NICEVILLE – Magic had Kareem. M.J. had Scottie. Rice had Montana. Gehrig had Ruth. The hall-of-fame resumes of the aforementioned superstars were all bolstered by a partner in crime. On their own, each athlete represented the best and brightest of his sport. But pair them with a talented ally, and their careers reached another tier. For every Ricky Bobby there was typically a Cal Naughton Jr. to provide that 1-2, shake-and-bake punch (Who doesn’t like a good Hollywood reference?). Just the mention of that cinematic duo draws the laughs of Niceville juniors Thomas Howell and Nick Morken, two giants that stand tall individually in the long-distance prep running scene. But pair them together and, while it’s no doubt a stretch to put them in the company of the above all-time great athletes, you have another transcendent duo. Or as a Niceville tack and field assistant coach Sherman Eller likes to call them: Lightning in a bottle. “It’s me and Thomas,” said Morken, alluding to the fact that you can rarely mention one without the other soon to follow. And every nickname needs a catch phrase. “We like to say, “It’s business time.” Translation: When the race starts, there’s no relaxed attitude. Embracing every race like it’s their last, it’s first place or bust for the duo. That was certainly the case on May 3 at the 3A state cross country meet, where the duo put their stamp on the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. Howell, who earlier in the year captured the 3A state cross country title, blew away the 3,200-meter field for gold. Morken, meanwhile, moved from fourth to first down the final stretch in the 1,600-meter race, outkicking Belen Jesuit’s Avery Lopez in a stunning, five-hundredths-of-a-second comeback win to nab first place. Celebrations ensued. Dreams were realized. Two best friends had reached the pinnacle of their sport together, a fitting accomplishment considering they’ve been inseparable ever since taking the track as teenagers at Lewis Middle School. “Me and Nick have been working together for several years now,” Howell said. “We started in a small school at the bottom and now we’re literally state champions. We’re at the top. We worked hard for it and both of us have earned it.” But as much as their path’s have intertwined, they’ve also taken separate detours. Another feather in his cap Howell took command of the spotlight when he won the 3A cross country title last November, and he hasn’t given it up since. The 17-year-old earned a top-five appearance in the Daily News Top 10 Sports Stories of 2012 in December, was awarded the Daily News Male Cross Country Runner of the Year in January, and in February was named the Gatorade Florida Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. But even as the accolades piled up, Howell still had work left to do. A runner-up in the 3,200-meter as a sophomore, Howell had a gold medal to win. But he didn’t just win the two-mile race. Like Usain Bolt dominating a 100-meter run, it was a merciless, man-amongst-boys win. Just how impressive was it? While no description can do it justice, Howell at one point led the nearest runner by anywhere from 60 to 80 meters. But that was news to Howell, who never looked back to recognize what lay in the wake of his impressive sixth-lap kick. “At no point was I like, ‘I have this,’ or at least not until the final 100 meters,” Howell said. “I don’t look back because it throws off your stride, so the whole time I thought someone was on my heels and about to pass me. At no point in that race was I confident for a victory, even though I maybe had 60 meters on them. “If you look back, you’re inevitably going to slow down because you either get discouraged that they’re coming up on you or you’re going to get cocky because you think you have it locked up.” The lack of drama was in direct contrast to the 1,600-meter run for Morken, who earlier had the finish of the championship. “I don’t even know how to describe it. It was so much fun.” Morken still smiles at the mention of his .05 second win over Lopez, just one of three competitors that was passed by Morken in the final 200 meters of the mile race. “The final 200, I was like, ‘Just stay with him and I can outkick him,’ ” said the 17-year-old. “I couldn’t let him get away and I stayed on his shoulder until the last bit and I outleaned him.” The finish was so close that judges had to convene for a final decision, a decision typically more aligned with the sprints. While Howell, who also won state in the 1,500-meter run in middle school, had enjoyed his share of wins at state, district and regional champion Morken had yet to feel the warm embrace of state gold. A third-place finisher at cross country state, this was Morken’s moment. And he had done just enough, outleaning Lopez for his place atop the podium. Two medals, one award When Howell won the Daily news Male Cross Country Runner of the Award, it brought with it a mixed bag of emotions. He was thrilled over the honor, but also sad that Morken, the second fastest 5K runner in the Daily News’ coverage area, couldn’t share in the spotlight. Fast-forward fourth months, and Howell finally has Morken to bask in the greatness that comes with postseason awards. Sharing honors with Walton’s Terrell Campbell, who won the high jump at the 2A state competition, Howell and Morken were named the Daily News Male Track and Field Athletes of the Year. “It’s an honor,” Howell said. “It makes me proud that I can represent my community and the people who have supported me.” And about that Co-label on the front of the award, Howell was more than happy to share the accolade. “It’s nice that I can share it with my best friend,” Howell said. Added Morken of the honor, “It shows that all the hard work has paid off. This is just another accolade telling me of how far I can go.” So how far does he plan to go? Both he and Howell have lofty goals for the future, goals that are shaded in gold. Sky’s the limit In cross country, Howell has a title to defend and Morken figures to be the No. 1 contender to dethrone his best friend. While the duo plans on finishing first and second in some order, their focus lies more on the team. “We’re starting up the mileage again,” Morken said of the summer routine, “getting our teammates motivated so we can do really well in the state series. It’s not just us, not just us anymore. We’re going to bring the team with us this time.” Echoing that sentiment was Howell, who said, “We have a team now and they’re getting really good. As soon as they step up to the challenge, we’re going to be a really good team. We have a lot of expectations to live up to, and it’s a challenge and it requires more effort and more work from the team as a whole. But we’re a group that’s dedicated to putting in the time and work to get to that level.” As for aspirations on the track, those will be put on the backburner for now. But even as their focus shifts to the 5k runs, that doesn’t mean they haven’t thought about their title defenses next spring. And that doesn’t mean they haven’t thought about switching up their routines, routines that will likely collide in the mile and two-mile races. “Now that I have my title in track, I’ll probably make it a little more challenging next year,” Howell said. “I’ll maybe do the triple (jump), mile and two mile just to see what I can do. There’s no use to training as hard as I do if I’m not going for something bigger every year.” Morken, meanwhile, wouldn’t mind giving Howell a run for his money in the two mile. “I haven’t done that well in the two mile in track but I’d like to do it next year,” he said. “… I think that’d be fun.”

