NWE All-Stars Win Sectionals, Headed To State
July 18, 2010
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars are now sectional champions and headed to state after sweeping both of their 11-12 year old Little League softball games Saturday in Tallahassee.
NWE beat Tallahassee Chaires Little League 16-1 and 8-2 in the double elimination tournament for the Florida Section 1 Championship. The Northwest Escambia girls will travel to the state tournament in Fort Myers next week.
In the first game, Mallory Ryan pitched all four innings with seven strike outs and no walks.
Scoring for NWE: Mallory Ryan: 2; Kyndall Hall: 2; Penny Banda: 1; Courtney Peebles: 2; Kendal Cobb: 2; Addy Lee: 3; Kristen Byrd: 2; Natalie Goetter: 1; Peighton Dortch: 1. RBIs for NWE: Mallory Ryan: 4; Kyndall Hall: 1; Courtney Peebles: 3; Kendal Cobb: 1; Addy Lee: 1.
In the second game, NWE and Chaires were tied 2-2 at the end of the sixth, and continued tied 2-2 at the end of the seventh. But NWE was able to score six runs in the top of the eighth for the 8-2 win.
Ryan pitched five innings with four strike outs and a walk. Courtney Peebles pitched three innings with one strike out and no walks.
Scoring for NWE: Kyndall Hall: 1; Courtney Peebles: 1; Kendal Cobb: 2; Addy Lee: 1; Kristen Byrd: 1; Natalie Goetter: 1; Savanna Roux: 1. RBIs for NWE: Kyndall Hall: 1;
Penny Banda: 1; Natalie Goetter: 1.
In the state championship series next week, NWE will play Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Friday at 6:30 p.m. All times listed are Eastern.
Members of the NWE 11-12 year old All-Stars are: Savanna Roux, Peighton Dortch, Courtney Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Kendal Cobb, Mallory Ryan, Kristin Byrd and Natalie Goetter. The team is managed by Jerry Mason, and coached by Ronald Peebles and Eddie Ryan.
Pictured top and bottom:The Northwest Escambia All-Starts 11-12 softball team after Saturday’s sectional win in Tallahassee. Pictured inset: Kendal Cobb plays for NWE. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kim Ryan, click to enlarge.
Pelicans: Win Number 14
July 18, 2010
The Pelicans winning steak continued Saturday with a win over the AirHogs.
The Pensacola Pelicans (12-0) receive strong pitching performances from Jared Gothreaux and Seth Overbey coupled with just enough offense to top the AirHogs (0-12) 6-2. The Pelicans have now won their 14th straight contest tying them with the Lincoln Saltdogs for the all-time American Association record of consecutive wins.
The AirHogs jumped out in front in the last of the third inning with two outs and nobody on base. Greg Porter launched a homerun into to deep right center giving Grand Prairie an early 1-0 lead.
The Pelicans who were held without a hit through the first four innings broke through in the fifth inning. Pensacola put runners on second and third with one out when Francisco Leandro lifted a high fly ball to deep left field which went off the wall scoring Adolfo Gonzalez and Dallas Christison giving the Pels a 2-1 lead. A fielding error from Todd Sandell allowed Leandro from third base to score and extend the lead to 3-1.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Pelicans put runners on first and third with one out. John Alonso lined a single to left scoring Francisco Leandro extending the lead for Pensacola to 4-1. The bases then were loaded when AirHogs reliever Austin Coan threw a wild pitch scoring Javier Brito from third base making it a 5-1 lead. Chase Porch then followed with a sharp single into center scoring John Alonso make it a 6-1 contest.
Jared Gothreaux (6-5) gets the win as he goes 6 1/3 innings and gives up two runs off seven hit while striking out a season-high 12 batters on the night. Seth Overbey finished off the seventh inning while also tossing a perfect eighth and ninth for his second save of the year.
Pelicans Get Lucky Win Number 13 In A Row
July 17, 2010
The Pensacola Pelicans (11-0) were in the middle of a see-saw battle with the Grand Prairie AirHogs (0-11) who were both fighting badly to get the win. In the end, Lou Palmisano’s RBI sac fly to score Javier Brito in the 11th Inning pushed the Pels past the AirHogs 11-10. Pensacola has now won their 13th straight contest, tying their franchise record of consecutive wins set back in 2004.
Grand Prairie grabbed the game’s first run in the bottom of the third inning when Greg Porter lined a two out single to center to score David Espinosa from second base to give the AirHogs an early 1-0 lead. Jason Stokes followed with a walk then Michael Holliman hit a towering triple to deep right center to score Porter and Stokes extending the Grand Prairie lead to 3-0.
Pensacola battled back in the top of the fourth inning. WIth one out, John Alonso hit a solo homerun deep to left center and over the wall to get the Pels on the board at 3-1. It was Alonso’s seventh homer of the year. They later loaded the bases in the same inning when Adolfo Gonzalez lined a single to right to score Lou Palmisano and Chase Porch to tie the game up at 3. Pensacola loaded the bases again and Carlos Leon hit a sacrifice fly to right center to score Marcos Rodriguez from third base giving the Pels the lead at 4-3. Francisco Leandro followed with a two run single to right center to score Adolfo Gonzalez and Kyle Brown extending the lead to 6-3.
With the score 6-5 in the top of sixth inning, Adolfo rifled a double just fair down the left field line scoring Marcos Rodriguez from first base to make it a 7-5 Pelicans advantage. Then Kyle Brown bunted a ball down the third base line and a throwing error to first base from David Espinosa allowed Gonzalez to score and give the Pels an 8-5 lead.
