Jurey’s Three RBIs Not Enough As Northview Falls To J.U. Blacksher
March 30, 2024
J.U. Blacksher 8, Northview 6
The J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs defeated the Northview Chiefs 8-6 in a Friday afternoon game in Uriah, Alabama.
Starter Grayden Sheffield went two innings for the Chiefs, giving up four hits and five runs, striking out one and walking three. Jase Portwood went for four on the mound in relief, giving up six hits and three runs while striking out two and walking two.
Kalen Jurey went 1-2 with three RBIs for Northview. Portwood was 1-2.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the Jay Royals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bratt.
Blacksher 7, Northview 5 (JV)
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ice Flyers Miss On Power-Play Chances, Fall 2-1 In Overtime Against Evansville
March 30, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers came up empty on nine power-play chances Friday night.
And then lost the game in overtime while on the power play, silencing a crowd of 5,010 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
For a photo gallery, click here.
It was that kind of night, that tough of a loss as the Evansville Thunderbolts exited with a 2-1 victory to begin the Ice Flyers final home weekend of the season on Easter weekend.
“It was very fitting that we lost the game on a power play by a lack of execution, giving up a shorthanded goal. It sums up the night unfortunately,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham.
After Evansville was whistled for its 10th penalty with 53.8 seconds left in regulation play, the Ice Flyers had their chance to win the game. But they were unable to get a good look in that span, then went into overtime with the penalty carrying over.
On a 4-on-3 situation, an Ice Flyers player fell while trying to make a pass. The Thunderbolts’ Matthew Hobbs got the turnover, got free on a breakaway and made a quick deke and wrister past Ice Flyers goaltender Stephen Mundinger for the game winner.
Mundinger had kept the Ice Flyers in the game the entire way, stopping 31 shots, many of them with brilliant glove saves, but the offensive production lacked, and Evansville got the win.
Evansville (23-27, 3 OT losses, 47 points) also won the previous meeting between these teams. They will play again Saturday night for the final time. The Thunderbolts clinched the final playoff spot in eighth place and trail the seventh-place Ice Flyers (24-25, 3 OT losses, 51 points) heading into the final four games of the season for both teams.
The game recap:
FIRST PERIOD
The Ice Flyers had two power play chances and a 13-5 edge in shots, but the period ended scoreless.
With 11:54 left and both teams even-strength, the Ice Flyers briefly reacted to the goal light coming on after a loose puck in a scrum was poked into the net.
But referee Keith Grooms had raised his arm and blown his whistle a second before the puck was pushed into the net to signal play stoppage. The Ice Flyers did not react as if there was a dispute. There was some pushing and shoving among several players, but no penalties issued.
Mundinger made his best save of the period on a clear breakaway chance by coming out and forcing a shot into his chest protecter.
SECOND PERIOD
This began with a flurry of shots, then ended with a flurry of fists.
And a tied game at 1-1.
Evansville had three point blank chances in the first five minutes, two of those by center Grant Spence. All were thwarted by Mundinger.
That lift carried into the game’s first goal when Reggie Millette broke free after a face off and made a perfect feed from the right side to newcomer, Spencer Kennedy, who buried a one timer into the net with 13:50 left in the period.
Kennedy played his first game Friday for the Ice Flyers, after being on four different teams this season, including 19 games for Roanoke and 13 for Peoria in the SPHL.
Spence then tied the game with 8:58 left when burying a rebound off a leg pad save by Mundinger. Brendon Harrogate got free on a 2 on 1 break to force the kick save and Spence had wide open net to finish.
After seeking a fight in the first period, but getting no takers, Kennedy landed several punches to Grayson Valente’s face as the horn sounded to end the second period. It followed a slashing call against the Thunderbirds’ Adam Pilotte.
It took minutes to sort out the infractions. Kennedy was given a five-minute fighting penalty; two minutes to Pilotte and another two minutes to Valente to start the third period.
Evansville tied the game with 8:58 remaining on a rebound shot by
THIRD PERIOD
The Ice Flyers began with a man-advantage for the first 90 seconds in a penalty filled start to this period.
The teams were not at full strength together until less than 10 minutes remained. The Ice Flyers had 12 shots in the period, but none of them with rebound chances to follow. In the period, the teams combined for 25 penalty minutes.
