Stars won their first game in the state tournament Saturday morning near Orlando, but fell short in their second game in the afternoon.
Tri-County beat Mt. Dora 10-2 in a Saturday morning game. Saturday afternoon, Tri-County lost to South Tampa 9-4.
They will play Sunday in a semifinal game as second seed in their pool. Tri-County will take on Land-o-Lakes at 10 (EDT) Sunday morning.
The tournament is in Windermere, Florida, just outside Orlando.
Northwest Escambia All Stars
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars have dropped two in the 11-12 Year Old State Tournament in Coconut Creek, Fla., just north of Fort Lauderdale.
NWE lost their first weekend game to Mims from Cape Canaveral 12-3 in six innings. Saturday morning, NWE lost to Windermere 10-3.
Northwest Escambia will take the field again Sunday against South Tampa.
Pictured above: The NWE 10-11 Year Old All-Stars. Pictured below: The 10-11 Year Old Tri-County All-Stars. File photos, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Win Sixth In A Row
July 26, 2009
Dane DeValk was the best he’s been in Pensacola’s 6-0 win, keeping the Explorers scoreless in a complete game. With the win, Pensacola has claimed victory in their last six straight games.
Pensacola wasted no time jumping out to a healthy lead. In the top of the second, Marcos Rodriguez started off with a single and advanced to second when Lou Palmisano walked. Kevin Reynolds followed with a RBI single that scored Rodriguez from second, and Palmisano moved up to third. Dallas Christison batted next and lifted a fly ball to right field. The sacrifice fly scored Palmisano and the Pels led by two. Another run scored when Adam Darby hit a groundball that the second baseman booted into right field. Reynolds scored on the play and Darby reached first on the error. Antoin Gray followed with a single that pushed Darby to second, and Darby scored when Francisco Leandro picked up his second hit of the night to give the Pelicans’ a 4-0 advantage.
Adam Deleo replaced Lou Palmisano at catcher in the bottom of the second, and Dane DeValk continued to rack up strikeouts. DeValk had five when the Pelicans came to bat in the top of the seventh and added two more runs to the scoreboard. Leandro led off with his third hit of the night, and advanced to second when Burch knocked a base hit. Marcos Rodriguez grounded out to first base unassisted, but as the first baseman tried to complete the double play by throwing to second, the throw went wide. Burch advanced to third on the play, and Leandro came in to score. Adam Deleo followed by lifting a sacrifice fly that brought Burch home and the Pelicans were up by six.
Dane DeValk finished the evening by striking out eight batters and allowing just four hits and a walk. Only one Explorer ventured as far as third base on the night, as Dane DeValk improved to 4-2 on the year.
The Pelicans will look for the sweep on Sunday, as Pensacola throws Adam Brandenburg against the Explorer’s Steve Spurgeon. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and can be heard on NewsRadio 1620, or online via SportsJuice.com.
School District To Insure Student Athletes For Free
July 22, 2009
All Escambia County student athletes will have free accident insurance complements of the school district during the upcoming school year.
The bill for $55,820 blanket insurance policy will be paid out of the Escambia County School Districts $9 million reserve fund. The board voted 3-2 Tuesday night to provide the insurance, with Patty Hightower and Gerald Boone voting against the plan. Boone and Hightower instead supported a plan requiring all student athletes to purchase a policy from the school system at $12 per high school student and $6 for each in middle school.
The new insurance plan will be at no cost to student athletes in any sport regardless of their current insurance status. If a child is already insured, the school district policy will serve as secondary coverage, covering additional expenses like co-pays on the primary policy.
During the last school year, if a student provided proof of at least $25,000 in insurance, they were not required to purchase a district policy. If they opted for the district policy, it last year’s cost was $54 for football players, $20 for soccer players and $9.50 for other sports.
The district current has about 5,500 total student athletes.
Two Benefit Softball Tournaments Planned
July 22, 2009
Two different benefit softball tournaments are planned in North Escambia during August — one to help with a local resident’s medical expenses and one to benefit the Northview High School Quarterback Club.
