Amazing Photo Catches Northview Softball Player’s Leg Being Broken
February 27, 2009
An amazing photograph shows the moment Northview softball player Amber McMillan’s leg was broken in tournament game against Enterprise High School in Dothan, Alabama.
“She loved it,” mom Donna McMillan said of Amber’s reaction to the photo. “She’s got the ball, signed by all of the players, the pants that had to be cut off of her and the photo that she plans to frame and put in her room.”
Amber, 16, is improving, Donna said. She’s not in a cast…she has a metal rod in her leg, and she’s on crutches. She’s expected to be healed in about six to eight weeks.
Amber will visit the Andrew’s Institute in Gulf Breeze Monday afternoon to find out more about her treatment and when she will be able to head back to school.
“She plans to play in the district tournament,” Donna said. But Amber’s mom and her dad Mac don’t agree with that optimistic outlook.
Amber has always been active in sports, playing softball since she was four-years old. She’s participated in softball, volleyball, cheerleading, track, basketball and golf. And the broken leg was her first ever injury.
After the accident, no one was sure exactly how Amber’s leg was broken — until they saw the photo.
As for the play itself…the photo shows Amber catching the ball as her leg was broken. She held on to the ball and got the out.
Pictured above: Northview softball player Amber McMillan’s left leg is broken in tournament game in Dothan. Submitted photo by Scott Harris, www.scottharrisphotos.com for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Beat Pcola High 5-0; Updated Story With Stats
February 25, 2009
The Northview High School varsity baseball team shut out Pensacola High School Tuesday night in Bratt. The Chiefs beat PHS 5-0. Pictured above: Scooter Hamilton at bat. Pictured below: Brad Lowery hits for the Chiefs. Pictured bottom: Patrick McPherson scores. Submitted photos by Heather Leonard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hitters for Northview- Reid 1-3 1 R, Stuckey 1-3, 2b (double), 1R, A. Lowery 1-3, 1R, Hamilton 1-3, 1 RBI, Langhorne 0-3, 1R, 1RBI, Mcphearson 0-3, 1R, B. Lowery 0-4, 1RBI, Foster 0-3, 1RBI, Sheets 0-2, 1RBI, Burkett 0-1. Pitchers- B. Lowery 6 IP, 2-H, 0-R, O-ER, 3-BB, 8-K’s, 1-HB/ Hanks 1-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 2-BB, 0-K, Northview 1-W, 2-L, 0-T.
All the runs came in the fourth, started by a Langhorne hit to second which scored two runs, after an throwing error to first base on a play on Langhorne, then A. Lowery got on base by a fielders choice which put Langhorne on second, Mcphearson was put on base with a hit by pitch, which loaded the bases, Sheets got on with a error and moved in 1run and keeping bases loaded again, Hamilton got on base with an error and moved in one run, B. Lowery had a sacrifice to score the final run. Chiefs were able to hold off PHS with solid pitching and error free defense to win the game.
Stats submitted by Rodney Burkett.
County To Host Pitching, Hitting, Running Event
February 22, 2009
Do you have a child that would like to showcase his or her pitching, hitting and running abilities? The Escambia County Neighborhoods and Community Services Bureau will host the Aquafina Pitch, Hit, & Run event, which will be held Saturday, March 7, beginning at 9 a.m.
Both boys and girls will compete together, having four chances to win in each age group: all-around champion, pitch champion, hit champion and run champion. Children from age seven to 14 are eligible to compete.
This free event will take place at the John R. Jones Athletic Park, 555 E. Nine Mile Road.
To register for the event or for more information, please contact the Brandi Daigle, Neighborhoods and Community Services Bureau at (850) 475-5220 or email recreation@co.escambia.fl.us or visit our web site at www.myescambia.com.
Ball Registration In Molino And Walnut Hill Today; Last Day For NWE
February 21, 2009
Registration was held at two area ballparks today, including Bradberry Park where today was the last day to register.
It was the last day of registration for Northwest Escambia Little League at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. Registration is also going on at for the Molino Recreation Association at Don Sutton Park. Details for both parks are below.
Registration for Northwest Escambia Little League baseball continues each Saturday until February 21 from 10 a.m. until noon at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
The cost is $35 for the first child from a family, $25 for the second child and free for each additional child. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is required for registration.
This year, NWE will offer Wee Ball for children ages 3 and 4 on the brand new “Drew’s Field”
- Wee Ball — ages 3 & 4
- Tee Ball — ages 5, 6 & 7
- Minor and Major League Baseball — ages 8 to 12
- Minor and Marjor League Softball — ages 8 to 16
- Junior and Senior League Softball –ages 13 to 16
- Junior and Senior Leage Baseball — ages 13 to 16
- Machine Pitch Baseball — age 8
For more information, call 327-6722 or 327-6155 after five p.m.
Registration will be held each Saturday for the Molino Recreation Association at Don Sutton park in Molino. Registration will continue each Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. through February 28. The annual draft will be February 28 at 3 p.m.
Registration fees have been reduced this year due to the economy. This year, registration fees are $50 for the first child, $45 for the second, $40 for the third and free for additional players from the same family. A birth certificate copy is required to be on file for each child.
