Pensacola Blue Wahoos Drop Fourth Straight 7-2
May 12, 2013
The Jacksonville Suns took advantage of a key Pensacola error in the fifth inning, scoring four unearned runs en route to a 7-2 win over the Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
With the game scoreless headed to the last of the fifth, Noah Perio grounded a ball to first baseman Joe Mather who had the bouncer deflect off his glove, allowing Perio to reach safely. That opened the floodgates for the Suns against Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved Perio to third, Christian Yelich brought him home with a sacrifice fly. Jake Marisnick and Kyle Jensen then launched back-to-back solo homers to make it 3-0. Mark Canha would single home the fourth run of the inning two batters later following a Ryan Fisher double.
Crabbe (2-2) took the loss for Pensacola despite not giving up an earned run. He gave up the four unearned tallies on seven base hits in five innings.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville starter Adam Conley (2-1) mowed through the Pensacola lineup giving up just a fifth-inning bunt single from Devin Lohman over six frames while facing the minimum as Lohman was caught stealing.
Bryson Smith snapped the Wahoos’ scoreless innings streak at 15 frames with a seventh-inning solo homer, his third round-tripper of the season. Smith went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI to lead the Pensacola attack.
Jacksonville would put the game out of reach in the eighth inning against the combination of Drew Hayes and Shaun Ellis. Perio, Yelich, and Marisnick all brought home runs in a three-fun frame that gave the Suns a 7-1 lead.
Pensacola added a tally in the top of the ninth when Travis Mattair scored on a two-out single from Ryan LaMarre, but Michael Brady got Mather to ground out to end the game.
The Wahoos now return home for a season-long 10-game homestand starting on Sunday with the first of five against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Chad Rogers (2-1, 1.51) will try to stop Pensacola’s four game skid against Chattanooga’s Zach Lee (3-2, 2.15). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Pictured: Devin Lohman was 2-for-3 with a double in Pensacola’s 7-2 loss on Saturday night. (Emmele Photography).
Holmes County Ends Northview’s Playoff Run
May 11, 2013
Holmes County won the Regional 1A title Friday night in Bonifay, defeating the Northview Chiefs 3-0.
Holmes County took a 2-0 lead after the first inning, expanding their lead to 3-0 with single from Corey Wilson in the second inning. The Blue Devils advance to the state semifinals next week in Fort Myers.
Kevin Vaughn pitched three for the Chiefs, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 0 K.
Chason Freeman was 1-3 for Northview, while Chad Smith was 0-1.
The Blue Devils were the district champs, having beat Northview on April 25. During the regular season, it was an even split. The Chiefs end their first season under first-year head coach Marty Lister at 10-9. Northview has never made the baseball final four in school history.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs take on Holmes County Friday in Bonifay for the Regional 1A title. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Jax Beats Pcola 1-0
May 11, 2013
Audy Ciriaco delivered the game-winning single on a looping line drive over second baseman Brodie Greene in the bottom of the ninth to score Ryan Fisher from third to give Jacksonville a 1-0 win on Friday night at Bragan Field in Jacksonville. The loss is the third straight for Pensacola.
Blue Wahoos starter Josh Smith pitched brilliantly over six shutout innings. He surrendered just three hits while fanning a season-high nine batters, including a span of six consecutive batters from the second inning to the fourth. Loek Van Mil pitched well out of the bullpen for the Blue Wahoos with two scoreless innings. Josh Ravin had two strikes on Ciriaco before he delivered the game winning hit with two outs in the ninth. Ravin (L, 0-2) was handed his second loss of the season. Collin Carill (W, 1-1) earned the win for Jacksonville after pitching the final two innings for the Suns.
Offensively the Wahoos had only three hits. Third baseman David Vidal had two of them as part of a 2-for-4 game to extend his hit-streak to four games. The Blue Wahoos only threat came in the top of the ninth when they had runners at second and third with two outs. It was the only time the Blue Wahoos had a runner at third base in the game.
