High School Football Ticket Prices Increase
August 15, 2018
Football ticket prices are going up this year for school in Escambia County.
“Tickets for a regular season home game will be increased this year by one dollar to $7,” said Escambia County School District Athletic Director Roger Mayo. It’s the first increase in at least 13 years, despite increased costs to host games.
“Our families are used to paying more at away games and have often asked why we didn’t increase our tickets to match. While we have tried to keep the price down, the reality is, we need this increase to protect our schools from potential financial losses,” Mayo said.
Schools maintain the option of offering pre-sale tickets at the $6 rate.
Northview Football Teacher Of The Week
August 15, 2018
submitted by The Northview Chiefs
During the football season this year, members of the football team, both Varsity and JV, will be electing a Teacher of the Week based on the teacher’s hard work and dedication to inspiring the football team members in an academic setting.
Each week, we would like to invite the teacher to our pregame meal on Friday (if possible), to talk to the team prior to the game on Friday night and stand on the sideline with the team during the game.
Also, each teacher will receive a Northview football t-shirt.
This week, for the inaugural Teacher of the Week, the senior class voted and we would like to congratulate Mr. Shugart for winning the award!
Mr. Shugart has been extremely valuable to the football team by volunteering his time during the week to tutor the football team after school during the season and encouraging the athletes in class.
It is an honor to have Mr. Shugart represent the football team this week as we prepare to play host to Vernon in the preseason Kickoff Classic on Friday at home! Please come out and support the team in their first home game of the season. On Friday, both JV and Varsity will be playing one half each.
Meet the Chiefs will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at Northview.
Wahoos Back on Track with 7-4 Win
August 15, 2018
The Blue Wahoos made McKenzie Mill’s (L, 0-1) Double-A debut he’ll soon want to forget. The Wahoos ambushed the southpaw with five runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 7-4 win Tuesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Mills, who was acquired by the Marlins on Friday, was chased out of the game after two-thirds of an inning. After Jose Siri popped out to open the game the next five Wahoos would all come home to score. With two on, Aristides Aquino blooped his first of three hits into right field to load the bases. Shed Long followed with a bases-clearing triple to make it 3-0. The next batter was Taylor Featherston and he crushed his first home run since joining the Wahoos to make it 5-0. After hitting Chris Okey with a pitch, manager Randy Ready went to his bullpen and Scott Squier retired Wahoos starter Seth Varner to end the first inning.
Varner (W, 8-2) turned in another winning effort with seven innings of eight hit, three-run ball against Jacksonville. There were moments where Varner ran into trouble. He allowed a home run to Brian Schales in the second inning, which brought the score to 5-1. In the third, he hit Joe Dunand on an 0-2 pitch, and Dunand would come to score after Jacksonville rattled off a pair of hits in the fourth. In the fifth, Monte Harrison barreled his 17th homer of the year to make it a 5-3 game.
However, the offense picked up Varner and came right back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 7-3. Taylor Featherston smacked a one-out triple to center field and scored on Gavin LaValley’s RBI-single. After a base hit from Okey, Varner picked up his first career RBI with a single to left to bring home LaValley.
Alex Powers (S, 16) closed out the ninth inning for the Wahoos for his third save in as many appearances. Powers struck out one and with a man on forced Brian Miller to pop out to short to end the game.
The Wahoos continue their five-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Wednesday. RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (9-9, 4.16) will take the hill for Pensacola against RHP Nick Neidert (10-6, 3.23).
Aquino Sets Home Run Records As Wahoos Fall To Mobile
August 13, 2018
Aristides Aquino set the Blue Wahoos franchise record for most home runs in a season when he belted the 2-2 pitch from Dario Beltre over the left-field fence in the Wahoos 9-4 loss on Sunday at Hank Aaron Stadium.
The BayBears had a comfortable lead when the Wahoos came to bat in the last of the ninth. Aquino led off the inning and sent a no-doubter to left for his 18th home run of the season. Aquino finished the 2017 regular season by tying Juan Duran’s record of 17 home runs. Pensacola’s right-fielder has 20 games left in the season to set the new benchmark franchise record.
Aquino’s achievement is somewhat overshadowed by the loss. Despite pitching better, Wyatt Strahan (L, 6-10) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) over 5.2 innings. After stranding the bases loaded in the first, Mobile scored one in the second after Jam Jones doubled home Brandon Sandoval to give the BayBears a 1-0 lead.