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS - Terrell Campbell loves a challenge. So when the 6-foot-3 senior showed up the Class 2A state championship track meet in late April and saw that his fellow competitors in the high jump had struggled, the Walton athlete that loves the big moment knew what he had to do. "Nobody was really stepping up and doing what they had to do to win," said Campbell, "so when it was my turn, I just put up a big jump and then watched." Campbell watched three competitors attempt to dethrone his best jump of six feet, four inches. When all three failed to do so, Campbell had earned the state championship in the high jump, the lone individual state title earned in Walton County this year. For his efforts, Campbell has been named a co-recipient of the Daily News Track and Field Athlete of the Year award, an honor he shares with Niceville distance runners Nick Morken and Thomas Howell. "It felt great," said Campbell. "That was a weird day. There were guys who had jumped that high all year and on the big stage, they couldn't do it. That gave me my opportunity and I took advantage." While Campbell was a district champion in the high jump this year, his state title was a bit of a surprise. In the Region 1-2A meet in Tallahassee, the Walton competitor placed fourth, barely meeting the minimum requirements to compete at state. But once qualified, Campbell dedicated himself to do whatever needed to bring home a medal. Even he didn't know that medal would be gold. "This was my last year, so I worked really hard," said Campbell, who finished seventh in the state as a junior. "I just wanted to make my last year count." It counted. Campbell's jump of six feet, four inches, though two inches short of his personal best, stood tall against a field of competitors from around the state that managed no better than six feet, two inches. For Campbell, who jumped second in the field of five finalists, the wait to see if his jump would hold was nerve-wracking. "I went second so I had to watch all these guys try to match me," said Campbell. "They kept hitting the bar or messing up on their runs. I wasn't expecting to win with that jump but when the last guy missed, it was an incredible feeling." Now finished with high school, Campbell's next step is college, where he hopes to continue his track career. With options like the University of North Florida and Troy, Campbell is still in the process of making his decision. "Wherever I go, I want to continue the high jump," said Campbell. "I just want to keep competing."

FORT WALTON BEACH - Shortly after Friday night’s spring football game between rivals Fort Walton Beach and Choctaw, Vikings’ coach Mike Owens summed up the night perfectly.

PHOTO GALLERY: View action photos >>

VIDEO: View a short clip from the game >>

“We’ve only been practicing for about two –and-a-half weeks,” said Owens, “so I guess the defenses are a little ahead of the offenses right now.” That was certainly the case Friday night. In the annual spring tussle between the two teams at Steve Riggs Stadium, both defenses took turns making big plays and neither offense mounted much of an attack as the Vikings and Indians battled to a scoreless tie in two quarters of varsity action. “Both defenses played well,” said Choctaw head coach Greg Thomas. “I was proud of our defense tonight. I thought they stood up and made plays. Offensively, we weren’t where we want to be but we were doing some things that we normally wouldn’t do. I was pleased with how tonight went.” The two teams combined for just seven first downs in the two quarters, while the Vikings collected 136 total yards of offense and Choctaw managed 22 yards. The only serious scoring threat of the game came courtesy of the Vikings, who used a 37-yard pass from quarterback Tiger Scheyd to wideout Ryan Cole to set up a drive that eventually led the Vikings to the Choctaw 16-yard line, but the Indians turned the Vikings away on fourth-and-short to end the scoring chance. Defensively, the Vikings pressure Choctaw QB Garrison Floyd all night, collecting four quarterback sacks, two by upcoming senior Brandon Japenga. Choctaw middle linebacker Thomas Forte countered with two sacks of his own, both coming on back-to-back plays to thwart FWB’s late scoring threat. “Both defenses really got after it,” said Owens. “This was about what I expected tonight. They’ve got a good team and I thought we played them pretty well tonight. Both teams have a lot to take from this one.” While the varsity action ended in a scoreless tie, Choctaw won the first two quarters 10-0 in a half that consisted of junior varsity and varsity backup players. The lone touchdown of the night came on the very first drive for Choctaw’s junior varsity squad, as quarterback Gavin Burns connected on a four-yard scoring strike with Gabriel Estes to put the Indians on the board. “The biggest thing we’ll get out of tonight is that now we’ve got something on tape to go back and look at,” said Thomas. “We’ll come back next week after looking at the film and we’ll be able to work on some things.”  

FORT WALTON BEACH - For the past two weeks, the football players and coaching staffs at Fort Walton Beach and Choctaw High Schools have been busy with spring practice. Day after day, the Vikings and Indians have endured drills, long practices and the everyday sameness of football practice. Tonight, the two teams can finally square off against a different opponent: each other. At 7 p.m. tonight, the two local teams will ramp up their preparations for the 2013 season by squaring off in their annual spring scrimmage, which will be held this year at Fort Walton Beach’s Steve Riggs Stadium. Regular admission applies for tonight’s game. “We’re definitely looking forward to it,” said Fort Walton Beach head coach Mike Owens. “We’ve got some holes to fill and as coaches, we will be looking for guys who will compete and who can handle game situations. It’ll be nice to judge that against another opponent.” The story is similar for Choctaw head coach Greg Thomas, who hopes to use tonight’s showcase as a way to continue developing talent. “We have a lot of kids out here and hopefully we can use a game like this to continue building depth,” said Thomas. “We will keep evaluating into the summer, but tonight we’ll get a look at our guys and make sure we have players in the right positions. We’ll be able to see who plays well against another opponent.” The two teams will hold their spring scrimmage on the same field that the 2012 season ended for both. In November, the Vikings earned a thrilling 38-31 win over the Indians, who had tied the game with 14 straight points in the game’s final five minutes. In the end, Fort Walton Beach’s record-setting quarterback, Blake James, found WR Marquese Davenport for the game-winning touchdown. Now, six months later, Davenport is back but James is not, as quarterback will be one position the Vikings staff looks at during tonight’s tussle. Senior Tiger Scheyd and junior Colby Tuthill will both get snaps in the varsity portion of tonight’s scrimmage. “This is a game where we just try to put our kids into certain situations and see how they respond,” said Owens. Tonight’s meeting will be the first spring game since Choctaw and Fort Walton Beach were moved into the new three-team District 2-6A. Instead of last year’s six-team district, the Indians and Vikings are now joined in the district by Navarre, while Niceville and Crestview have moved up to Class 7A. For Thomas, tonight’s game simply means a chance to line up against a new opponent. “Any time you get to play another team, it draws more excitement out of the kids than a normal practice,” said Thomas. “I know our kids are excited about this game and I believe Fort Walton’s kids are too.” SPRING FOOTBALL GAMES Tonight

