Jay Varsity, JV Cheerleaders Win Top Honors At Auburn Camp
June 17, 2010
The Jay High School cheerleaders recently won top honors at a Universal Cheerleaders Association camp at Auburn University.
Both the varsity and junior varsity squads received superior scores for their cheer and dance routines. On the final day of camp, a “Camp Champs Competition” was held with about 30 squads.
The Jay junior varsity squad won first place in the JV Division for “Best Cheer”. The Royal varsity squad won second place in “Overall Best Cheer” and second in “Overall Best Dance” in the Large Varsity Division.
Tessa Hendricks, a member of the Jay varsity team, was named to the All-American Cheerleading Squad and received a pin for her leadership skills at camp.
Members of the Jay varsity cheerleading squad are: Katie Borders, Crystal Brown, Bethany Diamond, Camille Driver, Kyrah Dunsford, Ashton Edwards, Katheryn English, Tessa Hendricks, Sha Kinder, Morgan Lewis, Sierra Mills, Carly Owens, Meredith Owens, Jody Paramore, Abby Raney, Hannah Roberts and Summer Simmons.
Members of the Jay junior varsity cheerleading squad are: Kaitlyn Aguirre, Brittani Ashworth, Makenzie Bray, Launa Burkhead, Savannah Dubose, Kayla Flowers, Danielle Harrington, Summer Joyner, Leslie Kinder, Samantha Pearson, Alisha Roberts, Alaina Smith, Paige Smith, Brittany Tegenkamp, Brooke Tegenkamp, Jessica Thornton, Kendra Wells and Emily Wright.
FHSAA Creates Small School Rural Division: Jay In, Northview May Be Out
June 16, 2010
The Florida High School Athletic Association has approved a new rural school classification for schools like Jay High, but Northview may not be included.
Schools in the rural division would compete within their own division and have their own playoff series for boys and girls basketball, baseball, football, softball and girls volleyball, and boys and girls soccer.
“I’m very ecstatic,” said Jay Athletic Director Elijah Bell. “We’ve been working on this a long time in the pursuit of equality for small, rural schools.” Bell served on the FHSAA Urban/Rural Committee that drafted the proposal approved Tuesday.
An invitation to participate in the new rural classification will be extended to the 32 smallest schools that would be eligible — which would include Jay at number 13 but not Northview at number 39 by enrollment.
The FHSAA will next meet with the 32 small schools to determine which might choose to join the new “Division II” league. If any choose not to join, the next-smallest schools will be offered a slot to ensure the league has 32 teams as required for a state series. There are six school in line ahead of Northview that would have the option of joining the rural division.
“I hope we get in,” Northview Athletic Director Sammy Day said after learning the proposal passed the FHSAA board. If Northview does not make the division, it will create great hardship for the school, Day said.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Northview is rural,” Bell said, “as are other schools like Bozeman, Chipley and Perry. But we had to draw the line somewhere on the district, and that was the 32 (needed for a playoff series).”
Most of Northview’s past district opponents will be offered membership in the division — Jay, Sneads, Baker, Vernon, Holmes and Freeport. If they all become rural division schools and Northview does not, it will mean a lot of travel time for the Chiefs to play district teams.
“We may have a tough time unless we play much bigger schools,” Day said, adding the Chiefs would likely end up with schools like Catholic, Walton and Chipley on the schedule.
But Day is not giving up hope that Northview will make the 32-team rural Division II. Most of the schools on the list are in the Panhandle, while some are located much further south in Florida. Due to the travel time for those schools past Tallahassee, Day said he does not believe they will join the rural district. And some of those schools — like Peniel Baptist Academy just 44 total students — may not join the district.
“We will just have to wait and see,” he said.
Bell agreed that some of the schools on the small-32 list might not join the district. He cited Marathon High in Key West as an example. “It would be 200 miles on way for them to play a district game,” he said. “But we are still going to invite them to join.”
The FHSAA Division II for rural schools will be a pilot program for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. The final list of 32 eligible schools will be based upon fall 2010 enrollment, Bell said.
Those numbers could make a difference for Northview. According to Day, Northview had an enrollment of 560 in the fall of last year, but that number was down to 525 by the end of hte year.
