Pelicans Fall To Captains
July 16, 2009
The Pelicans jumped out to an early lead, as Antoin Gray scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Gray reached first and second on a throwing error by the third baseman. After a Chase Burch walk, Marcos Rodriguez hit a single that scored Gray and the Pelicans led 1-0.
The Captains would score all the runs they would need in the bottom of the fifth. Kevin Griffin led off with a single and moved to second on a Dan Williams sacrifice bunt. Richard Paz picked up a base hit and a RBI to tie the game, and then scored on a Chris Garcia double to take the lead.
Shreveport-Bossier added insurance in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice. Dan Williams reached on an error by the second baseman, and moved to second when Garcia walked. Andres Rodriguez followed with a double that scored both runners, and the Captains had a 4-1 advantage.
A combo of Jakob Cunningham and Justin Dowdy kept the Pelicans off the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth innings to preserve the Captains’ win. Dowdy blanked the Pelicans in the ninth to pick up his tenth save of the year.
Jimmy Heard picked up his fourth win of the year, pitching through the sixth inning. Dane DeValk took the loss (3-2), pitching five innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Ron Hill pitched the sixth and seventh while yielding two runs, Aaron Jackson pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Pelicans will try to fend off the sweep tomorrow, as they pitch LHP Adam Brandenburg against LHP Ronald Lowe. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and can be followed on NewsRadio1620, or online via SportsJuice.com.
NWE, Tri-County Out Of Junior And Senior Baseball Tourneys
July 16, 2009
Bad news for local Junior and Senior All-Star baseball teams — both Northwest Escambia are Tri-County are out of contention for state playoff positons.
Niceville-Valparaiso beat Tri-County 9-5 Wednesday night in Niceville for the District 1 Senior Baseball tournament title. It was Tri-County’s second loss to Niceville-Valparaiso. N-V beat Tri-County Monday night 5-0.
The District 1 Junior Baseball tournament crown went to Defuniak Springs Wednesday night in Walnut Hill. Defuniak beat Shalimar 10-5 for the championship.
The host Northwest Ecscambia All-Stars weres knocked out of that tournament with a Monday night loss to Shalimar 6-21 and a Saturday night loss to Niceville-Valparaiso 6-3.
FHSAA Recinds Policy; High School Games Return
July 16, 2009
The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted unanimously yesterday to rescind a new policy that would have reduced the number of games played in most high school sports.
The policy would have reduced varsity games by 20 percent and junior varsity games by 40 percent in most sports in an effort both to alleviate the financial crisis facing school districts and provide a uniform solution across the state. Varsity football was the one sport spared by cuts announced last April, with the schedule the next two years remaining at 10 games per year.
Since sports involving female athletes were all cut, many called foul, with a lawsuit claiming the policy amounted to gender discrimination under a law called Title IX. On Tuesday, the U.S. Justice Department and Department of Education filed a motion to join the lawsuit. Title IX prevents discrimination based upon gender in public schools.
The FHSAA was made aware of a possible Title IX violation and litigation in June, and worked diligently to be in compliance with Title IX. Since no compromise could be reached, a recommendation was made to hold a Board meeting to consider rescinding the amendments to the policy, the FHSAA said in a news release.
“I believe what we did in April was the best thing for the membership then, and given the situation, what we did today was in its best interest now,” said Board of Directors President Greg Zornes.
“I know there have been a lot of blogs and news articles about the FHSAA and this particular issue regarding gender equity. In actuality, the FHSAA is recognized by its peer members from other states as leading the nation in terms of providing equal and equitable opportunities for both boys and girls in high school,” said FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing. “We were yesterday, are today, and will be tomorrow, advocates for both boys and girls equally in creating life experiences that will make them healthier, happier and more competitive, while at the same time creating memorable experiences they will have for a lifetime.”
A temporary injunction meeting in the lawsuit is still scheduled for Friday, July 17. What impact, if any, the Board’s decision will have on that meeting is unknown.
The new policy would have seen baseball, basketball, softball and volley ball cut from 25 games to 20 allowed per year. At the JV level, those sports would have been cut from 25 maximum games per year to just 15. Junior varsity football teams would have been allowed to play six games rather than eight, while varsity football teams would have remained at 10 games per year.
The maximum number of games in other sports, such as track and field, golf and cross country, were also cut.
Pictured above: Sarah Killam, member of Northview High School’s Cross Country team, rounds the corner toward the finish line in a race last September. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Shreveport Beats The Pelicans
July 15, 2009
The Captains out-dueled the Pelicans 2-1 on Tuesday night to extend their winning-streak to six games. Luke Massetti earned the win to improve to 5-1 on the season, as Kyle Middleton took the loss and fell to 4-2. Justin Dowdy pitched a perfect ninth for the Captains to earn his ninth save of the year.
