Bratt Basketball Camp Planned With Former NBA Coach
June 30, 2013
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a basketball camp this month with a former NBA, college and high school coach.
The camp for children ages 8-14 will be held July 22-26 from 9 a.m. until noon at the church. Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball and Biblical awareness.
Dutremble is a a retired coach and member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He career includes coaching at every level from high school to the NBA, and into international arenas, with a lifetime coaching record of 687-117 and seven national championships. He was selected “Coach of the Year” six times, and served as national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland, and Jordan. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving under Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, from 1979-83 and helping the team to three NBA championships with players like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The cost is $35 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. For more information, contact Tim Hawsey at (850) 327-6529.
Pictured: Students that participated in last year’s basketball camp at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Scientists Discover New Fish Species In Escambia, Perdido Rivers
June 29, 2013
Scientists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have uncovered a new species of black bass in area waters, including the Escambia and Perdido rivers.
FWC scientists first noted a DNA profile that did not belong to any recognized species while testing a bass specimen from the Chipola River in 2007, as part of a broader genetic study of bass.
“We didn’t set out to find a new species,” said Mike Tringali, who heads the genetics laboratory at the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “It found us.”
After confirming the initial discovery, scientists searched for the DNA profile in bass caught in nearby rivers to determine the species’ range. They found that the Choctaw bass inhabits coastal river systems in Alabama and along the western Florida panhandle. The Choctaw bass has been confirmed in the Escambia, Perdido, Conecuh, Choctawhatchee, Yellow and Blackwater rivers.
“We chose the name ‘Choctaw bass’ because the species’ range overlaps the historic range of the Choctaw Indians,” said Tringali. “As for our recommended scientific name, Micropterus haiaka, ‘haiaka’ is a Choctaw word that means ‘revealed’.” The American Fisheries Society must approve the suggested scientific name for it to take effect.
The Choctaw bass is very similar in appearance to its relative, the spotted bass. The physical differences between the two species are not easily seen with the naked eye, one reason they had never before been distinguished despite decades of bass studies in the region.
Now that this native bass is known, scientists want to ensure the population remains healthy by implementing the best possible conservation management practices. Ironically, the biggest conservation threat to the Choctaw bass may come from its cousins, spotted bass and Alabama bass.
Typically, Choctaw bass have been found in the upper reaches of rivers and streams where sediment accumulates, avoiding stream headwaters and tidal zones found closer to the coast. As of late 2012, everywhere Choctaw bass had been collected, spotted bass and Alabama bass were absent.
Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Hoffman Signs Golf Scholarship With Faulkner
June 28, 2013
Tate High School 2013 graduate Jared Hoffman has signed a scholarship to play golf at Faulkner University in Montgomery. Hoffman is pictured with Athletic Director David Venettozzi. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Braves Drop Wahoos 8-3
June 27, 2013
Barrett Kleinknecht launched a three-run homer in the top of the seventh, capping the Mississippi Braves’ second straight four-run frame in an 8-3 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola entered the sixth inning with a 1-0 lead and starter Ryan Dennick cruising through five frames. He retired the first batter he faced in the sixth, but would not set down another hitter in his outing. After Christian Bethancourt walked, Jose Martinez hit a ground ball to third baseman Travis Mattair who had trouble corralling the ball and overthrew the first baseman Marquez Smtih, allowing Bethancourt to score from first on the error.
Edward Salcedo then drove home Martinez with a double to left and came around to score on Jaime Pedroza single, putting the Braves on top 3-1. Dennick departed after another single by Omar Luna and gave way to Shaun Ellis. The right-hander issued a two-out bases loaded walk to pinch-hitter Kyle Russell to push Mississippi’s lead to 4-1.
An inning later, the Braves strung together three two-out hits as Pedroza collected an RBI single and Kleinknecht put the game out of reach with his three-run blast off Ellis.
Dennick (3-9) ended up taking the loss. The southpaw pitched five scoreless before giving up the four runs in the sixth. Overall, he allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings.
Pensacola jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a Travis Mattair solo homer in the last of the fourth inning. It was Mattair’s team-leading 10th blast of the year and his second in as many days.
The Wahoos scratched across a pair of runs in the last of the seventh on an RBI triple Ryan LaMarre and an RBI single by Brodie Greene, but they wouldn’t threaten the rest of the night.
Chason Shreve (3-1) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief for Mississippi. Starter Ian Thomas allowed a run on three hits in four frames, not going long enough for the win.
