Pensacola Pelicans Preserve Division Lead With 6-3 Win Over El Paso
August 24, 2009
The Pelicans picked up a much needed win on Sunday night, defeating the Diablos 6-3. On a night that saw the Captains and Air Hogs earn victories as well, the Pelicans earned the win they needed to remain three games ahead of Shreveport-Bossier, and three and a half games up on Grand Prairie. The Pelicans’ magic number is now four as seven games remain in the regular season. Avoiding a sweep in the final game of the series, Pensacola had to fend off multiple El Paso attacks.
The Pelicans took an early two-run lead in the first inning. Francisco Leandro doubled and Kevin Reynolds hit him in and then stole second, scoring himself on a Chase Burch single. Yet the Diablos answered right back in the top of the second with two runs of their own.
Jeff Vincent continued to foil Pelicans’ starter Randy Beam: after recording the lone knock in Beam’s one-hitter during July, Vincent started off the second inning in this game with a solo home run. After Jerry Verastegui grounded out, Eddy Rodriguez went yard as well, and the game was tied.
Pensacola scored a run in the bottom of the fifth in their gritty style: Jason Diaz singled, stole second, and Kevin Reynolds drove him in. Diaz would end the evening with a single in each of his three plate appearances.
El Paso rallied to tie it in the very next frame, leading off the top of the sixth with an Hector Bernal double. Randy Beam would leave the game in the inning, finishing with five and a third innings pitched, allowing three runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out six. The third run scored when Juan Camacho singled off new pitcher Francisco Butto, advancing Bernal to the dish.
Butto would keep the Diablos shut down for the next few innings, leaving after recording the final out of the eighth. His only blemishes were three hits, which he overshadowed with four strikeouts.
The Pelicans provided Butto with run support in the bottom of the sixth. Antoin Gray singled, moved to second on a groundout, third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Marcos Rodriguez base hit.
An inning later Pensacola added insurance when Jason Diaz recorded his final hit to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Francisco Leandro put down his second sacrifice bunt to advance Diaz to second base, and Marshall McDougall provided a timely to hit to bring him home. After McDougall recorded his first steal in a Pelicans uniform, Antoin Gray doubled to drive McDougall in, and the Pelicans had the 6-3 lead that would go final.
Hunter Davis pitched the ninth inning, giving up a leadoff single, but after inducing a popup to third base and a 6-4-3 double play, the ballgame was over and Davis earned his twenty-first save.
Diaz went 3-3, scoring twice, and Reynolds ended the evening 2-4 driving in two. Gray and Rodriguez each went 2-4, driving in one; Gray hit a double.
The Pelicans travel overnight to Fort Worth where they start a three game series on Monday. The Pelicans will throw Aaron Jackson against Fort Worth’s Ryan Riddle. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and all the action can be heard on NewsRadio 1620 and online via SportsJuice.com.
Pensacola Sweeps El Paso with 11-7 Win
August 17, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans are rolling, topping the Diablos 11-7 on Sunday night to complete a series sweep. Ron Hill earned the win in Pensacola’s fourth straight, their nineteenth win in their last 26 games. The W, coupled with a Captains’ loss, extends the Pelicans lead in first place to 4.5 games.
The Pelicans came from behind again Sunday evening, watching as the Diablos put up four runs in two innings against Pelicans’ starter Adam Brandenburg. Kennard Bibbs walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. David Washington walked, and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Alvarez reached on an error by the third baseman, and Bibbs scored on the play. Even though Juan Camacho grounded into a double play, Washington scored from the third, and the Diablos were up by two.
El Paso added to their total with two more in the bottom of the second. Eddy Rodriguez singled and Bobby Andrews did too. Bibbs walked to load the bases, and David Washington walked to force in a run. With the bases still loaded Juan Camacho walked as well, giving the Diablos a 4-0 lead. Brandenburg struck out Mike Provencher to end the inning, but that would be the last batter he faced, lasting two innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits, walking five and striking out three.
The Pelicans earned a run an inning from the third through the fifth. Adam Deleo singled to start the third, moved to second on a Dallas Christison bunt-single, and made it to third base on Francisco Leandro’s base hit. Antoin Gray lifted a sacrifice fly to right field for his seventieth RBI of the year, plating Deleo.
