FHSAA Moves Football Championship Games To Tallahassee, Daytona Beach
April 6, 2019
The road to the state football championship will be a shorter one for 1A-3A teams and a change of scenery for other classes.
The FHSAA announced Friday that the 1A-3A state championship games will be played in Tallahassee for at least the next three years, and the 4A-8A games will be held in Daytona Beach.
“I think this was a great move by the FHSAA,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “The FHSAA is starting to listen more to schools’ requests, and this is a big step in what schools and coaches want. Over 90% of the 1A schools are from Pensacola to Jacksonville, so this makes sense.”
For Northview High School, for instance, the distance to a state championship game drops from about 450 miles to Orlando to about 200 miles to Tallahassee. That means a much easier trip for teams and fans, Marshman said.
When Northview defeated Trenton for the 2012 1A state championship in, over 3,000 Northview fans were on hand in Orlando in what was then known as the Florida Citrus Bowl. It’s now called the Camping World Stadium and holds 65,000 people.
The 1A-3A championship games will be played December 5-7 this year on the artificial turf in the 6,500 capacity Gene Cox Stadium.
“The smaller stadium will make a big difference in the feel of the game,” Marshman said. “There’s no way for a 1A team to fill the stadium in Orlando. But in Gene Cox in Tallahassee, teams can look up and it will be a big time feel with a stadium that’s nearly full.”
The 4A-8A games will be placed December 11-14 at Daytona Stadium, capacity 15,000.
“After listening to feedback from our membership, we felt having two locations stretched out over two weeks made the most sense,” FHSAA Executive Director George Tomyn said. “This new schedule gives families and fans the most flexibility when it comes to supporting their student-athletes.”
Both venues recently underwent significant renovations. Daytona’s $20 million renovation included new field turf, remodeled locker rooms, an open-air VIP club, VIP space with theater seating and a completely redesigned expansive concourse area. Gene Cox Stadium underwent an $800,000 renovation featuring installations of completely new field turf and a pair of HD video boards.
For a Pensacola area team, such as Tate High School, the distance to Daytona Beach and Orlando are essentially equal.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs won the 2012 1A state championship in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
More Showers For Saturday
April 6, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Monday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 76. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Spring Livestock Show Winners Announced
April 6, 2019
Results have been announced from the recent Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization Spring Livestock Show.
Youth exhibited chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, sheep, goats, and cows. In addition to showing their animals in the show ring, youth were quizzed on their knowledge of their projects. In the show ring youth may compete in two types of classes, one focused on the youth which is known as showmanship, and the other focused on the animal in either a breed or weight class.
Results were as follows:
Beef Breeding Supreme Champion- Izzy Kent
Beef Breeding Reserve Champion- Savannah Bradshaw
Grand Champion Preview Steer- Savannah Bradshaw
Reserve Champion Preview Steer- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Grand Champion Market Steer- Lane Booker
Reserve Champion Market Steer- Jessica Conti
Grand Champion Market Swine- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Reserve Champion Market Swine- Keaton Fuqua
Grand Champion Market Meat Goat- Isabella Kent
Reserve Champion Market Meat Goat- Madison Fendley
Grand Champion Dairy Goat- Tucker Padgett
Reserve Champion Dairy Goat- Madison Fendley
Grand Champion Sheep Breeding- Austin Manning
Reserve Champion Sheep Breeding- Emily Miller
Grand Champion Bird- Kyler Bennet
Reserve Champion Bird- Griffin Lavallee
Grand Champion Rabbit- McKenzie Gray
Reserve Champion Rabbit- Jillian Zukoski
Grand Champion Cavy (Guinea Pig)- Addison Miller
Reserve Champion Cavy (Guinea Pig)- Emily Miller
Beef Breeding Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Mary Oliver
Intermediates- Maevree McElhaney
Seniors- Isabella Kent
Cow-Calf Pair Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Ally Oliver
Seniors- Isabella Kent
Market Steer Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- John Parker Miller
Seniors- Keaton Fuqua
Market Swine Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Intermediates- Payton Fuqua
Seniors- Madison Behrends
Meat Goat Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Andrew Fendley
Seniors- Madison Fendley
Dairy Goat Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Tucker Padgett
Intermediates- Andrew Fendley
Seniors- Madison Fendley
Sheep Breeding Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Austin Manning
Seniors- Emily Miller
Rabbitt and Cavy (Guinea Pig) Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Tucker Padgett
Intermediates- Catherine Proud
Seniors- Hannah Roger
Pictured top: 2019 GCA/NRYO Reserve Champion Market Steer winner Jessica Conti with Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore of Gizmo Angus Farms in Molino who bred the steer. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
License-Free Freshwater Fishing This Weekend In Florida
April 6, 2019
This weekend a freshwater fishing license isn’t required to enjoy the sport in Florida.
