High School Fall Sports Delayed; First Day Of Practices Moved To August 17 In Escambia County
July 23, 2020
The Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has delayed the start date for practices for fall high school sports.
The first day of practices has been moved to Monday, August 17 as a result of the first day of school being delayed two week to August 24.
Fall sports played at the high school level which will be impacted include football, volleyball, golf, cross-country, track, swimming and diving. Contest schedules for all fall sports are being adjusted accordingly and information will be released at a later date.
Athletic conditioning may continue following the Escambia County School District guidelines for Safe Return to Athletic Training, utilizing social distancing protocols and proper sanitation measures for training equipment.
“Social distancing protocols will be followed, as well as the proper sanitation steps by district personnel,” Thomas said. “This will be a team effort by all participants.”
Pictured: The first day of 2019 spring practice for the Northview Chiefs on April 22, 2019.. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Grad Ethan George Signs To Play Baseball At Coastal Alabama
July 22, 2020
Tate High School graduate Ethan George signed Tuesday afternoon to continue his baseball and academic career at Coastal Alabama Community College. George was a four-year member of the Aggies baseball team as a pitcher, third baseman and outfielder. He was also the varsity football quarterback. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Eagles In The Outfield: Blue Wahoos Stadium To Be Transformed Into Golf Course
July 20, 2020
Blue Wahoos Stadium will be transformed into a golf course and fans will be able to book tee times to compete for the top score in the new Eagles In The Outfield stadium golf experience from July 30-August 2.
The course will feature one dozen targets set up at varying distances across the outfield. Golfers, teeing off from beyond the outfield fence, will compete to earn points by hitting the targets with their tee shots. Each tee time will give golfers an hour of unlimited shots from their tee box. In addition to the on-field golf course, all golfers will also receive a free round of mini golf on a brand new concourse putt-putt course.
Both right-handed and left-handed clubs will be available for participants to use, but golfers may bring their own clubs. Clubs that hit farther than 100 yards are not permitted for safety reasons.
A full schedule of available tee times can be found at MiLB.com/Pensacola/Events/Golf.
Five from every booking will be donated to the First Tee of Northwest Florida to help youth across the Panhandle learn life lessons and develop their character while gaining access to the game of golf.
Blue Wahoos Stadium Named America’s Best Double-A Ballpark
July 10, 2020
Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos Stadium has been named the 2020 Ballpark Digest “Best of the Ballparks” champion at the Double-A level, earning the title through a national fan vote that attracted over 80,000 votes. The five-round competition featured all 30 Double-A Minor League Stadiums in a single-elimination bracket decided by fans. Pensacola won the title of Best Ballpark by besting “Hodgetown”, the ballpark of the Amarillo Sod Poodles, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres and the 2019 Best of the Ballparks champion, in the championship round.
“We’re very excited to bring the title of Best Ballpark back to Pensacola,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “Our mission as an organization is to improve the quality of life in our community, so it’s an honor for us to bring this recognition to our city. While we’re proud to have a great ballpark, we’re even more proud to have such incredible fans who voted us to the title.”
Pensacola’s road to the title included a win over Bowie’s Prince George Stadium in the opening round, victories against Biloxi’s MGM Park and Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium, both Southern League opponents, in the second and third rounds, a tightly contest win against Corpus Christi’s Whataburger Field in the semi-finals, and a resounding 54%-46% win in the championship against Hodgetown.
“Despite all the bad news, the Blue Wahoos ownership and management have responded with verve and imagination, refusing to let down their fans,” Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard said in a release by the publication. “The win in the fan vote against such a tough foe really shows how loved the Blue Wahoos are in the community.
Built in 2012, Blue Wahoos Stadium has established itself as one of the nation’s premier facilities over the past decade, winning three Southern League Ballpark of the Year Awards and previously winning the Ballpark Digest Best of the Ballparks contest in 2016. A multi-use community ballpark, the stadium hosts over 200 events each year including Blue Wahoos games and University of West Florida football games.
