No “Kiddie Tax” County Fee For Youth Sports
September 4, 2009
The Escambia County Commission rejected a $10 per child youth sports fee, but they did vote to increase several other recreation fees at the their Thursday night meeting.
Currently, athletic associations that use county-owned parks for little league sports do not pay for the use of the parks. Instead, the athletic associations maintain and manage the parks in exchange for their use. But under a proposal considered by the Escambia County Commission Thursday night, athletic associations would have been assessed a fee of $10 per child, per sport after October 1.
With two of four county commissioners at Thursday’s meeting speaking out in opposition against the plan, it failed to get the majority vote needed to pass.
The plan would have pumped about $30,000 into the county’s general fund to help pay salaries in the parks and recreation department.
But commissioners Kevin White and Wilson Robertson voiced strong opposition to the plan that became dubbed by some as the “kiddie tax”.
“What we are trying to do is have all of our recreation fees pay for all of our recreation staff,” Keith Wilkins, deputy bureau chief Neighborhoods and Community Services, said, adding that two of four positions have already been cut from his department. He said the county’s adult sports programs do pay for themselves, but youth sports do not.
The youth leagues mow their fields and do the upkeep on their parks, except for major repairs, he said.
“So when they say ‘hey we are doing all of the work’, to them they are doing all work on a daily basis,” Wilkins said at a Thursday morning agenda review meeting. “There is a cost incurred that they don’t see.” With no funds from the youth leagues going to the county, Wilkins said the county’s costs are not covered for managing their 19 associations. He said their are other costs, including “ownership of the land…we do own the land that we lease to them at $1 a year”.
“The biggest argument I’ve gotten so far is that it is going to reduce the players because of income…that’s been a big blow,” Young said.
“I understand that there is a concern there, particularly for the less affluent neighborhoods that it would put an undue burden on them,” Wilkens said. “You’re right, it could have an effect.”
Other Recreation Fees Increase
The commission did vote to increase the rental fee for park pavilions from $25 to $30.
Commissioners also votes for fee increases for county-operated adult athletic league teams by $50. A new fee for high school soccer games at Brosnaham Park will be imposed at $50 for day games or $75 for night games. Building fees, such as using a press box or concession stand, were also increased by $10.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Turn Out To Meet The Chiefs
September 4, 2009
Hundreds of people turned out Thursday night to Meet the Chiefs at Northview High School.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Dominates Washington, 38-7
September 4, 2009
The Tate Aggies dominated the Washington Wildcats Thursday night, 38-7.
With about four and half minutes to go in the first quarter, senior Blake Cicheskie had a 26-yard field goal for the Aggies to put them up 3-0. Then in the second quarter, defensive back Q Ford picked up a 52 yard run to put the Aggies up 9-0 with 9:42 on the clock. The point after was no good. The quarter ended with Tate up 9-0.
In the second half, Washington scored from the two. With a good kick, Washington closed in 9-7. About four minutes later, with 3:35 to go in the third, Tate QB Edwin Richburg was in for the TD on a two yard run.
The fourth was all Aggies all the time. A 14-yard touchdown from Q Ford, a one yard TD from Thumper Grice and a seven yard run from Russell Ruth all added to Tate’s total. Blake Cicheskie made the point after following all three runs.
The Aggies will be home next Friday night against Pensacola High School.
Cats Even Series With Pelicans
September 3, 2009
Though the Pelicans took an early 1-0 lead on an Antoin Gray home run, the Cats would claim victory 8-2 on Wednesday night. Led by starter Joel Kirsten, Fort Worth won game two of the South Division Championship Series.
In the top of the first inning, Antoin Gray went deep for his second home run of the postseason. The solo shot gave the Pelicans an early 1-0 lead. However, the Cats came back strong.
Fort Worth tied the game in the bottom of the first. Brian Fryer singled off Pelicans starter Randy Beam and stole second base. Cameron Blair put down a sacrifice bunt and Fryer moved up to third, scoring on a sacrifice fly to center by Pat O’Sullivan.
The Cats knocked Randy Beam out of the game in the second inning. Bell, Patterson, Gulledge, and Backman all scored, two of them coming on an Isa Garcia double. Dane DeValk came on to record the final two outs of the inning.
Cameron Blair hit a solo bomb in the fourth inning to give the Cats a 6-1 lead. Michael Bell walked to start off the bottom of the fifth inning, and scored when Ryan Patterson doubled.
Down 7-1, the Pelicans added another run in the top of the eighth. Against Ryan Trytten, Antoin Gray walked with two out. Marshall McDougall doubled to drive him in. The next two Pelicans walked, but the Pelicans left the bases loaded.
The Cats added their final run in the last of the eighth, scoring Fryer on a John Allen RBI single.
The Pelicans used five pitchers in the 8-2 loss. Randy Beam took the loss allowing five runs in 1.1 innings, walking two and yielding five hits. Dane DeValk pitched until the end of the fifth, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out one. Ron Hill tossed a scoreless sixth, allowing a hit and a walk. Francisco Butto allowed two hits in the seventh, notching a strikeout. Ulysses Roque gained three outs via strikeout in the eighth, but the strikeouts were spaced around two walks and a hit that allowed a run to score.
