East Tops West In All-Star High School Volleyball
November 20, 2013
The East Team — from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties — won the 2013 Subway All-Star High School Volleyball game in straight matches Tuesday at the University of West Florida Field House.
The East defeated the West 25-12, 25-22, 25-16, 25-20 in a best of a seven. West Florida High School’s Maddy Lopez was named East MVP.
The West team, representing Escambia County, was coached by Northview High School’s Barbara Luker and David Bryant from West Florida High School.
Members of the West Team were: Lauren Merts (Tate), Lily Townson, Danielle Steadham, Rebecca Grim, Tiffani Pritchett, and Lana Clayton (Northview), Cara McDaniel and Mallory Herrmann (Catholic), Jennifer Werner (Washington); Maddy Lopez, Rachel George, Casey Melvin, and Amanda Davis (West Florida High), Allison Palmer, Megan Kirst, and Brittany Delone (Pine Forest), Yenny Wu Ho (Pensacola High) and Tyaina Colston (Escambia).
Members of the East Team were: Sydney Lowery (Jay), Lauren Gordon (Laurel Hill); Caroline Lathi (Fort Walton Beach High), Clair Gunter (Rocky Bayou Christian School); Jasmine Middelton and Brittany Pase (Crestview); Kiera Foster (Navarre); Hana Wadsworth and Alex Roy (Baker), Keren Haygood (Milton), Emili Jordan, Brooklynn Roberts and Claire Pierson (Pace); Shannon McDonald (Choctaw); Sage Dunne and Alex Karcher (Gulf Breeze); Arielle Harris and Adrienne Harris (Central); Bailey Noon (Niceville).
Pictured top: Members of the West All-Start Team included (L-R) Lauren Merts from Tate High; Lily Townson, Rebecca Grim, Lana Clayton, Tiffani Pritchett and Danielle Steadham from Northview High. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida’s Nachelle Watson Signs With Florida A&M
November 18, 2013
West Florida High School’s Nachelle Watson has signed a softball scholarship with Florida A&M University. Watson, a Cantonment resident, played first base for the West Florida Lady Jags. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Chiefs Beat Vernon In Round One
November 17, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat Vernon in round one of the class 1A playoffs Friday night in Vernon.
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Pictured top: Coach Sid Wheatley and his Northview Chiefs celebrate victory Friday night in Vernon. Pictured inset: Cheerleader Mallory Ryan. Pictured below: The Northview Tribal Beat Band. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Tate Takes On Lincoln In 7A Playoffs
November 17, 2013
The Tate Aggies traveled to Tallahassee Friday night to take on Lincoln in the first round of the state 7A playoffs.
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NorthEscambia.com photos by Kaleigh Blackmon, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Move Step Closer To Repeat State Title
November 16, 2013
The defending state 1A champion Northview Chiefs advanced in the first round of the playoffs Friday night with a 22-19 win on the road over the Vernon Yellow Jackets.
“That was a tremendous football game between teams that both had their ups, both had their downs,” Northview coach Sid Wheatley said. “But it was back and forth and it was going to be whoever made the big plays in the end.”
And in the end, that turned out to be the Chiefs on the big plays to snap a seven-game winning streak for Vernon (7-4).
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The Yellow Jackets (7-4) took an early 6-0 lead with about eight minutes to go in the first quarter. With 10:16 on the clock Keondrae Lett was in for a Chiefs touchdown. With a good 2-point attempt to Cameron Newsome, the Chiefs held an 8-6 leaded headed into the half.
Vernon scored a touchdown and missed the PAT with about nine minutes to go in the third, 12-8 Vernon. Then, with 4:34 to go in the third, Ladarius Thomas was over the top of the pile from the one for another Chiefs touchdown. Then with a pass to Neino Robinson for two, the Chiefs were up 16-12.
With about five minutes remaining in the game, Vernon scored again to take a 19-16 lead. Then, with about four minutes to go, Thomas was in again for a 22-19 Chiefs lead.
“My running back, Lardarius Thomas, came to me and said “coach, please give me the football’. And we gave it to him and he produced, “Wheatley said. Thomas recorded 103 yards and two touchdowns for the Chiefs. “He got it done.”
The Chiefs (4-6). will be back on the road next Friday night as they travel to Cottondale (7-4). Cottondale is riding a seven-game home winning streak on the season, and they are coming off a surprise 28-23 win over Baker (10-1).
“We are going to work all week on fundamentals. We are going to be ready for Cottondale,” Wheatley added.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat Vernon Friday night in Vernon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Aggies Turnaround Season Come To An End
November 16, 2013
The 7A Tate Aggies turnaround season came to an end Friday night, as Tallahassee Lincoln downed the Aggies 13-11 in the capital city.
It was a comeback, turnaround beginning of the Ronnie Douglas era that any Aggie would be proud of after coming off 1-8 and 0-11 seasons.
Lincoln took the lead with 3:40 to go in the first quarter with a field goad – Lincoln 3, Tate 0. With 48 seconds remaining in the first, the Aggies were in for a touchdown. And the Aggies held an 8-3 lead by the end of the first quarter, but they were destined to not cross the goal line the rest of the night.
The Trojans scored a touchdown with 3:30 in the second for a halftime score of 10-8, Lincoln. A crucial Aggies field goal was blocked by the Trojans with 3:35 in the third. The Trojans added their on field goal late in the third – Lincoln 13, Tate 8.
The Aggies closed the gap with 7:11 in the fourth with another field goal – Lincoln 13, Tate 11.