Teams for the Molino Recreation Association will include:
- Wee Ball –ages 3 & 4
- Tee Ball — ages 5, 6 & 7
- Baseball — ages 8 to 15
- Girls Softball — ages 8 to 16
If you would like to coach or just help out on your child’s team, you can sign up on the day your child is registered. For more information, call 587-4090.
Local Residents Place In Pensacola Marathon
February 16, 2009
Three North Escambia residents placed in Sunday morning’s Pensacola Marathon.
Kim Chambless of Walnut Hill placed 12th in the Female Age Group 40-44 with a time of 5:43:05.73. Right on her heals was Mary McPherson of Century in the 13th place with a time of 5:51:44.96.
Matt Dobson of Jay placed first in the Male Age Group 35-39 with a time of 2:47:00.26.
Northview Chiefs Miss Out On District Title
February 15, 2009
The Northview High School varsity boys basketball team had their hopes of a district title crushed by Catholic High School in the district tournament at NHS.
The Crusaders downed Northview 70-59.
Catholic held a strong lead at the end of the first period of play, 22-13. By the half, the Crusaders had expanded that lead to 32-21. Catholic held NHS to just two points in the fourth period of play.
Catholic 22 11 18 18 — 70
Northview 13 8 14 2 — 59
Northview: Lance Bushaw 15, Aaron Bellamy 11, LaDarion White 10, Luke Killam 7, Colton Sims, Wayne Marshall 4.
Catholic went on to beat South Walton 51-43 Saturday night to capture the District 1-3A Championship.
Time To Register To Third Annual Molino Softball Clinic
February 14, 2009
The third annual Molino Softball Clinic will be held at Don Sutton Park on March 28.
The clinic will be directed by Charity Butler, former pro softball player with the Michigan Ice.
It will include defensive and hitting drills from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a pitching clinic from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m..
Sign up will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. $25 for one session, $35 for both. Checks are payable to Molino Ballpark. The click is for ages 14 and under.
If you need more information, contact Donnie Nicholson at (850) 207-0663 or visit charitynbutler.com.
Field Of Dreams: Bratt Residents Get Look At Their New Park
February 13, 2009
Clark Caraway begin work on his dream of a community park in Bratt 10 years ago. For the first time, he saw that dream in black and white Thursday night.
Caraway and several other Bratt residents even formed Bratt Community Park, Inc. back in 2001 to work toward the park.
Fast forward to Thursday night…Caraway sat in a public meeting at the Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church as Joy Jones from Escambia County’s parks and recreation department presented preliminary plan drawings for the Bratt Regional Park on Highway 4.
About 30 area residents learned that preliminary plans for the park include a paved, 8-foot wide walking/biking track around the perimeter of the park. There will also be exercise and rest stations positioned along the track.
Plans also call for one or two fenced softball fields, a half-court basketball court, a covered pavilion and playground equipment for children of various ages. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The money is already in the bank, so to speak, to fund the park’s amentities. District 5 Escambia Commissioner Kevin White has $200,000 in LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) funds set aside to fund the park’s development.
“We are trying to use the money we have to accomodate everybody on this park,” White said.
Some members of the audience Thursday night questioned if a recreation building, perhaps one large enough for an indoor basketball court, could be built on the propery. Jones said she did not believe that was possible with current funding. Other residents questioned lighting the park to keep it open until a reasonable time at night, running drinking water and other items not included in the concept.
Jones will work on finalizing park plans and options. She will have those plans posted on the county’s web site within 30 days, and the county will hold another public meeting within six weeks for public review.
Also at Thursday night’s meeting, White praised Kale and Donna Schneider who traded 57 acres of mostly wetlands that county owned on Hanks Road for their 13.19 acres at the corner of West Highway 4 and Bratt Road for the park.
“He stepped up to the plate to better his community,” White said of Mr. Schneider.
The new park will be located along Highway 4 between Bratt First Baptist Church and Northview High School
Pictured above: Clark Caraway discusses the new Bratt Regional Park at a Thursday night public meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church. Pictured below: Joy Jones (left) from Escambia Parks and Recreation discusses preliminary Bratt Regional Park plans with a local resident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Updated EWMS Cheerleader National Championship Photos
February 13, 2009
NorthEscambia.com readers followed the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders all last weekend from their arrival at Disney World to their second place win in the national championship.
We have added more photos from Disney and from the competition to our photo gallery. Click here to see the submitted photos.
Click here for the story about the championship cheerleaders.
Flomaton Football Star Tony Ellis Arrested For Sexual Abuse Of 12-Year-Old
February 11, 2009
Flomaton High School football star Tony Ellis has been arrested on multiple sexual abuse charges involving a minor.
Ellis, 18, was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexual abuse, criminal enticement and sodomy. Authorities are not releasing many more details, but the alleged victim was 12 years old.
Ellis was released on a $150,000 bond late Tuesday. If convicted on the charges, Ellis could face to up 10 years behind bars.
He was indicted last week by an Escambia County (Ala.) grand jury, and he was picked up by Escambia County (Ala.) deputies shortly after school ended Tuesday.
His high school career included at least 1,500 rushing yards per year for each of the last three years at Flomaton. Ellis, who is 5-foot-9, had over 5,000 rushing yards in his high school career with the Canes.