Baybears Clinch Series Over Wahoos
May 21, 2013
Mobile outfielder Keon Broxton blasted two two-out, two-run home runs and lead the BayBears past the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-2 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The win clinched the series for Mobile, who has won seven of the nine meetings between the two teams this season.
Broxton’s first homer came in the second inning against Josh Smith. It scored Brent Clevlen, who had reached on an error with one out. Both runs ended up being unearned as a result.
Two innings later, Raywilly Gomez walked with two outs and Broxton laced another one over the left field fence for his second homer of the contest, and third of the season.
Both round-trippers came off of Smith, who fell to 3-4 on the year. Despite the loss, it was one of the best outings of the year for Smith, who went seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five base hits while striking out five.
Pensacola scored both of its runs in the last of the sixth. With runners at second and third and one out, Joe Mather brought home a run on a ground ball out while Travis Mattair followed with a single up the middle to halve the BayBears lead. The Wahoos had other chances to score in the game, but ground into three double plays, stranded seven runners, and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Devin Lohman saw his 16-game on-base streak come to an end with a 0-4 performance.
Michael Bolsinger picked up the win for Mobile in his first start since May 4. Bolsinger gave up two runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.
Tuesday’s series finale wraps up the 10-game homestand for Pensacola.
story by Kevin Burke
Tate’s Chris Shelby Signs With Huntington College
May 20, 2013
Tate High School senior Chris Shelby has signed a football scholarship to play at Huntington College in Montgomery. Pictured are (bottom, L-R) Kenneth Shelby, Chris Shelby, Tami Shelby, Caleb Shelby (top, L-R) Dean David Venettozzi and Principal Rick Shackle,. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mobile Beats Wahoos In 11
May 20, 2013
The Mobile BayBears offense awakened late in Sunday’s contest, tying the game in the ninth before winning it with three runs in the 11th inning, 6-3, over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Mobile’s Jon Griffin proved to be the difference in the contest, providing the game-tying single to right in the ninth inning before smacking a two-run base knock up the middle in the 11th. The BayBears added two more tallies in the 11th on a wild pitch scoring Griffin and an RBI single from Rossmel Perez.
The BayBear comeback nullified an outstanding outing from Daniel Renken. He made his first relief appearance since 2010 due to Manny Parra’s Major League rehab start. Renken was phenomenal in six-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four. Parra faced the minimum in two innings, walking one and striking out one.
Pensacola got on the board early with a first-pitch leadoff home run from Bryson Smith in the first inning. It was Smith’s fifth blast of the year, tying him for the team lead with now Major Leaguer Donald Lutz.
After Mobile tied the game in the top of the fourth, the Wahoos retook the lead in the last of the fourth on a sac fly from Tucker Barnhart scoring Ryan LaMarre, but lost another runner at the plate as Travis Mattair was thrown out from left field trying to score on David Vidal’s single with two outs.
The series continues on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. Josh Smith (3-3, 3.86) will start for Pensacola against Mobile’s Michael Bolsinger (2-0, 3.63)
story by Kevin Burke
Photos by Gary McCracken, click to enlarge.
Northview Splits Two Spring Jamboree Games (With Photo Gallery)
May 19, 2013
The Florida 1A state champion Northview Chiefs took on a couple of Alabama teams in spring football games Saturday afternoon in East Brewton, Ala.
The Chiefs defeated Andalusia High School 12-6 in a two-quarter game before losing 22-12 to Hillcrest of Evergreen (Ala.).
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Andalusia, click here.
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Evergreen, click here.
For Northview Coach Sid Wheatley, Saturday was a chance to check out the strengths — and weaknesses — of a team that’s full of new, young faces with 24 seniors graduating. There were three ninth graders starting for the Chiefs Saturday.
“We’re talking about fundamentals…we’ve got to get better as blockers and tacklers,” Wheatley said after Northview’s 1-1 jamboree performance. “Our young offensive linemen are going to keep getting better and better because we are going to coach them up. We are kind of struggling right there at this moment…this was kind of a landmark to see where we are at and were we will progress from here.”
Summer will bring long days at practice and new plans for the Chiefs.
“We will evolve our offensive package during the summer,” Wheatley said. “I did not want to throw too much at the young faces during the spring.”
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Andalusia, click here.