QUOTABLES
Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham:
“We had a lot of passengers (Friday) unfortunately. I didn’t expect it. We had a good week of practice. I tip my hat to Evansville. I thought it was a chance-for-chance, coin flip type of game, but again we should start seeing guys rise to the top as this point in the season.
The power play (woes) are the same thing all year. We just don’t have shooters. We have three of the top assist guys in the league, but we don’t have anyone in the top 15 for goals. We just don’t have guys who want to shoot the puck and when we do shoot the puck we miss the net. It’s been the same thing.
If we could just get our power play to buy into getting pucks and bodies to the net, maybe we could do something with the power play.
On Spencer Kennedy’s Impact: “Obviously he knows his role here, he knows his job. He did a great job his first shift with a big hit, and it got the crowd going, because we didn’t have a good start. That hit kind of got us going. I think we rattled off the next 13 shots.”
WHAT TO GO?
WHO: Evansville Thunderbolts vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Four RBIs For Pugh As Northview Comes Back To Beat Pine Forest
March 29, 2024
The Northview Chiefs recovered from a four-run deficit to defeat the Pine Forest Eagles 9-8 Thursday night in Pensacola.
Pine Forest scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. The Chiefs regained an 8-7 advantage in the top of the fifth, and Pine Forest tied it up at eight in the bottom of the sixth on a Northview error Brady Smith singled in the top of the seventh, scoring one run, to make it 9-8.
Starter Smith went for three and two-thirds innings for Northview, allowing five hits and seven runs, striking out five and walking one. Jackson Bridges went for three and a third innings, surrendering one hit and one run, striking out nine and walking three.
Colby Pugh led the Chiefs at the plate, going 2-4 with four RBIs. Smith was 1-4 with one RBI.
The Chiefs will be back in action Friday at 2 p.m. at J.U. Blacksher in Uriah, Alabama.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Kevin Randel Returns To Lead 2024 Blue Wahoos Coaching Staff
March 28, 2024
The Miami Marlins and Pensacola Blue Wahoos announced Wednesday that reigning Southern League Manager of the Year Kevin Randel will return for a fourth season as Pensacola’s manager in 2024 after leading the team to their best regular season winning percentage in team history in 2023. Randel’s coaching staff will include returning defensive coach Danny Black (secondnd season) and video coordinator Clay Metzger (thirrd season), as well as new pitching coach Jerad Eickhoff, hitting coach Jason Krizan, strength and conditioning coach Brandon Remalia, athletic trainer Shelby Perry, player development analyst fellow Shbieb Dabaja and coaching fellow Renny Tolentino.
“It’s great to be back in Pensacola for a fourth season,” Randel said. “The connections I’ve built with the staff, fans and community make this a great place to play, and I’m proud of the winning culture we have developed these past few years.”
Randel previously led the Blue Wahoos to a winning 57-54 record in 2021, his first year with the team, before guiding Pensacola to a Southern League championship in 2022. With Randel at the helm in 2023, the Blue Wahoos went 79-57 and returned to the Southern League Championship Series. 18 Pensacola players managed by Randel have made their Major League debuts, and his 204 managerial wins trail only Pat Kelly (218 wins from 2015-17) for the most in franchise history.
Following an eight-season playing career as an infielder in the Marlins system, Randel began his managerial career in the Marlins organization in 2015, leading the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Randel went on to lead the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads for two years before making the move to Double-A Jacksonville in 2019.
Eickhoff joins the Blue Wahoos for his first season after a seven-year MLB career that included time with the Philadelphia Phillies (2015-19), New York Mets (2021) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2022). Selected in the 15th round of the 2011 Draft by the Texas Rangers out of Olney Central College (IL), Eickhoff was traded to the Phillies in 2015. He also spent time in the Padres and Guardians organizations, finishing his career with Triple-A Columbus in 2023.
Krizan joins the Blue Wahoos for his first season after spending 2023 as the hitting coach for High-A Winston-Salem in the Chicago White Sox organization. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 8th round of the 2011 Draft out of Dallas Baptist University, where he was a First-Team All-American in his senior season. After an 11-year minor league career in the Tigers, Mets and Giants organizations, he made his MLB debut for San Francisco in 2022.
