Blue Wahoos Name Pat Kelly As New Manager
December 2, 2014
The Cincinnati Reds today announced Pat Kelly will be the new manager for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. With over 20 years of managerial experience, Kelly led the Bakersfield Blaze, the former Class A Advanced affiliate for the Reds, in 2014. Alex Pelaez and Jeff Fassero will return as the team’s hitting and pitching coaches, respectively.
Delino DeShields, the Wahoos manager for the past two seasons, will manage the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate for the Reds, in 2015.
“We are very pleased to announce Pat Kelly as the manager of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Pat brings decades of experience and success to the role from all levels of play and I am confident he will bring out the best in our players. Pat understands our intent to put a winning product on the field and will work tirelessly in this pursuit,” said Jeff Graupe, Director of Player Development for the Reds. “I am also proud to introduce Delino DeShields as the new manager in Louisville. Delino will be entering a new chapter of his coaching career, but his time in Pensacola was vital to his development as a manager and will aide him with this new challenge.”
Last season Kelly led the Bakersfield Blaze, the first half champions in the Cal League North, to the Northern Division Finals where they lost the series 3 games to 1 to the Visalia Rawhide. Before heading to Bakersfield, Kelly managed the Reds Pioneer League affiliate in Billings, Montana from 2011–13. Within the Reds organization he also served as the field manager for the Class-A Lynchburg Hillcats in 2010 and prior to that he spent the majority of three seasons as the manager for the Rookie GCL Reds as well as director of Florida on-field operations. In total Kelly, 59, has spent 25 seasons managing in the minor leagues for 17 teams, including Richmond (2003-05), Syracuse (1999-2000), Ottawa (1997-98), Harrisburg (1995-96), Chattanooga (1993-94), Indianapolis (1991-92), Rockford (1991), Las Vegas (1990), Wichita (1988-89), Reno (1987), Charleston (1986), Glens Falls (1985) and GCL White Sox (1984). Kelly’s playing career included stops in the Angels, Blue Jays, Braves and White Sox systems. He reached the big leagues in 1980 with Toronto.
“I’m very excited to manage in Pensacola for the 2015 season,” said Kelly. “Pensacola Bayfront Stadium is known as one of the best facilities in all of professional baseball. Our team should be very competitive and exciting to watch and I look forward to guiding the Wahoos to a Southern League Championship next year!”
Kelly will address the media inside the Blue Wahoos home clubhouse on Wednesday at 3 p.m. From 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Kelly will sign autographs, greet fans and pass out a special holiday gift to season ticket holders at the Bait & Tackle Merchandise Store on South Palafox.
The first game of the 2015 regular season is April 9.
Northview’s Lathan Signs Softball Letter With Kentucky’s Union College
November 26, 2014
Northview High School senior Angel Lathan signed a letter of intent Tuesday to play softball for the Bulldogs of Union College in Kentucky. The college is a member of the NAIA and competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference in softball. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Hodge Signs Wih University Of New Orleans
November 26, 2014
2013 Tate High School graduate Riley Hodge has signed with the University of New Orleans Privateers baseball team for the 2016 season.
Hodge currently plays with Jefferson Davis community College of Brewton. At Tate, Hodge had a 0.94 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 52.1 innings his senior year and was selected to play in the North Florida All-Star Game. In the summer of 2014 he went 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA for West Palm Beach of the South Florida Collegiate League.
Northview Cross Country Team Members Honored
November 24, 2014
The Northview High School Cross Country team honored their outstanding members recently during their annual banquet.
Award winners included:
Photos: Escambia Academy Wins State Championship
November 24, 2014
The Escambia Academy Cougars from Canoe, AL, won the AISA Class AAA state championship Friday night with a 35-28 defeat of Bessemer Academy at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, AL.
For a bonus photo gallery, click here.
For the game story, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
Florida Lifts Ban On Silencers For Hunting Deer, Other Game
November 24, 2014
Florida hunters can now muffle their shots when hunting deer, gray squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys, quail and crows.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Friday agreed, with little comment, to issue an order that immediately removes a prohibition on the use of noise-suppressors, or silencers, with rifles and pistols.
Florida becomes the 33rd state to allow the noise-suppressors for game hunting.
Florida had been the only state in the Southeast to have such a ban, which was lifted at the request of hunters, said Diane Eggeman, director of the agency’s Division of Hunting and Game Management.
Eggeman said silencers cut noise by about 30 decibels, and it’s a common misconception that such noise-suppressers eliminate sound from the weapon.
“You can hear it from a long way away,” Eggeman said. “It’s a significant noise.”
Florida already allows the use of suppressors on shotguns for game hunting. A suppressor can also be placed on a rifle or pistol when hunting on private lands for non-game wildlife, including hogs and armadillos.
During the commission meeting, held in Key Largo, Fish and Wildlife staff and a couple of hunters defended the proposal as a means to protect hunters’ hearing, lessen the impact of hunting on others and help while introducing people to the sport.