The series continues on Thursday as the Wahoos and Braves tangle in the fourth game of the five-game set. Daniel Renken (2-5, 3.93) takes the mound for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Gus Schlosser (5-2, 2.35) with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Molino 12U Allstars Win Tourney
June 26, 2013
The Molino 12U team beat NEP 12-10 Tuesday night to win the GCYBA District Allstars Championship in Navarre. Team members are (front, L-R) Tanner Jackson, Carson Daniels, Spencer Newton, Spencer St. Cyr, Nick Venable, (middle row) Brett Fillingim, Tanner Deese, Taylor Meacham, Caleb Abney and Issac Kelly. Coaches (back, L-R) are Jerry Venable, Larry Meacham, Ken Daniels, James Newton and Mark Jackson. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Molino’s Gindl Goes 2-4, Has First Major League RBI
June 26, 2013
Molino’s Caleb Gindl of the Milwaukee Brewers went 2 for 4 Tuesday night against Chicago Cubs and had his first Major League RBI.
The Brewers trailed, 3-1, entering the fifth, but Rickie Weeks started the scoring with an RBI double into the left-center-field gap, scoring Juan Francisco all the way from first base.
Weeks then took third on a Edwin Jackson wild pitch, and Gindl tied the game with his first Major League RBI, a liner up the middle past a diving Darwin Barney. KyleLohse bunted Gindl to second before Norichika Aoki walked to set up a run-scoring double from Jean Segura and a two-run single from Jonathan Lucroy, putting Milwaukee ahead, 6-3.
The Brewers went on to a 9-3 win against the National League Central-rival Cubs at Miller Park.
Pensacola Rolls Past Mississippi
June 26, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos rallied from a 3-0 fifth-inning deficit, scoring seven unanswered runs over four straight at-bats in a 7-3 triumph over the Mississippi Braves on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola won for the first time after trailing by three or more runs this season. Down 3-0 halfway through the game, the Wahoos started the comeback with a two-run double in the last of the fifth by Brodie Greene, cutting the Braves lead to one.
Travis Mattair provided the deciding blow in the contest for Pensacola, breaking out of a 0-for-16 skid in the sixth inning. With the Wahoos trailing 3-2, Yorman Rodriguez singled with one out in front of Mattair, who launched his team-leading ninth homer of the season to left-center field off Mississippi starter Michael Lee, putting Pensacola on top 4-3. Lee fell to 3-6 by allowing four runs on six hits in six frames for the Braves.
The Wahoos added two more runs in the last of the seventh inning against Major League rehabber Cristhian Martinez. Ryan LaMarre led off with a walk, stole second base, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a balk by Martinez to make it 5-3. Devin Lohman drove home Pensacola’s sixth run of the day with a two-out single scoring Greene.
In the eighth, Mattair led off with a single and came around on a LaMarre base knock to give Pensacola a four-run cushion. That was more than enough for Trevor Bell, who picked up his second save of the season by tossing the final two frames to shut the door on the Braves.
Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe retired the first 10 batters of the game before allowing a solo homer to Christian Bethancourt in the top of the fourth inning to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Mississippi had runners on second and third with one when Dan Brewer chopped a ball to Mattair at third. Mattair threw home to catcher Tucker Barnhart, who dropped the ball when he was run over by Barrett Kleinknecht. The ball trickled away allowing Kleinknecht and Mycal Jones to score, opening up a 3-0 lead.
Crabbe exited after five innings, not factoring in the decision. The right-hander allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits while striking out three. Josh Ravin (1-2) picked up the win for Pensacola out of the bullpen by firing two scoreless innings, facing the minimum six hitters in the sixth and seventh innings.
Winners of three in a row for only the second time all season, Pensacola looks for a season-long four-game winning streak and a series win against Mississippi on Wednesday night. Ryan Dennick (3-8, 3.23) will get the ball for the Wahoos against Braves southpaw Ian Thomas (3-4, 2.70). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Wahoos Walk Off Over Braves 3-2
June 25, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos entered the ninth inning with just two hits on the night, but the Wahoos strung together three straight one-out knocks, culminating on Theo Bowe’s two-runwalk-off triple to give the Wahoos a thrilling 3-2 win over the Mississippi Braves on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Facing Braves closer Mark Lamm, Devin Lohman reached on a single with one out before Yorman Rodriguez followed with a bloop single off the glove of the shortstop Jaime Pedroza. Bowe, pinch-hitting for the pitcher, laced a first pitch fastball into the right field corner scoring Lohman from second and Rodriguez all the way from first to give the Wahoos their third walk-off win of the season. It was Bowe’s second triple of the year and 12th and 13th RBI.
