Tate’s Trawick Signs Golf Scholarship
May 3, 2012
Tate High School’s Billy Trawick has signed a scholarship to play golf at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Pictured: (front) Dottie Hodge, Billie Trawick, Mary Ann Trawick, (back) Ronnie Hodge, David Venettozzi, Rick Shackle . Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Lady Royals Win Regionals, Setting Up Historic Trip To State
May 2, 2012
The Jay Lady Royals won the Class 1A Softball Regional Championship at home Tuesday night 7-6 over the Holmes County Lady Blue Devils.
The game was tied 6-6 in the sixth when senior Tessa Hendricks powered a double to right field. With a double from Camille Driver, the Royals claimed a historic victory; it’s the first trip ever to the state finals in fast pitch softball for the Lady Royals.
The win means a final four road trip for Jay (20-3) for the state finals May 7-8 at the National Training Center Softball Complex in Clermont, Fla.
The Jay Lady Royals will face Port St. Joe Jr-Sr High at 11 a.m. (CDT) on Monday, May 7. Port St. Joe is coming off a 5-4 regional win over Liberty County.
The 1A final game will then be played Tuesday, May 8 at 4 p.m. (CDT). Admission will be $9 per game, with no passes.
WP—Sydney Lowery (17-3; 7 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 K, HB, BB)
Jay— Tessa Hendricks 3-4, 3 R, 2 2B, RBI; Olivia Wright 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB; Camille Driver 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B; Ashlyn Geck 1-4, R; Becca Calloway 2-3, 3B, 4 RBI, BB
Wahoos Win 5-4 Over Jackson Generals
May 2, 2012
Blue Wahoos left fielder Cody Puckett drove in three runs, including the tying run on a solo home run in the sixth and a walk-off single in the tenth, to give Pensacola a 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Jackson Generals on Tuesday night at Pensacola’s bay-front stadium.
The win gives Pensacola a 1-0 advantage in the five-game series with the Generals, who entered tonight’s contest with the Southern League’s best record at 17-8.
With two outs in the extra frame, C Koyie Hill reached base on an infield single and went to second on an error by Jackson reliever Brian Moran to set the stage for Puckett. The left fielder drove the 1-2 pitch over the head of Generals left fielder Chris Pettit to end the game and cue the celebration.
Puckett (3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB) also led off the sixth inning with a solo blast to left to tie the game at 4-4 and drove in another run on a run-scoring single in the fourth as part of his three-hit day. Hill (2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) along with 3B Henry Rodriguez (2-4, 1 BB) also recorded multi-hit efforts for the Blue Wahoos in the contest.
Jackson got off to an early 4-0 lead after three innings courtesy in part to RBI doubles from SS Nick Franklin and 1B Rich Poythress in the opening inning. After an RBI groundout in the third, Pettit increased the margin to 4-0 with an RBI double in the fourth.
Pensacola reliever Donnie Joseph (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) earned his third victory of the season as part of a Blue Wahoos relief corps that yielded just three hits and no walks in the final six frames. Moran (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 after pitching the tenth frame.
The Blue Wahoos and Generals will meet again Wednesday night for the second game of the series, with first pitch set for 7:00 pm from Pensacola’s multi-use stadium. RHP Pedro Villarreal is expected to get the nod for Pensacola, while LHP James Paxton, the third-best prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization according to Baseball America is slated to start for Jackson.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Cody Puckett’s walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth gave Pensacola a 5-4 win over the Jackson Generals Tuesday night in Pensacola. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NFL Draft: Atmore’s Linam Signs With San Diego Chargers
April 30, 2012
Former Atmore resident Josh Linam signed with the San Diego Chargers Saturday night on the last day of the 2012 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent. Linam (6-3, 240) is coming off a successful college career as a middle linebacker for the University of Central Florida Knights.
“It feels great. I’m just really excited and fortunate to get a chance to play football. I’m just going to go up there and try to make the most of my opportunity,” Linam told the Orlando Sentinel.
Linam had announced on his Twitter page that he was headed to the Cleveland Browns, but with a last minute offer he was headed to San Diego. Since San Diego did not draft any other linebackers, he said he feels his chances of making the final roster are good. He flies to San Diego on May 10 to being working on making the cut to the 52-man roster.
