Volleyball: Catholic Sweeps Northview (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2012
The Catholic Crusaders swept the Northview Chiefs Thursday in high school volleyball action.
Northview fell to Catholic in three varsity sets, 17-25, 23-25, 20-25. Misty Doran had five kills for the Lady Chiefs, while Taylor Roberson recorded two digs. Also for NHS, Morgan Payne had thee blocks and one kill.
In junior varsity action, Northview lost to Catholic in two, 11-25, 8-25.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Lady Chiefs will next be on the road at Laurel Hill Tuesday afternoon. Northview will return home to Bratt to host Central next Thursday at 4:30 for JV and 5:30 for varsity.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs take on Catholic High Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium Named Ballpark Of The Year
August 31, 2012
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium has been recognized as the top new stadium in all of professional baseball according to Baseballparks.com, a popular website that annually reviews baseball stadiums all over the country. Baseballparks.com site mater, Joe Mock made the announcement in a press release early on Thursday that Pensacola Bayfront Stadium was the recipient of the 13th annual Ballpark of the Year.
This distinction is just another in a long list of memorable moments that have made the Blue Wahoos inaugural season a resounding success. The Blue Angels flyover on opening day, visits from Masters Champion Bubba Watson and National Champion running back Trent Richardson, a no-hitter, Billy Hamilton’s stolen base record and now baseball’s best new stadium have all molded a lasting impression of Minor League Baseball on fans in the Pensacola community.
“We are very grateful for the high praise from Baseballparks.com,” said Blue Wahoos’ president Bruce Baldwin. “Considering the other stadiums that have opened this season, we are thrilled to receive this award. It is truly an honor. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication to this project by our owners Quint and Rishy Studer and the confidence and support of this stadium and the vision by the Community Maritime Park Associates, the City of Pensacola and its citizens. I don’t consider this an award for the Blue Wahoos, but one for all of Pensacola and Northwest Florida.”
Mock visited the park in May and provided a review of the stadium on his site following the trip. Other stadiums in consideration for the award included Marlins Park in Miami and the Boston Red Sox spring training facility in Lee County, Fla.
“The architects at Populous should be very proud of their facilities that opened this year,” said Mock. “They designed the incredibly impressive spring-training park and complex in Lee County, Florida for the Red Sox. They were also the architects for one of the most ambitious sports facilities ever built, Marlins Park. But even though it was the smallest of their three projects, I think Pensacola’s ballpark is the best.”
The selection of Populous as the stadium’s architecture firm is indicative of the commitment to the project by the City of Pensacola and the CMPA. Fans have been flocking to the stadium all summer long. The bayfront stadium has been sold out 37 times in 2012 and the Blue Wahoos boast an overall attendance of 303,744 averaging 4,821 fans per game.
“Over the past five months, thousands of people have enjoyed the great atmosphere and gorgeous view at Pensacola’s new bayfront stadium,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “This latest accolade is another testament to the Blue Wahoos’ fanastic first season and the hard work of so many over the past six years. This stadium has been an amazing addition to our vibrant downtown and growing waterfront and another reason that Pensacola is the Upside of Florida.”
Mock credited the design, fan amenities and site selection as contributing factors for the award. Past recipients of this award include AT&T Park in San Francisco, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and last year’s winner Salt River Field in Arizona
Smokies Power Past Pensacola 4-2
August 31, 2012
The Smokies smacked three home runs to account for all four of their scores, with shortstop Logan Watkins, second baseman Matt Cerda and first baseman Justin Bour all leaving the yard to power Tennessee to a 4-2 series-opening victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The loss combined with a Montgomery victory means the Blue Wahoos are now 2.5 games behind the Biscuits for first place in the Southern League’s South Division with four games remaining. The win pushed the Smokies to a 34-32 record in the second half, while the Fish are 33-32 since the league’s midpoint.