Buck Holly, an owner of C&H Precision Weapons in LaBelle, told the commission that silencers also improve communications among hunters in the field, and he noted his 17-year-old daughter prefers using a silencer on a rifle as it reduces the recoil and sound.
“None of my kids are afraid to hunt with rifles because there is no longer the loud bang,” Holly said. “There is not a lot of recoil, they all think it’s fun.”
Holly added there has been an uptick in silencer sales in Hendry County in anticipation of the prohibition being lifted.
Concerns have been expressed to the commission that lifting the ban would reduce safety and increase opportunities for illegal activities. But Eggeman said wildlife officials from other states haven’t reported an increase in illegal activities as few hunters use suppressors because they are expensive and highly regulated.
To purchase a silencer, a hunter must pay a $200 registration fee with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and pass an FBI background check.
The cost of a rifle suppressor has been estimated between $450 and $2,000.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Academy Cougars Win State Championship
November 22, 2014
The Escambia Academy Cougars from Canoe, AL, won the AISA Class AAA state championship Friday night with a 35-28 defeat of Bessemer Academy at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, AL. It was the first football state championship ever for the school just outside Atmore — in fact, it was the first final game appearance ever for the Cougars.
The Cougars earned the win a on a one-yard touchdown run from Brett Gorum with just 49 seconds to play in the game, capping a 59-yard, seven play drive for the Cougars (11-1). On Bessemer’s final drive, an interception by the Cougar’s Kris Brown finalized the win.
Gorum was 5 of 7 passing Friday night for three touchdowns, including a 19-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Tim Finklea, a six-yard pass to Maleek Salter, and a 59-yarder to Scott Brantley. The Cougar’s other score came on a six-yard run from Brown.
Finklea had a total of 125 rushing yards on 23 carries for Escambia Academy.
Three weeks ago, Escambia Academy lost to Bessemer 32-14 at home in Canoe – their only loss of the season.
The state championship was the first in 30 years for an Alabama school from the Atmore area. The Escambia High School Blue Devils win a state championship back in 1974. The Northview High School Chiefs, just across the line in Florida, won a state championship in 2012.
NorthEscambia.com expects additional high quality images to post later Saturday or on Sunday.
Pictured above and below: The Escambia Academy Cougars celebrate the AISA Class AAA state championship Friday night at Troy State’s Memorial Stadium. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
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7A: Niceville Tops Tate
November 22, 2014
The Tate High School’s playoff run came to an end Friday night as the Aggies lost to Niceville 35-0 in the Region 1-7A semifinal. The Aggies finished the year at 9-3.
Niceville will be Oakleaf next Friday night in the regional finals.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Basketball: Tate Beats Pace In OT
November 22, 2014
The Tate High School Aggiest beat Pace in overtime Friday night 74-72.
With the win Friday night and a season-opening win last Tuesday over Milton, the Aggies are now 2-0.
The Aggies will host Gulf Breeze Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
West All-Stars Beat The East In All-Star Volleyball
November 21, 2014
The West All-Stars defeated the East in the Subway High School All-Star Volleyball game Thursday night at the University of West Florida Field House.
Under the leadership of Heach Coach Erika Burkett of Tate High School, the West took the series in seven games 25-16, 23-25, 23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17 and 15-9.
The West All-Star included the top seniors from Escambia County, while the East was comprised of the top senior players from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Team members were (with North Escambia area players in bold):
WEST
Head Coach: Erika Burkett, Tate
Assistant Coach: Kelly Comerford, Washington
- Sina Faulk — Catholic
- Emily Emmons — Catholic
- Tru Viray — Escambia
- Emily Enriquez — Escambia
- Kyndall Hall — Northview
- Elisabeth Larson — PCA
- Yenny Wu — Pensacola
- Anna Legassey — Pine Forest
- Olivia Veith — Pine Forest
- Regine Simmons — Tate
- Jordan White — Tate
- Carissa Carroll — Tate
- Mallory Lurate — Washington
- Morgan Pearson — Washington
- Lauren Childers — Washington
- Sydney Barrow — Washington
- Melisa Izonritei — West Florida
- Isabelle Strohl — West Florida
EAST
Head Coach: Waynn Sellers, Gulf Breeze
Assistant Coach: Amy Walls, Navarre
- Hartley Moate — Baker
- Brittney Amey — Central
- Maya Smith — FWB
- Emily Radcliffe — Gulf Breeze
- Kathrin Hess — Gulf Breeze
- Kassie Oldham — Gulf Breeze
- Emily Russell — Jay
- Bridget Zessin — Laurel Hill
- Monica Foster — Navarre
- Sheila Faris — Navarre
- Abbey McLelland — Navarre
- Sami Mims — Niceville
- Michaela Dunn — Pace
- Emili McClure — Pace
- Laini Vermillion — Pace
- Caroline Mayne — Pace
Pictured top: Tate Aggie players Regine Simmons, Carissa Carroll and Jordan White, and Coach Erika Burkett of Tate High School on the West All-Star volleyball team. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.