Eight Ernest Ward Middle School Cheerleaders Named All American
August 31, 2018
During a recent cheer camp at Ernest Ward Middle School, eight cheerleaders were named UCA All American. Each has been invited to take part in the Thanksgiving Day Parade at Disney World. They are (L-R) Jamison Gilman, Carsyn Dortch, Chloe Criswell, Leah Hetrick, Zakyla Smith, Sarah Bailey, Emma Gilmore and Leila Sanders. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Rain Shortened Game Over The Smokies 5-1
August 31, 2018
Pensacola snapped a 56-inning streak without a homer to power past the Smokies 5-1 Thursday night at Smokies Stadium.
Having not homered at all in their previous series against the BayBears, Shed Long homered off Matt Swarmer (L, 5-5) in the top of the seventh inning, which extended the Wahoos lead to 3-1 at the time. After a walk to Gavin LaValley, Taylor Featherston crushed a home run to left center, which put Pensacola up 5-1.
That was plenty of offense for Seth Varner, who turned in a fine bounce-back effort after his most recent outing against Mobile. On Thursday, Varner dealt six innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out four. Carlos Navas does not get credit for the save; however, he pitched the final 2.1 playable innings for the Wahoos in scoreless fashion. With a 2-2 count on Jesse Hodges, the rain came pouring down, and the field was left unplayable. After about a 40-minute delay, the game was declared official.
With the win, Pensacola maintains a half-game lead over the BayBears in the wildcard standings, and with Biloxi’s extra-inning win against the Barons, the Wahoos still trail the Shuckers by a half game in the second-half standings.
The series continues Friday night when RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (9-10, 4.50) tries to put his most recent start behind him. He will be opposed by LHP Justin Steele, who is only making his second start of the season with Tennessee, after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Northview, Jay Split Volleyball Matches
August 29, 2018
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Jay Lady Royals split volleyball matches Tuesday at Northview.
The junior varsity Chiefs defeated Jay 25-7, 25-10.
The varsity Royals beat the Chiefs 25-8, 25-23, 28-26.
Northview will travel to T.R. Miller Thursday beginning at 4 p.m., while Jay Will be at Flomaton Thursday beginning at 4 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Pick Up 2-0 Shutout Win Over Mobile
August 28, 2018
Pensacola was on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline Sunday night against the BayBears. Daniel Wright (W, 7-10) and the Wahoos flipped the script on Monday with a 2-0 shutout win at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
All the offense the Wahoos would need was supplied in the first inning. Mitch Nay began a two-out rally with a single off Matt Ball (L, 1-2). Aristides Aquino—in his first game back after a short stint in Cincinnati—followed with a walk. Shed Long drove them both home with a hustle-double to left-center that gave the Wahoos a swift 2-0 lead.
Wright’s start looked troublesome in the top of the first inning. The BayBears loaded the bases with only one out, but the right-hander evaded trouble after he struck out Joe Hudson and induced a groundout from Riley Unroe to end the threat. After retiring six straight, Wright stranded runners at second and third with two outs after he struck out Zach Houchins to end the fifth. Wright finished the night having dealt six shutout innings and the BayBears went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position against Wright.
The bullpen was equally as strong for Jody Davis on Monday. Jesus Reyes, who was returned to the Wahoos from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Wahoos. Alejandro Chacin matched him in the eighth, retiring the side in order. Alex Powers closed out the ninth with his 17th save of the year after he struck out the side. It was the Wahoos’ ninth shutout win of the season, and it came at one of the most critical junctures in the Pensacola’s season.
With the win, combined with Mississippi’s loss, the Wahoos trail the Shuckers by a half game in the second-half standings. They are also tied with the M-Braves for second-place. The series concludes tomorrow with RHP Wyatt Strahan (7-11, 6.45) trying to give Pensacola a valuable series win. Mobile hopes to hand Pensacola their fifth consecutive series loss when LHP Patrick Sandoval (1-0, 1.69) makes his third Double-A start this season.
