Jay Royals Easily Beat Rocky Bayou
September 1, 2012
The Jay Royals easily beat Rocky Bayou Friday night, 67-21 in Destin.
The Royals opened the scoring with a 64-yard run from Ricky Cofield. A good kick from Dakota Smith, and JHS was up 7-0. Jay scored again after QB Tate Upton fumbled but recovered for a 25-yard touchdown, 14-0.
Cofield scored again on a 4-yard run that followed a 26-yard QB keeper by Upton. Cofield added another touchdown, 33-0. And Cofield added yet another touchdown, this time a 55-yard run, to make it 40-0.
The Royals increased their advantage to 46-0 with a Brandon Boutwell touchdown.
The Jay Royasls will be on the road next Friday night against Holmes County High School.
Pictured: The Jay Royals beat Rocky Bayou 67-21 Friday night in Destin. NorthEscambia.com photos by Michele Gibbs, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Beat John Paul 60-0
September 1, 2012
The starting line for the Northview Chiefs spent most of Friday night on the sidelines, on the bench or cheering on their team as the Chiefs easily rolled past John Paul II Catholic of Tallahassee, 60-0.
To say the Chiefs over-matched the Panthers, a team that went 0-8 last year, would be an understatement. Just seconds into the second quarter, the Chiefs were up 41-0, and Coach Sid Wheatley pulled the starters, substituting backup players and even a few junior varsity guys.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Cheerleader, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.)
“I’ve been on the other side of that ,and you kind of feel for them a little bit,” Wheatley said following a game where one of his toughest challenges was not running up the score.
Northview played most of their entire roster, including 10 different players at running back. Noticeably missing was starting quarterback Kevin Vaughan, who suffered a wrist injury last week. Vaughan is also the kicker for the Chiefs. Friday night saw the substitution of LaMikal Kyles who practiced at the position just briefly last week.
“”It was a great total team win,” Wheatley said.
“I thought they played with a great amount of passion,” Wheatley said of his defensive team, which held the Panthers to just a couple of first downs. “Tonight was good.”
Two plays and less than 30 seconds into the football game, the Chiefs were up 6-0 with a 19-yard touchdown run from senior LaMikal Kyles. On the next possession for Northview, it was a repeat process — Kyles was in again from 43-yards out after two plays, 12-0.
Next, it was Roderick Woods’ turn for a touchdown, a 9-yarder, 18-0. And Woods repeated with a 7-yard touchdown a few minutes later. With a good two point conversion, the Chiefs were up 26-0. And they were just getting started.
Kyles added a 52-yard touchdown followed by a good two point conversion from Woods, 34-0.
And that was just the first quarter, prompting the Northview coaching staff to pull starters. And a running clock was started to help speed things along.
The Chiefs opened the second with another touchdown on their first down, a 48-yard run from Brannon Freemen. With 11:49 on the clock in the half, the Chiefs were up 41-0.
In the third quarter, Northview scored yet again, this time with a touchdown from senior Austin Dorriety, 47-0. And again, the Chiefs scored with 1:31 in the third quarter with a 23-yard touchdown from sophomore Jaron Myles, 53-0. And just one more time, the Chiefs scored when Dillian Crutchfield recovered a fumble in the endzone with 7:34 on the clock and a good kick from Myles, Northview 60-0.
The Chiefs, ranked number three in the state in the 1A Rural Division, will host Marianna next Friday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Cheerleader, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.)
