Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League
November 19, 2009
The 1A Northview Chiefs will take on the 4A Tate Aggies at noon Saturday at Tate with proceeds benefiting the Miracle League.
The Miracle League of Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
The following is a NorthEscambia.com feature about the Miracle League from earlier this year.
Every game ends in a tie. Every player hits; every player scores. There are no strikeouts, no errors. Everybody wins.
Welcome to the Miracle League.
It’s a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons. With players from ages 3 to 63, there are 14 teams that play on the two fields at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
“Abigail rounds second! She looks good this year, all decked out and playing some ball,” announcer Crystal Martinez says during an afternoon game at the Miracle League. “Loooook at her go! She’s headed home! She scores! Yeah Abi!”
That’s just the way a Miracle League game goes — always.
The players are in wheelchairs and walkers. Some handicaps are mental, some are physical.
Joshua heads toward the batter’s box in his walker to take a swing at the ball with his “buddy”. Each player has a “buddy” assigned to them to help them hitch, catch, throw or run the field.
“Go Joshua!” Martinez announces. “Good job!”
In the end, the game between the Orioles and the Twins was tied, just as every game has ended in a tie for the past nine seasons. The stats for each of the 150 players will be the same at the end of the season — perfect.
“It’s a wonderful thing for these kids,” Martinez told NorthEscambia.com after the game. “It’s about them getting to play a sport that otherwise they could not play…it’s about the smiles. I love to say that they are all stars when I am announcing.”
“I think it is a great thing,” said Stephen Gruenwald of Pensacola. His son James, 5, plays Miracle League ball from his wheelchair. “He enjoys it very, very much. And he loves the people; the volunteers are one of the best things.”
Players and volunteers come from not just Pensacola, but Mobile, Crestview, Brewton and points in between. Everybody is a volunteer that participates with the Miracle League. The are paid only in smiles.
“It’s a beautiful thing. Everybody here does it for one reason” volunteer Larry Powell said, placing his hand over his heart. “It’s here, in your heart, for these kids.”
“We have a guy that was a Marine for 32 years,” Powell said. “He will sit on that field with the smallest child and help them. It really gets to you.”
Each of the two Pensacola Miracle League fields is made up of 180,000 pounds of rec ycled tires formed into tiles painted to match a regular field. It provides a softer landing spot for a hard fall, while still providing a good bounce for the hollow core ball that is also designed to lesson injury potential. There are two seasons at the park, spring and fall. The rubber surface gets too hot to play in the summer.
The Miracle League needs more volunteers to serve as buddies, work the concession booth, pickup trash and many more tasks around their area of the Nine Mile Road ballpark.
The public is always welcome and encouraged to cheer on the players.
“It’s a special place here,” Powell said. “Everyone should watch one of these games. It will touch you.”
For more information on Miracle League, or to volunteer, visit www.miracleleaguepensacola.org.
Pictured top: Abigail gets a high five after a base hit during a Miracle League game in Pensacola. Pictured top inset: James takes a swing: Pictured bottom inset: Headed for home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
No Playoffs: Northview, Tate Both Finish Third In District Football
November 17, 2009
Northview and Tate high schools both finished third in their districts for the 2009 football season. Only the top two teams in each district make the state playoffs.
District 1-1A
Northview (7-3, 6-2) finished behind Freeport (9-1, 8-0) and South Walton (7-1, 8-2). Northview’s only district losses this year were 14-6 to South Walton and 42-12 to Freeport.
Jay (2-6, 3-6) finished seventh in the district.
(team, district record, overall)
- Freeport 8-0, 9-1
- South Walton 7-1, 8-2
- Northview 6-2, 7-3
- Sneads 5-3, 5-5
- Vernon 3-5, 4-6
- Bozeman 3-5, 4-6
- Jay 2-6, 3-6
- Holmes County 2-6, 3-7
- Baker 0-8, 0-10
District 1-1A Playoffs:Blountstown (2-1A Runner-up) at Freeport (1-1A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Blountstown 27, Freeport 14
South Walton (1-1A Runner-up) at Liberty County (2-1A Champion)
This will be first time Liberty County and South Walton have played.
District 1-4A
Tate (7-3, 3-2) finished third in the district for the 2009 season behind Pine Forest (8-2, 5-0) and Pace (6-4, 4-1). Tate’s district losses were 28-14 to Pace and 49-21 to Pine Forest.
(team, district record, overall)
- Pine Forest 5-0, 8-2
- Pace 4-1, 6-4
- Tate 3-2 , 7-3
- Milton 2-3, 5-5
- Navarre 1-4, 3-7
- Escambia 0-5, 3-7
District 1-4A Playoffs:
Fort Walton Beach (2-4A Runner-up) at Pine Forest (1-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Pine Forest 35, Fort Walton Beach 0
Pace (1-4A Runner-up) at Niceville (2-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2009 regular season -Niceville 42, Pace 28
Tate’s Zach McCulley Signs With William And Mary
November 16, 2009
Tate High School senior Zach McCulley has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
McCulley gained national exposure this summer at the National Academic Perfect Game Showcase in New Hampshire. He was selected to the Top Prospect List after pitching three shutout innings, giving up just one hit while striking out six and featuring a fast ball clocked in the upper 80’s. Each player who attends this showcase must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
With a six-foot-five, 200 pound frame, this left handed pitcher and first baseman posted a 2-0 record last year for the Aggies including a win over rival Pace. He had a 7-0 record this summer for the Florida Longhorns, including a 2-0 record at the 18U World Wood Bat Championship Tournament in Marrietta, Georgia.