In the fourth inning Marcos Rodriguez led off with a single, advanced to second on Adam Darby’s bunt-single, and came home when Deleo hit him in. An inning later the Pels scored again when Leandro started the inning with a walk. He moved to second on a groundout by Marshall McDougall, and came home on Marcos Rodriguez’s base knock. The Pels had made it a one-run game.
Bubba Nelson pitched for the Pelicans from the third through the sixth. Nelson was brilliant, allowing no hits, walking four and striking out four. Ron Hill pitched the seventh and eighth, yielding just two hits while striking out three. Hill was on the line for the win when the Pelicans scored five in the top of the eighth.
Joe Klein relieved El Paso’s Justin Mallett, allowing a leadoff single to Chase Burch. Adam Darby followed him with a single, and Adam Deleo made his third hit of the night a big one: Deleo connected for a two-RBI triple to score Burch and Darby, and the Pelicans had the lead. Pensacola added insurance by scoring Deleo on a Dallas Christison sacrifice fly. Reynolds singled, Leandro walked, and Antoin Gray had a double that scored both men, giving the Pelicans an 8-4 lead.
The Pelicans added three more runs in the top of the ninth against El Paso’s Mike Cervera. Adam Darby notched his fourth hit of the night, and Dallas Christison reached on an error by the third baseman. Kevin Reynolds made it to first on an error by the shortstop, and both Darby and Christison scored on the play. Reynolds would score the Pelicans’ last run when the pitcher made an error throwing to first on a Leandro comebacker. The Pelicans led by seven to enter the last of the ninth.
Hunter Davis came in for the ninth, and added a little excitement. David Washington singled to start, and with one out, Camacho doubled to score Washington. Provencher followed with a single to plate Camacho, and Jeff Vincent walked. Eddy Rodriguez reached on an error by the second baseman to load the bases, bringing Jerry Verastegui to the plate. He walked and Provencher scored. With one out, Andrews came to the plate as the tying run. Davis struck him out, and the game was up to Kennard Bibbs. Bibbs popped up to the second baseman, and the ballgame was over.
The Pelicans head to Shreveport four and a half games ahead in first place, five games up on the Captains. The Pelicans start the three-game series on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Central Time.
Sid Wheatley Named New Northview High School Head Football Coach
August 14, 2009
Call him the chief of the Chiefs — Sid Wheatley has officially been named the new Northview High School head football coach.
Wheatley was named interim head coach after Cody Keene resigned in mid-July to accept a coaching job at Hooper Academy in Montgomery. Wheatley was hired as the head football coach this week.
“I’m excited about it,” Wheatley said from his new office Thursday afternoon. “We have a good group of kids, and a good group of seniors. We are working out now, and they look good.”
After four years as an assistant coach, Wheatley said he knows the players and they know him from working together. That allowed him to hit the ground running when he took over as interim head coach.
On the defensive side, Wheatley plans to stick with a 4-3 scheme and push for focus on the ball.
“We’ve got to have 11 guys swarm the football,” he said.
On the offensive side — that one he is keeping to himself, other than to say he plans to throw in a “few wrinkles”.
“We’re working on ball control and wearing down the offense.”
The Chiefs are a classification lower this year, having dropped into Class 2A District 1 with Jay, Baker, Vernon, Sneeds, Freeport, Holmes County, South Walton and Bozeman.
“We are excited about the new class; it will bring a lot of excitement,” Wheatley said. “It is going to be a very competitive district. We are going to work and put ourselves were we want to be.”
There are 20 seniors on this year’s lineup, and Wheatley said those seniors have already been instrumental in providing leadership and motivation for the entire team. Seniors to watch, he said, include John Sellars, Anthony Pierce, Brian Knight and Austin Cooper.
Chris Sheets and Dustin Yuhasz are two others to watch this year, he said.
The new coach said that in the quarterback position, “we have two that are battling it out right now” — senior Brad Lowery and sophomore Brandon Sheets.
“It’s going to be a good year,” Wheatley said.
“We are going to go all the way; we look forward to the playoffs” Principal Gayle Weaver said. “Coach Wheatley was a good choice. He represents the school well, both on and off the field.”
Wheatley was selected for the head coaching job by a selection committee. He had served as Keene’s assistant coach since the 2005 season, most recently coaching the offensive line and defensive backs last season.