Tate Opens With Win Over Choctaw (With Photo Gallery)
August 25, 2018
The Tate High School Aggies opened their 2018 regular season with a 28-21 win over Choctawhatchee of Fort Walton.
“I thought they played hard, you know. I thought our effort was good. The biggest thing we talked about was we didn’t start the game good and we didn’t finish it well,” Tate head coach Jay Lindsey said. “We can always work on that type of stuff. It’s the first game of the year, we have a lot of new faces you know. I am pleased we’ve got a lot to work on but we will always take a win against a very well respected program.”
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
The Indians jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with 5:06 to go in the first, but the Aggies were not going to end the quarter scoreless. With 47 seconds on the clock in the first, Tate tied it up 7-7 when senior quarterback Hunter Riggan found Timothy Lockhart with a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Early in the second, Riggan connected with Patrick Palmer, back from a knee injury last year, with a 78-yard touchdown pass, Tate 14-7. A couple of minutes later, the Indians unsuccessfully attempted a field goal.
With just 26 seconds go to in the half, Riggan had another touchdown pass, this one to senior Spencer Ruiz for a 21-7 Aggie advantage before heading to the lockers.
Tate and Choctaw were scoreless in the third.
Another touchdown early in the fourth to put the Aggies up 28-7. But the Indians were not going down without a fight — scoring two more touchdowns in the fourth for a 28-21 final.
Lindsey said Riggan showed maturity in his first regular season game.
“He threw the ball really well,” Lindsey said. “We had some good playmakers. They are really stopping the run pretty well, so we were able to take some deep shots down the field but you know, hats off to those guys. I though our defense played well for three quarters.”
The Tate Aggies (1-0) will host the West Florida Jaguars (0-1) next Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium. The Jags are coming off a 23-20 loss Thursday night to the Escambia Gators.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Open With A Really Big Win In A Really Long Game
August 25, 2018
The Northview Chiefs opened their regular season Friday with a really big win over Lighthouse Private Christian Academy of Pensacola in a really long game.
Coach Derek Marshman and his Northview Chiefs came out on top 46-20 in game that ended about three and a half hours after it’s 7:00 start time at Victor Randall Stadium at the Brent Athletic Park. The Lighthouse Christian Stingsrays do not have their own stadium.
The game did not go into overtime…it progressed slowly due to penalties and an unusual amount of time between plays.
The Northview High School Chiefs (1-1) will host the Flomaton Hurricanes (1-0) next Friday Night at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt. Flomaton is coming off a big 27-0 shutout of the Jay Royals.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Friday Night Football Final Scores
August 25, 2018
Here are high school football scores from around the area Friday Night:
Florida
- Tate 28, Choctaw 21 [Read more...]
- Northview 46, Lighthouse 20 [Read more...]
- Flomaton 27, Jay 0
- Pine Forest 27, Pensacola 6
- Milton 38 Washington, 15
- Navarre 35, Pensacola Catholic 7
- Gulf Breeze 41 Pascagoula, MS 15
- Pace 30, Fort Walton Beach 20
- Escambia 23, West Florida 20 (Thursday)
Alabama
- Flomaton 27, Jay 0
- Escambia Academy 63, Snook Christian
- Escambia County (Atmore) 16, T.R. Miller 7
- W.S. Neal 17 Southern Choctaw 7
Wahoos Drop Opener To The BayBears
August 25, 2018
The Blue Wahoos postseason hopes took another hit on Friday as they dropped the series opener, 9-4 to the BayBears at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
After a promising first inning from Seth Varner (L, 8-3), things quickly turned south. Varner allowed six runs over the next three innings was pulled from the game with the Wahoos trailing 6-0. Nick Howard replaced him in the fifth and the BayBears tacked on two more runs to take an 8-0 advantage.
Former Blue Wahoos Joe Hudson, in his first game at Blue Wahoos Stadium as a visiting player, tied his career high with four RBI after going 4-for-5 at the plate. Hudson doubled and homered in his first two at-bats, and fell a triple shy of the cycle.