Pictured top: Ladarius Thomas, a sophomore, gains yardage for the Northview Chiefs Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: One of LaMikal Kyles touchdown runs. Pictured middle inset: Starters Neino Robinson and Arkelle Elliot sit out part of Friday night’s game on the bench in an effort to hold back Northview’s scoring. Pictured bottom inset: Austin Dorriety on a 29-yard touchdown run. Pictured below: NHS Coach Sid Wheatley in the opening huddle Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Smokies Shut Out Wahoos
September 1, 2012
Tennessee hurlers Chris Rusin, Nick Struck and Tony Zych combined to yield just two hits and two walks to shut down the Blue Wahoos bats, while left fielder Rubi Silva drove home four runs to lead the Smokies to a 5-0 shutout win over Pensacola in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the win, Tennessee improve to 35-32 in the second half, while the loss drops the Fish to a 33-33 mark in that same time frame. The defeat along with a Montgomery victory over the Huntsville Stars Friday also eliminates Pensacola from playoff contention in the Southern League’s South Division. The capacity crowd was the 38th sellout of the year hosted by the club in their inaugural season of Southern League play.
The duo of Rusin (3.0 IP, 1 SO) and Struck (5.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 SO) joined forces to allow a lone hit in the first 8.2 frames, with Rusin firing three perfect frames. Struck earned his 14thh win of the year and fell one out short of going the rest of the way.
Each of the first 12 Blue Wahoos batters were retired, before yielding a base knock in the fifth. 1B Beau Mills laced a triple to right-center, but would be erased on a fielder’s choice later in the inning, marking the only time Pensacola had a runner at third.
Zych (0.1 IP, 1 H) came on with two outs in the ninth and preserved the shutout for Tennessee. Pensacola starter Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss despite allowing just the lone earned run on five hits in his five frames.
Tennessee tallied their first score in the opening frame, with an inning-ending double play holding the Smokies to no more. CF Matt Szczur led off the game with a single and advanced to third on a double before being sent in when RF Jae-Hoon Ha lifted a sacrifice fly to right.
The Smokies subsequently scored three in the sixth, with their fourth longball of the series. 1B Justin Bour began the inning with a base knock while 3B Junior Lake also reached on a base hit, prior to Silva’s shot to left, which extended Tennessee’s margin to four. Silva brought home his fourth RBI of the evening two frames later with an RBI single up the middle to cap the scoring.
Szczur (2-5, 1 R) and Silva (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI) each recorded multi-hit games to lead the Smokies, while no Blue Wahoos batters collected two or more base hits. Fish SS Billy Hamilton was kept off the basepaths, which keeps his single-season steals record staying put at 154.
The two teams are scheduled to square off Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the bayrfront stadium. Tennessee is slated to send LHP Eric Jokisch (7-2, 2.97) to the hill, while Pensacola is expected to counter with LHP Tony Cingrani (5-3, 2.00).
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Daniel Corcino allowed only a lone earned run Friday night for the Wahoos. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Catholic Sweeps Northview (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2012
The Catholic Crusaders swept the Northview Chiefs Thursday in high school volleyball action.
Northview fell to Catholic in three varsity sets, 17-25, 23-25, 20-25. Misty Doran had five kills for the Lady Chiefs, while Taylor Roberson recorded two digs. Also for NHS, Morgan Payne had thee blocks and one kill.
In junior varsity action, Northview lost to Catholic in two, 11-25, 8-25.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Lady Chiefs will next be on the road at Laurel Hill Tuesday afternoon. Northview will return home to Bratt to host Central next Thursday at 4:30 for JV and 5:30 for varsity.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs take on Catholic High Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium Named Ballpark Of The Year
August 31, 2012
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium has been recognized as the top new stadium in all of professional baseball according to Baseballparks.com, a popular website that annually reviews baseball stadiums all over the country. Baseballparks.com site mater, Joe Mock made the announcement in a press release early on Thursday that Pensacola Bayfront Stadium was the recipient of the 13th annual Ballpark of the Year.
This distinction is just another in a long list of memorable moments that have made the Blue Wahoos inaugural season a resounding success. The Blue Angels flyover on opening day, visits from Masters Champion Bubba Watson and National Champion running back Trent Richardson, a no-hitter, Billy Hamilton’s stolen base record and now baseball’s best new stadium have all molded a lasting impression of Minor League Baseball on fans in the Pensacola community.