Wheatley has served as Northview’s baseball coach since 2005, and he also teaches history at the school. Wheatley attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he received a Bachelor’s degree in coaching and sports administration.
This is not the first time Wheatley has served as a head football coach — he led Loyd Star High School in Brookhaven, Miss. from 2002 to 2003. He’s also served as an assistant football coach at various other schools in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.
Tate Grad Jayce Boyd Picks FSU Over MLB
August 14, 2009
Tate High grade Jayce Boyd is heading to Florida State. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers during the Major League Baseball draft, but he decided to play college ball before heading to the majors.
Boyd, a former Aggie third baseman, was chosen in June in the 19th round of the MLB amateur draft. He was expected to be picked in the first five rounds, but fell over concerns that he wanted too high of salary. His asking price was reportedly equal to a full scholarship to FSU where he is already signed to play next year.
Northview Quarterback Club Holds Dinner For Football Players, Cheerleaders
August 12, 2009
The Northview High School Quarterback Club held an appreciation dinner for the school’s football players and cheerleaders Tuesday night.
Joey McCall, NHS Quarterback Club president, told the players and cheerleaders that the Quarterback Club will stand behind them this year. He wished them the best of luck, and encouraged them to be good representatives of themselves, their families, their school and their community.
The football players and cheerleaders were served hot dogs and homemade ice cream to top off the evening.
Northview’s football season gets underway on September 4 with a home game against Graceville.
For more photos from Tuesday night’s appreciation dinner, click here.
Pictured top: James Shook (left) and John Sellars at the Northview High School Quarterback Club appreciation dinner for the school’s football players and cheerleaders Tuesday night. Pictured below: Cheerleaders Sarah Killam (left) and Ande Gideons at the dinner. Submitted photos by Heather Leonard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Crash Air Hogs 11-10 in Eleven Innings; Pels Extends Lead in First Place to Three Games
August 11, 2009
he Pelicans won an improbable game on Monday night, topping the Air Hogs 11-10 in 11 innings Monday night. Even though Grand Prairie led by three in the bottom of the ninth, and in the bottom of the eleventh, Pensacola still rallied to overcome the deficits and pull out the victory. The Air Hogs went through seven pitchers in their third straight loss to the Pelicans. With the win, Pensacola increases their lead atop the American Association South Division to three games.
The Air Hogs took a four-nothing lead in the very first inning, three of which came on Chad Gabriel’s sixth home run of the year. The Pelicans started chipping away at the Air Hogs’ lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Chase Burch walked with one out and Darby followed with a walk of his own. Dallas Christison singled to drive in Burch, and Palmisano hit a base hit to drive in Darby and the Pelicans cut the Air Hogs’ lead in half. The Pelicans pulled within one run an inning later.
With one out, Antoin Gray walked. After a groundout advanced Gray to second base, Gray scored when Burch hit an infield single to the shortstop. The Pelicans trailed the Air Hogs by one from the bottom of the third until the top of the seventh.
In the seventh, the Air Hogs added three more runs to their total by plating Tucker, Dziomba, and Garza. Mike Conroy drove in two of them with a one-out single, and the game seemed over.
Key word: “seemed”. The Pelicans added a run in the bottom of the eighth when Dallas Christison doubled. He scored when Lou Palmisano drove him in with a base-hit. The Pelicans rallied to tie the game in bottom of the ninth, scoring their first run of the frame when Francisco Leandro singled and stole second, coming home on an Antoin Gray base knock. Rodriguez walked to follow, and Chase Burch hit a RBI single to bring Gray in. Dallas Christison grounded out to the shortstop, but Rodriguez came home on the play and the Pelicans had tied the game at seven to force extras.
In the eleventh inning the Air Hogs rallied for three runs, one coming in on a bases-loaded single by Chad Gabriel, and two more coming home when J.B. Tucker doubled. Things looked grim for Pensacola, but the Pelicans had overcome larger deficits against Grand Prairie: on May 29 of this year Pensacola rallied back from a four-run Air Hogs’ tenth to score five runs and win 10-9. History would repeat itself tonight.
After the Pelicans’ first two batters were retired to start the bottom of the eleventh, Pensacola started scoring. Adam Darby singled. Dallas Christison walked. Lou Palmisano walked to load the bases, and Lou Huggins delivered a two RBI single to left. Trailing by one, Kevin Reynolds hit an infield single to the shortstop that brought Palmisano home from third to tie the game. After Francisco Leandro walked, Antoin Gray lifted a trouble-ball to shallow left. The Grand Prairie shortstop couldn’t secure the ball, and as the sphere hit the turf, Huggins touched home plate and the Pelicans won 11-10.