6 p.m.: South Walton Green vs. White scrimmage

7 p.m.: Choctaw at Fort Walton Beach

Monday, May 20

6 p.m.: Walton at Freeport

Thursday, May 23

7 p.m.: Baker at Chipley

Friday, May 24 7 p.m.: Navarre at Crestview

7 p.m.: Jay at Rocky Bayou

Friday, May 31 7 p.m.: Tate at Niceville

SANTA ROSA BEACH - Two months after helping her team win its first state championship in school history, South Walton senior Kati Trejo was ready to have proof of that title. “I am so proud of the championship, I’ve just been waiting for something to show people,” said Trejo, South Walton’s starting center on a team that beat Chipley for the Class 1A State Championship. Now, Trejo and her teammates have that proof. On Tuesday, the members of the 2012-13 Class 1A state champion Seahawks were given their state championship rings at a ceremony held at South Walton High School. All 15 team members, two managers and two coaches received rings, including veteran head coach Kevin Craig. “I’m glad we were able to do it this way,” said South Walton head coach Kevin Craig, who earned the fourth state title of his career, and the first of his nine-year tenure at the Santa Rosa Beach school. “We were able to hand these rings out in front of our student body, which is appropriate because of how important our student body was during the playoff run. That home game against Ponce de Leon in the regional final was probably the best atmosphere I’ve ever been part of, and I’ve been doing this for a long time.” Craig, who won three state championships at Fort Walton Beach High, compared this year’s Seahawks to his 1994 state title-winning Vikings’ squad, saying “This team was just like that team in that these girls were very tough-minded. They never walked onto the court think-ing they might lose. That’s a special quality.” For senior Taylor Menard, the ring ceremony brought finality to the Seahawks’ championship season, a season that will leave an unfor-gettable legacy. “I guess it’s kind of legendary,” said Menard. “Our pictures and trophies will go up in this school and they will always be remembered. I am very proud of that. “I am a Seahawk, and I always will be.”  

There’s a moment in every great athlete’s career where that light switch flips. Simply being good is no longer tolerated. Mediocrity is abandoned. Greatness is embraced. For Fort Walton Beach junior Xavier Gibson, that moment came last year in the 2A state weightlifting tournament. Gibson had just finished fourth in the 139-pound weight class, a large accomplishment for most lifters. But for the now three-time state qualifier, it was a wake-up call. “I told myself, ‘I need to do better. I know I can do better,’ ” Gibson said. From that adversity emerged a stronger lifter, more devoted and more determined than ever to put his stamp on the weightlifting scene. “Ever since that day a light came on and he realized just how good he can be,” Fort Walton Beach head coach J.C. Cotton said. “He showed up to preseason practices early ready to work, and he really rallied the guys. He showed up early, left late and was the one that everyone looked up to.” Gibson, who Cotton says is essentially “one big muscle” in a tight 5-foot-4 frame, would also be the one his competitors would be looking up to. Well, at least when it came to the standings. From start to finish the 139-pound junior dominated, blazing a path of school records and medals in an undefeated campaign. But no medal meant more than the one Gibson garnered on April 19: State gold. Surpassing his 545-pound win at the district tournament, Gibson benched a school record 295-pounds en route to a personal-best 550-pound total to beat out the nearest competitor by 20 pounds. “We were waiting all year for someone to push  him, and I said that will happen at state,” Cotton said. “But as the lifts came in, we realized that push would never come. He was his only competition.” So what allowed Gibson to hold up to the pressure of being the prohibitive favorite at state? “He’s so mentally strong, nothing affects him,” Cotton said. “That whole state meet he was as calm as could be. But that’s him. He just never gets too high and he never gets too low.” But while that may be true, being told of his Daily News Boys Weightlifter of the Year award certainly brought him to a high. “Honestly, it’s just another example of how my hard work has paid off,” he said. “It feels great.” Only a junior, Gibson has his sights set on defending his crowns next season. And that means there will be little time off for the two-sport athlete, who will line up at running back for the Vikings in the fall before getting back to his intense workout regiment right after Christmas. “Hopefully he can stay healthy through football,” Cotton said. “From there we’ll assess where his weight and body fat’s at, and we’ll go from there. “Considering his biggest competition is himself, it’s just a matter of his focus. And I have no doubts about that.” ALL-AREA WEIGHTLIFTING

First Team

Xavier Gibson, FWB (139)

Thomas Forte, Choctaw (129)

Chris Bauduin, FWB (139)

Allen Anderson, FWB (183)

Denzel Applewhite, Niceville (183)

T.J. Woodberry, Navarre (139)

Jay Warren, Navarre (199) Honorable Mention

FWB: Gabe Deltoro (169), Antonio Marshall (154) and Ellis Warren (219)

Navarre: Marvin Darby (238), Kody Kelley (169)

Niceville: Terence Claybrone (219), Nick Haynes (heavyweight), Blake Henderson (139)

Baker: David Hargraves, Taylor Carlisle, Danny Thomas

With Crestview and Paxton bowing out of the state playoffs on Tuesday, the book was officially closed on the 2013 prep baseball season. And oh what a season it was. Aces commanded the strike zone and future Division-1 hitters lit up the basepaths. Win streaks stretched to double digits and walk-off wins became the norm. Rivalries were renewed and benchmark victories were produced. Simply put, Panhandle baseball was at its finest. So what subplots stood out during this memorable campaign? Crestview wins District 2-6A tournament No team in the area made as much postseason noise as the Bulldogs, who seemed to surprise at every juncture of the season. At the forefront of their success was a season sweep of county and District 2-6A rival Niceville. The dominance started on Feb. 26 with a 6-3 win on their home diamond over the Eagles. Then on March 8, the Bulldogs went into Niceville and won round two with a 9-5 victory. Proving the regular-season success was no fluke and shining in a must-win, win-or-go-home scenario, the Bulldogs ended the Eagles’ season with a 6-0 district semifinal victory, a win that marked just the second time all year Niceville had been shut out.

Paired with a 10-game win streak earlier in the season, the Bulldogs at that point were experiencing a dream run. But the storybook ending hadn’t been written just yet. Pitted against top-seeded Mosley in the district finals at home, a venue where they finished the season a dominant 16-2, the third-seeded Bulldogs didn’t shy away from the spotlight. Instead, with their playoff ticket securely punched, they embraced it with a 3-2 win. That set into motion a playoff run that began with a 1-0 victory over Tate, which put them in the region semifinals for the second time in three years. Bryan Baker brings in the scouts While Choctaw finished below .500 and failed to make it out of the district tournament first round, one bright spot emerged for the Indians in the form of Bryan Baker. Possessing a mid-90s fastball among a versatile arsenal of pitches, the 6-foot-7-inch, right-handed flamethrower dazzled night in and night out. Just a sampling of his success, Baker tossed a three-hit shutout against Milton, fanned eight in a two-hit gem against Crestview and tossed a perfect game in a 10-strikeout masterpiece against Godby. But perhaps no effort encapsulated his dominance more than his performance-of-a-lifetime outing on March 12, when he struck out a career-high and program-record 19 and allowed just one hit  against Fort Walton Beach. Beginning with a flawless first, the ace struck out the side in five of the seven frames and at one point struck out 12 straight. Only two outs recorded were of the non-strikeout variety, and only one ball reached the outfield that night. That dominant display is what drew the attendance of MLB scouts that night, and Baker looks to be a prospect to watch come the MLB draft in June. But while lauded in big-league circles, he’s got a good fall-back plan in the form of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Fort Walton Beach one win shy of state tourney appearance Talk to any fan of the Vikings this year and the one word used universally seemed to be “young.” And with only one senior on the roster, that proved true. So when the Vikings endured a 1-7 District 2-6A record, no one seemed to bat an eyelash. Despite a pair of heartbreaking losses to Niceville where they led and a one-run loss to Choctaw, the struggles were par for the course for a team experiencing a much-needed learning curve. That’s what made April 22’s district tournament opener that much more meaningful.