The Smokies’ surge began in the opening frame, with Watkins leaving the yard with a solo shot. It was the eighth longball of the season for Watkins, which pushed Tennessee to an early 1-0 advantage.
Pensacola however, countered with two tallies of their own in the third. CF Ryan LaMarre reached on a single and then stole second, prior to coming home when 1B Beau Mills reached on a Smokies error. Mills would then move to third on LF Donald Lutz’s double and eventually come plateward on a 3B David Vidal’s RBI groundout.
Three innings later, Tennessee would grab the lead for good with their second longball of the evening. After the first two hitters were retired, LF Rubi Silva kept the sixth alive with a free pass before Cerda clobbered the 1-1 pitch to left for his third roundtripper of 2012. The Smokies added an insurance run in the in the eighth when Bour blasted a solo big fly to left, increasing the margin to 4-2.
Blue Wahoos 2B Brodie Greene (2-4, 2 2B) recorded a multi-hit effort in his first game back since being activated from the Disabled List, while Lutz (2-4, 1 2B) also collected two base knocks. No Tennessee hitters tallied more than one hit in the contest.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two runs, one of which was earned, on four hits in five frames. Three Smokies relievers would reinforce Beeler by combining to yield just three base knocks in the final four frames. LHP Casey Harman (1.0 IP, 1 H) and RHP Trey McNutt (1.0 IP, 3 SO) each collected holds, while RHP Brian Schlitter (2.0 IP, 2 H, 4 SO) notched his sixth save. Pensacola starter Wirfin Obispo (6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up just three earned runs on three hits, adding five strikeouts in six innings.
With the Smokies leading the series 1-0, both teams return to action Friday night with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is scheduled to give the nod to RHP Daniel Corcino (8-7, 3.06), while Tennessee is expected to counter with RHP Nick Struck (13-10, 3.30).
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Brodie Greene recorded two hits in his first game back from the disabled list Thursday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Neiko Robinson Suspended For Six Games
August 29, 2012
Northview High School Chiefs senior Neiko Robinson has been suspended for six games by the Florida High School Athletic Association after being ejected from a kickoff classic game last Friday night.
Robinson, a transfer from the Flomaton Hurricanes and a verbal commitment to Penn State, was ejected in the fourth quarter after Neino Robinson, Neiko’s younger brother, was flagged for pass interference on a play. A brief scuffle followed, and Neiko Robinson allegedly threw a punch.
A new FHSAA sportsmanship policy went into effect a year ago calling for an automatic six-game suspension for a player ejected for being involved in a fight. Northview will be eligible to appeal the FHSAA decision.
The Chief will open their regular season at home Friday night against John Paul Catholic at 7 p.m.
Pictured top: Senior Neiko Robinson picks up yardage for the Northview Chiefs last Friday night against Panama City Bay. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton’s Dixon Commits To The UAB Blazers
August 29, 2012
Flomaton High School quarterback Ryheem Dixon has committed to play football for the UAB Blazers.
Last season as a junior, Dixon was part of a Flomaton team that took the Hurricanes to a state quarterfinal game for the first time in over 20 years. He racked up almost 3,000 yards offensively, with 1,454 yards on the ground and 1,526 in the air.
Dixon, 6-1, 187 pound, averaged just over 10.5 yards per carry. He threw for 23 touchdowns last season with just one interception.
USA, Southern Miss and Tuskegee were also reportedly recruiting Dixon.
Wahoos Run Past Braves
August 28, 2012
ue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton stole four bases, including two in the extra frame, while right fielder Josh Fellhauer recorded his fourth multi-hit game in a six-game span, to push Pensacola to a 3-2 ten-inning series clinching win over the Mississippi Braves on Monday night at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
With the defeat of the Braves, the Fish improved to 33-31 in the second half of the year to remain two games back of first place in the South Division. Mississippi dropped to 29-35 since the midpoint of the 2012 season.