Benefit Tournament for Marty Green
A coed softball tournament to benefit Marty Green will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on August 1 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. The coed softball team must consist of seven men and three women, double elimination. There is a $200 entry fee. For more information, contact Bodie Tullis at (850) 327-6788 or (850) 327-6722, Theresa Hanks at (850) 327-6722 or Pam Brown at (850) 327-6155.
The tournament is sponsored by Northwest Escambia Little League and Northwest Escambia Football, with all proceeds going toward Marty Green’s medical expenses.
Benefit Tournament For NHS Quarterback Club
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 is $200 per team.
The proceeds will benefit the football program at Northview High School. For complete details and contact information, click here (pdf).
Pcola Pelicans Enter All-Star Break With 8-6 Win
July 20, 2009
The Pelicans’ spirits were soaring after sweeping the Saints on Sunday. Kyle Middleton earned his fifth win, Hunter Davis took his fourteenth save, and Adam Darby went deep in an 8-6 victory at Pelican Park.
The Saints took an early lead by scoring Jason Cooper in the first inning. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Cooper moved to second when Brent Krause was hit by a pitch. Josh Alley took advantage of the situation by scoring Cooper with a base hit.
St. Paul added to their total with a big third inning. Cooper reached first again, though on an error by the first baseman that allowed him to take second as well. Krause walked and Alley followed with his second RBI-single that scored Cooper. Andrew Schmiesing scored Krause with a single, and Scott Knazek put down a suicide squeeze that brought Alley home to put the Saints’ lead at four.
The Pelicans lessened the lead with a run in the bottom of the third. Adam Darby hit a single in his first at-bat, moved to second when Antoin Gray walked, and touched third when Francisco Leandro reached on a force-out to second. Marcos Rodriguez followed with a sacrifice fly to left that brought Leandro in for the Pelicans’ first run.
Pensacola went on a tear in the fourth inning when Lou Palmisano led off the bottom frame with a base knock. Rafael Alvarez walked and both runners moved up a base after Adam Deleo put down a sacrifice bunt. Dallas Christison scored Palmisano with a base hit, and Adam Darby brought the remaining runners in with a three-run bomb to right. Darby hit his second home run in as many days to bring his season total to three and the Pelicans took a 5-4 lead.
The Saints pulled even again when Brent Krause scored on a Jake Butler sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth, but the Pelicans went up by two in the bottom of the inning. Palmisano again led off with a hit, this time a double. Rafael Alvarez thanked him with a base hit to bring Palmisano back to the dugout. After Deleo singled, Dallas Christison reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Alvarez and the Pelicans took a two-run lead.
The Pels added insurance in the eighth, as Francisco Leandro tapped the third single of his birthday. Leandro promptly stole second, and Rodriguez provided the icing on the cake with a single to bring him in.
Cooper tried to close the gap with a triple to begin the ninth inning, but after he scored on a groundout by Krause, the Saints’ scoring was over and so was the game: the Pelicans won 8-6 to sweep the Saints heading into the All-Star break.
Kyle Middleton picked up his fifth win in the Pelicans’ third straight, pitching seven innings. He gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and three walks. Middleton struck out five to improve his league-leading total to 83. Aaron Jackson pitched a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and notching a strikeout to setup Hunter Davis’ fourteenth save of the year. Davis picked up the save while allowing an earned run on a hit with a walk.
The Pelican bats were alive and well in a game that saw Adam Darby go yard, and both Rodriguez and Palmisano hit a double. Darby finished the evening 2-4 with two runs scored and three RBI; Rodriguez went 2-4 as well. Palmisano joined Francisco Leandro in going 3-4, as Leandro swiped a base.