“We had to draw a line somewhere,” Bell said the list of 32 small schools. He said he had hoped to see a small and larger division in the rural district, but that was not possible this year.
“I certainly hope we can do the small and large in the near future, he said.”It’s not over; we still have work to do.”
For now, Bell said he is happy to see the Rural Division become a reality; he’s been advocating such a plan since about 1990.
Pictured top: Brandon Sheets tries to avoid Jay defender Chris Carrigan during last year’s meeting of two rural schools. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
NWE Wins Beach King Of Swing Tourney
June 14, 2010
Northwest Escambia recently won the Beach King of Swing USSSA Baseball Tournament in Orange Beach.
NWE play four games in one day on their way to the championship.
In the first game, NWE beat the Redstick Braves from Baton Rouge La. 25-0. Daulton Tullis pitched for the Eagles, allowing just runners on base the entire game. Tullis went 3 for 4 at the plate. Brannon Freeman hit a lead-off home run to start the scoring. Dalton Daniel went 3-4 as did Jody Bonner, Chasen Freeman, Reid Bell and Blake McCall. Wade Jernigan went 2-4.
In the second game NWE defeated the Saraland (Ala.) All-Stars 4-0. Jordan Coon pick up the win with a strong performance from the mound. Reid Bell and Blake McCall led the hitting going 3-4 with 2 RBI’s each.
The third game was a close pitching duel as NWE came out on top of the Pace Renegades of Pace 1-0. Blake McCall pitch a spectacular game allowing on one hit and one walk in seven Innings. NWE scored in the bottom of the seventh when Blake McCall hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded. Chasen Freeman hit a double in the fifth inning for the first hit of the game by either team.
In the championship game NWE beat the Gulf Coast Storm from Pensacola 13-11. Reid Bell started off pitching giving NWE four strong innings before being relieved by William Andriolli in the fifth inning. Leading tnwhe hitting again was Dalton Daniel going 3-4 with a triple and 2 RBI’s in the fourth. Brannon Freeman and Jody Bonner each went 2-4.
The tournament win qualifies NWE to play in the USSSA World Series Tournament later the month.
NWE has a record of 32 wins, four loses and one tie for the season. The Eagles are coached by Manager Matt Reynolds and coaches Trent Freeman and Matt Walker.
Pictured: Members of the NWE baseball team: Dalton Daniel, Daulton Tullis,Brannon Freeman, Chasen Freeman, Reid Bell, Blake McCall, Jody Bonner, Jordan Coon, Wade Jernigan and William Andriolli. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery, Results: The 5K Race For The Blueberries
June 13, 2010
About 170 runners and walkers entered the second annual 5K Race for the Blueberries Saturday during the Blueberry Jamboree in Barrineau Park.
For a NorthEscambia.com runner photo gallery, click here.
Winners are listed below by category.
12 & Under, Male
Nathan Andreo, 1st place
David Dobson, 2nd place
Dillon (Last Name Unknown), 3rd place
12 & Under, Female
Allie Nelson, 1st place
Sophia Tucker, 2nd place
Lakelynn Parker, 3rd place
13 to 18, Male
Brandon Nelson, 1st place
Trent Black, 2nd place
Micah Kemp, 3rd place
13 to 18, Female
Karisa Nelson, 1st place
Katie Neslon, 2nd place
Amber Nelson, 3rd place
19 to 35, Male
Neil McDonagh, 1st place
Sean Driffenburg, 2nd place
Matthew Dixon, 3rd place
19 to 35, Female
Leah Daughtery, 1st place
Erin Fergus, 2nd place
Tanya Petty, 3rd place
36 to 54, Male
Matthew Dobson, 1st place
Russell Orr, 2nd place
Scott Nelson, 3rd place
36 to 54, Female
Eva Tucker, 1st place
55 & Over, Male
Roger Dobson, 1st place
Huey Pearson, 2nd place
Ted Hassebrock, 3rd place
55 & Over, Female
Kathy Shealy, 1st place
Tina Tuttle, 2nd place
First Place Walkers
12 & Under, Dylan (Last Name Unknown)
13 to 18, Brittany Flota
19 to 35, Christy Smith
36 to 54, Delbert Tucker
55 & Over, Darryl Rice
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Tate Star Selected By Mets In MLB Draft
June 9, 2010
Former Tate High School baseball player Brandon Brown of Cantonment was selected by the New York Mets in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft. He was the the 662th draft pick overall.
