Century’s Showalter Named Baltimore Orioles Manager
July 29, 2010
After lengthy negotiations, former Century resident Buck Showalter has been named the new manager of the Baltimore Orioles.
“Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a press release.
“We believe Buck’s extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a more successful future.”
Showalter, 54,will officially introduced as the Baltimore Oriole’s manager on Monday, and his first game will be Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.
“Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a press release. “We believe Buck’s extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a more successful future.”
The Orioles dismissed Dave Trebley as their manager back on June 4.
Showalter, who now lives in Dallas, had three different managerial stints in the majors with the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Texas Rangers. Showalter first managed the Yankees from 1992-1995 for 581 games posting a 313-268 record finishing 45 games over .500 with a .539 win/loss percentage. He was voted 1994 AL Manager of the Year after the Yankees finished first in the AL East going 70-43. Unfortunately, there would be no post-season in 1994 due to the strike. He made it to his first post-season appearance in 1995, losing the divisional series 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners.
He moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he managed 486 games from 1998-2000 with a 250-236 record. His best season with the Diamondbacks came in 1999 when they finished first in the NL West going 100-62 and eventually losing in the divisional series 3-1 to the NY Mets. Showalter took over as Texas Rangers skipper in 2003-2006 posting a 319-329 record in 648 games. He was selected 2004 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers going 89-73 with a .549 win/loss percentage.
His father was a high school coach and principal, moving to Century in the late 1950’s. Showalter played Little League ball in Century in a thriving program. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after his family.
Northwest Escambia 11-12 Softball Ends Season At State Tournament
July 24, 2010
The Northwest Escambia 11-12 year old softball team ended their season Friday in Fort Myers as the Florida Little League Section 1 Champions.
In state tournament action Friday afternoon, NWE fell 11-1 to St. Cloud in a three hour game in rain from Tropical Storm Bonnie. In their final game Friday night, South Tampa got past Northwest Escambia 1-0.
Members of the NWE 11-12 year old All-Stars are: Savanna Roux, Peighton Dortch, Courtney Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Kendal Cobb, Mallory Ryan, Kristin Byrd and Natalie Goetter. The team is managed by Jerry Mason, and coached by Ronald Peebles and Eddie Ryan.
Pictured top: The Northwest Escambia All-Stars 11-12 softball team finished their year as Section 1 Champions. Pictured below: The NWE girls pose while waiting for a break in the rain from Tropical Storm Bonnie in Fort Myers. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northwest Escambia Drops First State Game As Tourney Continues
July 23, 2010
The Northwest Escambia 11-12 year old softball team lost their first state tournament game Thursday night in Fort Myers, but they have at least two more games to play.
Port St. Johns slipped past NWE 4-1 in game one of the state championship series.
Mallory Ryan pitched the first two innings, striking out two and with no walks. Courtney Peebles pitched the second two innings, with two strike outs and two walks. Kyndall Hall finished up the game on the mound for Northwest Escambia with no strike out s and three walks. Ryan had the only RBI for NWE, scoring Kristen Byrd.
Northwest Escambia won the Little League Section 1 championship last weekend in Tallahassee, sweeping two games from Tallahassee Chaires Little Leage, 16-1 and 8-2.
Members of the NWE 11-12 year old All-Stars are: Savanna Roux, Peighton Dortch, Courtney Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Kendal Cobb, Mallory Ryan, Kristin Byrd and Natalie Goetter. The team is managed by Jerry Mason, and coached by Ronald Peebles and Eddie Ryan.
Pictured: The Northwest Escambia All-Stars 11-12 softball team after last Saturday’s sectional win in Tallahassee. File photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Cheerleaders Win Top Honors
July 21, 2010
The Escambia Academy varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders recently won top honors at the Universal Cheerleaders Association camp in Montgomery.
The varsity cheerleaders were named the Alabama Independent School Association state champions for small varsity squads, and the junior varsity cheerleaders were named as runner-ups for the AISA in the small squad junior varsity division.
The varsity squad won first place in Home Pom and Cheer, second place in Extreme Routine. They also received a Leadership Award.
The EA junior varsity cheerleaders were runner-ups in Home Pom and Extreme Routine.
Nycole Thompson and Niki Bryan were named UCA All-American Varsity Cheerleaders. They will have the opportunity to dance in the New Year’s Day parade in London, England.