Linam started 25 of UCF’s last 26 games at middle linebacker, ranking third on the team in 2011 with 66 tackles including a season-high nine vs. East Carolina and UTEP. He also collected 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pair of interceptions. Linam received College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention National Linebacker of the Week honors for his effort against UTEP, which featured 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception.
For his career, Linam registered 165 tackles with 20 tackles for loss and three interceptions in 50 games played.
Linam’s dad, Kevin Linam of Atmore, grew up in San Diego and was an All CIF lineman at Castle Park High School and an All Conference JUDO lineman at Southwestern College.
“This was my dream as a boy and now Josh’s goal since age 8, to play in the NFL,” Kevin Linam said Sunday.
NEP 8U Tigers Take Pace Mid-Season Tourney
April 30, 2012
The NEP Tigers recently won the Mid-Season 8U Softball Tournament at the Pace Sports Complex.
The top two teams in the tournament were both from NEP — the Tigers and the Irish Chix. But the Tigers remained undefeated throughout the tournament, beating the Irish Chix twice in two close battles.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Madelyn Selland, Tasia Hufner, Cherre Rembert, Adison Whitty, Liliana Rollins, (middle) Kayla Althaus, Hailey O’Connor, Kennedy Turner, Emmie Sasser, Oceanna Madison, Paisley Ross, (back) Head Coach Tim O’Connor, Daryl Turner, Jeremy Sasser. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suns Take Series Over The Blue Wahoos With 4-0 Win
April 30, 2012
The Blue Wahoos were blanked for just the second time this season as the Jacksonville Suns won the five-game set over the Blue Wahoo with a 4-0 series finale win on Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville.
Blue Wahoos starter J.C. Sulbaran (L, 1-3) got off to a fast start but ran into trouble in the fourth inning when he allowed a double by Shawn Bowman followed by a Taylor Krick single to start the inning. Bowman scored on a sacrifice fly to center as he jarred the ball loose from Wahoos catcher Brian Peacock at the plate. Chris Gutierrez singled home Krick later in the inning putting the Suns up 2-0.
Sulbaran allowed another run in the fifth before exiting with two men out in the inning. The Suns tallied another run in the seventh against the Pensacola bullpen on their way to the series clinching win.
The Wahoos scattered just six hits against three Suns pitchers. Bobby Bramhall held the Blue Wahoos bats in check over the first four innings before giving way to Kyle Kaminska (W, 3-1) who earned the win with three shutout innings in relief.
Sulbaran took the loss after he was tagged for three runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings despite striking out seven in the game.
The Blue Wahoos are off on Monday before opening up a five-game homestand with the Jackson Generals on Tuesday night at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium. Tuesday is a Team Tuesday with select players signing autographs on the concourse prior to the game. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured top: Rodriguez has now hit is nine straight after his first-inning single on Sunday for the Blue Wahoos in Jacksonville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Coaches Named Cat Country Coaches Of Week; Kids To Be On Air
April 29, 2012
Two Molino Ballpark coaches have been named Cat Country’s Coach of the Week.
The first is Coach Rowdy Pope with the Texas Rangers Coach Pitch 7-year olds, and the second is Coach Christa Wilson with the 8U UnDents Softball team. The UnDents girls can be heard saying the pledge of allegiance on-air Monday at 7 a.m. and Rangers boys will lead the pledge Tuesday at 7 a.m.
Pictured top: Coach Christa Wilson with the 8U UnDents Softball team and Coach Rowdy Pope with some of the Texas Rangers Coach Pitch 7-year olds, both named Cat Country Coaches of the Week. Submitted photos by Sarah Tipton for Northescambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suns Even Series With Win Over The Pensacola Wahoos
April 29, 2012
The Jacksonville Suns claimed a 5-2 win over the Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Suns plated three runs in the first, which would prove to be all they would need on their way to evening the series at two game apiece.
Tim Crabbe (L, 1-1) settled down after the first inning and lasted 5.1 innings in the losing effort for Pensacola. Of the three runs he allowed, two were earned. Crabbe only walked one batter in the game, a new season low, and he struck out six, one shy of his season high.