“We are very grateful for the high praise from Baseballparks.com,” said Blue Wahoos’ president Bruce Baldwin. “Considering the other stadiums that have opened this season, we are thrilled to receive this award. It is truly an honor. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication to this project by our owners Quint and Rishy Studer and the confidence and support of this stadium and the vision by the Community Maritime Park Associates, the City of Pensacola and its citizens. I don’t consider this an award for the Blue Wahoos, but one for all of Pensacola and Northwest Florida.”
Mock visited the park in May and provided a review of the stadium on his site following the trip. Other stadiums in consideration for the award included Marlins Park in Miami and the Boston Red Sox spring training facility in Lee County, Fla.
“The architects at Populous should be very proud of their facilities that opened this year,” said Mock. “They designed the incredibly impressive spring-training park and complex in Lee County, Florida for the Red Sox. They were also the architects for one of the most ambitious sports facilities ever built, Marlins Park. But even though it was the smallest of their three projects, I think Pensacola’s ballpark is the best.”
The selection of Populous as the stadium’s architecture firm is indicative of the commitment to the project by the City of Pensacola and the CMPA. Fans have been flocking to the stadium all summer long. The bayfront stadium has been sold out 37 times in 2012 and the Blue Wahoos boast an overall attendance of 303,744 averaging 4,821 fans per game.
“Over the past five months, thousands of people have enjoyed the great atmosphere and gorgeous view at Pensacola’s new bayfront stadium,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “This latest accolade is another testament to the Blue Wahoos’ fanastic first season and the hard work of so many over the past six years. This stadium has been an amazing addition to our vibrant downtown and growing waterfront and another reason that Pensacola is the Upside of Florida.”
Mock credited the design, fan amenities and site selection as contributing factors for the award. Past recipients of this award include AT&T Park in San Francisco, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and last year’s winner Salt River Field in Arizona
Smokies Power Past Pensacola 4-2
August 31, 2012
The Smokies smacked three home runs to account for all four of their scores, with shortstop Logan Watkins, second baseman Matt Cerda and first baseman Justin Bour all leaving the yard to power Tennessee to a 4-2 series-opening victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The loss combined with a Montgomery victory means the Blue Wahoos are now 2.5 games behind the Biscuits for first place in the Southern League’s South Division with four games remaining. The win pushed the Smokies to a 34-32 record in the second half, while the Fish are 33-32 since the league’s midpoint.
The Smokies’ surge began in the opening frame, with Watkins leaving the yard with a solo shot. It was the eighth longball of the season for Watkins, which pushed Tennessee to an early 1-0 advantage.
Pensacola however, countered with two tallies of their own in the third. CF Ryan LaMarre reached on a single and then stole second, prior to coming home when 1B Beau Mills reached on a Smokies error. Mills would then move to third on LF Donald Lutz’s double and eventually come plateward on a 3B David Vidal’s RBI groundout.
Three innings later, Tennessee would grab the lead for good with their second longball of the evening. After the first two hitters were retired, LF Rubi Silva kept the sixth alive with a free pass before Cerda clobbered the 1-1 pitch to left for his third roundtripper of 2012. The Smokies added an insurance run in the in the eighth when Bour blasted a solo big fly to left, increasing the margin to 4-2.
Blue Wahoos 2B Brodie Greene (2-4, 2 2B) recorded a multi-hit effort in his first game back since being activated from the Disabled List, while Lutz (2-4, 1 2B) also collected two base knocks. No Tennessee hitters tallied more than one hit in the contest.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two runs, one of which was earned, on four hits in five frames. Three Smokies relievers would reinforce Beeler by combining to yield just three base knocks in the final four frames. LHP Casey Harman (1.0 IP, 1 H) and RHP Trey McNutt (1.0 IP, 3 SO) each collected holds, while RHP Brian Schlitter (2.0 IP, 2 H, 4 SO) notched his sixth save. Pensacola starter Wirfin Obispo (6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up just three earned runs on three hits, adding five strikeouts in six innings.