Fueled by a complete-game gem by Nick Boswell and three runs over the opening three frames, the fifth-seeded Vikings advanced past fourth-seeded Choctaw with a 3-1 win. That put the Vikings knocking on the doorstep of the state tournament, an inconceivable thought a month earlier, but Mosley lived up to their top-seeded moniker in a 7-0 victory. Niceville bounces back It’s hard to imagine that this year’s Eagles were just a season removed from a 10-16 campaign. While their season fell short of the state tournament, there was plenty to celebrate in Niceville. To wit: Under the direction of first-year head coach Joe Nedoroscik, the Eagles went 5-3 in regular-season district play to wrap up the no. 2 seed, won 13 straight at one point to work themselves into the top-10, and finished 20-5.

FORT WALTON BEACH - For the final time this school year, Fort Walton Beach High School held a ceremony Thursday where athletes signed to play collegiately.

View a photo gallery from the ceremony >> Three more Vikings made the leap in three sports, as FWB’s Zach Cresse signed to play football at Samford; Daily News Golfer of the Year Davis Bowyer inked with Montevallo; and Basketball Player of the Year Tyrone Culbreth followed through on his pledge to sign with Pensacola State College. “Today we’ve got three athletes signing who are all outstanding young men,” said Fort Walton Beach Athletic Director and football coach Mike Owens. “All three are qualified academically, which is important, and all three have what it takes to be successful at the next level.” Cresse, an All-Area performer at middle linebacker for the Vikings in his junior and senior campaigns, will take the field this fall for Sam-ford, a Division II school in Birmingham. “I liked the family atmosphere up there,” said Cresse, an honor student who will major in business with eventual plans to attend law school. “I’ve always wanted to play football and Samford has given me that chance. I really enjoyed the teammates I met up there and the coaches were very welcoming. I am excited.” According to Owens, Cresse possesses all the tools necessary to be successful in college football. “In my 30 years of coaching, this is one of the guys that is at the top of the list as far as being the total package,” said Owens. “He has a combination of athletic ability, brains and work ethic that really sets him apart.” Bowyer, a four-year letter-winner on Fort Walton’s Beach’s golf team, will also be headed to Birmingham, home of Division 2 golfing power Montevallo. “It’s a very good golf school,” said Vikings’ golf coach John Lavin. “Davis played for the first team we had that ever qualified for the state tournament as a freshman, and he’s been a constant for us ever since.” Like Cresse, Bowyer was sold on Montevallo as soon as he visited campus. “As soon as I walked onto the campus, I just knew this was the place for me,” said Bowyer. “My chemistry with the guys on the golf team was pretty good, and I think I will have a chance to compete for playing time early.” When speaking of Culbreth, Lavin, also the boys’ basketball coach at FWB, chose to speak of the person Culbreth is away from the court. “When I think of Ty, I think of the impact he’s had on this school, not just athletically,” said Lavin. “He’s a guy that always has an encour-aging word, he’s always positive. He’s always talking to everybody, always friendly…just a great influence on everyone he meets.” In his lone season at FWB, Culbreth averaged a double-double with 10.5 points and 12 rebounds per game. He also averaged eight assists and four steals every time out, catching the eye of Pensacola State head coach Pete Pena. “This is a good day for Fort Walton Beach but it’s a great day for Pensacola State basketball,” said Pena. “We are getting a heck of a basketball player but more importantly, we are getting a heck of a young man.”  

PAXTON - Heading into Tuesday night's Region 1-1A semifinal, Paxton head coach Jeff Bradley believed that Northview presented the biggest challenge of the season for his Bobcats. He was right. Northview took advantage of four Paxton errors and erupted for seven runs over the final two innings to earn an 8-3 win over the young Bobcats.

Northview (10-8) now advances to the region final against Holmes County, while Paxton's (19-2) season is complete. View a photo gallery from the game >> "They were just better than us tonight," said Bradley. "I knew if we didn't take care of business early and really jump on them, they would give us problems with their athleticism. And they did." Paxton, which won its seventh district championship in a row this season, looked in command early, as freshman starter Grant Stewart struck out eight over the first five innings to stake the Bobcats to a 3-1 lead. Catcher Kaleb Newborn doubled home a run to put Paxton on the board in the fourth, while a Dustin Geoghagen grounder and a single from Austin Carnley scored runs in the fifth for Paxton. Northview finally came to life in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs to chase Stewart, who opened the inning by hitting David Burkett with a pitch before Northview's Kevin Vaughn reached on a bunt single to end Stewart's day. Relief pitcher Geoghagen got the first man he faced,  but three hits and a pair of errors led to four Northview runs, the big blows coming when Chad Smith and Jason Freeman plated runs with singles. With a lead, Northview closed the door in the top of the seventh, touching Geoghagen for three more runs, all unearned. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bobcats went quietly and the Chiefs advanced. "I told my guys not to focus on what we didn't do tonight," said Bradley, "but instead focus on what we've done this season. These seniors have done so much for the program. These guys have never ended a season without a district championship, and that means something." On the night, Newborn singled and doubled for the Bobcats while Carnley, Stewart and Jesse Whitmire all collected singles.

CRESTVIEW – The Crestview Bulldogs have been here before. Two seasons ago, when this Crestview’s current seniors were sophomores, the Bulldogs took the field on the regional semifinal stage against Pace with a chance to advance to the Region 1-6A final. While the result of that night was a loss, that experience, according to Crestview head coach Tim Gillis, was invaluable. And now, two years later, with the bulk of its team now seniors, Crestview is back in the regional semifinal, this time with a 7 p.m. home game tonight against District 2-6A foe Mosley. “I think this is great for our team, our fans and our community,” said Gillis of his Bulldogs’ current postseason run. “Any time you get to this point of the season, you know you’re going to play a good team, and Mosley is definitely good. It just comes down to which team executes better.” With a trip to Saturday’s region finale at stake, Crestview (22-5) will host a Mosley (25-4) team that its already seen three times this season. While Mosley swept the regular-season series, the Bulldogs are just 10 days removed from a 3-2 home victory over the Dolphins to secure the district championship. Tonight, the two teams meet for a fourth time after Crestview advanced with a 1-0 victory over Tate and Mosley earned a 5-1 road victory over Pace. “There’s definitely a lot of familiarity with these two teams,” said Gillis. “We each know the other’s strengths and weaknesses, so there won’t be any surprises. We just have to play our game and limit any mistakes.” Mistakes have been few and far between for Crestview during its current run. The Bulldogs have won 15 of their last 16 games, and are 3-0 in the postseason. In those three games, Crestview has outscored its three opponents (Niceville, Mosley, Tate – by a score of 10-2. Bulldogs’ ace Roman Donofro, who will draw the start tonight, has thrown consecutive complete-game shutouts in wins over Niceville and Tate. Against Niceville Donofro fanned 11 and allowed three hits, while he struck out 10 more and yielded just five hits against Tate. Mosley enters the Region semifinal on the strength of being the top team in District 2-6A in the regular season. For Gillis and the Bulldogs, the excitement around the program has reached a fever pitch as the Bulldogs hope to advance to the Region Final for the first time since 2006. “I see the excitement and I think it’s a good thing,” said Gillis. “There’s a lot of excitement in the community, in the school…We embrace it, but we also know that we have a job to do.” First pitch for Crestview-Mosley is set for 7 p.m. in Crestview  