Most of the Pelicans will take an All-Star break, while Davis, Middleton, Burch and Gray will represent the South Division in the All-Star game to be played July 21 in Grand Prairie, TX. Antoin Gray will be the starting second baseman, and both he and Chase Burch will partake in the Home Run Derby before the game. NewsRadio 1620 will carry the game that’s slated for 7:35 p.m. Central Time.
The Pelicans return to action July 23 as they take on the Explorers in Sioux City. The 7:05 p.m. game can be heard on Pelicans flagship station NewsRadio 1620, or online via SportsJuice.com.
The Pelicans will conclude their seven-game road trip by returning home on July 31 to host the Fort Worth Cats. The Woodstock Weekend will be filled with grooviness for all, and all are assured a far-out time. Tie-dying and music from the era will cap off the themed home stand. Tickets are on sale now at Pensacola-area Circle K locations, or online at www.pensacolapelicans.com. Phone orders may be placed by calling (850) 934-8444.
Northwest Escambia All-Stars Headed To State After Sectional Win
July 19, 2009
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars are headed to the state tournament after winning the 11-12 Year Old Major League All-Star Sectional Tournament championship Saturday in Destin.
NWE beat Chairs-Capitola 3-2 in the first game of the tourney. Mallory Ryan pitched six, striking out two and giving up just two walks. Reagan Bell scored one for Northwest Escambia, and Madison Arrington added a couple.
Arrington had an impressive in-park home run for NWE.
NWE took game two of the series for the championship, 10-0.
Mallory Ryan pitched three innings for Northwest Escambia, striking out four and giving up no walks. Courtney Peebles finished the game on the mound for NWE.
Arrington, Darby Randolph, Addy Lee and Ryan scored one each for Northwest Escambia. Courtney Peebles and Kyndall Hall picked up two each for NWE.
Northwest Escambia will travel about 650 miles to the state championship tournament in Coconut Creek, Fla., which is just north of Fort Lauderdale. Brackets for the eight-team tournament are not complete.
The NWE 10-11 Year Old All-Stars with their championship banner Saturday afternoon in Destin. Pictured middle: (L-R)Danielle Steadham, Addy Lee, Kyndall Hall, Kendal Cobb, Courtney Peebles, Darby Randolph, Reagan Bell, Cheyanne Schoonover. Pictured front: Mallory Ryan and Madison Arrington. Pictured back row: Manager Jerry Mason and Coach David Arrington. Pictured below: Mason and Arrington accept the team’s championship plaque. Submitted photos by Kim Ryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Return To Winning
July 18, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans earned a victory as the Saints came marching into Pensacola Friday night. St. Paul put up two runs early, but Pelicans’ starter Randy Beam shut down the Saints through the eighth inning. Hunter Davis picked up his thirteenth save by pitching a scoreless ninth as the Pelicans scored five runs in the game to win.
Josh Alley singled in the top of the first and then stole second base. With one out, Jake Butler hit a base knock as well, and Brent Krause followed with a double that scored both runners.
Pensacola cut the Saints’ lead in half with a run in the bottom of the third. Antoin Gray led off with a single, and Francisco Leandro hit one too that moved Gray to third. Mark Moriarty hurled a wild pitch that allowed Gray to score and the Pelicans were on the board.
The Pelicans tied the game and more in the bottom of the fifth. Chase Burch hit his team-leading thirteenth double on the year to lead off the frame. He moved to third on a groundout to the shortstop by Marcos Rodriguez, and scored when Luis Guance hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Pelicans used a two-out rally to take the lead when Rafael Alvarez walked and scored on a Lester Contreras two-bagger. Adam Deleo followed with a base hit to score Contreras and the Pelicans led 4-2.
Pensacola added another run in the bottom of the eighth. Former Major-Leaguer Kerry Ligtenberg allowed Adam Darby to reach first and second base on an error by the first baseman. Darby was held at third on a single by Francisco Leandro, but scored on a sacrifice fly by Chase Burch.
Randy Beam pitched eight innings, allowing both earned runs on five hits, striking out six and yielding just two walks. Hunter Davis walked one and struck out one in the top of the ninth.