Tyler Wilson earned win, improving to 4-1, while Jose Cordero was hit with the loss. The Pelicans started Dane DeValk, but after six innings, six (earned) runs, eight hits, three walks, and a strikeout, Ron Hill relieved him. Hill pitched through the end of the ninth, allowing one earned run on five hits, walking one and striking out two. Tyler Wilson pitched the tenth and eleventh innings, yielding three runs on four hits with a pair of both strikeouts and walks.
Leandro, Burch, and Christison all went 2-5, with Burch and Christison picking up two RBI and Leandro stealing two bases. Lee Huggins made his debut for the Pelicans, but not his debut at Pelican Park: the 2009 UWF Argonaut went 1-4 with two RBI, scoring the game-winning run on his Alma Mater Terra Firma.
The Pelicans and Air Hogs resume their series tomorrow, playing the middle match of this three-game set at 6:35 p.m.
Molino Duo Win Pensacola’s Outcast Mega Shark Tournament
August 10, 2009
A Molino duo claimed the top spot in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola.
Anthony Adams and Jeff Jordan reeled in a massive hammerhead shark weighing in at 399.4 pounds aboard Adam’s boat “My Amy”. The hammerhead was tops in the hammerhead divison of the fourth annual tournament at Palafox Pier, and it made My Amy the top small boat.
The almost 400-pound hammerhead was also large enough to give the Molino men the biggest overall shark in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament by about 150 pounds. The second place finishers, Matt Bosler and Mark Bosler pulled in a bull shark at 246.6 pounds. The Bosler brothers were last year’s overall winners.
Funds raised in the shark tournament benefit the United Cerebral Palsey Foundation.
Pictured top: Jeff Jordan (left) and Anthony Adams won the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola with this 399.4 pound hammerhead shark. Pictured inset and below: More photos of the winning shark. Submitted photos by Deni Deron for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cats Scratch Pelicans; Pels Remain In First Place
August 10, 2009
The Fort Worth Cats salvaged a game in this three game series with the Pelicans, topping Pensacola 10-3. The Cats used a three run second inning to drive Pensacola’s starter Ulysses Roque from the game in his first start of the year.
John Allen led off the top of the second with a double, scoring when Kelley Gulledge singled. Both Gulledge and Matt Combs scored as well when Brian Fryer hit a double and the Cats jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
The Cats added another run in the third when Allen again led off with a double. He moved to third when Michael Bell flied out to right, and scored when Gulledge hit a sacrifice fly.
Another run came in for the Cats in the fifth inning, when John Allen walked, stole second, moved to third on Bell’s single, and scored when Gulledge hit into a double play.
The Pelicans tagged the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth on Adam Deleo’s first professional home run. The Pelicans wouldn’t score again until the ninth inning, watching as the Cats put up five runs in the eighth.
After Ulysses Roque pitched the first two innings, Bubba Nelson handled the Cats until the end of the fifth. Although Joey Wedner retired the Cats in order through innings six and seven, Fort Worth started hitting again in the eighth. Gulledge scored after reaching via walk. Garcia doubled, Combs did too, and Spenser Davis earned a base on balls. Fryer followed with a two RBI base hit, and Cameron Blair hit a RBI double. John Allen hit a RBI single, and after eight innings, the Cats led the Pelicans 10-1.
Pensacola rallied, but too late, in the bottom of the ninth. Against Cats’ closer Scott Vander Weg, the Pelicans put Antoin Gray on first with a single, and he moved to second when Marcos Rodriguez reached on an error by the shortstop. Chase Burch brought Gray in with a base knock, and Rodriguez scored when Dallas Christison doubled. The three Pelicans’ runs were no match for the Cats’ ten, and Joel Kirsten picked up his ninth win while Ulysses Roque was hit for the loss.
Roque lasted two innings allowing three runs on four hits, walking two batters and striking out one. Nelson pitched for nine outs, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks. Joey Wedner finished the game, yielding five runs (four earned) on six hits, walking one, and striking our four batters.