Blue Wahoos Stadium Reaches Finals For National Championship Of Best Of The Ballparks
July 7, 2020
Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos Stadium has reached the national championship round of the 2020 Ballpark Digest Best of the Ballparks contest.
In the final round, Blue Wahoos Stadium is competing against Amarillo’s “Hodgetown”, the defending Best of the Ballparks champion, for the title of Best Double-A Ballpark. The title will be decided by a national online fan vote, which is open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. Fans can vote once daily per device at this link (scroll down near the bottom of the page).
“The support we’ve received from our fans to reach the championship round has been incredible,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “We’re excited for the chance to bring recognition to the beautiful city of Pensacola and hopefully win a title in a year when there’s no baseball.”
The annual contest run by Ballpark Digest is Minor League Baseball’s most popular ballpark ranking competition, with the 2019 contest receiving over 400,000 votes from fans including over 110,000 in the Double-A bracket. Blue Wahoos Stadium previously won the contest in 2016.
Opened in 2012, Blue Wahoos Stadium has established itself as one of the nation’s premier Minor League facilities. A three-time recipient of the Southern League’s Ballpark of the Year, the stadium has ranked first or second in the league in attendance five times in eight seasons. The multi-use facility is utilized year-round, hosting Blue Wahoos baseball, University of West Florida football, and over 200 total events throughout the calendar year.
NEP Ducks Win Coach Pitch Championship
July 6, 2020
The NEP Ducks won a recent coach pitch championship. Pictured are players and coaches. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NEP 7/8 Wins Coach Pitch Tournament Championship
July 1, 2020
NEP’s 7/8 team won a weekend coach pitch tournament with a 12-8 victory in the finals over the Daphne Trojans. They were 4-0 in the tournament. Pictured: (front, L-R) Max Hall, Peyton Jarman, Parker Jarman, Frederick Woods III, Kingston Brown, (middle) Tucker Gregson, BB Barton, Eli Nelson, Braxton Reid, Mason Hoock, Jaiden Stanton, (back) coaches Steven Gregson, Brian Hoock and Ben Nelson . Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Wahoos Ball This Year; Minor League Baseball Season Officially Canceled.
July 1, 2020
The Minor League Baseball season has been canceled for 2020.
“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”
“It’s unfortunate and saddening that there will not be Blue Wahoos baseball at Blue Wahoos Stadium this season. However, the health and safety of our community is our number one priority, and we fully support the efforts by Major and Minor League Baseball to keep fans, players, and staff safe in communities throughout America,” the Pensacola Blue Wahoos said in a statement. “We will continue to be creative and innovative to create affordable, family-friendly stadium events to allow our fans to continue to enjoy unforgettable ballpark moments safely at Blue Wahoos Stadium until Blue Wahoos baseball is able to return.”
The Blue Wahoos will respond to questions about tickets, sponsorships and group outings at the Blue Wahoos Stadium on a case-by-base basis. For more information, email tickets@BlueWahoos.com or call (850) 934-8444.
Northview High School Names 2020-2021 Cheerleaders
June 27, 2020
Friday, Northview High School named their 2020-2021 cheerleaders. They are:
VARSITY
Anna Adams
Naudia Carach
Shelby Cotita
Presley Dortch
Caitlin Gibson
Olivia Gibson
Emma Gilmore
Sarah Hetrick
Hannah Hughes
Paige Lassiter
Ragan Lassiter
Megan Mcghee
Taylor Mcminn
Madison Peterson
Kenna Redmond
Leila Sanders
Anna Spence
Emily Stabler
Jessica Stabler
JUNIOR VARSITY
Raegan Abbott
Rebekah Abbott
Sarah Bailey
Nakya Brown
Chloe Criswell
Carsyn Dortch
Raleigh Gibson
Maggie Godwin
Ava Gurganus
Leah Hetrick
Saniyah Hixon
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate High Graduate Matthew Johnson Signs With US Merchant Marine Academy
June 26, 2020
Tate High School Football’s Matthew Johnson has signed to continue his academic and athletic career at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Johnson graduated from Tate Tuesday night. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.