Two of Hamilton’s thefts came in the extra frame, which helped propel the Blue Wahoos to a series victory. The speedster reached on an bloop single and swiped both second and third, before pinch hitter Yordanys Perez lifted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Hamilton and put the Fish ahead. The club totaled a team-record six steals in the contest, topping the previous mark of five.
Pensacola struck first, bringing home two scores in the third frame. 2B Miguel Rojas led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a single by SS Billy Hamilton. After Hamilton swiped third for his 151st steal of the season, both he and Rojas came across on RF Josh Fellhauer’s two-run single up to middle to put the Blue Wahoos out in front.
Mississippi would then counter with a two-spot of their own in the sixth to draw the game even. CF Todd Cunningham reached on a one-out base knock and stole second before being plated on 1B Joe Terdoslavich’s run-scoring single. LF Evan Gattis would subsequently tie it with a triple to right, sending home Terdoslavich.
Neither team’s starting pitchers received a decision, with Mississippi RHP Gary Moran (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) allowing two earned runs on five hits in his six frames, while Blue Wahoos RHP Mark Serrano (5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) yielded two earned runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work.
Pensacola reliever Curtis Partch (1.0 IP, 1 H) earned the victory with his scoreless frame, while LHP Chris Manno (0.2 IP, 1 SO) notched his second save of the year. Braves RHP Cory Rasmus (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss after yielding the game’s final score.
Fellhauer (2-5, 2 R, 1 2B) recorded another multi-hit game, his fourth in a six game span, while Hamilton (2-5, 2 RBI, 4 SB) also collected a pair of base knocks in addition to his four thefts in the contest. Fellhauer in his last six contests has hit at a blistering .588 clip (10-17), while the four-steal game for Hamilton was hit first since setting the single-season steals record on August 21 versus Montgomery. The Braves were led at the plate by 3B Joe Leonard (2-4, 1 2B) who was the lone Braves batter to accrue two hits.
The Blue Wahoos’ final game of their series against the Mississippi Braves scheduled for Tuesday, August 27 in Pearl, Mississippi, has been cancelled in anticipation of the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac. The game is not scheduled to be made up at this time.
The final Blue Wahoos homestand of the season begins on Thursday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. At this time, that contest is still on as scheduled. Tickets for that series are still available and can be purchased online at BlueWahoos.com. The Blue Wahoos’ offices will be closed Tuesday as a result of Isaac.
By Andrew Green
Wahoos Split Twin Bill With Mississippi
August 27, 2012
Pensacola scored four runs in the sixth inning to top Mississippi 5-2 and shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 150th base of the year in game one, while Braves starting pitcher J.R. Graham shut down the Blue Wahoos bats in a 1-0 shutout victory in the nightcap as the two teams split their double header on Sunday evening at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
With the split, the Fish now own a 32-31 record in the second half and are two games out of first place in the Southern League’s South Division. The Braves have recorded a 29-34 mark since the midpoint of the season.
The Blue Wahoos struck first in the opening contest after loading the bases. CF Ryan LaMarre and C Tucker Barnhart each reached on a free pass, while 3B David Vidal was hit by a pitch, to bring up 2B Miguel Rojas. The second baseman would draw a free pass to send in LaMarre and push Pensacola ahead.
Mississippi however, would answer with a two-run bottom of the frame. Following walks from 1B Joe Terdoslavich and 3B Joe Leonard, RF Alden Carrithers singled to load the bases for CF Bobby Stevens. Stevens drove in both Terdoslavich and Leonard to give the Braves a 2-1 advantage.
Pensacola then put up a four-spot in the sixth to snag the lead for good. Pinch hitter Bryson Smith brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to right, while RF Josh Fellhauer and 1B Beau Mills each collected RBI base knocks to help the Blue Wahoos’ cause.
Blue Wahoos reliever Michael Griffin (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) earned his first victory at the Double-A level after firing a perfect inning of relief, while closer Justin Freeman (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) notched his 16th save. Braves RHP Erik Cordier (0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB) suffered the loss and the blown save.