He maintains a 4.5 GPA and entertained offers from Brown, Davidson, Georgetown, Columbia, and all three service academies before settling on William and Mary. McCulley visited the campus earlier this year.
“The offer was the right place and the right time and I am relieved to have made my decision,” McCulley said.
William and Mary will play their most difficult schedule ever in 2010 with nine games against four teams that made the NCAA tournament, including defending national champion LSU.
Pictured top: Tate High senior Zach McCulley signs a National Letter of Intent with William & Mary. At Friday’s signing at Tate, McCulley was surrounded by his mother Susan (left), sister Kaitlin and father Kit. Submitted photo by Deeann Lee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Online Audio: Listen To Northview Vs. West Florida
November 16, 2009
Northview Chiefs fans can listen to Northview football games here on NorthEscambia.com — the official voice of the Northview High School Chiefs.
You can listen to each game online or even download the game to your MP3 player and take it with you.
The audio from Friday night’s game against West Florida should play automatically on this page. If it does not, click the play icon below.
To download the entire game (MP3 format) for your iPod or other MP3 player, click here..
In order to listen online, do not close this page or window. You can continue surfing the net while you listen by opening a new browser window. You can pause the audio or change the volume using the controls below the photo.
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© 2009 NorthEscambia.com
Northwest Escambia Midgets Fall To A&G In Playoff Game
November 15, 2009
The Northwest Escambia Midgets are lost to the Albritton & Gant (A&G) Rattlers 25-14 in Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance playoff action Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The Rattlers took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
NWE’s Dalton Daniels put the Eagles on the board with 25 yard touchdown run with just under four minutes in the half. A missed extra point and the Eagles narrowed the Rattlers’ lead to 7-6.
The Rattlers were in for another touchdown at the buzzer. The point after was no good, and A&G held a 13-6 lead at the half.
With less than 30 seconds to go in the third, A&G expanded their lead to 19-6.
A&G struck again with 2:32 in the game.
NWE answered with 2:02 to go with a Daulton Tullis TD. A good point after, and it was 25-14.
A&G gets a spot in the championship game next Saturday against Brent Blue.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
A total of 7,000 children ages 5 to 14 in 16 cities take part in youth tackle football and cheerleading in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance.
Picture above and below: Action from Northwest Escambia versus A&G Saturday in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Headed To National Championships
November 15, 2009
Both the Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders will have the chance to compete for a national title early next year in Orlando.
Both teams received national championship invitations following the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional Saturday at Tate High School.
Last year, the Ernest Ward Middle cheerleaders took second best in the nation. The Northview cheerleaders did not take part in last year’s competition.
Pictured above: The Northview High School cheerleaders Friday night in Pensacola. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders perform at an EWMS football game earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Skaggs Named To Navy-Marine Corp All-Time Football Team
November 15, 2009
A former North Escambia resident has been named to the All-Stadium Team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium.
John Skaggs, a 2000 graduate of Tate High School, was named to the specials teams of the All-Time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Team Saturday in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Naval Academy is holding a season-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, including honoring the 1959 Navy team that defeated William & Mary in the first game played at the stadium. Additionally, an all-time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium team is being selected with fans having an opportunity to nominate and vote for their favorite Navy players who have played at the stadium.
The all-time team will be revealed at halftime throughout the 2009 season.
Skaggs earned three varsity letters (2001, ‘02, ‘03) and was the punter on the 2003 Navy team that won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy and played in the Houston Bowl. Skaggs is the school record holder for single-season and career punting average. He averaged a school-record 44.8 yards per punt as a sophomore and his 41.4 average as a senior, ranking him fifth in school history. Skaggs’ career average of 42.5 yards per punt is almost two yards better than any other punter in school history. As a senior, Skaggs was selected to pay in the East-West Shrine Game and the Gridiron Classic All-Star Game. In 2001, Skaggs had 48 punts for 2,151 yards.
“It was an honor to just be considered for the stadium team,” Skaggs told NorthEscambia.com, “and it was definitely an honor to be chosen out of out of the people nominated.”
Skaggs was selected by fan balloting that was conducted on navysports.com (50 percent of the vote) and by a committee (50 percent of the vote) made up of Navy Sports Information Director Scott Strasemeier, Navy football historian Jack Clary, former Annapolis Capital Sports Editor and Navy beat writer Joe Gross, current Navy beat writer for the Annapolis Capital Bill Wagner, Navy broadcasters Bob Socci and Pete Medhurst and Navy football historian and former beat writer for the Washington Post Christian Swezey.