Pensacola pulled within a run on a two-run homer by Cody Puckett in the sixth, but that was all the Wahoos would get. Jacksonville added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Wilkin De La Rosa inherited a bases loaded situation and hit the first batter he faced to force in one run, then walked the next, forcing in another. Both runs were charged to Drew Hayes. De La Rosa went on to strike out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Ryan LaMarre singled in the fifth inning to extend his hit streak to a team-high 11 games. Puckett’s home run was one of his team-leading two hits for the game.
Suns starter Graham Taylor (W, 2-1) earned the win by working six innings and allowing both Blue Wahoos runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. Evan Reed (S, 6) closed the came with a pair of perfect innings for the save.
The series concludes on Sunday when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander J.C. Sulbaran (1-2, 4.98) to mound. Jacksonville’s starter has not been announced at this time. First pitch is set for 2:05 CT from the Baseball Ground of Jacksonville.
By Tommy Thrall
Flomaton Sweeps Playoff Games Against Cottage Hill
April 28, 2012
The Flomaton Hurricanes swept Cottage Hill Christian Friday in Flomaton to advance to the third round of the Class 2A baseball playoffs.
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Cottage Hill Warriors the first second round playoff 6-2. Zack Watson (9-2) started on the mound and completed the game and earned his 100th strikeout of the year. He has 103 on the year and 312 career strikeouts. Lee Cockrell took the loss for the Warriors.
Batting:
Andrew Cash 1-2 1B, 2 R
Hunter Bonds 2-2 3B, 1B, 2 R
James Dean 1-3 2B, RBI, R
Zack Watson 2-3 2 1B, 2 RBI, R
Trey Weeks 1-2 2B, 2 RBI
Jacob Newton 1-3 1B
Pitching:
Zack Watson 7IP 10K 1ER 6 hits allowed CG W
Second Game
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Cottage Hill Warriors in the second game of the second round playoff series 7-0. Joseph Parker (9-1) started and finished the game for the Hurricanes and only allowed one hit in seven innings. Johnathan Williams took the loss for the Warriors. The Hurricanes improve their record to 27-4 and are advancing to the third round of the playoffs against the winner of Wicksburg/G.W. Long matchup.
Batting:
Andrew Cash 0-2 R, SB
Hunter Bonds 2-3 3B, 1B, RBI, 2 R, SB
James Dean 1-2 1B, RBI, R, SB
Zack Watson 1-2 1B, RBI, R, 2 SB
Trey Weeks 1-4 1B
Jacob Newton 2-2 2B, 1B, RBI
Tristian McAnally 0-3 R
Joseph Parker 0-2 R
Pitching:
Joseph Parker 7IP 8K 3W 0ER 1 hit allowed CG W
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Make It Two In A Row With 8-2 Win Over Suns
April 28, 2012
Joel Guzman jump started the Blue Wahoos offense with his two-run homer in the fourth inning, and the Wahoos cruised to an 8-2 win over the Jacksonville Suns behind a strong start by Daniel Corcino on Friday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Already leading 3-0, the Blue Wahoos added some cushion with a five-run seventh. Ryan LaMarre, Josh Fellhauer, Yordanys Perez and Miguel Rojas all collected hits in the inning to contribute to the rally. Pensacola batted around in the frame sending 11 guys to the plate as the Blue Wahoos went up 8-0.
All seven hitters in the Blue Wahoos lineup that collected a hit in the game had exactly two hits. LaMarre, Henry Rodriguez and Guzman all scored a pair of runs to go with their hits. Guzman and Yordanys Perez also added a pair of RBI in the game.
Jacksonville scored single runs in the seventh and ninth innings against Blue Wahoos relievers after Corcino went 5.1 shutout innings. He allowed just three hits, he walked three and struck out three. The right-hander got credit for the win, his first of the season. Jacksonville starter Zach Neal (L, 2-2) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on 10 hits over six innings.
Game four of the five-game set is Saturday night beginning at 5:05 CT when the Blue Wahoos send righty Tim Crabbe (1-0, 4.74) to the mound against Suns left-hander Graham Taylor (1-1, 4.09).
By Tommy Thrall