Mississippi starter J.R. Graham (6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 SO) silenced Pensacola batters throughout much of the nightcap, yielding just three hits while fanning eight in his six scoreless innings of work. Graham retired 15 of his first 16 batters, including 14 straight at one point. Fish starter Chad Rogers (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss, while Braves RHP Cory Rasmus (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) collected his fifth save of the year.
The second game’s lone tally came in the third and proved to be all that Mississippi needed. 2B Phil Gosselin singled and stole second , prior to subsequently scoring on 1B Joe Terdoslavich’s run-scoring base hit.
Gosselin (2-3, 1 R) and Terdoslavich (2-3, 1 RBI) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the second game, while Blue Wahoos RF Josh Fellhauer accrued two of the Fish’s three hits. RF Alden Carrithers (2-2, 1 BB) was the only hitter from either side with two hits in the first contest. Blue Wahoos SS Billy Hamilton stole his 150thh base of the year in the first game, extending his single-season steals record after breaking Vince Coleman’s top mark of 145 on August 21 against Montgomery.
The two teams are scheduled to play the fourth game of their series Monday evening at 7:00 p.m., with RHP Mark Serrano expected to take the hill for Pensacola. Mississippi is scheduled to counter by giving the nod to RHP Gary Moran.
The final Blue Wahoos homestand of the season begins on Thursday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Beat Mississippi Braves 4-3 To Open Series
August 26, 2012
Blue Wahoos right fielder P.J. Phillips blasted his second homer of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth, while shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 149th base and scored the winning run on a wild pitch, as Pensacola topped the Mississippi Braves 4-3 on Saturday night at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
With the win the Fish improved to 31-30 in the second half of the season to remain to within 2.5 games behind the Montgomery Biscuits for first place in the South Division, thanks to their loss to the Jacksonville Suns Saturday. The Braves fell to 28-33 since the season’s All-Star Break.
Pensacola plated the game’s first score in the opening frame. Hamilton led off with a single, stole second for his 149th of the year and advanced to third on an error, before coming home on a double play to put the Fish ahead 1-0. Hamilton continues to extend his single-season steals record, which he broke earlier this week against Montgomery.
The Blue Wahoos would then extend the margin to three in the fifth thanks to the longball. After 1B Donald Lutz began with single, Phillips powered the 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for his second roundtripper of the year and his first since May 5 against Jackson.
Mississippi would answer and tally their first run of the game in the bottom of the inning. LF Alden Carrithers drew a leadoff free pass and took second on a walk, before CF Todd Cunningham sent him home with a run-scoring single to right.
Following a two hour and 29 minute rain delay, the Braves would eventually tie it at 3-3 in the seventh. Pinch hitter Jason Christian began the inning with a free pass and moved to second on 1B Joe Terdoslavich’s walk before scoring on an RBI single by C Evan Gattis. Terdoslavich would score later on the play to draw the contest even.
Pensacola grabbed the lead for good however in the ninth thanks to small ball. Hamilton reached on a bunt single and got to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout, prior to taking advantage of a wild pitch to score what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Both starters did not factor in the decisions due to the precipitation despite good outings. Blue Wahoos starter Wirfin Obispo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) gave up a lone earned run on just three hits in his five frames, while Braves LHP Jose Lugo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) yielded three earned runs on three hits while fanning four.
Pensacola reliever Curtis Partch (1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 SO) earned the victory with his 1.1 shutout frames in relief, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0) notched his 15th save of the year with a perfect ninth. Braves RHP Mark Lamm (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-7 after allowing the final tally on two hits in two innings pitched.
The two teams are slated to play a double header Sunday afternoon, with the first game a makeup for Friday night’s scheduled contest beginning at 4:00 p.m. Both games will last seven innings. LHP Tony Cingrani is expected to get the start in the first game for the Blue Wahoos, while RHP David Hale will get the start for the Braves. RHP Chad Rogers is scheduled to toe the rubber in the second contest for Pensacola, facing Mississippi RHP J.R. Graham.