For a team that has won seven district championships in a row, it’s not surprising that Paxton’s baseball team is preparing for tonight’s Region 1-1A semifinal. After all, the Bobcats have appeared in the semifinal round in every season since 2006, and the Bobcats have advanced to the regional final in four of those seasons. But while the Bobcats winning another district championship is not a surprise, one fact remains: Few knew that Paxton would be this good, and that includes head coach Jeff Bradley. “This whole year has been awesome,” said Bradley, whose Bobcats have won 19 of 20 games en route to tonight’s region semifinal game against Northview. “After we graduated six seniors from last year’s team that went to the regional finals, we had to move a lot of guys around, had to call some guys up from JV. “But this has been an incredible season. You look at all the guys we lost and then we turn around and put up the best season, percentage-wise, we’ve ever had. This team has just found ways to win.” And if the Bobcats find a way to win tonight, they’ll be right back in the Region 1 final for the second-straight year. To do that, however, Paxton will have to get past a battle-tested Northview (10-8-1) squad that presents Paxton’s biggest challenge to date. “Their record might not be that great, but they’ve played a lot of good teams,” said Bradley. “They split with Holmes County, who was state runner-up last year. Northview is a big, athletic team that will be a lot bigger than us. They are coached up well and have several good pitchers. It will be a challenge.” For a Paxton group that’s hitting .402 as a team this season, tonight’s 7 p.m. playoff game is just a continuation of a recent tradition that grows every season. This year, the Bobcats rely on a balanced roster that’s getting on base at a .502 clip. “We feel good about where we’re at,” said Bradley, whose team hasn’t played since winning the district title 10 days ago. “Most years, I don’t like the 10-day layoff but this year, I think it has been good for us. It has allowed us to get healthy.” Freshman Grant Stewart will likely get the starting nod for Paxton (19-1). First pitch for Paxton and Northview is set for 7 p.m. tonight in Paxton.  

NICEVILLE – Stephanie Pridgen’s a seasoned vet. P.J. Shaw’s a freshman phenom. Pridgen is 18 years old and preparing for the independence that comes with college life. Shaw isn’t even old enough to drive, let alone watch a Rated-R movie. Pridgen is a Viking. Shaw is an Eagle. Pridgen is a brunette. Shaw is blond. Pridgen came in as a freshman as the No. 2 seed. Shaw didn’t even start the season on the tennis roster, let alone crack the top 5 as his talents were being utilized on the soccer pitch. Pridgen was the unquestioned No. 1 on her team and flourished in that role, going 6-2 in district play and not dropping an out-of-league match all year. Shaw didn’t assume that mantle until weeks into the season, and when he did he was still just a challenge match away from becoming dethroned. Asked to pinpoint her strengths, Pridgen highlights her serve and backhand. Asked the same question, Shaw highlights his discipline and mental fortitude. Pridgen is a born leader, sending out mass texts to teammates about practices and matches. Shaw’s leadership is less audible and measured more through his play on the court. Pridgen has no regrets from her four-year letter career. Shaw already regrets his effort in the opening-round match at state, questioning everything from his sleep the night before to his breakfast choice to his in-match strategy. Pridgen loves tennis but understands the future is her education, leading her to turn down a trip to a recent all-star tournament in favor of studying for seven Advanced Placement tests. Shaw, meanwhile, would never turn down a tennis tournament. And while a good student, his future plans currently are centered around cracking the 30 in the state and molding himself into a four-star recruit destined to play collegiate tennis and then possibly on the ATP World Tour. On paper, the two tennis players appear to be polar opposites. Well, almost. Uniting the duo is one very noteworthy attribute: They are both Daily News Tennis Players of the Year. Shaw, the playing-well-beyond-his-years freshman who was the only area player to advance individually to state after winning a district title, said, “It feels great. I worked hard for it and I’m still working hard to get even better.” For his coach, Chris Poate, the honor was validation of the freshman’s hard work and immense coachability. “He accomplished a lot,” said Poate, who was selected as the Daily News Tennis Coach of the Year. “He was probably one player that when we coaches talk to him, you just see it in his eyes that he’s soaking it all up. You don’t have to tell him twice for him to understand what it’s about. He just probes and probes and battles and battles.” That acumen for the game has Poate believing good things are in store next year and beyond for Shaw. “He has the potential to make some noise at state,” Poate said. “He came in as a freshman and got a taste for state, and after he lost we spent a lot of time watching some good matches, so he knows what he has to do to prepare. And really, aside from a week off maybe, he hasn’t taken a break since.” So what was Pridgen's reaction? The seasoned vet said, “It’s actually pretty awesome because we have some pretty good tennis players in our area, so to be considered the best means a lot.” For her coach, Brett Latham, Pridgen was a dime a dozen player that was the consummate pro in every manner of the game. “She was constantly working on her game, just a joy to coach,” said Latham, who also teaches Pridgen in AP macroeconomics. “If I could, I  would clone a whole team full of hers.” Boys First Team

P.J. Shaw, Niceville

Behrens Watkins, Niceville

Dezmon Fortenberry, FWB

Gibson Holahan, Niceville

James McAndrew, Choctaw

Grant Beattie, Niceville

Anil Cercer, FWB

Girls First Team

Stephanie Pridgen, FWB

Kendall Junker, Niceville

Foster Lux, Crestview

Maddie Hsiang, Niceville

Alex Hruby, Niceville

Jackie Hanners, Crestview

Christy Allen, Rocky Bayou Boys Honorable Mention

Niceville: Max Van Belkum,Nick Pizzolato, Luke Chaney

Fort Walton Beach: Kyle Oler, Tyler Barkley, Chase Pridgen

Crestview: Ryan Edwards, David Born, Will Moore Girls Honorable Mention

Niceville: Timea Kovacs, Monica Hsiang, Antonia Poate, Jessica Markowski

Fort Walton Beach: Stephanie Nguyen, Jessica Womack, Isabella Tommasone, Samantha Reynolds

