Ice Flyers Fall Short To Birmingham Saturday Night
March 1, 2026
The Ice Flyers were unable to find the equalizer Saturday night, falling 2-0 to the Birmingham Bulls on Saturday night at the Hangar.
After a scoreless first period, Birmingham broke through late in the second when Drake Glover opened the scoring to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead heading into the final frame. Pensacola pushed to get back even in the third, but could not solve Birmingham down the stretch.
With the Ice Flyers net empty in the closing moments, Kolten Olynek buried an empty-netter in the final seconds to seal the 2-0 result.
Pensacola will regroup and turn the page as the team prepares for a road trip next weekend to face the top-seeded Peoria Rivermen.
50th Anniversary Celebrated: Tate Aggies 1976 State Champion Baseball Team
February 28, 2026
Before Friday night’s matchup between the Tate Aggies and Escambia Gators at Blue Wahoos Stadium, 1970s state championship teams from both schools were honored.
Tate was the home team and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its 1976 Class 4A team. Escambia honored its 1972 and 1974 Class 4A championship teams. At the time, 4A was the highest classification in Florida.
Ronnie Stryker, who was a senior on the 1976 state championship Tate Aggie team, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
There were 21 players from the Tate team committed to attend the 50-year anniversary, along with former coaches. One of those former players was a sophomore named Mike Killam, now the longtime metro director of the Northwest Florida chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
It was Killam’s brainchild to honor the 1976 team he played on.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“I got to thinking, hey, Tate is playing Escambia in this game. Let’s invite former players from Escambia’s 1972 and ’74 championship teams,” said Killam, whose FCA leadership has enabled thousands of area high school kids to get recognized at awards banquets, a golf tournament, and other special events his organization has staged.
“I figured, let’s make this really special,” Killam said. “Let’s just have a big night to celebrate these teams and these schools and all the baseball accomplishments.
“I’m so honored to have the response we’ve had.”
The former players first reunited Friday at the Pensacola Yacht Club with a luncheon event.
1976 Tate High Class 4A State Championship Team
Seniors
- Scott Madison
- Ronnie Stryker
- Ray Conti
- Steve Webb
- Bruce West
- Jimmy Dunlap
- Wes Connor
Juniors
- Keith Conley
- Richard Waters
- Randy Kitrell
- Johnny Wells
- Rocky Peoples
- Danny Minton
- Herb Brewer
Sophomores
- Danny Karp
- Mike Killam
- Robert Hicks
- Ken Cannon
- Mike Bennett
- Freddy Killam
Freshman
- John Dunlap
Staff & Coaches
- Equipment Manager: Lester (Killer) Rawls
- Head Coach: Danny Burke
- Assistant Coach: Floyd Adams
- Assistant Coach: Woodrow McCorvey
A list of names for the Escambia High teams was not available at publication time early Saturday morning.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Stadium Win: Tate Aggies Shut Out The Escambia Gators
February 28, 2026
The Tate Aggies shut out the Escambia Gators 10-0 Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium
Conner Dethlefs and Cooper Halfacre had three hits each for the Aggies. Halfacre and Cook had three RBIs, and McNair went 2-3.
RELATED STORY: 50th Anniversary Celebrated: Tate Aggies 1976 State Champion Baseball Team
Bryton McLellan was on the mound for six run-free innings,allowing four hits, striking out five and walking one.
Click here for a photo gallery.
Up next, Tate will host Crestview on Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals Finish Historic Season As Rural State Runners-up
February 28, 2026
The Jay Royals girls basketball team wrapped up a stellar season Friday night as the FHSAA Rural Classification State Runners-up.
The Royals fell to Williston 66-49. Jay ended the season at 25-5.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
Friday Night: Niceville Edges Tate Softball; Northview Softball and Baseball Drop Away Games
February 28, 2026
Here are North Escambia ara high school baseball and softball scores from Friday night.
SOFTBALL
Niceville 3, Tate 2
Niceville defeated the Tate Lady Aggies 3-2 Friday night.
Mykamia Padgett pitched one inning for Tate, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out one and walking two. Sarah Mitchell pitched five scoreless innings, surrendering three hits, striking out eight and walking two.
At the plate, Mitchell went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Brelynn Morris, Taylor Robinson, and Madison Smillie each also added one hit for the Aggies.
Next up, Tate will host Gulf Breeze on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Orange Beach 10, Northview 2
The Orange Beach Makos defeated the Northview Chiefs 10-2 on Friday night in Bratt.
Mikayla McAnally opened in the circle for the Chiefs, allowing six hits and six runs (five earned) in four innings, walking one and striking out five. Peyton Womack threw for two innings, surrendering five hits and four earned runs while striking out one and walking three.