With the BayBears leading 4-0 after the fourth, Pensacola strung together its best rally of the night when they scored three runs to make it a one-run game. After a base hit by Gavin LaValley and a throwing error, Chris Okey singled home the Wahoos first baseman to cut the deficit down to 4-1. Daniel Sweet followed with his second homer in as many games and Pensacola found themselves trailing 4-3.
The Wahoos would get no closer as the BayBears rallied for five runs over the final three innings. Brennon Lund delivered a two-run triple in the sixth and later scored on a Zach Gibbons single. In the seventh, Mitch Ghelfi swatted a two-run shot off Rafael De Paula to extend Mobile’s lead at the time to 9-3.
After a day off on Monday, the Wahoos will open a five-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday. LHP Seth Varner (7-2, 3.01) will start the opener for the Wahoos while Jacksonville has yet to disclose their starter.
Mobile Slugs Past Pensacola 14-2
August 12, 2018
After a promising start by the Wahoos, the BayBears slugged their way past the Wahoos with an 14-2 win at Hank Aaron Stadium on Saturday.
On a night celebrating former BayBear and longtime Major League pitcher, Jake Peavy, it was the visiting Wahoos who looked to spoil the party. TJ Friedl opened the game with an infield single and advanced on a throwing error by Riley Unroe. He later scored on a wild pitch from Jason Alexander (W, 1-5) to make the score 1-0.
However, Mobile came roaring back in the bottom of the first when the first three batters doubled off Wahoos starter Daniel Wright (L, 6-8). The BayBears sent all nine men to the plate in the first and eventually scored four runs on five hits. Wright—who was hit hard at Hank Aaron Stadium on Opening Day—suffered his eighth defeat of the season after he was charged with eight runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings. Mobile eventually finished the night 14 runs on 18 hits with nine of those hits going for extra bases.
Daniel Sweet had a standout performance offensively for Pensacola. Filling in for the suspended Jose Siri, Sweet recorded his first career Double-A home run in his first at-bat and then doubled in the fifth inning off Alexander. He finished the night 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Battle of the Bay series concludes tomorrow night as the Wahoos hope to earn a series win in the rubber match. RHP Wyatt Strahan (6-9, 7.23) is looking for a bounce back performance. He will be opposed by RHP Jesus Castillo (7-4, 4.77).
BayBears Beat The Wahoos
August 11, 2018
The Blue Wahoos opened a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning but couldn’t hold on as the Mobile BayBears rallied for an 8-6 win over Pensacola Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Jose Siri started the game with a triple to the left-center field ally and scored on a wild pitch to put Pensacola up 1-0 right out of the gate.
With one out in the fourth inning, Aristides Aquino hit his first of two singles on the night, which sparked a five-run rally. Following a Shed Long walk, Mitch Nay ripped a double which scored both Aquino and Long. Narciso Crook singled behind Nay setting the table for Gavin LaValley. He belted a three-run home run over the left field fence to stretch the Wahoos lead to 6-0.
The BayBears were quick to answer. Jose Rojas hit a one-out home run to get the BayBears on the board. After a two-out walk and single, Mitch Ghelfi pulled Mobile within two with his first home run of the season.
Mobile took the lead in the seventh. Only trailing by one, Roberto Baldoquin singled home the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs to give the BayBears their first lead of the game at 7-6.
Pensacola threatened again in the eighth inning, but Crook flew out to the center fielder with the bases loaded on a deep fly ball to end the inning. The BayBears added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap the 8-6 win.
Tony Santillan started for the Blue Wahoos and was charged with five runs on six hits over 4.2 innings, his shortest outing since joining the Blue Wahoos. He added seven strikeouts against three walks. Carlos Navas (L, 4-3) worked the final 3.1 innings and took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits. Despite surrendering the lead, he struck out six without a walk in the extended bullpen effort.
The Blue Wahoos scored all six of their runs off Mobile starter Jose Rodriguez. He exited after five innings with one walks and a season-high 11 strikeouts. Alex Klonowski (W, 9-2) picked up the win in relief with four shutout innings.
With LaValley’s three RBI in Friday’s game, he now has nine RBI for the series. Wahoos manager Jody Davis was ejected in the third inning as was Siri. David got kicked out during Chris Okey’s at bat for arguing from the dugout. Siri was tossed following his strikeout a batter later.