Rocky Bayou: Casey Young, Mandi Petros, Mackenzie Davis

Crestview: Tiffany Ber

Niceville – So just how good of a coach is Chris Poate? So good, in fact, that even in the offseason the Niceville tennis coach makes time for his players. Just ask Daily News Boys Tennis Player of the year P.J. Shaw, who regularly calls up Poate for instruction. “The other day we drilled two or three hours, he and I,” Poate said. “I was exhausted.” Exhausted, yes, but it’s the extra mile Poate goes to ensure Niceville’s boys and girls tennis programs continue their ascent. And it’s that work ethic that has garnered Poate the Daily News Tennis Coach of the Year award, an accolade he’s more than earned after leading the boys program to the Region 1-3A semifinal round and the girls to a third-place district finish. And fittingly, it’s an award that he accepts with one clichéd caveat: It’s an honor to be shared. “I think it’s a big thing, but also a credit to the kids who responded to everything I asked,” Poate said. “Coaches can only do so much. It’s the players that play the game.” That’s true, but those players are much better off with Poate at the helm. So what makes Poate’s tutelage so valuable? It has something to do with his outside-the-box coaching methods, which focus as much on the mental aspects of the game as the physical. “Certainly we did certain things different,” he said. Like what? While not divulging too many of his secrets, even going far as to laugh when asked about his teaching methods and then proceed to hold firm on keeping things under wraps, he offers a glimpse. “We just really worked on the mindset, more on the mental aspects of the game,” Poate said. His methods earned the praise of Shaw, who said, “I think he did a good job with practices. There’s not much you can do with teaching basics to kids that already know the game. He helped with things you normally wouldn’t practice.” Of course there were speed, agility and hitting drills to go along with challenge matches that prepared the players for the physical tolls of competition. But those can only prepare a player so much. “We can’t be content to keep doing the same things,” Poate said of building a contender that can perennially make noise in the state tournament. “We can’t be content with the ceiling, we have to lift it and take that away to realize our full potential.” That potential presented itself in the boys’ 4-3 region quarterfinal win over Washington, which defeated the Eagles 5-2 in the same round the year before. The Eagles would later lose in the district semis to Leon, but Poate saw the shift in momentum for a program on the rise. “The momentum will absolutely carry over, no doubt,” Poate said. “The boys got a taste of it this year of just how close they are to breaking through.” While that’s also true for the girls, who narrowly missed out on a runner-up finish at districts, the boys are set up for success next year with the return of the entire team. Like this year, parity – represented by the constant shifts in the top seven all year long -- on the varsity squad looks to be a guiding force that will fuel the team’s success. “You want to know my favorite thing about this team?” Poate said. “They’d come to practice and ask, ‘Who do I have to beat? Give me a shot at this guy or that guy.’ Just the energy at practice, it was really infectious. They all accepted the parity. It almost reinvigorated everybody, and they responded.” And that therein lays the sign of a good coach.

Nick Morken’s kick came late. Thomas Howell’s came early. But while contrasting, their long-distance strategies yielded the same result in Friday’s 3A State Track and Field Championships in Jacksonville: Gold. As opposite as their kicks were in the rained-soaked windy conditions, the finishes to their respective races were even moreso. Morken’s 1600-meter event was climactic, the stuff of Hollywood films. The junior was in fourth headed into the final 200 meters. And then he dialed it up a notch. “I started passing third, second and then I was like ‘I got this.’ I have to go after it,” said Morken, who finished sixth in the same event at state last year. But one final obstacle remained: Belen Jesuit’s Avery Lopez. “Down the finish he was on the inside so I came up on his right,” said Morken.“I leaned harder than him and gave a fist pump.” “He absolutely took the race from the runner-up,” Niceville coach Tom Durrenberger said. But the fist pump was followed by a lengthy photo-finish review from the judges, who deemed that Morken’s time of four minutes and 23.79 seconds was .05 seconds better than Lopez’s. Asked to describe the feeling after hearing of his state championship win, Morken said “I felt as thought the hard work had paid off. I was so happy.” There by his side was Howell, Morken’s best friend, who said “I never screamed so loud in my life.” “I was so happy,” Howell said. The gauntlet of following that act laid before him, Howell knew what needed to be done. And Morken did, too. “I think that put a little pressure on him,” said Morken, who finished third at state cross country. “At that point I know he’s thinking, man if I walk away from this and he wins … that would be tough.” But as his fans, teammates and family have learned about him since his cross country state title, Howell doesn’t play second fiddle. Just ask the 3200-meter field, which watched the Florida Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year take command of the race in lap six of eight. “I wasn’t expecting the race to go out that slow,” said Howell, who finished runner-up in the same event last year. “But it did with the weather and all. So I sat behind the leaders. Then in the sixth lap I took off, and no one went with me.” From there he turned on the jets until the final 100 meters, where he coasted to a 9:34.67 first-place finish. Had he finished with the same urgency of his earlier kick, the nearly 6 seconds that separated him and Palmetto Ridge’s Carlos Miranda would have been near a 20-second gap. So how does this compare to the cross country title, which earned the junior the Daily News Cross Country Runner of the Year? “It’s similar in that I was not expecting to win,” said Howell, who in victory wanted to thank the tireless work and support from his parents, family, teammates, doctors and coaches. “I thought I didn’t have a chance. But this race wasn’t about who was the fastest. It was about who worked the hardest and wanted it the most.” As for what title meant more, Morken’s or his? That wasn’t up for debate. “I was happier for him winning than me winning,” Howell said. “He and I, we literally spend eight hours a day together. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be.” Countered Morken, “I just couldn’t be happier about us both winning.” The pair was also a part of the medal effort of the 4x800-meter relay team, which included Tripp Davis and Jack Massey, that finished in fifth with a time of 8:08.29. Fort Walton Beach’s Rudman racks up the medals From freshman phenom to diaper dandy, Emma Rudman can be called many things. And now you can add track state medalist to the list. After tasting the sweet victory of medaling in cross country, where she won two medals for finishing 10th individually and helping her Fort Walton Beach team to a program-best runner-up finish, Rudman wasn’t going to be denied Friday. And the freshman delivered not once but twice. “Coach Fields told me I should just relax and just have fun but I told him I can’t,” Rudman said. “I said I have goals and if I don’t meet them I’ll be disappointed.” But that disappointment would never come. Rudman placed sixth in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs, becoming the lone distance-running freshman in the field to medal in both events. “I was really satisfied,” said Rudman. “… I came here to medal.” But not without beating her body down with exhaustion, the type of exhaustion that comes with running two races spanning three miles in less than a 1-and-a-half-hour span. “When I finished, I about died,” Rudman said. “When I was running my mile, the wind was blowing hard and it was pouring rain. Then I had to run the two-mile. I could hardly stand up.” But moments after finishing with a 5:17.58 mile time, the two-time district champion had an 11:29:00 finish to add to her neckwear. Navarre’s Nick Benton medals twice Navarre’s Nick Benton, a senior who’s headed to Jacksonville University to play football, rounded out the banner day from local athletes with a pair of medals. Benton, who qualified second in the triple jump and third in the long jump to secure his spot in Jacksonville, placed third in the triple jump with a 42.04.50 feet finish and eighth in the long jump with a total of 21-11.00 feet.