The Pelicans had three batters collect multiple hits, as Leandro and Burch went 2-3, and Adam Deleo finished the evening 2-4. Burch and Contreras each hit a double, and Luis Guance stole two bases. Alvarez and Darby also had a swiped-base each.
The Pelicans and Saints return to action on Saturday, as the 6:05 p.m. first pitch will pit LHP Jason Navarro against the Saints’ RHP Tom Buske. After Saturday’s game is concluded, the Pelicans will host a fireworks extravaganza above Jim Spooner Field at Pelican Park. Tickets are available at Pensacola-area Circle K locations and start as low as $7. Tickets are also available online at www.pensacolapelicans.com, and in-person at Pelican Park on the day of the game.
Sid Wheatley To Be Northview’s Head Football Coach
July 17, 2009
Sid Wheatley is the new interim head football coach at Northview High School.
Wheatley will fill the position left open when Cody Keene announced earlier this week that he was resigning to take a head coaching job at Hooper Academy in Montgomery. He has served as Keene’s assistant coach since the 2005 season, most recently coaching the offensive line and defensive backs last season.
Wheatley has served as Northview’s baseball team since 2005, and he also teaches history at the school. Wheatley attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he received a Bachelor’s degree in coaching and sports administration.
This is not the first time Wheatley has served as a head football coach — he led Loyd Star High School in Brookhaven, Miss. from 2002 to 2003. He’s also served as an assistant football coach at various other schools in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.
Captains Beat The Pelicans In Five
July 17, 2009
The Captains swept the Pelicans with the aid of rain on Thursday night, winning the final game of the series 3-2 in five innings. An hour and two minute rain delay occurred after the end of the fifth inning, ultimately ending in the game being called due to weather. Antoin Gray hit a two-run bomb for the Pelicans’ runs in the top of the third inning, his ninth round-tripper of the year, but Shreveport-Bossier scored two to tie in the bottom of the fourth. The Captains’ lone run in the bottom of the fifth would end up deciding the contest, as the Captains have now won eight straight games.
The Pelicans tapped the scoreboard first in the third inning. Luis Guance led off with a double, and came home when Antoin Gray hit his ninth homerun of the year. The Pelicans took a two-run lead, but the Captains would tie it in the fourth.
With one out, Andres Rodriguez hit a triple off the centerfield wall in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jose Torres followed with a walk, and Rodriguez scored when Dwayne White hit a sacrifice fly. Jonathan Reynoso batted next and hit a single, scoring Torres to tie the game at two apiece.
Adam Brandenburg made his third start for the Pelicans, pitching two outs into the bottom of the fifth. He walked Dan Williams to start the bottom-half of the fifth, Brandenburg’s third base on balls. He allowed his sixth and final hit on the next batter, as Bryan Sabatella put down a bunt single. After catching a pop-up from Richard Paz and recording his only strikeout with Chris Garcia, Brandenburg left his third earned run up to Joey Wedner. Wedner gave up a RBI-single to Andres Rodriguez and the Captains took a 3-2 lead. Torres followed and struck out, ending the fifth inning with a 3-2 Captains lead.
An hour and a two-minute rain delay followed, ending in the game being called and the Captains claiming victory. Brandenburg took the loss, and Ronald Lowe earned his fifth win of the year.
The Pelicans drive to Pensacola overnight to host the St. Paul Saints Friday through Sunday. Friday’s game begins at 6:35 p.m. and will be followed by a Boy Scout Campout on the field of Pelican Park. Tickets are available now at Pensacola-area Circle K locations, online at www.pensacolapelicans.com, and at the park on the day of the game. Saturday’s game will be followed by fireworks, and Sunday will be a Kids Day, with all Kids Club members gaining free admission while wearing the Kids Club t-shirts. For more information, please call the Pelicans at (850) 934-8444.
Pictured above: The rains came during the Pensacola Pelicans game Thursday night. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.