With a win on Saturday, Pensacola can lock up the series win. RHP Daniel Wright (6-7, 3.70) gets the start for the Blue Wahoos against BayBears RHP Jason Alexander (0-5, 4.05).
Wahoos Get Slim Win Over The BayBears
August 10, 2018
After Gavin LaValley drove in four in the series-opening win, the Wahoos first baseman was at it again as he delivered a two-run home run in Thursday’s 4-2 win at Hank Aaron Stadium.
With the Wahoos trailing 2-0 in the top of the fifth, Narciso Crook singled off Daniel Procopio to bring the tying run to the plate. LaValley timed up the 2-0 pitch perfectly and crushed Procopio’s offering over the left-field fence to tie the game at 2-2.
Similar to Wednesday night’s game, the Wahoos scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Shed Long led off the frame with a single off Zac Ryan (L, 1-3) and then eventually stole second base. The next batter, Mitch Nay, struck out, but the pitch kicked away from BayBears catcher Jack Kruger to allow Long to advance to third. Crook then tapped a slow roller up the first base line, which allowed Long to score the go-ahead run.
Vladimir Gutierrez (W, 9-9) was excellent outside of the second inning. Jose Rojas and Zach Gibbons led off the second with back-to-back doubles to take a quick 1-0 lead. After a single, and a throwing error by Gutierrez, the BayBears had the bases loaded and nobody out. However, the right-hander worked brilliantly around the threat as he induced a double-play ball from Brandon Sandoval, which scored Gibbons to make it 2-0 Mobile. Mitch Spires followed with a groundout to short to end the inning.
Gutierrez pitched the other six innings of his seven-inning effort in shutout fashion. He finished his outing on a high note, retiring six of the final seven BayBears he faced. He departed the game having allowed two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. The win was his first since July 19.
The Wahoos scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning thanks to a fielding error by Roberto Baldoquin. Taylor Featherston hit a groundball to the BayBear shortstop but it bounced past him and trickled into left. Featherston stole second and advanced to third after Kruger’s throw to second rolled into center. Nay brought home the insurance run with a single off Matt Custred to extend Pensacola’s lead to 4-2.
For the second consecutive night, Jody Davis called on Alex Powers (S, 15) to close out the win in the ninth. It wasn’t the cleanest inning for the Wahoos closer, as he allowed a walk and a single to bring the winning run to the plate with two outs. However, Spires flew out to TJ Friedl to end the game, which gave Powers his 15th save of the season and the Wahoos Their 61st win of the season.
The Bay to Bay series continues tomorrow night as the Wahoos try to earn a series win against Mobile. RHP Tony Santillan (4-0, 1.78) will put his undefeated record on the line Friday night against RHP Jose Rodriguez (7-9, 5.83).
High Tech Shirts Donated To Northview Football Team To Protect Against Injury
August 9, 2018
The Northview High School Chiefs football team received a donation Wednesday that will help keep them safe on the football field this season.
They will have high tech performance rib shirts under their uniforms. The shirts hold a shield that begins as a soft material, a high-tech polymer, that molds to each individual player’s body, becoming rock hard and protecting the abdomen from injury.
The shield is different than a foam pad that just softens a blow; the impact from a hard hit is dispersed across the entire shield
Ten years ago, Niceville High School football player Taylor Haugen passed away after a hit to his abdomen ruptured his liver. Since then, Taylor’s parents, Brian and Kathy have made it their mission to bring awareness that high school students need to be equipped with the same abdominal protective gear that professionals use.
The Taylor Haugen Foundation has now outfitted all the high schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, along with schools in 13 states nationwide.
“I lost my son 10 years ago to an abdominal injury. It actually crushed his liver during an impact that he sustained during a game,” Kathy Haugen said. “I found out the following year about this particular product, and I’ve been researching and trying to keep up with the technology ever since.”
She said she wants to see the shirts made part of the required high school football protective gear.
“We concentrate heavily on brain injuries and the impact that has, but there are organs down in your abdominal region that you can’t live without. And if you don’t catch some of the tears and injuries, you can also pass away from those.”
The shirts cost about $80 each.