License-free freshwater fishing days allow anglers to fish for freshwater species without being required to have a recreational fishing license. All bag limits and size restrictions apply.
“Maybe you’ve never fished before or it’s been a few years,” said Jon Fury, director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. “Get out and give it a try! If you’re an experienced angler, take someone with you who has never been fishing.”
Pictured: Fishing at Lake Stone near Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Rear-Ends School Bus
April 6, 2019
A school bus was rear-ended Friday on Olive Road in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old Michael Tremer of Pensacola was driving a GMC Envoy east on Olive Road at Davis Highway when he failed to see a school bus stopped in traffic.
Tremer was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. The bus driver was not injured.
Termer was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
There were no students on the bus.
Beauchanie Throws Complete Game Shutout As Aggies Get Kissimmee Klassic Win
April 6, 2019
The Tate Aggies shut out Eau Gallie (Melbourne) 4-0 Friday afternoon in the 2019 Kissimmee Klassic Softball Tournament.
Avery Beauchanie threw a complete game shutout in seven innings, allowing three hits, walking three and striking out six.
Amber Decoux and Hannah Halfacre led the Aggies with two hits each.
Blue Wahoos Open Season With Doubleheader Sweep Over Mobile
April 6, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos unveiled their touted pitching tandem Friday night against the Mobile BayBears and witnessed a pair of gems.
In a memorable season-opening double-header sweep, Jorge Alcala tossed five shutout innings, helping lead the Blue Wahoos to a 7-0 victory in the first game. Brusdar Graterol, the Twins top pitching prospect, took the mound in game two and yielded only a run while pitching into the fifth inning in Pensacola’s 4-3 extra innings win at Hank Aaron Stadium.
“It was a good start. Those guys gave a good effort, especially on the pitching side,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego, who was making his Double-A debut as Pensacola begins its new era as a Minnesota Twins affiliate.”The pitching was unbelievable.”
The Blue Wahoos knocked six hits and worked four walks in game one on their way to seven runs. Alcala, who struck out six in 5.0 shutout innings and allowed just three hits, was helped by some terrific defense. Jimmy Kerrigan made a highlight reel catch in the fourth inning, tracking a ball onto the centerfield warning track and holding on as he crashed into the wall. The next inning, Jaylin Davis made a diving catch in right to prevent a Mobile rally.
After his web gem, Kerrigan hit a two-run homer in his next at-bat. Offensively, Luis Arraezreached base three times, twice with base knocks and once on a walk.
The second game was far different than the opener. After going up 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI snigle by Taylor Grzelakowski, the Blue Wahoos didn’t score again until the fifth when Jordan Goresingled home Kerrigan. After Mobile answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, the score held at 2-1 until the seventh.
In his Double-A debut, the 20-year-old Graterol allowed just three hits over 4.2 innings. He allowed one run and walked two while striking out six and flashing 100 miles per hour on the radar gun multiple times.
Graterol left with the 2-1 lead and Andro Cutura held the BayBears at check out of the bullpen for 1.1 innings, allowing no hits while striking out one. The lead didn’t hold, though, as the BayBears broke through with one swing in the home half of the seventh on a solo homer by Brendan Sanger off Cody Stashak.
Because it was a doubleheader, both games were seven-inning games. However, with the score tied 2-2 following the homer, the Wahoos headed to extra innings for the first time in 2019.
They quickly loaded the bases in the eighth. With the pace-of-play runner starting at second, Luis Arraez knocked a single, his fourth of the day, and Brian Schales walked. A ground out by Grzelakowski brought home Gore to put the Wahoos up 3-2, giving the Wahoos first baseman four RBIs on the night.
The Wahoos pushed home what ended up being a crucial insurance run, using a fielder’s choice ground out by Jaylin Davis to move Schales to third and a wild pitch to bring him home.
Mobile threatened to extend the game in the bottom of the eighth. A single by Jahmai Jonesleading off the inning scored the pace-of-play runner and cut Pensacola’s lead to 4-3. After Stashak struck out Jack Kruger, Borrego summoned reliever Dusten Knight from the bullpen to try and lock down the save. He delivered, getting a ground out and a strikeout to end the game and complete the doubleheader sweep by the Wahoos, capping off the evening by doing a backflip on the field.
“I saw what we expected,” Borrego said. “Those guys were aggressive. Those two guys were excited to start the season and they gave it their best,” Borrego said.
It was the first time Borrego had managed a team in the U.S. outside of Florida. Prior to joining the Blue Wahoos, all of his managerial stints were in Fort Myers with the Gulf Coast League Low-A team, and the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, who he led to the 2018 Florida State League title.
“I am really excited,” he said. “And hopefully my coaches and players, too. They are excited. We had some really bad weather but finally we got good weather. We have a really good team. Every game we are going to battle.”
