Manager: Proud Of Tri-County All-Stars
June 20, 2009
The Tri-County All-Stars were eliminated from the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament in Walnut Hill Thursday night, and the team’s manager is proud of how his team played.
“These boys and coaches gave it all they had and played their hearts out. Everybody did their part for the team and courageously did all that was asked of them. We kept battling back and never quit. I’m real proud of them and couldn’t have asked for more,” said Manager Gary Killam.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
Defuniak Springs downed Tri-County 21-20 in seven innings Thursday night. Here are the stats from the game:
Triples: Niekel Robinson, Reid Kelly
Doubles: Seth Killam, Logan (2)
Singles: Neikel(1), Seth (2), Nolin Hawthorne (1), Reid,(1), Zack Wright (1)
Scored Runs: Niekel (2), Seth (5), Logan (2), Brent Groover (2), Dutch Burkhead (2), Reid (2),”MJ”Jones (1), Zach Wright (2)
Pitchers: Seth , MJ, Dutch , Zach Wright, Kevin Arant, Compiled total of 5 K’s
Note: Tri-Co’s team only struck out 3 times and De Funiak only 5 times. Game lasted about 3 1/2 hours.
Pictured above: “MJ”Jones gets a hit Thursday night against Defuniak Springs. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tri-County Falls To Defuniak
June 19, 2009
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Tri-County All-Stars Thursday night as they fell to Defuniak Springs in seven innings.
Defuniak beat Tri-County 21-20 to advance in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Defuniak Springs squeezed out the win on walks in the extra inning.
Defuniak Springs will face Destin Friday evening at 6. The winner of that game will play Niceville-National Saturday evening at 6.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured above: In this play, Seth Killam turned to avoid being hit by a bad pitch. He was not hit, but the end of the bat was hit by the ball. The umpire called the play a valid hit since the ball hit the bat. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tri-County Out Of 7-8 Year Machine Pitch Tourney
June 19, 2009
Tri-County has been eliminated from the 7-8 Year-Old Machine Pitch Tournament going on this week in Niceville.
Tri-County lost their first tournament game to Freeport 19-10. They advanced to beat Shalimar 13-9, and then lost their next game to Defuniak Springs 14-2.
In that tournament, Niceville-American will play Destin Thursday, with the winner advancing to play Niceville-National in the finals.
Tri-County Downs NWE To Advance In 8-9 Year Old Tournament
June 18, 2009
The Tri-County All-Stars have advanced in tournament play by defeating the Northwest Escambia All-Stars Wednesday night.
With their 19-10 win over NWE, Tri-County remains alive in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Tri-County will play Defuniak Springs Thursday at 6 p.m.
Northwest Escambia
Jacob McCullough, catcher, and Brannon Whitehead, third baseman, both went 2 for 4 at the plate, scoring twice, in the first and fourth.
Trey Holder, first baseman, hit a double in the first to score two runs.
Dawson Brown, Trey Holder, Jason Fischer, Preston Milstead, Logan Calloway and Chase Gifford each scored a run.
Jason Fischer was the starting pitcher for NWE. He pitched two complete innings. He threw only five pitches the first inning. Jason had three strike-outs and walked two, allowing only two runs in 39 pitches. Chase Gifford, Logan Calloway, and Levi Wagner also pitched.
Tri-County
Dutch Burkhead started the game as pitcher, allowing four runs. Neikel Robinson came in to explode on the mound striking out seven on 60 pitches in 3 1/2 innings. Brent Groover also pitched and Seth Killiam closed.
Zach Wright , Niekel Robinson, Brent Groover, and Seth Killam each had one single, while Reid Kelly hit three singles. Nolin Hawthorne went 3-4 with singles. Dutch Burkhead and Seth Killam each had a double and Logan Dobson hit two triples.
Niceville-National 18 Destin 8
Also Wednesday night, Niceville-National beat Destin 18-8.
Pictured above and below: NWE versus Tri-County action from Wednesday night at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tri-County Beats Shalimar 15-3, Advances To Play NWE
June 17, 2009
Tri-County eliminated Shalimar from the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
The Tri-Count All-Stars dominated Shalimar 15-3 in six innings.
Michael “MJ” Jones, Logan Dobson, and Neikel Robinson had two hits each, with Robinson and Dobson each ripping triples. Dutch Burkhead, Seth Killam, Reid Kelly and Brent Groover each delivered singles to advance Tri-County in tournament play.
Lefty Logan Dobson was the winning pitcher for Tri-County, which is made up of players from Century, Jay, Fidelis and Chumuckla. Middle relief pitching was provided by Reid Kelly and Dutch Burkhead, leaving Seth Killam to close out the powerful pitching tag-team.
“The victory was a team effort with every all-star contributing to the win,” said Team Manager Gary Killam. The teach celebrated with a traditional free ice-cold Coke to end a hot, humid game.
Tri-County advances to the next round of play Wednesday at 5:30 against the host Northwest Escambia All-Stars.
In other Tuesday night action, Defuniak beat Niceville American 9-8.
Pictured above: Tri-County scores Tuesday afternoon against Shalimar in tournament play in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: Tri-County steals another run as a Shalimar player holds out his glove awaiting the arrival of the ball (pictured mid-air in front of the standing Tri-County player). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School District May Require Insurance Purchase Before Athletes Can Even Try Out For Sport
June 17, 2009
Escambia County student athletes may be required to purchase insurance from a district approved carrier next year — even if the athlete has adequate private or even military insurance.
Kevin Windham, director of risk management for the Escambia County School District, presented the plan to the board at workshop meetingy.
