Jayson Alford had a scary moment at a meet last week, face planting on the platform after not bailing in time on a snatch attempt. It left him with a noticeable gash on his head.
“Instead of bailing, I tried to save it. I’m stubborn,” Alford said with a laugh. “But I was able to finish the meet. I’m glad I was OK.”
Playing on a minor league is a big deal. Just ask Jay shortstop Ethan McDonald.
He and his teammates had a chance to experience that last week when the Royals battled Northview in a 1A showdown at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola.
Don’t get Caleb Locklin wrong. He loves to run races.
But one might be surprised to learn the Central track standout might love the part of the sport that leads up to meet day even more.
Mallory Baker already has her college commitment lined up. The Pace junior is headed to Northwest Florida State to continue her softball career once she graduates.
Baker also seems to have things lined up well on the field this season for the unbeaten state- and nationally-ranked Patriot softball team.
The Milton Panthers are starting to find their way on the diamond. And that was evident last Tuesday night as a late-inning offensive surge led to a 14-6 victory over a Pine Forest team that is one of the best in the area.
Milton entered play with a 2-6 record. A rather young team with only six seniors, the Panthers are building chemistry with one another day by day. And they put the chemistry they have built on display.
It wasn’t as if Jay failed to create scoring opportunities in its softball game against Milton Tuesday night.
The Royals put runners in position to score early and often. The Panthers just didn’t let them cash in.
L.E.A.D. Academy baseball coach Chris Lyle points to an example during an interview of how competitive his team has become in 2023.
It’s a game against Paxton that he highlights. The Lions lost 6-1 to the Wildcats on March 9. A game like that wouldn’t have been nearly as close in the past.
It’s late December. Just before Christmas. Corliss Waitman’s second season in the NFL is winding down, his first as a full-time starter, and the former Milton Panther took a moment to reflect on his journey.
He calls it a ‘blessing’ to be a part of cut-throat league where every decision is about business, and longevity is anything but a guarantee.
Pace checks all the boxes in flag football.
The Patriots have talent on both sides of the ball. They understand what it takes to win. And they have the potential to make a run at the program’s first state championship.
Two Pace standouts have earned impressive recognition on a national level by Legacy & Legends Softball.
Teammates Jayden Heavener and Shelby McKenzie are ranked in the top 10 nationally among Class of 2024 players, with Heavener, an LSU commit, notching the No. 1 spot.