The Captains wasted no time in taking the lead, putting a run up in the bottom of the first inning. Bryan Sabatella led off with a single, and then stole second base. On the throw down to second, however, neither infielder covered the bag, and thus the play was ruled an error on the second-baseman, as per the rulebook. Sabatella advanced to third on the play, and scored when Chris Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Pensacola tied the game up in the third inning, as Luis Guance started it off with a single. He stole second base, and scored when Marcos Rodriguez ripped a base hit.
Shreveport-Bossier took the lead, and eventually the game, after scoring a run in the fifth inning. With one out, Sabatella hit his second single, stole his second base, and scored his second run when Richard Paz singled.
Kyle Middleton pitched seven innings for the Pelicans, allowing two runs, of which one was earned. He yielded eight hits, but no walks, as he struck out six batters. Tyler Wilson pitched a one-two-three eighth, striking out one.
The Pelicans are back in action tomorrow, as Dane DeValk will throw for Pensacola against the Captains’ Jimmy Heard. All the action can be found on NewsRadio1620 and online at SportsJuice.com. The pregame show starts at 6:50 with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Pictured above: Tyler Wilson of Andalusia, Ala, on the mound Tuesday evening for the Pensacola Pelicans. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Out of Junior League Tourney With Loss To Shalimar
July 15, 2009
Northwest Escambia has been eliminated from the District 1 Junior League All-Star Tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
Shalimar downed NWE 6-1. NWE was coming off a 6-3 loss to Niceville-Valparaiso, knocking them out of the double elimination tourney.
Defuniak Springs and Shalimar will meet Wednesday evening in the tournament championship game. In their first meeting on July 11, Defuniak Springs beat Shalimar 4-2.
Northview High Football Coach Keene Resigns
July 14, 2009
Northview High School Head Football Coach Cody Keene has resigned, leaving the school to head to Hooper Academy in Montgomery.
Keene announced his decision to his football team at a Monday morning practice and then met with the team’s seniors to stress the importance of good leadership to them. After that meeting, he sat down exclusively with NorthEscambia.com to talk about his decision.
“I was presented with another challenge that will allow us to be closer to my wife’s family, and closer to my kids,” Keene said, adding that his wife’s family is from Montgomery. “It is an opportunity that we have been praying about for months.”
Keene will be the fifth head coach at Hooper Academy in the past six years. But that does not bother him; he was the seventh coach in nine years at Northview.
He said he is proud of where the Chiefs have gone in his five seasons as head coach. Three of those six years were winning seasons, including back-to-back winning seasons from 2005 to 2007. One undefeated regular season. Two district championships. Three trips to the playoffs. Three Northview players gone on to college careers. Keene is proud of the numbers. But he’s prouder of the kids.
“I’m proud of these guys, and I am proud of where this program is,” he said.
There’s a bond between a coach and his players, one that Keene takes very seriously.
“It was hard on me; it was hard on them,” he said about his announcement to the players Monday morning. “But the kids are great kids. They will be fine.”
He is looking to the seniors to provide leadership for the rest of the team.
“There are some good leaders in that group, and they will lead the team through the transition,” he said, adding that he has faith that the remaining coaching staff will be able to lead the team until his replacement is announced. “One of them (the coaches) will step up to the challenge until a decision is made. They are good coaching team.”
Keene said this year will be an exciting one for the Chiefs. In a new district, Northview will face teams like Jay, Freeport, Sneeds and Bonifay. “All teams, except Jay because we didn’t play them, that we beat that 9-0 year,” he added with a smile.
“They are kids more like us — rural, small schools,” he said. “There will be real competition again for us in the district. Northview will have the opportunity to compete, the opportunity to win.”
Keene is confident that Northview will have a good season with the new district and talented assistant coaches.
“They are going to be fine,” he said. “I appreciate the support we have had from the fans, and I ask that they continue to support us.
While Keene said everything about Northview and his departure was positive, there was one major negative he wanted NorthEscambia.com to point out. You can read about it in another story by clicking here.
Northview Principal Gayle Weaver said Keene will be missed.
“He has been one of the best things that’s ever happened to Northview High School,” she said. “He has been the players’ friend, academic adviser and mentor.”
“He instilled a work ethic in the players on and off the field,” Weaver said. “He built a wonderful football program at Northview High School. He will be missed.”
Monday was Keene’s last day physically at Northview. He will be taking accumulated leave days until his official resignation date of August 14.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Coach: Why Doesn’t Northview Get A Field House Too?
July 14, 2009
Northview High School Head Football Coach Cody Keene says his departure from Northview High School is all about the positives — except for one little thing.
Every high school with a football program in Escambia County has a field house, except for Northview, and Keene says that is downright unfair.