Grand Prairie answered back in the last of sixth inning when Daniel Berg launched a 3-2 fastball into the left field seats for his first homerun of the season pulling the AirHogs within a run at 8-7.
The AirHogs opened up the last of the seventh inning with a triple hit from Jason Stokes. Michael Holliman followed with a sacrifice fly to right center to tie the game up at 8. Robert Perry then followed with a rocket to right that went over the fence in a hurry to give the AirHogs the lead back at 9-8.
In the top of the ninth inning, Francisco Leandro led it off with a single to right. He then stoled second successfully. AirHogs closer Geivy Garcia then threw two straight wild pitches allowing Leandro to score and tie the game up at 9. Later in the inning with runners on first and second with one out, Chase Porch blooped a single to left to score Dallas Christison who was pinch running for Alonso to give Pensacola a 10-9 lead.
The AirHogs rallied back in the bottom of the ninth inning when Michael Holliman doubled to deep center to score Greg Porter and tie the game up once again at 10.
In the top of the eleventh inning, Javier Brito led it off with a lead off single to center. He advanced to second on a wild pitch thrown from Ben Paxton. He moved to third on a bunt from Dallas Christison. Lou Palmisano followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Brito from third base giving Pensacola an 11-10 lead.
Austin Chambliss (3-0) pitches the ninth and tenth inning to get the win. Jason Franzblau tossed a perfect eleventh inning for his first save of the year.
Fire Reported On Quintette Lane
July 17, 2010
Fire stations from across the area responded to an early morning house fire in the Quintette community.
Firefighters reportedly found a smoldering mattress when they arrived on Quintette Lane just north of Quintette Road about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The fire was quickly extinguished.
The Cantonment, Molino, McDavid and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the fire. Several units were canceled prior to their arrival.
There were no injures reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Jobless Rate Jumps In Three County Local Area
July 17, 2010
While the statewide unemployment rates in Florida and Alabama dropped, the three-county employment rate in the North Escambia area increased according to date released Friday.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate increased 0.6 percent— up from 10.3 percent in May to 10.9 percent in June. That represents 879 jobs lost in a month.
Santa Rosa County also recorded an increase in unemployment — from 9.3 in May to 9.8 percent in June. Santa Rosa County lost 378 jobs during the period.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County, Ala., also jumped, from 11.4 percent in May to 11.8 in June.
Florida’s May unemployment rate dipped to 11.4 percent, the third consecutive month of improvement. Prior to this year, the last time Florida recorded monthly declines in unemployment rates was February 2006.
“This continuing decline in Florida’s unemployment rate is another strong indication that our economy is improving,” said Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “While we recognize that families and businesses, especially those impacted by the Gulf oil spill, continue to face challenges as the nation emerges from recession, this positive indicator should provide hope to Floridians.
The improvement is partially attributed to a shrinking labor force. According to the department, the labor force shrank by 34,000 from May to June, likely due to many people giving up on their job searches. However, jobs were still lost during the month, with the biggest loss coming in laid off census workers. As census taking wrapped up, 20,000 workers were laid off.
“If we didn’t have that census impact we would have likely gained jobs,” said Rebecca Rust, chief economist for the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
Unexpected was the relatively stable rate in Panhandle counties. State officials have heard for weeks about the economic hit suffered there because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill – and lawmakers are talking about a possible special session later this year to deal with economic issues arising out of the disaster. But the Pensacola metro area had a 10.5 percent unemployment rate in June, with the Panama City metro area coming in at 9.3 percent and the Destin-Fort Walton area coming in at 7.6 percent, the lowest for the state.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 10.3 percent in June, declined from May’s rate of 10.7 percent and equaled the year-ago rate.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Weekend Weather
July 17, 2010
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 4am, then isolated showers. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Monday: Isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 7am. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Walnut Hill: Unity In The Community Summer Fest
July 17, 2010
There will be a Unity In the Community Summer Fest beginning at 10 a.m. today at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97.
There will be vendors, games and activities for the children and more.
“We are anticipating a fun day for Walnut Hill and surrounding areas,” said organizer Chandra Fountain. “Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy.”
Atmore All-Stars In State Babe Ruth Tourney
July 17, 2010
The Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars will take part in the 2010 Alabama State 13-year old Babe Ruth Tournament beginning today in Demopolis.
The team is comprised of players from both Atmore and the North Escambia areas. The first game will have Atmore’s All-Stars facing Huntsville at the Demopolis Sportplex. The tournament continues through Tuesday.
Pictured: Members of the 13-year old Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars are: (front L-R) Tanner Smith, Coby Smith, Gage White, Brodie Amos, Billy Powell, Devontae Stephens, (middle) Trey Weeks, Tristan McAnally, Aaron McDonald, Dalton Daniel, Nate Smith, Trey McGhee (back) Coach Jody Dortch, Coach Tommy Smith and Manager Tim McAnally. Submitted photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Cantonment Crash
July 17, 2010
At least three people were injured in a two vehicle collision Friday evening in Cantonment. The accident happened about 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 95A and Neal Road. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
The Hendersons At Area Churches Sunday
July 17, 2010
Southern gospel group The Hendersons will be in the North Escambia area this weekend as they welcome their newest member, Brad Adkinson of Flomaton.
Concerts will be:
- Sunday, July 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Victory Assembly of God in Molino
- Sunday, July 18 at 6:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Allentown
The Hendersons, a family singing ministry since the fall of 1989, perform primarily traditional and southern gospel style music. Members are Lydia Henderson, Sonny Henderson and Brad Adkinson. During this weekend’s concerts The Hendersons will include selections from their new recording, in addition to favorites of those who attend their concerts.
No admission will be charged for any of the concerts, but a love offering may be received.