Dallas Christison went 2-4 with a RBI double, and Burch went 2-2 as well with a RBI. Adam Deleo went deep for the first time this year.
The Pelicans remain at home and will host the Grand Prairie Air Hogs for a three game set beginning Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Pelicans Win Four In A Row
August 9, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans extended their winning streak to four games with a 7-5 victory over the Fort Worth Cats Saturday night. Luis Guance hitting his first home run of the year and Lou Palmisano going deep solo proved the difference in the game.
The Cats started Nat Harris against Pensacola, who gave up four Pelicans’ runs in the bottom of the third. Kevin Reynolds led off with a walk and stole second and third. Francisco Leandro was hit by a pitch, and Antoin Gray followed with a double to score Reynolds. Marcos Rodriguez picked up an RBI with a base knock that plated Leandro, and Gray came home on a Chase Burch RBI single. Adam Darby reached on a fielder’s choice, but Rodriguez came home on the play and the Pelicans led 4-0 after three innings.
Fort Worth came back with a run in the top of the fourth, scoring Ryan Patterson after he doubled to start the frame. However, Pensacola got the run right back in the bottom of the inning, when Luis Guance went deep for the first time this year. The solo shot put the Pelicans back up by four.
The Cats rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth and tied the game at five apiece. Ryan Patterson singled; John Allen did as well, but was out at second when Michael Bell reached on a fielder’s choice. Kelley Gulledge hit a single that plated Patterson, Isa Garcia singled to bring Bell home, and Brian Fryer hit a double that brought two more runs in.
The Pelicans took the lead for good when Lou Palmisano hit his second dinger of the year, a mono-blast with one out. The Pelicans added another run in the bottom of the seventh when Leandro, who walked, made it to third on two groundouts and scored on an error by the third baseman that would have ended the inning.
Aaron Jackson started the game for Pensacola and went 5.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks. Tyler Wilson provided steady relief, allowing just two hits over eight outs, and striking out two while earning the win. Hunter Davis came on in the ninth and stung the Cats to pick up his nineteenth save, yielding only a walk.
Antoin Gray and Chase Burch each went 2-4, with Gray hitting the double. Guance and Palmisano both went deep, and Leandro walked three times going 0-1. Kevin Reynolds stole two bases on the evening, bringing his season total to nine.
The Pelicans will look for the sweep tomorrow as Ulysses Roque makes his first start of the year for Pensacola. He will counter Joel Kirsten with tomorrow’s first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Pensacola Pelicans Win Third Straight
August 8, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans extend their lead in first place to two games after defeating the Fort Worth Cats 8-3 on Friday night. Randy Beam earned his eighth win as the Pelicans led from the third inning on.
The Pelicans scored first in the incipient inning, bringing Kevin Reynolds home on a Marcos Rodriguez base hit. The Pels added another run in the inning when Antoin Gray came home on a fielder’s choice hit by Adam Darby.
Fort Worth tied it up in the top of the second. After John Allen walked, Michael Bell hit home run number 11 on the year to even the score at two.
The Cats actually went up by a run in the top of the third, bringing home Chuck Carter on a sacrifice fly.
The Pels added three more runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good. Marcos Rodriguez started the inning with a double, and moved to third when Chase Burch grounded out to second base. Adam Darby walked, and Dallas Christison picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice, scoring Rodriguez from third. After Lou Palmisano walked to load the bases, catcher’s interference put Luis Guance on first. That forced Darby home, Palmisano to second, and Christison to third. Reynolds followed with a sacrifice fly to score Dallas, and the Pelicans led 5-3.
Pensacola cemented the outcome with a three run sixth. Leandro led off with a single and stole second, coming home on a base knock by Marcos Rodriguez, his second of the night. Rodriguez stole second, and after Burch walked and Christison did the same, Palmisano hit a single that scored both Rodriguez and Burch.
The Pelicans bullpen handled things the rest of the way. Ron Hill allowed one hit while striking out three in the seventh and eighth, and Joey Wedner pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with a strikeout. The Pelicans’ starter, Randy Beam, went six innings allowing three earned runs on four hits, yielding two walks and striking out three.
At the plate, Lou Palmisano walked three times, and his only official at-bat was the two RBI single. Francisco Leandro went 3-3 with two stolen bases, two walks, and a run. Marcos Rodriguez went 3-4 with a double, two RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored.
The Pels and Cats play again on Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.