As a senior at South Alabama this past season, Brown, 22, started all 59 of the Jaguar’s games at shortstop. He batted .265, had three home runs, 30 RBI and three home runs for the Jags. As a junior at USA, he hit .319 with one home run, five doubles, 10 RBI and scored nine runs over 20 games – 13 of which were starts.
At Tate High School, Brown pitched and played third base for coach Todd Boyd. He helped Tate to the 2005 state championship, playing alongside fellow Jag David Doss. Brown was named a 2006 Puma All-American and ranked as the No 1. Top Prospect by Baseball Factory.
Brown was selected in 47th round of 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Brown is the son of Terry and Jan Brown. His older brother Bo played four seasons for the Atlanta Braves organization.
5K Race For The Blueberries Returns At Saturday’s Blueberry Jamboree
June 8, 2010
The Escambia County Neighborhoods and Community Services Bureau invites runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers to join the 5K Race for the Blueberries.
The event will be Saturday, June 12, beginning at 8 a.m. with a staggered start. The race will be one of the many fun activities offered at the Blueberry Jamboree, to be held at Barrineau Park Community Center and Historical Society, 6055 Barrineau Park School Road in Molino.
Pre-registration is $15. Registration forms can be found by clicking here or by calling (850) 475-5220. Registration is $20 on the day of the event. T-shirts will be given to all registrants and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners.
For more information, please contact the Recreation Division, 475-5220, e-mail recreation@co.escambia.fl.us, or visit www.blueberryjamboree.com.
The Blueberry Jamboree is sponsored by several local organizations, including NorthEscambia.com.
Molino 16U Lady Astros Are Tourney Runner-Ups
June 4, 2010
The Molino 16U Lady Astros softball team started their season as runner-ups in a recent USFA qualifier tournament in Daphne, Alabama.
The Astros lost in the elimination round to Voo Doo of New Orleans, only to face them again and beat them 4-3 in the semi-finals to advance to the championships. The Lady Astros came up short, losing 3-1 to Crossfire of Gulfport.
Pitching for the Lady Astros were Jami Ujvair, Tristen Faircloth and Heather Schaff. Molino had team batting average of over 400 for the tournament and only two errors in the championship game.
Pictured: The Molino 16U Lady Astros softball team. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wildcats Have Tri-County Little League’s Only Undefeated Season
June 3, 2010
The Fidelis Lady Wildcats Minor League Softball team finished the Tri-County Little League season undefeated — the only Tri-County Little League team in either baseball or softball to go undefeated this season.
The Wildcats are managed by Jimbo Lewis and coached by Ricky Tagert. The team was sponsored by Siwicki Plumbing.
Pictured: Members of the undefeated Tri-County Little League Fidelis Lady Wildcats (front, L-R) Jorja Agrait, Jocelyn Wells, (middle row) Kennedy Cato, Hannah Vaughn, Olivia Cook, Cotton Malone, (back r0w) Manager JimboLewis, Kameryn Lewis, Carissa Mulford, Megan Mulford, Harley Tagert and Coach Ricky Tagert. Photo courtesy Distinctively De Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: NWE Closing Ceremony With Scoop
May 29, 2010
Closing ceremonies were held Friday evening for Northwest Escambia little league, with “Scoop” from the Pensacola Pelicans handing out awards.
Several adults were also honored, including Yankees’ manager Joey Hasty who was presented the NWE Tony Hollingsworth Manager of the Year Award, and Jason Peebles and Sandy Brown who were named Volunteer of the Year.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Submitted photos by Annie Wiedel for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Do you have local ballpark photos to share? Email them news@northescambia.com
Two Zachs Each Hit Three-Run Homers
May 28, 2010
Two different players named Zach each hit three-run homers Thursday night as a Northwest Escambia Major League boys team finished their season with a win. Zach Payne, 11, (pictured right) hit a three-run home run in the first inning, and Zach Holland had a three run homer in the fifth as their Amerson Roofing team picked up a 16-12 win. Submitted photo by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.