The Pelicans were limited to six hits, comprised mostly by Gray and McDougall. Gray went 2-3 with the homer and two runs scored, and McDougall hit two doubles in four at-bats, driving in Gray once.
Game three is scheduled for Friday at 7:05 p.m. in Pensacola. The Pelicans are scheduled to start Kieran Mattison against the Cats’ Jae Jung.
Pelicans Shutout Cats in Game One; Three Pelicans Go Deep in 7-0 Win
September 2, 2009
The Pelicans blanked the Cats 7-0 to claim game one of the best-of-five South Division Championship Series. Pensacola was supported by another strong Aaron Jackson outing, earning the win after seven scoreless innings of work. Tyler Wilson and Bubba Nelson paired up to retire the final six Cats in order, and three Pelicans hit home runs in the Pensacola victory.
Pensacola took an early 1-0 lead by scoring Francisco Leandro in the top of the first. The Pelicans’ leadoff hitter knocked a groundball that hit third base to give Leandro an infield single. Kevin Reynolds dropped down a beautiful bunt that Reynolds beat out to give the Pelicans runners at first and second and nobody out. Antoin Gray recorded RBI number 85 by hitting a single, and the Pelicans were up early.
The Pelicans added another run in the top of the second, when Dallas Christison led off with a solo shot over the left field fence. The blast was Christison’s second of the year, and the Pelicans’ second run of the night.
Kevin Reynolds started the third inning with a single, and moved to third when Gray hit his second base knock of the night. Marshall McDougall skied a ball to the centerfielder, and the sacrifice fly plated Reynolds to give the Pelicans a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Marcos Rodriguez connected for a single, and Dallas Christison had a bunt single as well. Lou Palmisano placed a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, and both runners moved up a bag. With two outs, Leandro walked to load the bases, and Kevin Reynolds made his third hit of the night a big one: a ground-rule double that bounced over the right field fence and forced home Rodriguez and Christison, the Pelicans fourth and fifth runs of the night.
Marshall McDougall started the fifth inning by crushing his first homer in a Pelicans uniform, and Antoin Gray added a little extra in the top of the ninth with a leadoff homer of his own, Gray’s fifteenth long-ball of the year.
The Pelicans’ 7-0 lead would hold up under seven solid innings by Aaron Jackson in which he scattered five hits, did not allow a walk, and struck out two. Tyler Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, striking out one, and Bubba Nelson retired the Cats in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the Pelicans’ shutout. The ninth Pelicans’ shutout was also their second against Fort Worth.
At the plate, Kevin Reynolds led all Pelicans going 3-4, with the two-RBI ground-rule double. Antoin Gray went 3-5 with a solo homer and two RBI. Francisco Leandro and Marcos Rodriguez went 2-4, and Dallas Christison went 2-5 with a homer and two runs batted in. Marshall McDougall hit his first round-tripper as a Pelican to drive in one of his two RBI.
Pensacola and Fort Worth will play game two of the South Division Championship Series on Wednesday in Texas, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The battle of southpaws will feature Pensacola’s Randy Beam, against Fort Worth’s Joel Kirsten. Fans can hear all the action on NewsRadio 1620, and online via SportsJuice.com.
NWE Football Takes On Pace (With Photo Galleries)
August 30, 2009
The 2009 regular season for Northwest Escambia Football got underway Saturday with two wins and a loss for NWE against the Pace Patriots.
The NWE Mites shutout Pace Blue. Luke Ward rushed for a touchdown, and Jarrod Aliff hit the end zone for the point after for the NWE Eagles.
The Northwest Escambia Midgets beat Pace Blue 18-12, and the NWE Mini-mites fell to pace 26-18.
Northwest Escambia will be off on Saturday, September 5 and back in action on September 12 at Myrtle Grove.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from NWE Mites game, click here.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the NWE Midgets game, click here.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery of the NWE cheerleaders, click here.
Pictured above and below: Action from the NWE Mites game against Pace Saturday at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Flomaton Beats Calhoun
August 30, 2009
Calhoun was no match at all for the Flomaton Hurricane in their season opener Friday night. The Canes blew past Calhoun 48-0 in Flomaton. Flomaton kept the scorekeeper busy in the first, taking an 27-0 lead heading into the second.
Click here for more photos submitted by Mike Newton Photography.
The Canes were led by Niko Robinson with two TD’s, including a 17-yarder on the game’s second play. Robinson had 94 yards on only five carries. He also had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Ryheem Bixon had 83 yards on the night on a half dozen carries — including a five-yard touchdown run.
The Hurricanes will be under the lights at Hurricane Field next Friday night against Red Level.
Click here for more photos from Mike Newton Photography.