The final Blue Wahoos homestand of the season begins on Thurdsay, August 30 at 7:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: P.J. Phillips mashed his second homer of the year in Pensacola’s 4-3 win over Mississippi. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Takes On Bay, May Lose Star Neiko Robinson Next Game (With Photo Gallery)
August 25, 2012
The varsity 1A Northview Chiefs tied the 5A Panama City Bay Tornadoes 7-7 Friday night in Bratt, but the Chiefs may have lost Penn State recruit Neiko Robinson for the first game of the regular season. The JV Chiefs lost 7-0 in one quarter of play.
Robinson, a senior transfer from the Flomaton Huricanes, was ejected in the fourth quarter after an overturned interception led to a brief scuffle allegedly involving Robinson. The incident started after officials flagged Neino Robinson, Neiko’s younger brother, for pass interference on the play. The incident will be reviewed next week by the Florida High School Athletic Association to determine if the preseason scuffle will lead to a suspension.
The play led to Bay’s go-ahead touchdown.
Coach Sid Wheatley said he did not see the incident but he was told that the officials said it was retaliation. Neiko was already under the weather before being ejected, possibly suffering from strep throat.
For 100 photos of game action, NHS cheerleaders, band and dance team, click here.
The preseason game was planned to be a matchup of reserves in the first quarter, but Bay played mostly starters. The first was to be followed by three quarters of varsity play. PC Bay was up 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
With 2:30 to go in the second, LaMikal Kyles flipped and tripped on a tackle attempt, but he did not go down, making his way in for the final yards for a Chiefs touchdown. A good kick from Kevin Vaughan, and it was tied 7-7.
Wheatley said his Chiefs, ranked third in the state, played good defense in the second and third quarters, but faltered in the third as Bay drove the ball almost the length of the field before punching it in.
“They made the big drive,” Wheatley said. “We didn’t make the stop, and that kind of determined the game.”
And the Chiefs were also plagued by a seemingly endless series of penalties during the game.
“We’ve got to learn from what we did tonight,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to see all the mistakes…all the undisciplined play. That was very disappointing to me.”
“We’ve got to be able to close. We’ve got to be the team that finishes it off in the fourth quarter”
On the upside of the loss, the head coach said he was pleased with new starting quarterback Vaughan.
“When you can get a guy on the edge who puts the defense in a bind whether to come up and play this guy or back off, and if you back off, he’s going to get some yards,” Wheatley said. “I thought he played real well.”
Wheatley also acknowledged good play from senior Corry Baggett at linebacker, Stetson Nash who “has really come along on the defensive front for us”, Brandon Freeman at outside linebacker, and the play of backup quarterback Daulton Tullis.
The Northview Chiefs will open the regular season next Friday night against John Paul Catholic at 7 p.m.
For 100 photos of game action, NHS cheerleaders, band and dance team, click here.
Pictured top: Senior Neiko Robinson picks up yardage for the Northview Chiefs Friday night against Panama City Bay. Pictured top inset: LaMikal Kyles on gain for NHS. Pictured bottom inset: Backup Northview QB Daulton Tullis, a junor. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
PHS Downs Tate 27-0
August 25, 2012
The Tate Aggies fell to the Pensacola High School Tigers 27-0 in a preseason game Friday night.
Tate’s Lorenzo Long returned the opening kickoff 84 yards before being driven out of bounds at the PHS 7-yard line. PHS stopped them, and Tate missed the kickoff to remain scoreless in the first.
The young Aggies, under the leadership of new coach Brad Naggatz, had four turnovers that were converted into touchdown for PHS, the defending 1-6A state champions.
The Tate Aggies will open the regular season next Friday night on a long road trip at Louisiana’s St. Charles High School.
Pictured: Action under the Friday night lights between Tate and Pensacola highs schools. Courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