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Evergreen, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NWE 15U Boys Win Bay Minette Youth Baseball Tournament
May 19, 2013
Northwest Escambia’s 15U Boys won the Bay Minette Youth Baseball tournament Saturday in Bay Minette. NWE’s tournament record was 4-1. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scalpball Tourney Raises Funds For HS Volleyball Program
May 19, 2013
Winners in the annual Northview High School Scalpball Tournament Saturday were Nada Es Facil in the teen bracket (below) and D’s Balls in the adult division (above). Proceeds from the event benefit the volleyball program at Northview High School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay’s Olivia Wright Signs Softball Scholarship With Wallace State
May 18, 2013
Jay High School senior Olivia Wright signed a softball scholarship with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL.
The Wallace State fast pitch softball program won the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Championship, finishing national runner-up on two other occasions and third in 2012. Wallace State softball reclaimed the top spot in the state in 2012, winning its fifth Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 state championship in six seasons and its seventh straight Northern Division title. The Lions finished with a 60-12 record and had a third-place finish at the NJCAA tournament.
Wright is the daughter of Shannon Wright and Keith Wright. She is the granddaughter of Aldon and Nancy Lloyd and Marie Wright.
Earlier this year, Northview High senior Misty Doran also signed a softball scholarship with Wallace State.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Kahlil Grice Signs With Minnesota College
May 17, 2013
From team manager to a state championship to a college scholarship, hard work and dedication have paid off for senior Northview Chief Kahlil Grice.
Grice, just a few days before graduation, has signed a scholarship to play for Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minnesota — just south of Canadian border.
Grice started as a team manager his freshmen year and spent the next three years playing for the Chiefs.
Pictured top: Kahlil Grice signs a football scholarship Thursday afternoon with Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minnesota. Pictured inset: Grice was joined by his mother, Felicia Grice (seated) and sisters (L-R) Alisha and Keyth Grice. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lookouts Beat The Wahoos In 10; Wahoos Honor Molino’s Fryman
May 17, 2013
The Chattanooga Lookouts escaped massive trouble in the ninth and went on to blow out the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in 10 innings, 8-2, on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in a game that started by honoring a Molino man.
The Blue Wahoos honored two of Major League baseball’s greats to Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium Thursday night. Tate High School grad Travis Fryman, former third baseman and shortstop for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, threw out the first pitch along with Ken “Squeaky” Parker, a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ organization and legendary major league scout.
In the third straight extra-inning affair between the two squads, Chattanooga erupted for six runs in the top of the 10th inning. With two on and two out, Blake Smith laced a three-run homer just over the left field wall off of Drew Hayes to give the Lookouts a 5-2 advantage. Two batters later, Griff Erickson tripled home C.J. Retherford to end Hayes’ outing. Shaun Ellis then gave up a first-pitch, two-run homer to Chris Jacobs to cap the six-run onslaught.
Hayes picked up the loss to fall to 1-1 by giving up five runs on three hits in .2 innings. Greg Infante picked up his first win of the season for Chattanooga by holding the Wahoos scoreless in the last two innings.
The Wahoos had a great chance to win the game in regulation. Pensacola loaded the bases with one out in the ninth for Brodie Greene who sent a fly ball out to medium-depth right field where Yasiel Puig made the catch for the second out. Tucker Barnhart tagged from third and tried to score the winning run, but Puig fired a bullet to home that nabbed Barnhart and forced extra innings.
Pensacola jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a first-inning homer from Ryan LaMarre. It was LaMarre’s third homer of the series and fourth of the season.
The game then seesawed in the middle innings with Chattanooga tying the game on a Puig RBI double in the sixth inning. The Wahoos countered in the last of the six when Barnhart tripled to right-center, scoring Travis Mattair to regain the lead at 2-1. Not to be denied, the Lookouts came right back in the top of the 7th and knotted the game at two on a two-out RBI triple from Rafael Ynoa.
Despite the loss, the Wahoos won the series three games to two over the Lookouts and now continue the season-long 10-game homestand with the first of five against the Mobile BayBears on Friday night. Chad Rogers (2-2, 2.43) will get the ball for Pensacola against Mobile’s Andrew Chafin (1-1, 1.50)
story by Kevin Burke
Pictured: Molino’s Travis Fryan (white Wahoos jersey) tossed the first pitch for Thursday night’s Wahoo game along with Ken “Squeaky” Parker. Photos by Gary McCraken for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Andrew Briske Signs With Misssissippi College
May 16, 2013
Tate High Schools senior Andrew Briske has signed to play defensive tackle for Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. Briske is a four-year player for Tate and also played little league at Ensley. He made the district All-Star team as a senior and carries a 3.5+ GPA.
Pictured are (seated, L-R) Kathy Briske (mom), Andrew Briske, Christopher Briske (brother), Wayne Briske (dad), (standing) Meagan Briske (sister) Dean David Venettozzi, Coach Bobby Reyes and Tate Principal Rick Shackle. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.