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.
Chiefs Honor Track Standouts
May 15, 2013
The Northview Chiefs held their annual track banquet Tuesday night at the school.
Among the awards presented were:
- Boys Coaches Award – Aaron Rausch
- Girls Coaches Award – Ashley Joiner
- Boys Hurdles MVP – Tristin Creamer
- Girls Hurdles MVP – Tierra Floyd
- Girls Throws MVP – Annie Bobo
- Boys Throws MVP – Stetson Nash
- Girls Jumps MVP – Tierra Floyd
- Boys Jumps MVP – Jaran Myles
- Boys Long Distance MVP – Joshua Borelli
- Girls Long Distance MVP – Jazzlyn Franklin
- Boys Middle Distance MVP – Ramsey Gafford
- Girls Middle Distance MVP – Zacarra Davis
- Boys Sprint MVP – Neiko Robinson
- Girls Spint MVP – Angelique Brown
Team members that earned their letters and those that placed at the district competition were also recognized.
Pictured above and below: TNorthview High School track team members at the annual banquet Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs To Play Two Spring Games Saturday (With Practice Photo Gallery)
May 15, 2013
The Florida 1A state champion Northview Chiefs will take on a couple of Alabama teams in spring football games this Saturday in East Brewton.
The Chiefs will take on Andalusia High School at 1:oo before playing Hillcrest-Evergreen at 2:40. Both games will be played at W.S. Neal High School.
For photos from the Northview Chiefs Tuesday afternoon practice, click here.
The complete schedule for the five-team jamboree is as follows:
· 1:00 Northview vs. Andalusia
· 1:50 W.S. Neal vs Andalusia
· 2:40 Northview vs. Hillcrest
· 3:30 p.m. Linden vs. W.S. Neal
· 4:20 p.m Hillcrest vs. Linden
Admission is $5. W.S. Neal is located at 801 Andrew Jackson Street [map].
Pictured top: Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley goes over the playbook with his Chiefs during a Tuesday afternoon practice. Pictured inset: Wheatley watches a play. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Walk Off 10-9 In 13
May 15, 2013
Newcomer Luis Durango scampered home on a wild pitch with two outs in the 13th inning and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos walked off winners for the first time this season, 10-9, over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday night in front of 3,981 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The 13th inning was set up by the speed of Durango who coaxed a two-out walk and went first-to-third on a single from Bryson Smith. Danny Vicioso was then called on to pinch hit as the last Wahoos position player left on the bench. Two pitches into the at-bat, Luis Vasquez (1-2) uncorked a wild pitch to the backstop and Durango sped home to score the winning tally.
The final inning capped a wild night that saw Pensacola jump out to a 6-0 lead after three innings. In the first inning, Ryan LaMarre started the scoring with an RBI groundout to score Durango. After a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, Devin Lohman unloaded them with the team’s first grand slam of the season. For Lohman, it was his fourth homer of the year and it gave the Wahoos a 5-0 lead after one.
In the third inning, it was again Lohman providing the RBI, this time on a double to score Travis Mattair. Lohman tied a team record with the five runs driven in and blasted Pensacola’s first grand slam since Mike Costanzo connected for one on April 9, 2012.
The tide turned in the fourth, though, as the Lookouts chipped away with the long ball. After Yasiel Puig walked and scored on an RBI single from Blake Smith, C.J. Retherford launched a no-doubt, two-run shot to left field, cutting the Wahoos lead to 6-3. An inning later, pinch-hitter J.T. Wise blasted a two-run homer to make it a one-run contest.
Things fell apart for the Wahoos in the sixth inning. Entering the frame up by two thanks to a sac fly from David Vidal, Pensacola gave up three runs and the lead. Puig led off the inning with a solo shot that barely cleared the wall in left. That forced starter Daniel Renken from the game in favor of Kyle Lotzkar who created his own jam by loading the bases with two walks and a single. Lotzkar then forced in the tying run with a bases loaded walk to Chris Jacobs and two batters later, plunked pinch-hitter Brian Cavazos-Galvez to give Chattanooga its first lead of the night at 8-7. Chris Manno came in and averted further damage by inducing a double play.
Chattanooga added an insurance run in the eighth inning as Miguel Rojas reached on an error that scored Griff Erickson.
That proved to be a rather large insurance run as Pensacola came to bat in the last of the ninth trailing by two. With one out, Ryan LaMarre and Travis Mattair homered on back-to-back pitches to knot the game at nine and send it in to extras.
Both pitching staffs traded zeros before Vasquez lost his control in the 13th. Brian Pearl (1-0) earned the win for Pensacola by retiring all six batters he faced in the 12th and 13th innings.
Renken received a no-decision but was hit hard for six runs on seven hits in five-plus innings while striking out six. Manno, Josh Ravin, Lee Hyde, Shaun Ellis, Loek Van Mil, and Pearl combined to fire 7.2 innings of relief without allowing an earned run.