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Wahoos Open Series Over The Mobile Baybears
August 9, 2018
Gavin LaValley powered the offense with four RBI lead and Alex Powers picked up his 14th save of the season as the Wahoos took the series opener against the Mobile BayBears 7-6 Wednesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Wednesday’s contest against the BayBears was a back-and-forth battle that saw three separate lead changes. It was the BayBears who struck first against Seth Varner (W, 7-2) in large part to some defensive miscues by the Wahoos.
Jahmai Jones opened the scoring by reaching on an error, stealing second base, and then coming home on a wild pitch by Varner to make it 1-0. Later in the inning, Jack Kruger reached on a fly ball that Aristides Aquino lost in the sun. He later scored on Zach Gibbons’ double to center, and Roberto Baldoquin drove him home with a single to make it 3-0 after one.
The Wahoos responded quickly, scoring twice against Joe Gatto in the second inning. After Shed Long walked, Mitch Nay laced a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Narciso Crook’s sac fly to center brought home one run, and Gavin LaValley’s RBI-single cut the score down to 3-2.
Pensacola’s big inning came in the sixth when the Wahoos cashed in on some poor pitching by the BayBears. TJ Friedl led off the inning with his first home run of the season, and after Mobile walked the bases loaded, LaValley delivered again a bases-clearing double off Adrian Almeida, which gave the Wahoos a 6-3 lead.
The BayBears answered with three runs of their own to tie the game at 6-6. After a single to Jose Rojas and a two-out walk to Baldoquin, Riley Unroe belted a three-run shot off Varner. Varner struck out Brandon Sandoval to finish his night with six innings of work in the books and six runs (three earned) allowed.
The Wahoos scored the winning run in the seventh. After Friedl, and Taylor Featherston singled, a wild pitch set up the Wahoos with second and third and only one out. Aristides Aquino brought home Friedl with a sac fly to left off Dario Beltre (1-1) to put the Wahoos up by one.
After Zack Weiss pitched two scoreless innings in relief, Alex Powers (S, 14) was called upon in the ninth inning to close out the game. Despite allowing a single to Unroe, Powers struck out two and induced Mitch Spires into a flyout to right to seal the win and give Powers his 14th save of the season.
The Battle of the Bay series continues tomorrow night as the Wahoos try to make it back-to-back wins. RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (8-9, 4.25) will try to return to his winning ways on Thursday, and he will be opposed by RHP Jeremy Beasley (2-3, 3.29).
Wahoos Beat The BayBears
August 9, 2018
In the bottom of the 10th inning with Wahoos trailing 4-3, Narciso Crook delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded to clinch a series win against the BayBears Tuesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With the win, has surpassed Mobile by a half game in the wildcard standings since Biloxi leads the second-half standings. Pensacola only trails the Shuckers by a half game in the second-half standings, with five games to play.
The Wahoos offense got off to a slow start against BayBear starter, Patrick Sandoval. The southpaw pitched only four innings and carved through the Wahoos, striking out eight across four shutout innings. In the fifth, he was lifted for Jason Alexander, and with the Wahoos trailing 1-0, Pensacola tied the game in Alexander’s first frame. Taylor Featherston walked and took third on Luis Gonzalez’s single with nobody out. Chris Okey grounded into a double play, but Featherston scored from third to tie the game.
The BayBears struck for a pair in the sixth against Wyatt Strahan. With two outs, Strahan issued back-to-back walks and then paid the price after Alexis Olmeda doubled home Mitch Ghelfi to give Mobile a 2-1 lead. Connor Justus followed with an RBI single, which was nearly two had Aristides Aquino not thrown out Olmeda at the plate.
Pensacola tied the game in the eighth with an improbable two-out rally. After back-to-back strikeouts from Alexander, TJ Friedl walked before a single from Mitch Nay. With two strikes, Aquino laced a two-run double into the left-field corner, which tied the game at three. The Wahoos had a chance to win it in the ninth after loading the bases with no outs; however, Alexander managed to navigate through the danger without conceding a run.
After the BayBears scored a run in the top of the 10th against Robinson Leyer (W, 5-3), Pensacola used a hit-by-pitch and an infield single to set the stage for Crook’s winner. Pensacola finishes the regular season with a 37-33 record, and for the third consecutive year, the Wahoos finish with a home record above .500.
The Wahoos will hit the road on Wednesday for Kodak, Tenn. in preparation of the regular season finale against the Smokies. LHP Seth Varner (8-3, 3.49) will make his final regular-season start and will be opposed by RHP Matt Swarmer (4-5, 3.53).