Keene announced his departure as Northview’s head coach Monday morning. Read that story here.
At Pensacola High School, a field house was due to be completed in 2005 for $3 million, but it was delayed by Hurricane Ivan. When it was completed this year, the total price tag was $5 million. In the PHS field house, there are different wings for boys’ and girls’ sports, coaches’ offices, locker rooms for boys and girls, and even 52-inch flat screen televisions.
At Northview, there is no field house. Football players use the cramped PE locker rooms.
“How can the schools in Pensacola all have field houses and Northview doesn’t? How can the district leadership spend $5 million on a field house at Pensacola High and there is nothing here?” Keene said. “It’s not right. All of the students are Escambia District students. How can our board leave Northview out? We work just as hard. Why can’t they have a field house?”
Keene was clear that he was not criticizing Pensacola or the other high schools in the county; rather, he said he just wanted to point out that Northview’s program was lacking what had been provided to every other high school football program in the county.
“They deserve at Northview what everybody else gets,” Keene said. “We are a smaller school. Maybe we don’t need a $5 million field house. We could take a smaller field house.”
Pictured top: Northview High School Head Football Coach Cody Keene. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tri-County Beats Destin In Senior Baseball
July 13, 2009
Tri-County advanced in Senior Little League Baseball Tournament action over the weekend in Niceville.
The Tri-County All-Stars beat Destin 6-1. Tri-County will take on Niceville-Valparaiso at 6 p.m. Monday.
If they win, they will play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. If they lose, they will be back in Niceville at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Pelicans Wrap Up Six Game Series With Win
July 13, 2009
After an hour and 45 minute rain delay Sunday night, the Pensacola Pelicans started the final game of their six-game series against the El Paso Diablos. The game was a close one, but the Pelicans ultimately emerged victorious, 5-4. Both Antoin Gray and Chase Burch homered in the win, and Hunter Davis earned his twelfth save.
Jason Navarro started the game for the Pelicans and pitched seven strong innings, striking out nine in the process. He only walked one and allowed seven hits while yielding four runs. Three of the runs were earned, with the unearned run coming at the start of the game.
In the top of the first, Arnoldo Ponce singled with one out. He moved to second on the hit, but a throwing error by the third baseman gave him third base. Juan Camacho hit a single that scored Ponce, and the Diablos had the lead.
The Pelicans got the run back in the bottom frame. Antoin Gray hit a one-out single, so did Chase Burch, and so did Marcos Rodriguez to plate Gray. The tie was short-lived, however, as the Diablos re-took the lead with a run in the third.
Jeff Vincent walked and came around to score on a throwing error after Ponce grounded out to third base. In the bottom of the inning, Chase Burch hit his eighth homer of the year to tie the game at two.
Pensacola took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Lou Palmisano led off with a triple. When Lester Contreras grounded out to third base, Palmisano scored to put the Pelicans up 2-1.
The Pelicans added insurance an inning later, as Antoin Gray hit his eighth homerun of the year, a solo shot that tied Burch for the team lead.
El Paso used the long ball to score their next run when Jorge Alvarez went deep to lead off the sixth inning. The Diablos tied the game at four when Rodriguez hit a double to start the seventh inning and scored on a double by Jeff Vincent.
Pensacola scored the game winning-run in the eighth inning when Palmisano walked with one out. On a groundout to first base, Palmisano advance to second, coming around to score when Lester Contreras hit a RBI-single to give the Pelicans a 5-4 advantage.
Tyler Wilson pitched the eighth inning and allowed two hits, but achieved every out by strikeout. Hunter Davis started the ninth inning and found himself with runners at second and third, but he picked up his twelfth save by stranding them there. Antoin Gray also “saved” the game by making a fantastic catch on a two-out blooper to shallow right center. The second baseman’s outstretched glove found the baseball to finish the game and give the Pelicans a 4-2 series victory over the Diablos.
The Pelicans will have Monday off before they travel to Shreveport and play the first-place Captains for a three-game set Tuesday through Thursday. The Pelicans are one game back in second place, and return home on Friday, July 17 for a Boy Scout Campout Night at Pelican Park.
Junior Little League Tourney Underway; NWE Falls
July 12, 2009
The Junior League All-Star Tournament got underway Saturday at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill with host team Northwest Escambia losing their first game.
NWE fell 6-3 to Niceville-Valparaiso. Also Saturday, Defuniak Springs beat Shalimar 4-2.
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars will take on Shalimar Monday evening at 7:30, while Niceville-Valparaiso will play Defuniak Springs at 5:00 Monday at Bradberry Park.
For a complete photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured: Action from Northwest Escambia versus Niceville-Valparaiso Saturday night at Bradberry Park In Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.