Black, returning to the Blue Wahoos for his second season, played six seasons in the Marlins minor league system from 2010 to 2015, including parts of four seasons for Double-A Jacksonville in the Southern League and parts of two seasons with Triple-A New Orleans. He began his coaching career in 2018 and has served in various roles since, including as an assistant coach for Advanced-A Jupiter from 2018-2019 and as a defensive coach for Triple-A Jacksonville in 2021 and the FCL Marlins in 2022.
Perry joins the Blue Wahoos as athletic trainer after serving in the same role for High-A Beloit in 2023 and the FCL Marlins in 2022. Remalia is in his fourth season as a strength and conditioning coach in the Marlins organization after working for Class-A Jupiter in 2021 and 2022, followed by High-A Beloit in 2023. Metzger is in his third season with the Marlins and Blue Wahoos after spending the 2021 season in a video and information role with the Atlanta Braves.
The Blue Wahoos will host the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey in an exhibition series April 2 and 3, with Opening Day of the 2024 Southern League season coming Friday, April 5 at home against the Mississippi Braves.
Tate Aggies Falls To Milton Panthers
March 27, 2024
The Tate Aggies fell to the Milton Panthers 7-4 Tuesday night.
Zane Warrington started and took the loss for Tate, giving up four hits and six runs in three and one-third innings, striking out seven and walking two. Nate Conners went for three and two-thirds innings in relief, surrendering one hit and one run while striking out four.
Bray Touchstone was 1-4 at the plate for the Aggies with three RBIs.
Up next, the Aggies will travel to Niceville on Wednesday to take on Merritt Island at 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pace Tops Tate 14-4 To Win Aggie Classic (With Gallery)
March 22, 2024
The Pace Patriots won the 29th annual Aggie Classic championship Thursday night 14-4 over the Tate Aggies.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Sammy Roberts earned the win for the Patriots, giving up three hits and one run in five innings, striking out one and walking one.
Logan Kimmons took the loss for the Aggies, going three and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs and six hits while striking out three and walking three.
Ketch King went 1-for-3 at the plate and one RBI to lead the Aggies. Kaleb Posta, and Brayden Beck each added one hit for the Aggies.
Grant Walters was 3-3 for Pace with a home run and three RBIs. Glenn Brooks also had a Patriot homer.
The Patriots were undefeated in the Aggie Classics, while Tate was 3-1.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Choctaw Softball Gets Past Tate 2-1 (With Photo Gallery)
March 22, 2024
The Tate Lady Aggies fell 2-1 to Choctaw Thursday night at home.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Peyton Womack went seven innings for the Lady Aggies, surrendering two runs on four hits while striking out two and walking six.
Lacy Wilson, Kate Balagbagan, Blakely Campbell, and Peyton Womack each had one hit Tate.
Up next, the Lady Aggies will host Milton after spring break on April 4. The Strike Out Cancer Game that was set for March 22 has been rescheduled due to weather for April 5.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Gulf Breeze 7-1
March 22, 2024
The Northview Chiefs beat the Gulf Breeze Dolphins 7-1 Thursday night in Gulf Breeze.
Jamison Gilman earned the win for the Lady Chiefs, giving up five hits and one run in seven innings, while striking out five and walking one.
Avery Stuckey and Chloe Ragsdale both had two hits for Northview. Ragsdale and Mikayla McAnally drove in two runs each for NHS.
Pictured: On their senior night, the Gulf Breeze Dolphins honored the senior Northview Chiefs. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Tennis Boys And Girls Defeat Milton
March 22, 2024
Tate boys and girls tennis took wins over Milton Thursday. The boys won 7-0, going to 10-1 overall. The girls improved to 6-4 on the season with their 4-3 win. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Gets 3-2 Walk-Off Win Over T.R. Miller
March 22, 2024
The Northview Chiefs had a 3-2 walk-off win over T.R. Miller Thursday night in Bratt.
Starting pitcher Brady Smith gave up seven hits and two runs in six innings, striking out six and walking one. Grayden Sheffield surrendering zero hits, striking out one and walking two during a scoreless inning in relief.
Jayden White had two RBIs for Northview. Sheffield was 1-3 at the plate.
Up next, Northview will beat Pine Forest on March 28 and J.U. Blacksher on March 29.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.