The Tate Aggies finished their season at 8-3 overall.
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Pictured top and inset: The Tate Aggies take on Lincoln Friday night in Tallahassee. Pictured below: Tate Coach Ronnie Douglas (standing to the right of the “25″ on the play clock), speaks to his players following the close loss. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kaleigh Blackmon, click to enlarge.
In Hot Pursuit 5K This Weekend On Pensacola Beach
November 13, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Sixth Annual In Hot Pursuit 5K is scheduled for this Saturday on Pensacola Beach. There will be a fun beach course, great door prizes, and medals for the winners. All proceeds from the race will go to support the Florida Sheriff’s Association Youth Ranches.
The race will start at 8:00 a.m. near the Pensacola Beach Pavilion. Registration is $20 for adults. Day of the race registration is $25. Register online at www.active.com or download a printable race form at escambiaso.com. Packet pick up will take place Thursday, November 14 and Friday November 15 from 4-7 p.m. at Running Wild, 312 East Cervantes Street in Pensacola.
The In Hot Pursuit 5K is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com, along with Century Link, Allen Turner Hyundai, Berney Office Solutions, Marianna Airmotive, The Grand Marlin, John Peacock/Edward Jones, The Fraternal Order of Police, Gulf Winds Credit Union, Walmart, Navy Federal Credit Union, May’s Construction, The Sandshaker and News Talk 1370 WCOA.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Gindl Inspires Young Baseball Players
November 10, 2013
There’s nothing like the crack of a wooden bat on a sunny North Escambia afternoon. Not just any old wooden bat, but a good Louisville Slugger. A custom made Genuine Made C271 Pro Stock, American made from Carolina ash.
One after another, after another, the baseballs sailed to the outfield fence in Bratt for Northview High School Chief outfielders to catch. And sometimes they were over the fence, the bases loaded, bottom of the ninth home run feeling with every one.
Baseball, wooden bats and home runs…the all American stuff that young boys dream of…young boys like Caleb Gindl as he grew up around Molino and went on to play high school ball for the Pace Patriots.
In 2007, Milwaukee selected Gindl in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball draft. He paid his dues year after year in the minors, until he was called up to the Brewers on June 15. A week later, he made history for the Milwaukee Brewers as he became the first in franchise history to hit a walk-off for his first MLB homer. It was his very first major league home run.
“It was awesome; it was nice to know that all the hard work finally paid off,” Gindl said Saturday. “After seven years in the minors and to finally catch a break, it was really nice.”
Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewer’s Gindl was the star attraction — and instructor — at a Northview High School baseball clinic for players ages 9-17. As the clinic wrapped up, he stepped up to home plate and pounded hit after hit to the outfield fence.
“Wow, did you see that?”, a young boy said as a homer topped the fence.
Then it happened. The traditional crack of the bat was replaced with a much more powerful sound, echoing off the nearby Northview football stadium bleachers, as the Louisville Slugger splintered in two.
“I want it, I want it,” the boys cried out. “I want him to sign it!”
Without a doubt, Major League homers and his career are important Gindl. But coming back home and working with the boys and teens and the Northview Chiefs were also a highlight for Gindl.
“It’s always nice to come back where you are from and work with these guys,” he said. “There are some good players out here and hopefully this will help to get them better.”
For 125 NHS Baseball Clinic photos, click here.
And as spring approaches, Gindl will turn his attention to the upcoming season with hopes of returning to the Brewers.
“It is what it is. I have no control over that,” he said. “I’ve just got to go into spring training, be ready to go and try to win a job.”
Pictured: The Milwaukee Brewer’s Caleb Gindl hits during a baseball clinic Saturday at Northview High School in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Ends Best Season In 10 Years With Win Over The Escambia Gators
November 9, 2013
The Tate Aggies ended their comeback season at 8-2 — their best record in a decade — with a 45-34 win over the Escambia Gators Friday night at Emmitt Smith Field.
The Gators were on the board first, with the Aggies scoring on a 41-yard field goal from Dylan Mancuso with 4:07 to go in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Tate scored with a 57-yard pass from Sawyer Smith to Tay Samuel and a 3-yard run from Samuel just before the half.
In the third quarter, Tate scored on a 4-yard pass from Smith to Alonte Thompson and an 11-yard run from Brian Davis. In the forth, the Aggies scored on a 69-yard pass from Smith to Shane Tindell and a 3-yard keeper from Smith in the final seconds.
The Aggies, under first year head coach Ronnie Douglas, will hit the road for Tallahassee next Friday night in round one of the state 7A football playoff series. The Aggies (8-2, 1-1) will face Lincoln (6-4, 2-0).
Shutout For the Chiefs
November 9, 2013
The defending 1-A state champion Northview Chiefs suffered a 31-0 shutout Friday night at the hands of the top-ranked 1A Blountstown Tigers. It was the sixth shutout win of the season for Blountstown.
The Chiefs managed just 99 yards while allowing over 250 rushing yards by the Tigers. Ladarius Thomas had 52 yards for the Chiefs, while quarterback Dalton Tullis completed 7 of 18 passes for just 20 yards.
The Northview Chiefs, as District 1-1A runner-ups, begin week one of the playoffs Friday night on the road against Vernon. The Chiefs finished their regular season at 3-6, 2-1 overall, while Vernon’s record stands at 7-3, 4-0 in district play. If the Chiefs advance to round two of the playoffs, they will face the winner of Friday night’s Baker-Cottondale game.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.