Pensacola will try to salvage the final game of the five-game series on Saturday night. RHP Tim Crabbe (2-1, 2.60) will start for the Blue Wahoos against Suns LHP Adam Conley (1-1, 5.88). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT from Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
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Four Northview Seniors Sign Sports Scholarships
May 10, 2013
Four Northview High School seniors signed college athletic scholarships Thursday morning.
Morgan Smith and Morgan Payne both signed volleyball scholarships with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. Ariel Holland signed a cheerleading scholarship with Faulker State Community College in Bay Minette, and shortstop Shaquanna Jones signed a softball scholarship with Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Pictured top: (L-R) Morgan Smith, Morgan Payne, Ariel Holland and Shaquanna Jones. Pictured below: The seniors sign their scholarships as family and school staff look on. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Ward Signs Basketball Scholarship With Palm Beach State
May 9, 2013
Tate High School senior point guard Jardae Ward has signed a scholarship with Palm Beach State College. She signed her scholarship in the school’s Fryman Gym in front her teammates, ROTC members and classmates. Pictured: Jardae Ward (left) signs her Palm Beach State College scholarship as her mother, Gwendolyn Ward, looks on. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Beat Paxton In Region 1-1A Semifinals
May 8, 2013
The Northview Chiefs scored seven runs in the final two innings Tuesday night to beat Paxton 8-3 in the Region 1-1A semifinal.
A couple of errors and three hits let to four runs in the top of the sixth for the Northview Chiefs, plus Chad Smith and Jason Freeman had singles. In the top of the seventh, the Chiefs scored three more unearned runs on errors by the Bobcats.
Northview will travel to Holmes County (Bonifay) in the regional finals at 7 p.m. Friday. Holmes County is coming off a 4-2 semi-final win over Central. Admission will be $7 for all ages.
Blue Wahoos Go 13 Innings To Down Jacksonville Suns
May 8, 2013
The third time was the charm for the Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night at Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Pensacola took the lead in the game’s potential final inning three times before hanging on for the 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Suns. It is the second-straight win for the Blue Wahoos after snapping the longest losing streak of the season on Sunday.
Jacksonville’s Christian Yelich was the story of the game for the Suns. He accounted for two of the Suns four runs by going 5-for-6 and finishing a double shy of the cycle, despite hitting a pair of triples. His first three-bagger led to the game’s first run against Wahoos starter Chad Rogers in the bottom of the first inning.
Pensacola drew even when Tucker Barnhart singled home Ryan LaMarre in the fourth inning. Jacksonville reclaimed the lead in the sixth, when Derek Dietrich scored on a hit by pitch of Audy Ciriaco with the bases loaded. Three straight walks opened the inning, but Dietrich’s run was all the Wahoos would allow the Suns to score. Lee Hyde picked off Ciriaco at first for the second out before coaxing a groundout by Noah Perio to end the threat.
The Blue Wahoos quickly answered by taking advantage of a leadoff double from Bryson Smith in the top of the seventh. Michael Gilmartin delivered an RBI single which plated Smith and tied the game at two. Pensacola took its first lead of the game in the top of the ninth. Steve Selsky brought home Smith from second with a base hit. The Suns drew even in the bottom of the ninth with three hits against Wahoos reliever Drew Hayes to tie the game at 3-3 and force extra innings.
After each team traded zeros in the 10 th and 11 th innings, Pensacola broke through against Jacksonville reliever Collin Cargill with a run in the 12 th. Again, it was a leadoff hit that led to a run as it was with the previous two runs. Brodie Greene led the inning off with a single, and scored on a soft roller up the first base line from Barnhart that was misplayed by Suns first baseman Mark Canha. Yelich then homered in the bottom of the 12 th to send the game to the 13 th when Pensacola reclaimed the lead for the final time.
Gilmartin drew a leadoff walk and scored from second on another Greene single. That proved to be the game-winner as Wilkin De La Rosa retired the Suns in order to end the game. Despite allowing the home run to Yelich, De La Rosa earned the win. Cargill gave up the Wahoos runs in the 12 th and 13 th and was saddled with the loss. Blue Wahoos starter Chad Rogers got a no-decision after working five innings, allowing just one run and matching his career-high with eight strikeouts.