Pictured above: Action as Flomaton beat Calhoun Friday night. Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Wins 48-0 Over Calhoun; Atmore Loses To T.R. Miller 27-12
August 29, 2009
The 2009 football season kicked into full gear Friday night in Alabama, with the Flomaton Canes claiming a huge victory and Escambia County falling to a cross-county powerhouse.
Flomaton 48 Calhoun 0
Calhoun was no match at all for the Flomaton Hurricane in their season opener Friday night. The Canes blew past Calhoun 48-0 in Flomaton. Flomaton kept the scorekeeper busy in the first, taking an 27-0 lead heading into the second.
The Canes were led by Niko Robinson with two TD’s, including a 17-yarder on the game’s second play. Robinson had 94 yards on only five carries. He also had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Ryheem Bixon had 83 yards on the night on a half dozen carries — including a five-yard touchdown run.
The Hurricanes will be under the lights at Hurricane Field next Friday night against Red Level.
T.R. Miller 27 Escambia County (Atmore) 12
Alabama football powerhouse T.R. Miller took an early lead Friday night in Brewton, with a 7-0 first quarter lead. Miller expanded their lead to 13-0 in the second. That’s when the Escambia County Blue Devils answered with six and a missed extra point. The Blue Devils managed half a dozen more during the night, but it was no match for Miller. T.R. Miller beat Escambia County 27-12.
Ricky Hartley had a couple of TD’s for the Blue Devils. One was a one-yard pass from Rico Stallworth and the other was a one-yard run. Stallworth had 78 passing yards and 72 rushing Friday night against the T.R. Miller Tigers.
Escambia County will travel to Vigor next Friday night.
Go Chiefs: Girls Of All Ages Learn At NHS Mini-Cheerleading Clinic
August 29, 2009
The annual Northview Mini-Cheerleading Clinic was held Friday evening, giving girls three-years old through the eighth grade the chance to learn cheers from the NHS varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders.
The girls will have the opportunity to cheer at halftime of next Friday night’s Northview Chiefs football game.
Click here for a photo gallery.
Pictured above and below: The Northview Mini-Cheerleading Clinic Friday night at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Clinch Playoff Spot With 8-3 Win Over the Captains
August 29, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans are the 2009 Second Half South Division Champions. With an 8-3 victory in front of 2,292 fans in Pensacola, the Pelicans return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Pelicans will make their first entry into the American Association playoffs with Randy Beam’s tenth victory of the year.
The Captains entered the ballgame with a record of 26-14 when scoring first, and pushed a run across in the first inning. With two outs, Chris Garcia hit a line drive over the left field fence for his fifth home run of the year.
The Pelicans retaliated in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs of their own. Kevin Reynolds reached first on a fielder’s choice. After Antoin Gray walked and Chase Burch drew a base on balls as well, Marcos Rodriguez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. Rodriguez delivered with a single that scored Reynolds and Gray, and the Pelicans took a 2-1 lead.
With a run in the top of the second inning, the Captains pulled even. Jose Torres walked with one out, and scored when Luis Guance followed with a double.
The Pelicans would take the lead again in the bottom of the second and never let it go. Adam Darby was hit by a pitch, Leandro was too, and Kevin Reynolds walked. That was the end for Captains’ starter Ronald Lowe, as Derek Miramontes took over. After a strikeout, Antoin Gray walked to push Darby home, and the Pelicans led 3-2.
Pensacola added three runs of insurance in the fifth inning, as Burch and Rodriguez each singled, and Dallas Christison walked. With the bases loaded Lou Palmisano hit a rocket groundball that ate up the Captains’ second baseman. Burch would score the Pelicans’ winning run on the play, but Adam Darby would follow with a single that plated Rodriguez and Christison. After five innings, the Pelicans were ahead by four.
The Captains scored their final run of the game in the top of the sixth after Ron Hill relieved Randy Beam. With two outs, Jorge Alavarez reached first base on an error by the third baseman. Jose Torres walked, and Luis Guance hit a single to drive in Alvarez. The run was unearned, as Hill would go on to pitch the sixth and seventh innings, allowing just two hits, a walk, and striking out two.
Starter Randy Beam yielded just three hits, walking two and striking out four in his five innings of work. After Hill, Francisco Butto closed out the Captains in the eighth and ninth. He didn’t allow a base runner, striking out two.
The Pelicans put a stamp on the game in their final two innings at the plate. Leandro led off the seventh with a single, and moved to second base on a pitch that escaped the catcher. After Kevin Reynolds singled, Leandro moved to third, and both men moved up a base when a pitch hit the backstop again, scoring Leandro.
The Pelicans iced the cake in the bottom of the eighth. Chase Burch started the frame with a walk, and Marcos Rodriguez doubled to push Burch to third. Dallas Christison hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that brought Burch home, and the 8-3 Pelicans’ lead would stand.
The Pelicans return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005, and will make their first appearance as part of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. First-year manager Talmadge Nunnari will put his Pelicans on a bus to Fort Worth following this weekends’ games in order to face the Cats on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. In the meantime, the Pelicans will close out the regular season with a game on both Saturday and Sunday. Both contests are slated for 6:05 p.m.