Riley Brooks and Kylee Langham each had one hit and one RBI for the Chiefs. Addysen Bolen, Daviona Randolph, and Avery Stuckey each added one hit.
Northview will host the West Florida Jaguars on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
BASEBALL
Destin 9, Northview 2
The Destin Sharks beat the Northview Chiefs 9-2 on Friday night in Destin.
Jackson Bridges took the loss for the Chiefs. In six innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs, he struck out six and walked one. Jase Portwood pitched two innings, allowing two hits and four unearned runs while striking out four.
Dane King, Portwood, and Taylor Curtis each had one hit for the Chiefs, while Cole Davis and Grayden Sheffield each had one RBI.
Northview will travel to Pensacola to take on the Escambia Gators on Tuesday.
Ice Flyers Fall To Birmingham (With Gallery)
February 28, 2026
The Ice Flyers fell 4-1 to the Birmingham Bulls on Dino Race Night at the Hangar.
Birmingham opened the scoring when Kyren Gronick found the back of the net, but Pensacola answered quickly as Nicholas Aromatario tied the game at 1-1 heading into the second period. The Bulls regained the lead on the power play when Drake Glover scored after Ethan Price was whistled for a slashing penalty. The Ice Flyers were unable to even things up in the middle frame and went into the third trailing by one.
Birmingham added insurance midway through the third as Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira extended the lead, and CJ Walker sealed it with an empty-net goal to make it 4-1 as the Bulls came away with the win.
The two teams will meet again Saturday to wrap up the weekend series during the 30th Anniversary of Pensacola Hockey Celebration.
Northview Run Rules Defending State Champion Holmes County
February 27, 2026
Northview 14, Holmes County 1
The Northview Chiefs run-ruled the defending Rural Class state champion Holmes County Blue Devils 14-1 Thursday night, in Bratt.
Jack Boutwell earned the win on the mound for the Chiefs, giving up one hit in four no-run innings, walking four and striking out six. Gauge Harrison pitched one inning in relief, giving up one hit and one unearned run while striking out one and walking one.
Taylor Curtis went 3-for-4 at bat for the Chiefs. Jackson Bridges, Cole Davis, Jase Portwood and Grayden Sheffield added two hits each.
The Chiefs will head to Destin on Friday night to take on the Sharks.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Stadium Win: Tate Beats Fort Walton
February 27, 2026
Tate 4, Fort Walton 1
The Tate Aggies beat the Fort Walton Beach Vikings 4-1 on Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Lance Brady was on the mound for the Aggies, surrendering three hits and one unearned run in seven innings, striking out four and walking one.
Connors had two RBIs for the Aggies as he went 2-3 for the night. Kaden Posta and Cal Foxworth also added two hits each.
Friday night, the Aggies will return to Blue Wahoos Stadium to take on the Escambia Gators at 7 p.m. Tickets, which are $12.25, will be available for purchase at the stadium or online from MLB. Parking is free, and one food and beverage storefront will be open for concessions.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Road Trips: Northview Chiefs Beat Destin 18-2; Tate Falls To Niceville By One
February 27, 2026
Northview 18, Destin 2
The Northview Chiefs hit the road and bit the Destin Sharks 18-2 on Thursday night.
Kylie Langham went 3-5 for the Chiefs, including a solo center field home run in the fourth, a single in the sixth, and a double in the seventh.
Peyton Womack went 4-6 at the plate for Northview; Riley Brooks, Davonia Randolph, and Avery Stuckey each added multiple hits.
Mikayla McAnally opened in the circle for the Chiefs, giving up one hit and no runs in three innings while striking out four and walking none. Randolph threw one inning of no-run ball, and Womack pitched three, surrendering two hits and two runs, striking out none and walking one.
Next up, the Lady Chiefs will host Orange Beach at 6 p.m. Friday.
Niceville 3, Tate 2
The Tate Lady Aggies dropped a Thursday loss 3-2 on the road at Niceville.
Mitchell was 1-3 with two RBIs for the Lady Aggies. Morris, Mitchell, Robinson, and Smillie each added one hit for THS.
Padgett went one inning for Tate, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits while walking two and striking out one. Pitching five innings of no-run ball in relief, Mitchell allowed three hits, walking two and striking out eight.
The Lady Aggies will return home to Cantonment against Gulf Breeze next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Tate Aggies Lacrosse Beats Washington 12-7
February 27, 2026
Tate High School Girls Lacrosse earned a bit 12-7 win at the Washington Wildcats on Thursday night.
The Aggies were coming off losses earlier in the week to West Florida and Gulf Breeze.
Next Week, Tate will travel to West Florida on Monday, and Pensacola Catholic on Tuesday.