Under current board policy, if a student provides proof of at least $25,000 in insurance, they are not required to purchase a district policy. The district policies current cost $54 for football players, $20 for soccer players and $9.50 for other sports.
The new plan would require athletes to have the district issued policy prior to even trying out for a sport. The problem, Windham said, is that a student may show proof of insurance at the beginning of a season, but parents may loose that insurance before a season ends. The district issued policy would shift liability in such a situation from the school district to the insurance carrier.
Windham said the district has located policies that would cost as little as $12 per student, regardless of their sport.
“I do not believe in disciplining the majority of parents who follow the rules because some do not. I believe mandatory insurance, unless it is extremely inexpensive, will discourage some from even trying out and will decrease participation,” Board Member Jeff Bergosh wrote on his blog.
“I think the goal of wanting every athlete covered is noble, however a new blanket rule that requires everyone to purchase additional insurance is aggressive; once the idea hits some who already have “gold-plated” Cadillac insurance plans that they are going to have to buy more—I think these people will become vocally opposed. For some it will be a matter of cost, but for more it will be a matter of principle,” Bergosh also wrote on his blog.
The school board voted 4-0, with District 5 Member Bill Slayton absent, to advertise the new rule for public input.
NWE Falls To Destin
June 16, 2009
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars fell to Destin Monday afternoon in the second day of play in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars tournament at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
NWE scored one and loaded the bases early in the game, but Destin dominated the scoring in the remainder of the game. Destin beat NWE 12-1 in four innings of play.
In the evening tournament game, Niceville-National beat Niceville-American 14-4.
Tuesday, Shalimar will play Tri-County at 5:30. Tri-County includes players from Century, Jay, Fidelis and Chumuckla. At 7:30 Tuesday evening, Defuniak Springs will play Niceville-American.
NWE will take to the field again Wednesday afternoon at 5:30 against the winner of Tuesday’s Tri-County versus Shalimar game.
Pictured: Action from NWE versus Destin at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
All-Star Tourney Begins In Walnut Hill; Tri-County Falls To Niceville
June 14, 2009
The Tri-County All-Stars team was dealt a loss Saturday as the first three games in the Florida District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars tournament were held in Walnut Hill
The Tri-County All-Stars were beat 10-0 in five and half innings Saturday night by Niceville-National. The Tri-County team is made up of players from Century, Jay, Fidelis and Chumuckla. Tri-County will play Shalimar Tuesday at 5:30 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
Shalimar lost to Niceville-American Saturday afternoon 8-4 in six, and Destin beat Defuniak Springs 11-1.
Niceville-National will advance to round two on Monday night at 7:30 against Niceville-American.
The host NWE All-Stars will play their first game in the tournament Monday afternoon at 5:30 against Destin.
All games are hosted by Northwest Escambia Little League at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
For a photo gallery from Niceville-American versus Shalimar game, click here.
For a photo gallery from Niceville-National versus Tri-County game, click here.
Pictured above and below: Action from Tri-County versus Niceville-National Saturday night at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
5K Race For The Blueberries Winners
June 14, 2009
About 160 runners and walkers entered the first annual 5K Race for the Blueberries Saturday during the Blueberry Jamboree in Barrineau Park.
Winners are listed below by category:
10 & Under Male
Nick Venabale, first; Kristian Sapien, second; C. Mayo, third
10 & Under Female
Ellen Barbank, first; Caitlyn Jennings, second
11 – 17 Year Old Male
Campbell Arnold, first; Luke Baldwin, second; Austin Wilkins, third
11 – 17 Year Old Female
Aryn Bradley, first; Lakelynn Parker, second; Emily Austraw, third
18 – 30 Year Old Male
Neil McDonash, first; Scotty Skaggs, second; Vinh Dinh, third
18 – 30 Year Old Female
Erin Fergus, first; Brooke Rowell, second; Cinda Skaggs, third
31 – 54 Year Old Male
Adam Beasley, first; Steve Ortiz, second; Doug Ortiz, third
31 – 54 Year Old Female
Maureen McBride, first; Eva Tucker, second; Ramona “Christine” Holmes, third
55 and over Male
Doug Kirby, first; Ron Bowman, second; Dennis W. Martin, third
55 and over Female
Beverly McElwee, first
First Place Walkers
10 and Under: Dillon Conh
11 – 17 Year Old: Elise Griffin
18 – 30 Year Old: Hannah Fowler
31 – 54 Year Old: Connie Curtis
55 and Over: Jim Beavers
The race went from the Barrineau Park Community Center on Barrineau Park School Road to the Touchable Blueberry Farm on Molino Road. This event was hosted by Escambia County Neighborhoods & Community Services Bureau and UF/IFAS Extension.
Lady Astros Bring Together Players From Several High Schools
June 12, 2009
The summer season is underway for the Lady Astros 16U softball team, and they’ve already picked up one tournament win.
“We have the talent and the softball skills that can get us in the finals,” said Head Coach Donnie Nicholson.
The players for the Lady Astros are from several area high schools, including Northview, Tate, Jay, Pine Forest and Escambia.
Picture above: (top row) Rachuel Zampino, Tate; Shaniqua Jones, Jay; Bri Biggs, Escambia; Lauren Mccall, Northview; Amy Clark, Northview; Marina Cobbs, Tate; (bottom row) Catherine Tucker, Tate; Ronni Renfroe, Tate; Allyssa Landus, Pine Forest; Avery Cobb, Tate; Heather Schaff, Tate; Mariena Harris, Tate; Al Crockett), coach; and Donnie Nicholson, head coach. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.