By By Chandler Myers
Monday’s baseball game featuring the Escambia County Blue Devils and the Excel Tigers was one of the best games that has been played in the area this season.
Neither team ran away with the game nor did they have trouble keeping the crowd in attendance entertained.
Every inning featured something exciting whether it was a sure homerun that turned out to be robbed at the fence or a diving stop by the second baseman to help put an out on the board.
The entire game kept everyone on the edge of their seat from beginning to end when the winning run was scored.
Standing on the field, I have to admit it was really exciting to see all the action so close as well as how the Blue Devils came together to pull off the victory.
All the Blue Devils played their role on the field and at the plate.
Several spectaclular catches were made, which included Marshall Rolin’s lunging grab of a flyball (pictured to the right), Douglas Oliver’s leaping grab as he ran for a flyball in centerfield and Jacob Rackard’s diving stop at second base to prevent a baserunner from getting to first.
Every player on the ECHS baseball team proved not only to the fans, but to themselves that they can have a run of success.
With that win over the Tigers, the Blue Devils are now on a four-game winning streak after sweeping the Vigor Wolves in area play during the weekend.
It was exciting to see the players and coaches get excited about the added success.
That success will be monumental as they head into another area series this weekend as they travel to Gulf Shores to take on the Dolphins and then host Gulf Shores in Atmore on Saturday.
If possible, get out to see the rejuventated Blue Devils. It looks like they have become an entirely new team.
Chandler Myers is sports editor of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123 or by e-mail at sports@atmoreadvance.com

By By Chandler Myers
With a run of bad luck, the Escambia Academy Cougars are hoping to start fresh from this point of their season on and push for a berth in the playoffs.
The Cougars being coached by first-year coach Josh Daugett have been hit by everything from poor hitting to the injury bug.
Their most recent games included losing both games of a doubleheader to the Lowndes Academy Rebels last Friday in Canoe.
In the two games combined, the Cougars were only able to muster one total run.
Daugett said his team’s lack of success has just been bad luck.
With a little more than half the season gone, the Cougars are looking towards starting over and making the best of the remaining games that they have left.
Daugett said that his team has the opportunity to secure a three or a four seed in the region tournament if they finish strong.
The Cougars have been working to achieve a hot streak of wins.
Daugett said players have been practicing much better in the last few days.

By By Chandler Myers
Escambia Academy’s Lady Cougars hosted the Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels Friday in a doubleheader at their softball field in Canoe losing the second game 9-2 and winning the first game 1-0.
In the second game of the doubleheader featuring the Escambia Academy Lady Cougars and the Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels, the Lady Rebels as the home team were able to earn a convincing 9-2 win with consistent offense throughout the game.
The scoring opened in the second inning as the Lady Rebels put two runs on the scoreboard and followed that up with three more in the third inning to jump on top 5-0.
The Lady Cougars finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning putting two runs on the board with Lady Cougars catcher Niki Bryan recording an RBI.
Bryan hit 2-for-4 in the loss with a walk and a stolen base.
After the Cougars cut the Lady Rebels lead to three, the Lady Rebels responded by extending their lead to five again by adding two runs to pull ahead 7-2.
The Lady Rebels put the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored another two runs to pick up the 9-2 victory.
The Escambia Academy Lady Cougars were able to break a scoreless game in an extra inning of the first game of their doubleheader with the Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels to win 1-0.
For seven and a half innings, the Lady Cougars and Lady Rebels battled with neither team gaining any kind of ground.
Lady Cougars third baseman Tori Rodriguez changed all of the in the bottom of the eighth inning as she knocked in the winning run.
Other Lady Cougars with offense included Page Lancaster (3-for-4, 2 SB), Niki Bryan (1-for-4, SB), Amber Huskey (1-for-3) and Chelsey Ramer (1-for-3).

By By Chandler Myers
Team Titan took their prize fighting skills to a UCF event in Florala on March 13 where three of their four participating fighters left with a win on their records.
All four fighters made their debut to the world of mixed martial arts at the event.
Brad Newsome, 18, of Perdido made noise in his debut by earning a first-round TKO over his opponent.
Jude Sanford, 27, of Bay Minette also earned a TKO by crushing his opponent in the first round of his fight.
Justin Ramer, 17, of Perdido won by a split decision, but also recieved the Fight of the Night Award.
The only Team Titan fighter not to bring home a victory was Harrison Whitehead, 19, of Walnut Hill, Fla.
In other competitions, Craig Helton, owner of Titan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, finished third in a submission grappling tournament on Feb. 27.
Helton participated in the Advanced Gi competition losing on points.
Helton said that Team Titan wanted to thank all of their sponsors, which includes the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, GCR Tires, Palmer Family Chiropractic, Amp’d Energy Drink, Jerry’s Alignment, Chris Bondurant, Snappy Car Wash, Travis Paul M.D. and Squeegee Stitch Screen Print and Embroidery.
Helton also said that he wanted the community to know that Titan BJJ is still offering classes in mixed martial arts.
For more information contact Craig Helton at 655-0181.