Three days in, Spring football practice hasn’t been much different from the fall. With cool temperatures, windy conditions and persistent rain lingering in the area, all 10 area high school football teams hit the field on Wednesday and began spring football practice, a period that runs through the end of May.  

“It hasn’t been that bad,” said Fort Walton Beach head coach Mike Owens. “It’s just a little rain. We’ve had a lot of new guys out here for the first time this spring, so it looks a little disjointed at times, but overall, it has been good.”  

Spring practice is the last sanctioned sporting event of the school year and unofficially, it’s the lead-in to the first sport for next year. All 10 area teams will take part in spring games to conclude the practice period, with rivals Choctaw and Fort Walton Beach the first out of the gate with a game scheduled for Friday, May 17.  

Among other area large schools, Navarre will visit Crestview on May 24 while Niceville hosts Tate on May 31. This spring will be an adjustment for all five former District 2-6A teams, which will now compete in separate classifications. Navarre, Fort Walton Beach and Choctaw still comprise District 2-6A, while Crestview and Niceville are in a three-time Class 7A district with Tate.  

In the small-school ranks, county foes Freeport and Walton will meet on Monday, May 20 at Freeport.  

“It’s going good,” said Freeport head coach Jim Anderson, whose Bulldogs reached the Class 1A region semifinals in 2012. “It’s been a little wet but nice and cool. The kids are working hard.”  

Baker will visit Chipley on May 23, Rocky Bayou hosts Jay one night later and South Walton will stage an intra-squad scrimmage on May 20.

SPRING FOOTBALL GAMES

Friday, May 17

South Walton Green vs. White scrimmage

Choctaw at Fort Walton Beach

Monday, May 20

Walton at Freeport

Thursday, May 23

Baker at Chipley

Friday, May 24

Navarre at Crestview

Jay at Rocky Bayou

Friday, May 31

Tate at Niceville 

Choctawhatchee spring photos >>

Fort Walton Beach spring photos >>

Niceville -- Niceville High School held its final signing ceremony of the year on Wednesday, and a pair of Eagles put the finishing touches on a banner year at the school. Soccer player Kaitlyn Brown followed through on her pledge to sign with Oglethorpe College in suburban Atlanta, while golfer Harrison Krause officially signed his National Letter of Intent to play the next four years at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Miss. With their signings, Brown and Krause gave the Eagles a total of 38 athletes who have moved on to the next level during this school year. For Brown, who played all four years for head coach Michael Denton at Niceville and helped lead the Lady Eagles to the Region 1-6A final as a senior, the choice to go to Oglethorpe was about more than soccer. "I've visited the campus several times and it is a nice place," said Brown. "A team captain during her senior season, Brown plans to enter the United States Air Force as a pilot and will attend Oglethorpe under an Air Force ROTC scholarship as well as a Presidential Merit Scholarship from the university. She will graduate from Niceville Magna Cum Laude and is already an accomplished glider pilot. "Kaitlyn is a bright, dynamic player with a good first touch who is creative on the dribble," said Oglethorpe head coach Alan Woods. "We are so proud to have her as part of our program. Her educated runs and tenacious work ethic caught my eye, and that coupled with her academic prowess make her a great fit for our program." Krause, an all-area performer for Niceville's golf program, chose to head to William Carey in Hattiesburg after meeting the team's coaching staff. "They've got a great coach," said Krause. "Coach (Jeff) Mixon has a lot of experience and he has a master's degree in sports psychology, so he knows how to deal with us golfers. Hopefully I can go up there and work hard enough to start. I want to win championships there and hopefully further my career." Krause was a team captain for a Niceville team that finished second in District 2-6A his senior season, and he caught the attention of William Carey after sending a video of his swing to the coaching staff. A strong student, Krause plans to major in business at the four-year school. "That way, even if I don't make it as a golfer, I can still have a business background that leads to playing a lot of golf anyway," said Krause with a smile.

CRESTVIEW - The celebration told the story. Moments after watching shortstop Dakota Dean field a ground ball and toss it to second baseman Corey Armstrong for the final out of Crestview's 1-0 win over Tate in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals Wednesday night, Bulldogs' pitcher Roman Donofro turned and fired his glove high into the air in a moment of pure joy. Seconds later, Crestview's senior ace was mobbed by his teammates, who came together to celebrate one of Crestview's biggest wins on the baseball diamond in recent history. View a photo gallery from the game >> "There's just something about these guys," said Crestview head coach Tim Gillis of his Bulldogs, who improved to 22-5 on the season and advanced to play Mosley in the Region 1-6A semifinals on Tuesday. "It wasn't always pretty tonight, but we got the job done. Defensively we made the plays, offensively we did enough. ... This was just a total team effort." The 1-0 victory was not short on heroes for Crestview, but it all started with Donofro. In total command from the outset, the senior hurler struck out 10 Aggies in a complete-game shutout. After retiring 12 Tate hitters in a row at one point, Crestview's winning pitcher battled through a pair of hits in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Tate had runners at first and second base for leadoff man Rashon Johnson, but Donofro coaxed a routine ground ball that rolled right to Dean, who scooped to Armstrong to set off the raucous aftermath. On the night, Donofro allowed five hits while recording his second straight shutout in postseason play. Counting last week's district-tournament win over Niceville, Donofro has now thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason with 21 strikeouts. "What a warrior effort he gave us tonight," said Gillis. "He bore down and he battled. Roman is just a gamer, and our team is so confident with him out there." For Donofro, the numbers aren't as important as the result, which turned out to be a playoff victory for the Bulldogs. "We've been together since we were five years old," said Donofro. "I wouldn't trade anything in the world for this team. This win feels so great." It's a win that might not have happened without some sterling help behind Donofro. In the fourth inning of a scoreless game, Tate began to stir offensively, as second baseman Andrew Mack reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs and Mack on second, Tate third baseman Matt Rickard connected on a sinking line drive to deep right center, a shot that looked to give Tate the lead. But Crestview right fielder Justin Rebholz turned in one of the plays of the year for the Bulldogs, running down the line drive and ending the inning with a diving catch in the gap. "That was an absolutely unbelievable play," said Gillis of the grab by Rebholz. "That saved us right there. But that's what this team is all about." For Rebholz, the catch was a must. "As soon as I saw it get up in the air, I knew I had to get it," said Rebholz. "I kinda lost it in the lights for a second but I tracked it down and just threw my body after the ball. I couldn't afford to let it hit the ground." Rebholz's web gem set the table for Crestview's offense to strike in the bottom of the fourth. Donofro, whose two hits led the Bulldogs, opened the rally with a single and pinch runner Drew Graham advanced to second on a walk to Dean, giving the Bulldogs runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Corey Armstrong delivered, rapping a ground ball to third that was mishandled by Rickard, which allowed Graham to round third and score Crestview's only run. It was all that Donofro needed. The senior right-hander pitched around a two-out double in the sixth and then slammed the door on Tate in the seventh. "We did what we had to do to win this game," said Gillis, whose team has won 14 of its last 15 games. "The defense was outstanding. We knew it was going to be a tough track because of the weather, but our guys battled and fought and got the job done." On the night, Dean and Rebholz each singled for Crestview, which collected four hits and one unearned run against Tate starter J.T. Granat.