Pensacola scored their four runs in the final two innings of the game. Connor Justus mishandled a groundball from Taylor Featherston, which allowed Shed Long to score. Luis Gonzalez followed with a fielder’s choice, which allowed Crook to score after he singled earlier in the inning. Pensacola brought two more runs home in the ninth innings thanks to back-to-back RBI singles from Crook and Featherston.
Unfortunately for the Wahoos, the rally was too little, too late. Pensacola had runners on base in every inning and wound up leaving 13 men on base after going 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position. The Wahoos now trail the BayBears by 1.5 games in the wildcard, and after Biloxi’s loss to Mississippi, trail the Shuckers by 1.5 games in the second-half standings.
RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (9-10, 4.15) will try to get the Wahoos back on track in the second game of the series. The BayBears have yet to disclose who will start for them on Saturday.
Lady Chiefs Lose Season Openers To Baker (With Gallery)
August 24, 2018
The Northview High School varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams fell in their season openers Thursday night.
The varsity Lady Chiefs lost a district match to Baker 7-25, 12-25, 7-25. After winning their first set 25-22, the junior varsity Lady Chiefs were defeated by the JV Lady Gators 9-25, 13-15.
Up next, the Northview Lady Chiefs will host a district match against the Jay Lady Royls on Tuesday. The junior varsity takes the court at 5:00; the varsity follows at 6:00 in Bratt.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Biloxi Completes Sweep Of The Blue Wahoos
August 24, 2018
Biloxi completed the five-game sweep at MGM Park Thursday night as the Wahoos dropped a heartbreaker, 3-2.
It was a promising start for the visitors when Jose Siri homered on the first pitch of the game from Cameron Roegner to give Pensacola a snappy 1-0 lead. For Siri, it was his 12th second-half home run, adding to the franchise record that he set earlier this year.
Wyatt Strahan (L, 7-11) started the game strong for the Wahoos. Strahan faced one over the minimum through the first five innings of his start. In the sixth, Cody Ponce’s (W, 7-6) one-out double marked the first time the Shuckers had a runner in scoring position against Strahan. It was also his first professional hit. After a flyout by Corey Ray, Troy Stokes Jr walked and Keston Hiura singled to tie the game at one. Lucas Erceg followed with an RBI single and the Shuckers jumped ahead 2-1.
In the seventh, Biloxi added one more run off of MLB-rehabber Rookie Davis. After a leadoff double by Luis Aviles Jr., a pair of flyouts moved and eventually scored Aviles from second.
Pensacola clawed their way back into the game with a run in the eighth. Malik Collymore led off the frame with a pinch-hit single, and after a walk to Siri, both runners advanced on a sac bunt from TJ Friedl. Mitch Nay brought home Collymore with a sac fly and the Wahoos were only down 3-2. After Brad Kuntz walked Scott Schebler to put runners on the corners, Mike Guerrero brought in his closer, Nate Griep (S, 33), and he struck out Gavin LaValley to end the inning.
In the ninth, Taylor Featherston led off with an infield single. After Luis Gonzalez moved Featherston to second with a sac bunt, Griep walked the next two batters to load the bases. Griep worked around the threat by inducing Siri into a foul pop out and Friedl into a comebacker to the pitcher to end the game.
This is the second time this season Pensacola has been swept. As it stands, Pensacola is outside of the postseason, trailing the BayBears by a half game in the wildcard standings. If Pensacola cannot overtake Biloxi in the second-half standings, the team with the best overall record in the South Division will claim the other postseason berth.
LHP Seth Varner (8-2, 3.13) will take the hill to open Pensacola’s most important series of the season. The Blue Wahoos will welcome the BayBears for the final five games at Blue Wahoos Stadium this season. Mobile is expected to send RHP Alex Klonowski (9-3, 4.28) on the bump for the visitors.