The Wahoos will now have a chance to win the series on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. Josh Smith (3-3, 4.28) will get the start for the Wahoos against the Lookouts’ Rob Rasmussen (2-2, 3.13).
story by Kevin Burke, photos by Gary McCracken
10U Storm Wins Seven-Team Louisiana Baseball Tournament
May 14, 2013
The Pensacola Storm 10U Majors baseball team won a weekend tournament in Chalmette, LA.
With a dramatic come from behind victory against Moss Point (MS) Team Elite with two outs in the last inning, the Pensacola Storm rolled into the championship game against the undefeated local area Slidell Scrappers team. The Storm ran up five runs in the first inning and continued that momentum to a 6-2 first place win in the seven team tournament.
With the win, the Pensacola Storm team is 31-11 overall with six first place tournament victories out of 11 USSSA tournaments this season. The Pensacola Storm will travel to the Alabama Super NIT Tournament against some of the nation’s top teams this Friday in Auburn.
Pictured: (bottom row, L-R) Jaxon Topel, Trenton Norton, Tanner Rouchon, Josh Turner, Aaron Noack, (top row) Damarius McGhee, Ian Ladieu, Jackson Penton, Hunter Pierson, Jordan Peacock, Jordan Jarman and Jordan McCants. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Snap Skid, Beat Lookouts 5-1
May 14, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored three runs in the first inning, which was more than enough against the Chattanooga Lookouts as the Wahoos snapped their five-game losing streak with a 5-1 on Monday night in front of 3,629 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola welcomed two major league rehabbers for the first time in the team’s history and both played just one inning. Manny Parra got the start and gave up a double in the first inning while striking out two. He threw 13 pitches, nine of which were strikes. Chris Heisey was involved in two plays in center field in the first inning. He was lifted from the game after the top half of the first for unannounced reasons.
The Wahoos backed up their Major League guests with three early runs, one coming on an RBI single from Travis Mattair and two more coming on a single from Tucker Barnhart.
Ryan Dennick (2-2) took over on the mound for the Wahoos and cruised through his piggyback start, limiting the Lookouts to just two base hits over six frames. Dennick earned the win for the first time since Opening Day.
Pensacola added to its lead with a fourth-inning RBI single from Bryson Smith and an eighth-inning RBI single from David Vidal.
The Lookouts lone run came in the ninth inning as Chris Jacobs doubled home C.J. Retherford with two outs. Loek Van Mil retired Griff Erickson to finish off the game.
The five-game series continues tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Daniel Renken (1-3, 3.67) will get the ball for the Blue Wahoos against the Lookouts’ Andres Santiago (2-4, 4.19).
story by Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Chattanooga Lookouts Monday night. Photos by Gary McCraken for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall In Series Opener With Lookouts
May 13, 2013
The Chattanooga Lookouts broke out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed in a 10-4 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Sunday night in front of 4,421 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was the Wahoos’ fifth straight loss, tying a season high.
The Lookouts were in control from the onset, scoring in the first frame on a fielder’s choice from Blake Smith. They would add to their lead in the third with three two-out runs. Smith doubled home a run and scored on a two-run homer from Chris Jacobs that made it 4-0.
Pensacola battled back in the last of the third, scoring three runs with two outs. Ryan LaMarre sparked the attack with a solo homer, his second of the season. After back-to-back walks, Travis Mattair doubled to right-center to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Lookouts would get a run right back, however, as former Blue Wahoo Miguel Rojas launched his first homer of the year leading off the fourth to make it 5-3.
The Wahoos had numerous chances to get back in the game against an erratic Chattanooga pitching staff, but could never get the tying run across. In the fifth, Pensacola had the bases loaded and one out before Danny Vicioso grounded into an inning-ending double play. In the sixth, Brodie Greene cut the Lookouts’ lead to 5-4 with a one-out double but he was stranded at third as the tying run. Two innings later, Greene doubled with one out but he was caught stealing when he was hung up between second and third on a ball in the dirt.
That play changed the momentum as Chattanooga put the game out of reach with a five-run ninth inning. C.J. Retherford provided the biggest blow with a three-run pinch-hit double to make it 8-4 followed by Jan Vazquez providing the exclamation point with a two-run homer off the videoboard in right field to account for the final margin.
Chad Rogers (2-2) was charged with the loss in his roughest outing of the year, yielding five runs on eight hits in five innings.
Pensacola wasn’t able to fully capitalize on nine base hits and 10 walks issued from Chattanooga pitching as the Wahoos tied a season-high with 12 runners left on base. Michael Thomas (1-0) was given the win in relief by firing 2.1 scoreless frames and striking out four.
The five-game series continues on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It will be a battle of southpaws as Ryan Dennick (1-2, 3.44) goes for Pensacola against Chattanooga’s Chris Reed (1-3, 5.02).
story by Kevin Burke
Pictured: Ryan LaMarre led the Pensacola attack by going 3-for-3 with a homer and an RBI. (Christopher Nelson)