CRESTVIEW - When asked to describe Tate High School, his team’s Region 1-6A quarterfinal opponent, Crestview baseball coach Tim Gillis was succinct, saying “They’ve won a lot of games, they’re probably one of the hottest teams in the state right now.” While Gillis’s statement was true of Tate, who enters the Class 6A playoffs having won 15 of 16 games, the veteran coach could use the same statement to describe his Bulldogs, who roll into the playoffs having won 13 of their last 14 games and are coming off a thrilling District 2-6A tournament championship. In short, tonight’s playoff showdown at Crestview features two of the top teams in Northwest Florida, and the stakes couldn’t be higher as two red-hot teams square off with a trip to the region semifinals on the line. For Gillis, this is the chance that his senior-laden Bulldogs have been waiting for. “This is what you play for,” said Gillis. “We’ve got 10 seniors, they are a great group. They’ve fought together and worked hard together to get to this point. Now we just have to go out and try to keep this season going.” First pitch for Tate-Crestview is set for 7 p.m., and the Bulldogs will have homefield advantage, which served Crestview well in last week’s district tournament. Crestview earned the title with back-to-back wins over Niceville and Mosley, two teams with a combined total of 45 wins on the season. Perhaps more impressive, though, was how the Bulldogs beat those two perennial powers. Using two strong pitching per-formances and timely hitting, Crestview outscored Niceville and Mosley by a score of 9-2 in the two games, culminating in a 3-2 win over the Dolphins to secure the district title and tonight’s home game in the playoffs. Senior Davis Champion topped Mosley with seven strong in-nings, while Crestview ace Roman Donofro blanked Niceville with an 11-strikeout performance. “We’ve been pitching it well and playing good defense,” said Gillis. “We’ve also had some timely hitting, which means everything this time of the year. If you can pitch it well, defend well and make your hits count, you can do some things.” Crestview will have to do all three to maintain its momentum against Tate, a tradition-rich program that travels tonight due to a 2-1 loss in the District 1-6A championship to Pace. Still, at 21-6, the Aggies are a formidable first-round draw for Crestview. “They are always a really good team,” said Gillis of Tate, a program that has won seven state championships. “We know they are used to being in this situation so it won’t bother them much. Our seniors were in this spot two years ago as sophomores, so I feel like we’ve got ex-perience, too. It’s just going to be two good baseball teams going at it.” Donofro, who has emerged as Crestview’s go-to pitcher, will get the starting nod tonight for the Bulldogs. For Gillis, the chance to open the postseason at home presents a unique opportunity for Crestview. “We certainly played well here last week,” said Gillis. “I hope that continues this week.”  

NICEVILLE -- During the regular-season and District 2-6A play, Niceville had Mosley's number.  Well, to be fair, the top-ranked Eagles had every team’s number as they entered Tuesday night's Region 1-6A semifinal against the Dol-phins 27-1 and winners of 19 straight. But brushing aside their 0-3 mark against the top-ranked Eagles, the Dolphins delivered when it mattered most. And the win, a 5-3 victory that put the lone blemish on Niceville's perfect 13-0 record at home, has the Dolphins (21-7) in the Region 1-6A finals for the first time in program history. “This is the biggest win in Mosley's history,” said Mosley coach Brian Wilke, whose team lost 7-0 to Niceville in the district championship last week. “That is a great program we have a lot of respect for and this is the first time we've ever beat Niceville here in Niceville.” The loss at home is, in fact, just the second three years for the Eagles, who had outscored opponents 84-12 on their home field entering Tuesday. Not only that, but the Eagles entered with their last loss coming on March 8, putting them as frontrunners to not only make a fourth straight trip to the state championship, but to win it all. Now for the first time in five years they'll be sitting out the region finals. “Anything can happen,” Niceville coach Danny Hensley said. “It was a great season for us, but obviously we're disappointed because we beat those guys three times. But now they can win a state championship.” Based on the depth at pitcher, that certainly seems well within reach for a Mosley staff that relied on Selena Estrada, Katie Lopes and Jill Johnson, the latter of which earned the win. Using seven pitching changes between the trio, Wilke was able to hold a prolific Eagles offense to just three runs. Lopes tossed 3 1/3 of three-run ball, Johnson tossed 2 2/3 scoreless and Estrada tossed one scoreless frame. “They have that luxury,” Hensley said. “They charted what hitters each pitcher got out, so when those hitters came up they let the successful pitchers go up.” Reaffirming that approach, coach Wilke said “We just went to who did best against certain hitters.” As for Niceville, Aja Brechtel and Christina Ramirez fell victim to three errors that led to four runs. “I think Murphy’s Law got us a little bit on some plays we normally make,” Hensley said.  Niceville's defensive miscues especially loomed large early.  The first error led to a two-run third inning for the Dolphins, who watched Graysen Gladden and Brooke Wilke lead off with back-to-back singles against Ramirez. Brechtel then came in to walk Estrada and load the bases for Johnson, who lifted a harmless fly to second that evoked the infield-fly rule. The automatic out, though, turned into a drop at second base. When Gladden tried to advance from third, the throw sailed high, allowing both Gladden and Wilke to score and stake the Dolphins to a 2-0 lead. Jaci Hodskins followed with miraculous diving catch in center to save a run, but the initial damage was done. Then in the sixth, a dropped ball in left field extended the inning and allowed for Gladden to draw a bases-loaded walk. But Niceville., getting a Ramirez RBI double in the fourth and then back-to-back home runs from Kaylan Davis and Jessie Mullen in the sixth, battled back to a 3-3 tie. But Estrada walked to start the seventh, Johnson then singled and both were moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Then Lopes delivered the eventual game-winning RBI and a misplayed Andrea McKenzie grounder to third added an insurance run.  

View a photo gallery from the game >>