With the Smokies leading the series 1-0, both teams return to action Friday night with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is scheduled to give the nod to RHP Daniel Corcino (8-7, 3.06), while Tennessee is expected to counter with RHP Nick Struck (13-10, 3.30).
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Brodie Greene recorded two hits in his first game back from the disabled list Thursday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Neiko Robinson Suspended For Six Games
August 29, 2012
Northview High School Chiefs senior Neiko Robinson has been suspended for six games by the Florida High School Athletic Association after being ejected from a kickoff classic game last Friday night.
Robinson, a transfer from the Flomaton Hurricanes and a verbal commitment to Penn State, was ejected in the fourth quarter after Neino Robinson, Neiko’s younger brother, was flagged for pass interference on a play. A brief scuffle followed, and Neiko Robinson allegedly threw a punch.
A new FHSAA sportsmanship policy went into effect a year ago calling for an automatic six-game suspension for a player ejected for being involved in a fight. Northview will be eligible to appeal the FHSAA decision.
The Chief will open their regular season at home Friday night against John Paul Catholic at 7 p.m.
Pictured top: Senior Neiko Robinson picks up yardage for the Northview Chiefs last Friday night against Panama City Bay. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton’s Dixon Commits To The UAB Blazers
August 29, 2012
Flomaton High School quarterback Ryheem Dixon has committed to play football for the UAB Blazers.
Last season as a junior, Dixon was part of a Flomaton team that took the Hurricanes to a state quarterfinal game for the first time in over 20 years. He racked up almost 3,000 yards offensively, with 1,454 yards on the ground and 1,526 in the air.
Dixon, 6-1, 187 pound, averaged just over 10.5 yards per carry. He threw for 23 touchdowns last season with just one interception.
USA, Southern Miss and Tuskegee were also reportedly recruiting Dixon.
Wahoos Run Past Braves
August 28, 2012
ue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton stole four bases, including two in the extra frame, while right fielder Josh Fellhauer recorded his fourth multi-hit game in a six-game span, to push Pensacola to a 3-2 ten-inning series clinching win over the Mississippi Braves on Monday night at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
With the defeat of the Braves, the Fish improved to 33-31 in the second half of the year to remain two games back of first place in the South Division. Mississippi dropped to 29-35 since the midpoint of the 2012 season.
Two of Hamilton’s thefts came in the extra frame, which helped propel the Blue Wahoos to a series victory. The speedster reached on an bloop single and swiped both second and third, before pinch hitter Yordanys Perez lifted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Hamilton and put the Fish ahead. The club totaled a team-record six steals in the contest, topping the previous mark of five.
Pensacola struck first, bringing home two scores in the third frame. 2B Miguel Rojas led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a single by SS Billy Hamilton. After Hamilton swiped third for his 151st steal of the season, both he and Rojas came across on RF Josh Fellhauer’s two-run single up to middle to put the Blue Wahoos out in front.
Mississippi would then counter with a two-spot of their own in the sixth to draw the game even. CF Todd Cunningham reached on a one-out base knock and stole second before being plated on 1B Joe Terdoslavich’s run-scoring single. LF Evan Gattis would subsequently tie it with a triple to right, sending home Terdoslavich.
Neither team’s starting pitchers received a decision, with Mississippi RHP Gary Moran (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) allowing two earned runs on five hits in his six frames, while Blue Wahoos RHP Mark Serrano (5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) yielded two earned runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work.
Pensacola reliever Curtis Partch (1.0 IP, 1 H) earned the victory with his scoreless frame, while LHP Chris Manno (0.2 IP, 1 SO) notched his second save of the year. Braves RHP Cory Rasmus (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss after yielding the game’s final score.