Natalie Lassiter and Anna Catherine Sasser were named UCA All-American JV Cheerleaders. They will have the opportunity to march in the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade in Orlando this fall.
Bailey Vaughn was named an AISA All-Star; she will cheer at the AISA All-Star football and basketball games.
Escambia Academy also had three girls recognized for their leadership through the Pin It Forward Program that exemplifies why America needs cheerleaders. They were Amber Huskey, Page Lancaster and Anna Catherine Sasser.
Members of the Escambia Academy varsity squad are: captain Rachel Fuller, co-captain Bailey Vaughn, Amber Huskey, Samantha Lee, Nycole Thompson, Niki Bryan, Caitlyn Bruley and Page Lancaster. JV squad members are: Sarah Weatherford, Claire Dawe, Jessica Glick, Sissy Jeter, Natalie Lassiter, Anna Catherine Sasser, Kricket White and Hannah Boothe.
Pictured top: The Escambia Academy varsity cheerleaders: (front, L-R) captain Rachel Fuller, co-captain Bailey Vaughn, (middle, L-R) Samantha Lee, Caitlyn Bruley, Amber Huskey, Niki Bryan, Page Lancaster,, Nycole Thompson, (back, L-R) Cyndi Vaughn, varsity cheer sponsor. Pictured inset: UCA All American Cheerleaders (L-R) Natalie Lassiter, Niki Bryan, Anna Catherine Sasser and Nycole Thompson. Pictured below: The Escambia Academy junior varsity cheerleaders: (front, L-R) Kricket White, Anna Catherine Sasser, (middle, L-R) Natalie Lassiter, Sarah Weatherford, (back, L-R) Jessica Glick, Claire Dawe, Sissy Jeter and Hannah Boothe. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore All-Stars Out Of State Tourney
July 20, 2010
The Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars are out of the 2010 Babe Ruth 13U Alabama State Tournament..
Atmore lost to the Theodore All-Starts 15-1 Monday afternoon.
Huntsville was leading Atmore 1-0 on Saturday when a rain delay forced the completion of the game on Sunday in Demopolis. Atmore came back for a 6-2 win. Also on Sunday, Atmore beat the West Alabama All-Stars 4-1.
The Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars team is comprised of players from both Atmore and the North Escambia areas: Tanner Smith, Coby Smith, Gage White, Brodie Amos, Billy Powell, Devontae Stephens, Trey Weeks, Tristan McAnally, Aaron McDonald, Dalton Daniel, Nate Smith, Trey McGhee, Coach Jody Dortch, Coach Tommy Smith and Manager Tim McAnally.
Pictured: Members of the 13-year old Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars are: (front L-R) Tanner Smith, Coby Smith, Gage White, Brodie Amos, Billy Powell, Devontae Stephens, (middle) Trey Weeks, Tristan McAnally, Aaron McDonald, Dalton Daniel, Nate Smith, Trey McGhee (back) Coach Jody Dortch, Coach Tommy Smith and Manager Tim McAnally. Submitted photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE All-Stars Win Sectionals, Headed To State
July 18, 2010
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars are now sectional champions and headed to state after sweeping both of their 11-12 year old Little League softball games Saturday in Tallahassee.
NWE beat Tallahassee Chaires Little League 16-1 and 8-2 in the double elimination tournament for the Florida Section 1 Championship. The Northwest Escambia girls will travel to the state tournament in Fort Myers next week.
In the first game, Mallory Ryan pitched all four innings with seven strike outs and no walks.
Scoring for NWE: Mallory Ryan: 2; Kyndall Hall: 2; Penny Banda: 1; Courtney Peebles: 2; Kendal Cobb: 2; Addy Lee: 3; Kristen Byrd: 2; Natalie Goetter: 1; Peighton Dortch: 1. RBIs for NWE: Mallory Ryan: 4; Kyndall Hall: 1; Courtney Peebles: 3; Kendal Cobb: 1; Addy Lee: 1.
In the second game, NWE and Chaires were tied 2-2 at the end of the sixth, and continued tied 2-2 at the end of the seventh. But NWE was able to score six runs in the top of the eighth for the 8-2 win.
Ryan pitched five innings with four strike outs and a walk. Courtney Peebles pitched three innings with one strike out and no walks.
Scoring for NWE: Kyndall Hall: 1; Courtney Peebles: 1; Kendal Cobb: 2; Addy Lee: 1; Kristen Byrd: 1; Natalie Goetter: 1; Savanna Roux: 1. RBIs for NWE: Kyndall Hall: 1;
Penny Banda: 1; Natalie Goetter: 1.