Skaggs and his wife Emily (Fillingim) Skaggs now reside in Panama City. They both have numerous relatives in the North Escambia area. Skaggs was honored during halftime of Saturday’s Navy win over Delaware.
Northview’s Winning Season Ends With Loss To West Florida
November 14, 2009
The Northview Chiefs finished their regular season Friday night at 7-3, a far cry from last year’s 2-8, and that makes first year Head Coach Sid Wheatley proud.
“Walk with your heads up, you won seven ballgames this year,” Wheatley told his Chiefs after their 14-17 loss to West Florida Tech. “I thought you played with tremendous effort.”
“I hate that it ended tonight the way that it did. The same group won two ballgames last year,” he said. “I’m so proud, so proud of what they have accomplished.”
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with nearly 200 photos, click here.
The West Florida Jaguars (4-6) jumped out to the lead with about two minutes to go in the first quarter with a 47-yard Kyle Faxlanger pass to Al Harris. With a good extra point from Luke Jackson, the Jags held a 7-0 lead with 1:56 remaining in the first quarter.
With two and a half minutes to go in the half, Northview tied the game with a 5-yard Brandon Sheets pass to Brad Lowery and a gook kick from Lowery. Headed into the locker rooms at the half, the game was tied 7-7 in Pensacola.
With 45 seconds to go in the third, the Jaguars managed a 28-yard field goal from Jackson to take a 10-0 lead.
A Lowery to La’Mikal Kyles handoff was good for a 4-yard touchdown with 6:02 in the third. Lowery’s kick was through the uprights, putting the Chiefs back in the lead 14-10 in fourth quarter.
But 1:15 to go in the in the game, a 31-yard pass from Faxlanger to Harris was good for a touchdown, capping a 70-yard drive. A good kick from Jackson put the Jags back on top 17-14.
“It was a hard fought ballgame; both teams played extremely hard,” Wheatley said. “We only gave up 17 points, and on most nights, that would be enough to win.”
Offensively, the Chiefs had 243 yards on 51 plays, almost evenly matched to West Florida’s 268 yards on 50 downs.
Roderick Woods had 10 carries for 62 yards for Northview, and Sheets was 8 for 13 for a touchdown and 85 yards.
The regular season is over for the Chiefs; they did not make the district playoffs. But the Chiefs will play again next Saturday, November 21, during a post-season North Escambia bowl game against Tate. The game kicks off at high noon at Pete Gindl Stadium.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with nearly 200 photos, click here.
Pictured above: Action from West Florida High versus Northview Friday night in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pcola Ice Flyers Beat Huntsville In OT
November 13, 2009
The Pensacola Ice Flyers pulled out a victory in overtime Thursday night, defeating the Huntsville Havoc 4-3 in Pensacola. Lorne Misita made his third goal count: a game-winner 20 seconds into the overtime period.
Rob Campbell started the scoring by fielding a pass from Chris Healey at 5:28 and putting the puck in the net a half second later. However, almost 15 minutes into the first period Huntsville countered when Martin Kubaliak scored on assists from Mike Carter and Justin Rohr.
The next two goals would be for Huntsville in the second period, when Mike MacDonald and Justin Rohr scored to make it 3-1 Huntsville. However, in the 19th minute, Lorne Misita started his hat trick by scoring a power play goal. Taylor Hustead and Chris Rebernik assisted on the play.
A little over 12 minutes into the third period, Lorne Misita tied the game at three with another power play goal that gave Monte and Karasiewicz assists.
Regulation ended with the score tied at three. Lorne Misita only needed 20 seconds of overtime to score his final goal and record a hat trick: a fantastic finish for an Ice Flyers game.
The Havoc will have a chance for revenge, as the Ice Flyers next game is on Saturday in Huntsville. Fans can follow the action via webcast on www.b2tv.com. The Ice Flyers next home game is scheduled for Friday, November 27. Tickets are available now at ticketmaster.com and the Civic Center Box Office. Groups of ten or more can get special pricing; call the Ice Flyers at (850) 466-3111 for more information.
Northwest Escambia Mite Cheerleaders Place In Competition
November 12, 2009
The Northwest Escambia Mite cheerleaders recently competed in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance 2009 Cheerleading Competition in Navarre. NWE placed third out of six teams in the small non-mount category.
The competition consisted of one cheer, one chant and a dance routine
Pictured left: (front L-R) Kayla Turner; Memory Peebles; Danielle Stucky; Reagan Harrel; Madison Sherhouse; (middle row) Kylie Brook, cheer captain; Ann Margaret Boothe; Gabby Peebles; (back row) Jennifer Peebles, coach; Ashleigh Skaggs, assistant coach; and Morgan Ward, choreographer. Not pictured: Matt Brock, who mixed the music for the dance routine. Pictured below: The Northwest Escambia Mite cheerleaders perform in Navarre. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