The Wahoos (2-0) will continue the five-game home road series against Mobile Saturday night. The Wahoos and BayBears will play a total of 25 times in 2019. During the 2018 season, the Blue Wahoos hit .243 against the BayBears and were outscored 113-91.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dorothy Vickrey Hardy
April 6, 2019
Mrs. Dorothy Vickrey Hardy, age 93, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at her home in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Hardy was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore, AL. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother and sister. She was the bookkeeper at Hardy & Kearley Garage for many years, was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the Lottie Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Louie E. Hardy; daughter, Kathryn Jeter and brother, Ralph Vickrey.
She is survived by her three daughters, Judy H. (Dale) Clements of Millry, AL, Pat H. (Johnny) Moore of Cantonment, FL and Margie H. Harper of Atmore, AL; two sisters, Peggy (Ron) Muck of Loxley, AL and Barbara (Al) Castro of Pensacola, FL; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Chris Pruitt officiating.
Burial was at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jody Hardy, Steve Drew, Billy Hardy, Kelly Drew, Ronnie Johnson and Wayne Harrison.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
John David Teelin
April 6, 2019
John David Teelin went on to Glory on Saturday, March 30, 2019. He was born in Syracuse, NY, but lived most of his 71 years in the Pensacola, Florida area.
Mr. Teelin both entertained and informed the people in the Florida Panhandle and in Alabama for over 50 years on several radio stations, and sometimes on TV. He also shared his knowledge of and passion for communication and broadcasting with people, as he taught classes and helped folks with on the job training.
Being a man of God, Mr. Teelin served several churches in the area over the years. He was a very loving man of great integrity who never met a stranger and, if he did, would go as far as giving them the shirt off his back if it meant that he could help them. Mr. Teelin’s influence is evident in that many who knew him have learned to be the same kind of friend and the same kind of Christian. They hope to carry on his legacy for generations to come, and they are so grateful to have had him in their lives.
Mr. Teelin is preceded in death by his parents, Paul Teelin and Dorothy Teelin; and his former wife, Lou Teelin (Murzin).
He is survived by three loving children, Dasha, Daniel John “DJ”, and Colby, and by two young grandchildren, Olivia and Luca.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at Olive Baptist Church. Pastor Ted Traylor will be officiating.
The family will receive friends after the service.
Inurnment with Military Honors will be held at a later time.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South has been entrusted with arrangements.
Roger Glen Rowell
April 6, 2019
Roger Glen Rowell, 64, of Berrydale, FL, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, April 3, 2019.
Roger was a lifelong native of Berrydale and was the youngest of seven children born to the late Hazel Lewis and John Pasco Rowell. He was a graduate of the Jay High School Class of 1972. Roger worked 38 years for the Florida Department of Transportation/Construction, retiring as a project administrator. He was a member of Cora Baptist Church in Jay, Florida, where he served as minister of music.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Anna Grace McMath; his brother Herbert “Bud” Rowell; his sisters, Evelyn (Hub) Jacobs, Jane (Harold) King, and Wanda Roberts; and brother-in-law, Stratton Colonna.
Roger leaves behind his loving wife of 45 years, Joy Boothe Rowell; two sons, Chad (Jessica) Rowell of Milton, and Rhett (Lana) Rowell of Jay; a daughter, Misty (Joey) McMath of Pace; and seven beloved grandchildren, Maesey and Pasco Rowell, Major and Piper Rowell, and Abby, Josiah and Jack McMath. He is also survived by a brother, Frank (Pearl) Rowell of Jay; a sister, Dinah Colonna of Florala, AL; a sister-in-law, Lorrine Rowell of Berrydale; a brother-in-law, A.T. (Buck) Roberts III of Berrydale, and a special cousin, Ben Floyd. Roger also leaves behind in-laws Kenny (Gloria) Boothe, Sylvia (Jerry) Jennings, Betty (Mondal) Miller, and Andra (Joe) Mize; and many nephews, nieces, extended family members and dear friends.
All services will be held at Berrydale Baptist Church under the direction of Lewis Funeral Homes. Visitation will be Monday, April 8, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
Burial will follow in the Berrydale Baptist Church Cemetery.
Roger’s nephews will serve as active pallbearers.
The family wishes to thank all the local emergency personnel and community volunteers, as well as the Cora Baptist Church family, who took care of Roger as he was called home. Thank you to family and friends who have prayed, visited, and ministered during this unspeakably difficult time. Great men leave behind great legacies and great voids.
Donations may be made to Life Options Clinic (formerly known as the Pregnancy Resource of Milton), 5775 Berryhill Road, Milton, FL 32570, or to the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, 1000 Chemstrand Road, Cantonment, FL 32533.