In the state championship series next week, NWE will play Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Friday at 6:30 p.m. All times listed are Eastern.
Members of the NWE 11-12 year old All-Stars are: Savanna Roux, Peighton Dortch, Courtney Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Kendal Cobb, Mallory Ryan, Kristin Byrd and Natalie Goetter. The team is managed by Jerry Mason, and coached by Ronald Peebles and Eddie Ryan.
Pictured top and bottom:The Northwest Escambia All-Starts 11-12 softball team after Saturday’s sectional win in Tallahassee. Pictured inset: Kendal Cobb plays for NWE. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kim Ryan, click to enlarge.
Atmore All-Stars In State Babe Ruth Tourney
July 17, 2010
The Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars will take part in the 2010 Alabama State 13-year old Babe Ruth Tournament beginning today in Demopolis.
The team is comprised of players from both Atmore and the North Escambia areas. The first game will have Atmore’s All-Stars facing Huntsville at the Demopolis Sportplex. The tournament continues through Tuesday.
Pictured: Members of the 13-year old Atmore Babe Ruth All-Stars are: (front L-R) Tanner Smith, Coby Smith, Gage White, Brodie Amos, Billy Powell, Devontae Stephens, (middle) Trey Weeks, Tristan McAnally, Aaron McDonald, Dalton Daniel, Nate Smith, Trey McGhee (back) Coach Jody Dortch, Coach Tommy Smith and Manager Tim McAnally. Submitted photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE All-Stars On The Road In Sectional Tourney
July 16, 2010
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars will be in action Saturday in the 11-12 year old Little League softball sectionals in Tallahassee.
NWE, the District 1 champions, will take on the District 20 champions, Chaires Little League, at Chaires-Capitola Park. Games in the double elimination tournament will be at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday. If a Sunday game is needed, the time will be determined following the final Saturday game.
Members of the NWE 11-12 year old All-Stars are: Savanna Roux, Peighton Dortch, Courtney Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Penny Banda, Addy Lee, Kendal Cobb, Mallory Ryan, Kristin Byrd and Natalie Goetter. The team is managed by Jerry Mason, and coached by Ronald Peebles and Eddie Ryan.
Pictured top: The Northwest Escambia All-Starts 11-12 softball team after their July 2 district championship win. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Molino’s Jarrett Parker Continues Kart Wins
July 14, 2010
Molino’s Jarrett Parker continues his winning ways in the world of kart racing, continuing to lead the points chase in both Alabama and Mississippi.
Parker won the Maxxis Mississippi State Dirt Series at the Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, Miss. Kart drivers from all over the Southeast competed for the first time ever on the quarter mile paperclip-shaped dirt track. In the Gold FH category, Parker qualified third and finished second, missing the win by just a fraction of a second.
In the Gold Animal Division, he qualified eighth and finished first. Parker fought back from a poor starting position. Going to the white flag, Parker made his move and passed the lead kart for the win.
During the Fourth of July weekend, Parker had poor qualifying positions but strong finishes. He said he was hard to find figure out the track and starting toward the back of the pack made it difficult for that much-wanted winning finish.
At the Georgia Karting Complex in Carnsville, Georgia, he qualified 11th and finished fourth in the Junior unrestricted division. In one race, he was involved in a serious crash, but managed to get the kart back together just in time.
Then at the Dawgwood Speedway in Chatsworth, Georgia, Parker moved a division to race in the senior pro classes in “The Summer Maxxis Melt Down”. He qualified poorly at 18 of 29, but finished with a respectable 8th place.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NEP All-Stars Headed To World Series
July 13, 2010
The Northeast Pensacola 13U All-Stars recently finished second in the Florida Dizzy Dean tournament. They have been invited to compete in the Dizzy Dean World Series in Jefferson, Georgia, beginning Friday.
“I am excited and feel honored to represent the Pensacola area in such a big tournament,” said Shadow Singleton, pitcher and catcher for NEP.
Pictured are: (front, L-R) Mitch Haigler, Casper Gaal, Ben Glodfelter, Jesse Yetzer, Austin Gardner, Brett Weeks, Jesse Gunter, (back, L-R) Coach Weeks, Kyle McLemore, Ashton Linton, Coach Haigler, Shadow Singleton, Dakota Singleton, Coach Brake. Photo courtesy Herman Allday for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.