The game featured two phenomenal pitching performances. In his first start since June 2, Pensacola’s Chad Rogers allowed just a first-inning run on an Edward Salcedo RBI single in four innings of work. Having just come off the DL earlier in the day, Rogers didn’t miss a beat as he struck out six and retired the final eight batters he faced.
Jamie Walczak entered in the fifth inning and retired the first six batters he faced before allowing a one-out double in the seventh inning. He ended up allowing just the one hit in three innings while striking out five.
Meanwhile, Braves starter Mitch Atkins tossed a two-hit gem over seven innings. Both of the hits came from Marquez Smith, who doubled in the fifth and scored on a sac fly from Ray Chang to knot the game at one. Atkins struck out seven in a season-long seven innings.
The game was tied at one after seven frames before pinch-hitter Dan Brewer led off the eighth with a single against Pensacola reliever Drew Hayes. A sac bunt and groundout moved Brewer to third with two outs before Christian Marrero was intentionally walked up to set up a matchup between Hayes and Salcedo. The Braves’ third baseman lifted a ball down the right field line that landed on the chalk for an RBI double. Wahoos’ second baseman Brodie Greene picked up the ball and gunned down Marrero trying to score all the way from first for the final out, keeping the lead at just one.
Hayes (2-1) picked up the win for the Wahoos, allowing a run on three hits in two innings. Hayes combined with Rogers and Walczak to strike out 12 Mississippi hitters, tying a season-high for a nine-inning game. Lamm (3-3) took the loss while blowing just his second save in 11 chances this season.
Having won back-to-back games for the first time since a doubleheader on June 6, the Wahoos look to tie their season-long winning streak of three games with a victory on Tuesday night. Tim Crabbe (3-6, 3.36) gets the ball for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Michael Lee (3-5, 4.38). First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Cantonment 14U Pony Team Wins GCYBA District Allstars Championship
June 24, 2013
The Cantonment 14U Pony team brought home their second straight GCYBA District Allstars Championship Sunday. Cantonment beat Myrtle Grove 8-2 in Navarre to remain undefeated in the tourney to win the championship.
Team members are Clay Ryland, Corey Ryland , Money Purifoy , Josh Neese , Corey Grim, Quentin Sampson , Nickey Johnson, Travis Delacruz , Rod Smith and Chris Geoghagan. Coaches are Chris Ryland, Mike Neese, Wonder Purifoy , Barry Gunter and Ritchie Grim.
Pictured: Cantonment 14U Pony team celebrates their GCYBA District Allstars Championship win. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win 14-Inning Marathon 4-3 Over Montgomery
June 24, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos battled for nearly five hours and set a new season-high with 14 innings played before knocking off the Montgomery Biscuits 4-3 in the rubber match of the five-game set.
With the score tied at three entering the 14th, Ryan LaMarre smoked a double to left on the first pitch he saw to set the stage. Luis Durango then laid down a sacrifice bunt that the pitcher Neil Schenk (1-2) threw away into right field. LaMarre raced home to score, what proved to be, the winning run.
Wilkin De La Rosa walked two batters in the last of the 14th inning but got Keith Castillo to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the contest while stranding to tying run at second base. De La Rosa (2-4) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and walking a pair.
Montgomery had a chance to win the game in the last of the 11th as they put runners on first and third with just one out. Chris Manno countered the threat by striking out Mikie Mahtook and Cameron Seitzer to keep the game alive. Manno struck out six in three frames as the Pensacola bullpen combined to allow just one run on five hits in nine innings of relief with 11 strikeouts.
The Wahoos jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Montgomery starter Jake Floethe. In the second inning, Pensacola loaded the bases on a double and two walks before Floethe walked Durango to force in the game’s first run. Floethe was able to escape without further damage by getting Corey Wimberly to fly out.
In the fourth inning, Pensacola again loaded the bases with one out and Floethe’s lack of control contributed to two runs. LaMarre scampered home on a wild pitch before Devin Lohman drove home the Wahoos’ third run with a sacrifice fly to score Durango.
Montgomery came back with a pair of runs in the fifth inning against Pensacola starter Josh Smith. The Wahoos righty issued three walks to load the bases with two outs for Todd Glaesmann, who slammed a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Smith made it through five innings but settled for a no-decision as he allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
Josh Ravin relieved Smith and allowed the tying run in the seventh as Robby Price led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild offering from Ravin.
Pensacola now returns home for the first of five games with the Mississippi Braves on Monday night at 7 p.m. The Blue Wahoos have yet to announce their starting pitcher while the Braves will go with Mitch Atkins (1-1, 4.67).