Niceville, FWB enjoy record-setting day at Ram Relays

From staff reports

Niceville once again ruled the roost at the Ram Relays in Panama City.

Donovan Woodberry, Stephen Haynes, Roy Finch and Kody Williams set new meet records in both their 4x100 relay (42.62) and the 4x200 relay (1:30.8) to power the Eagles to first-place team finish for the second consecutive year, while the Niceville girls' finished second on the day.

"It was a real good day today," Niceville coach Sherman Eller said.

Fort Walton Beach also had a record-breaking day, snapping five school records at the meet in the boys 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley relays as well as in girls distance medley and 4x200 relays.

Niceville edged Fort Walton Beach 103-94 on the boys' side thanks in large part to its own strong performances in the relays. Along with the pair of first-place finishes in the 4x100 and 4x200 events, Bobby Kressin, Jeremy Burke, Cody Skarupa and Michael Cooley won the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:26.86.

In individual competition, Christian Ritacco set a new meet record in the 3200 meter run, turning in a time of 10:02.92 to eclipse former Niceville standout Loring Ross' old mark set last year.

Niceville's girls' 4x800 meter relay team of Lauren Eschbach, Laura Nelson, Abby McCool and Morgan Keel set a new meet record with a time of 10:08.74 as the Eagles finished second (81.5 points) to Port St. Joe (102.2) in team scoring.

For the Fort Walton Beach boys, the 4x400 team (Luc Lawrence, Kevin Bryant, Daniel Hughes and Matt Bevil) finished second with a 3:28.34, the 4x800 team (Lawrence, Bobby Graham, Jake Dearman and Bevil) finished first at 8:12.91 and the distance medley also produced a top finish at 11:50.73.

For the Viking girls, the 4x800 team (Iolani Scalon, Sarah deVaux, Jessie Niemiec and Erin Gallagher) finished third at 10:20.25 while the distance medley team finished first at 13:27.63 to give the Vikings a sweep in the event.

The Vikings also got first- and second-place finishes in 110 hurdles from No. 1 Deiontrez Mount (14.57) and No. 2 Dominique Smith (15.78).

The Vikings and Eagles both compete next at the Fort Walton Beach-hosted Viking Relays on March 21 starting at 10 a.m.

Girls team scores: 1. Port St. Joe, 102, 2. Niceville 81.5, 3. FWB 67.5, 4. South Walton 59.5, t5. Arnold, Mosley 38

4x800 meter relay: 1. Niceville (Lauren Eschbach, Laura Nelson, Abby McCool, Morgan Keel) 10:08.74, 3. FWB (Iolani Scalon, Sarah deVaux, Jessie Niemiec, Erin Gallagher) 10:20.25; Distance medley: 1. FWB 13:27.63, 2. Niceville; Sprint medley: 2. Niceville, 4:37.98, 3. FWB 4:38; 100 hurdles: 3. Rachel Klinger (N) 16.6; 3200 meter: 1. Lauren Nelson (N) 12:14.06, 3. Abby McCool (N) 12:50.76; Discus: 1. Kaitlin Davis (N) 127-01, 3. Morgan Mclaughlin (FWB) 95'2; Pole vault: 3. Grace Fuller (FWB) 8'; Shot put: 3. Morgan Mclaughlin (FWB) 30'.

Boys team scores: 1. Niceville (repeat from last year) 103, 2. FWB 94, 3. Rutherford 87, 4. Bay 54, 5. Mosley 39, 8. South Walton 21

4x800 meter relay: 1. FWB (Luc Lawrence, Bobby Graham, Jake Dearman, Matt Bevil) 8:12.91, 2. Niceville 8:16.01; Distance medley: 1. FWB 11:50.73, 3. Niceville, 11:14.58; 4x100 meter relay: 1. Niceville (Donovan Woodberry, Roy Finch, Kody Williams, Stephen Haynes) 42.62; 4x200 meter relay: 1. Niceville (Woodberry, Finch, Williams, Haynes) 1:30.8, 3. FWB (Kevin Bryant, Joe Lofton, Curtis Dumas, Shaun Lynn) 1:33.53; 4x400 meter relay: 1. Niceville (Bobby Kressin, Jeremy Burke, Cody Skarupa, Michael Cooley) 3:26.86, 2. FWB (Luc Lawrence, Kevin Bryant, Daniel Hughes, Matt Bevil) 3:28.34; 3200: 3. Ben Chastain (FWB) 10:19; Long jump: 2. Shaun Lynn (FWB) 20'11 3/4, 3. Kody Williams (N) 20'3; Discus: 1. Charlie Tidwell (N) 150-05; 110 hurdles: 1. Deiontrez Mount (FWB) 14.59, 2. Dominique Smith (FWB) 15.78; Triple jump: 2. Shaun Lynn (FWB) 40'10.

Baseball

l Jay 9, Freeport 1: Freeport gave up eight runs in the fourth inning en route to the District 1-2A loss Friday on the road.

Cole Weeks picked up the loss for Freeport (3-3, 1-1), which plays at Ponce de Leon on Monday.

Freeport   000 010 0 - 1 3 5

Jay            001 800 x - 9 7 1

WP: Simpson; LP: Cole Weeks

l Pensacola Catholic 10, Walton 0: Walton managed just two hits in a lop-sided loss to unbeaten Pensacola Catholic on Friday. The Braves (3-3, 0-1 District 1-3A) travel to Jay on Monday.

Walton  000 000 -    0  2 1

PC         301 060 - 10 10 2

WP: Thompson; LP: James Towery

l Navarre 7, Milton 4: Navarre moved to 3-2 in District 1-4A play with a win over Milton Thursday. Matt Brewer went 2-for-4 with a homerun, two runs scored and two RBIs while Alex Grigsby and David Rahmes drove in a run apiece.

The Raiders (6-4, 3-2 District 1-4A) play in the Crestview Tournament on Tuesday.

Milton    101 000 2 - 4 5 1

Navarre 100 006 x - 7 8 2

WP: Brenna Coe; LP: Brandon Allen

Softball

l Gulf Breeze 6, Navarre 1: Gulf Breeze rode a five-run fifth inning to a win over Navarre on Friday. The Raiders (4-7, 3-4 District 1-4A) travel to West Florida Tech on Tuesday.

GB         000 051 - 5 2 1

Navarre 000 001 - 1 3 3

WP: Milam; LP: Bri Risner