Fellhauer (2-5, 2 R, 1 2B) recorded another multi-hit game, his fourth in a six game span, while Hamilton (2-5, 2 RBI, 4 SB) also collected a pair of base knocks in addition to his four thefts in the contest. Fellhauer in his last six contests has hit at a blistering .588 clip (10-17), while the four-steal game for Hamilton was hit first since setting the single-season steals record on August 21 versus Montgomery. The Braves were led at the plate by 3B Joe Leonard (2-4, 1 2B) who was the lone Braves batter to accrue two hits.
The Blue Wahoos’ final game of their series against the Mississippi Braves scheduled for Tuesday, August 27 in Pearl, Mississippi, has been cancelled in anticipation of the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac. The game is not scheduled to be made up at this time.
The final Blue Wahoos homestand of the season begins on Thursday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. At this time, that contest is still on as scheduled. Tickets for that series are still available and can be purchased online at BlueWahoos.com. The Blue Wahoos’ offices will be closed Tuesday as a result of Isaac.
By Andrew Green
Wahoos Split Twin Bill With Mississippi
August 27, 2012
Pensacola scored four runs in the sixth inning to top Mississippi 5-2 and shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 150th base of the year in game one, while Braves starting pitcher J.R. Graham shut down the Blue Wahoos bats in a 1-0 shutout victory in the nightcap as the two teams split their double header on Sunday evening at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
With the split, the Fish now own a 32-31 record in the second half and are two games out of first place in the Southern League’s South Division. The Braves have recorded a 29-34 mark since the midpoint of the season.
The Blue Wahoos struck first in the opening contest after loading the bases. CF Ryan LaMarre and C Tucker Barnhart each reached on a free pass, while 3B David Vidal was hit by a pitch, to bring up 2B Miguel Rojas. The second baseman would draw a free pass to send in LaMarre and push Pensacola ahead.
Mississippi however, would answer with a two-run bottom of the frame. Following walks from 1B Joe Terdoslavich and 3B Joe Leonard, RF Alden Carrithers singled to load the bases for CF Bobby Stevens. Stevens drove in both Terdoslavich and Leonard to give the Braves a 2-1 advantage.
Pensacola then put up a four-spot in the sixth to snag the lead for good. Pinch hitter Bryson Smith brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to right, while RF Josh Fellhauer and 1B Beau Mills each collected RBI base knocks to help the Blue Wahoos’ cause.
Blue Wahoos reliever Michael Griffin (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) earned his first victory at the Double-A level after firing a perfect inning of relief, while closer Justin Freeman (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) notched his 16th save. Braves RHP Erik Cordier (0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB) suffered the loss and the blown save.
Mississippi starter J.R. Graham (6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 SO) silenced Pensacola batters throughout much of the nightcap, yielding just three hits while fanning eight in his six scoreless innings of work. Graham retired 15 of his first 16 batters, including 14 straight at one point. Fish starter Chad Rogers (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss, while Braves RHP Cory Rasmus (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) collected his fifth save of the year.
The second game’s lone tally came in the third and proved to be all that Mississippi needed. 2B Phil Gosselin singled and stole second , prior to subsequently scoring on 1B Joe Terdoslavich’s run-scoring base hit.
Gosselin (2-3, 1 R) and Terdoslavich (2-3, 1 RBI) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the second game, while Blue Wahoos RF Josh Fellhauer accrued two of the Fish’s three hits. RF Alden Carrithers (2-2, 1 BB) was the only hitter from either side with two hits in the first contest. Blue Wahoos SS Billy Hamilton stole his 150thh base of the year in the first game, extending his single-season steals record after breaking Vince Coleman’s top mark of 145 on August 21 against Montgomery.
The two teams are scheduled to play the fourth game of their series Monday evening at 7:00 p.m., with RHP Mark Serrano expected to take the hill for Pensacola. Mississippi is scheduled to counter by giving the nod to RHP Gary Moran.
The final Blue Wahoos homestand of the season begins on Thursday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.