Pensacola and Jacksonville will continue their series with a matinee on Wednesday from the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. First pitch is slated for 12:05 p.m. CT. Pensacola will start LHP Ryan Dennick (1-2, 3.86) against Suns RHP Sam Dyson (0-2, 2.96).
story by Tommy Thrall
Century Council Honors Northview’s State Ranked Weightlifters
May 7, 2013
The Century Town Council presented proclamations Monday night honoring two Northview High School weightlifting team members that recently placed at the state 1-A finals in Kissimmee.
LaMikal Kyles finished eighth in the state in the 183-pound class with a total of 560 pounds, an improvement over his 535 pound total at regionals. Kyles, weighing in at 172.5 pounds, had a bench press of 310 pounds and a clean jerk of 250 pounds — all personals bests.
In the 199-pound class, Arkelle Elliot finished 11th in the state with a total of 575 pounds. Weighing in at 198.9 pounds, Elliot had a best bench press of 330 pounds and a clean jerk of 245 pounds — all matching his personal best records.
Pictured top are Northview Assistant Principal Gerry Pippins, Principal Gayle Weaver, Football Head Coach Sid Wheatley, LaMikal Kyles, Mayor Freddie McCall and NHS Coach Derek Marshman at Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting. Pictured below are the same individuals with Arkelle Elliot. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend Burglary Puts Brakes On Molino Teen’s Championship Kart Racing
May 6, 2013
A weekend burglary has put the brakes on a Molino teen’s championship kart racing team.
Jarrett Parker, 18, is a star of sorts in the world of kart racing, winning state titles and racing his way to the top in several national events. But now his future in the hobby he loves so much is in doubt after someone stole about $12,000 worth of racing gear from his home.
The theft occurred from a workshop at the family’s home on Gibson Road in Molino sometime between about 10:30 Friday night at 6:30 Saturday morning — while the family was sleeping nearby.
“They did this with my wife and kids sleeping in the house, yards from the shop,” Jarrett’s father Scott said. “That just makes me angry that they were here with my family.”
A 2012 Elite Triton kart, five motors, cases of MAXXIS tires, tools and other items were taken from the workshop, while other items not related to kart racing like lawn equipment were left behind.
“We believe it is going to be someone connected to kart racing in some way,” Scott said. “They knew what to take….they passed over cheaper items and knew what brand names were more valuable.”
“This is heartbreaking. We sacrifice so much to do this with our kids and for someone to do this to kids is shameful,” mom Tammy Parker said.
Some of the stolen items, including three motors, belonged to Jarrett’s 10-year old teammate Chambers McGilberry of Selma, Ala. Jarrett Parker has been serving as a mentor for McGilberry for several months.
The burglary is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Jarrett Parker Racing is offering a $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in the burglary.
Pictured top: Molino’s Jarrett Parker (#46) leads the pack during a recent kart race. Pictured inset: Jarrett Parker (left) and teammate Chambers McGilberry. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHSAA Overhaul To Wait Until At Least Next Year
May 6, 2013
The push by Lakeland-area lawmakers to assert more state control over the organization that oversees high school athletics in Florida failed to advance through the Legislature this year.
The measure which would have put new restrictions on investigations by the Florida High School Athletic Association, according to sponsor Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland.
“I’d prefer not to have to work on this again. I’d prefer the FHSAA do what we’ve asked them to do, which is restructure their bylaws (in a way) that is fair to students,” she said.
The bill also would have expanded the ability for students to transfer schools during the school year, give charter and home school students more opportunities to play for public school teams, alter the makeup of the board of directors, give school districts more say over athletic regulations in each county, and set a 2017 date to sunset the 93-year-old organization.
The FHSAA lobbied against the bill. The House had approved the measure 89-26 on April 24.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: The coin toss before the FHSAA District 1A Football Championship game last December in Orlando between Northview and Trenton. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.