Sports Archive

Autumn Anderson has had a productive summer.

Then again, it’s not a surprise. The rising junior for the Milton Panthers is always striving to improve as a softball player.

Javon Purvis started playing basketball because his dad inspired him to get into it. When he was younger, he used to watch his dad hoop with friends.

It wasn’t long before Purvis decided to give it a shot and it’s a sport the rising senior for Pace has stuck with.

Brett Watson has always wanted to play softball at the University of West Florida. She calls it her ‘dream school.’

Earlier this month the rising senior for the Jay Royals made that dream come true, announcing her commitment to the Argos.

Ryan Hunt didn’t seem to be on track to one day play college football when he first started out in high school at Milton.

He’s come a long way and is bound for Middle Tennessee State this fall to play offensive line for the Blue Raiders.

Milton golfers Kayla Willis and Gabi Wright spent their summer on courses around the area while playing in the Great Pensacola Junior Golf Association Tour.

It’s been a good experience for both rising seniors.

Matt Wood is the fourth softball coach Milton has had in the last four seasons and he’s hoping to bring stability to the program.

Here on a hot summer morning at the softball field, Wood is working with players on fielding drills. He’s taken a few days in early July to work with the team. To get to know them a little bit and lay the foundation for the spring of 2024.

Brandon Sproat is headed to pro baseball.

The Pace alum was taken 56th overall by the New York Mets in the second round of the MLB Draft Sunday night.

Adversity kept throwing punches. Kelsey Hodges refused to fold. It was a test of wills, really, but Hodges won out in the end with one final college softball season where she saw everything come together the way she always hoped it would.

Pace softball stars Jayden Heavener and Shelby McKenzie have been named MaxPreps All-Americans.

Heavener is a first-team pick and McKenzie earned second-team honors.

Former Jay athlete Sarah Edwards will make her U.S. Women’s Open debut this week at Pebble Beach.

Edwards secured a spot in the LPGA event by winning a qualifier in Atlanta in May. She shot a seven-under par 137 over the two days that she competed to punch her ticket to the Open, which runs July 6-9 in California.