By By Chandler Myers
With a tie game, no outs and a man on first base in the bottom of the seventh, the Escambia County Blue Devils were in a position to pick up their fourth consecutive win.
Two stolen bases later followed by a game-winning single to win 4-3 over the Excel Tigers, the Blue Devils (8-14, 3-3) coached by Jason Barnett were back in a position to finish their season strong.
Barnett said that the win was the most fun he had all season.
The star of the game proved himself throughout the game stealing four bases and scoring the tying and winning runs.
Junior shortstop Marshall “Chick” Rolin reached base in the fifth inning and immediately stole second and got on to third on a swing around the tag slide that put him into a position to help the Blue Devils tie the game at three.
With Rolin sitting on third, junior first baseman Tyler Boatwright stepped to the plate and ripped a pitch into right field to get his teammate home.
Up until that point of the game, the teams had been clawing back-and-forth with neither team gaining much momentum.
The game was tied at one until the Tigers were able to get two men across the plate in the top of the fourth inning.
Once Blue Devils centerfielder Douglas Oliver scored in the bottom of the fourth and Rolin tied the game in the fifth, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Blue Devils were going to win, according to their coach.
Barnett said once they tied the game he knew his team would come out on top.
Barnett’s hunch proved to be correct as pitcher Justin Stabler and the Blue Devils’ defense put down three straight Tigers batters to get to bottom of the inning.
With Rolin reaching base as the leadoff man, he decisively stole second base and followed that up with another dash to third base.
As Blue Devils rightfielder Devante Brown stood at the plate Rolin increased his lead and watched as Brown sent a pitch past the second baseman into right field getting Rolin home and letting the celebration begin.
Barnett said for the first time his team showed a look of confidence. He added that having Rolin on the basepath really helped the Blue Devils.
With the victory now behind them, the Blue Devils will look to take their winning streak and confidence into their weekend matchup against the Gulf Shores Dolphins.
Barnett said going into the series with a win streak is a great feeling.
The Blue Devils face the Dolphins in Gulf Shores Friday with the doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Dolphins make the trip to Atmore with the game beginning at 4 p.m.

By Staff
Unemployment big problem in Alabama
We have a big problem in Alabama: 11 percent of people in our state are unemployed. For the first time in a very long time, hard working people who have skills and a desire to work are not able to find gainful employment to support themselves and their families.
Last week, Dr. Robert Bentley, a member of the State House of Representatives in Tuscaloosa and a candidate for governor, took a step toward solving both problems. He introduced the Re-employment Act of 2010, which will put thousands of unemployed Alabamians back to work by providing tax deductions to companies who hire people who are currently unemployed.
He got every Republican and every Democrat to put partisanship aside and pass this bill with 100% support of members of both parties. That is incredible.
We need leaders like Bentley who can identify the real problems facing us and come up with solutions. But, we also need people who can get politicians to look past partisan politics and do what is right for the people who elected them. Bentley has proven he can take a good idea and get both parties to sign on in support of it. That is a very rare quality and that is certainly a quality that would make him an outstanding Governor.
Brent Culver
Bay Minette

By Staff
Thank you for the hospitality in Atmore
Recently you may have spotted the big white bus crisscrossing your lovelycommunity.
Had you looked in the windows of the bus you would have seen happy, smiling faces as Sheryl Vickery, Chamber Executive Director, conducted our morning bus tour of Atmore Past and Present.
Atmore Mayor Howard Shell was first to welcome this group from Mobile. Others came aboard to greet the group and share bits of the town's architectural history; Joan Hackman, Susan Currie, Patti Castleberry, Jim Reece, and Shep Marsh.
Bonnie Bartel Latino ended our tour in the beautiful, historic Trinity Episcopal Church.
The Mobilians appreciated the hospitality and opportunity to learn about your friendly town. Thank you.
Jan Weiler
Landmark Tours, Inc.

By Staff
Coaching search a circus
Add a couple of clowns, a few exotic animals and a big top and you will have exactly what the Escambia County High School head football coach’s search has become: a circus.
In fact, it has turned into a three-ring circus as officials with the Escambia County Board of Education prepare for the third round of interviews for the position. The BOE will be handling the interviewing process in its third go-around after Principal Harvey Means’ three-year contract negotiation failed to receive a motion during last Thursday’s meeting ending his career at ECHS effective May 31.
The drama began Dec. 18, 2009 when then head coach and athletic director Kyle Davis was relieved of his duties. This decision did not sit well with several Blue Devil fans because many did not agree with the timing for his dismissal. In most cases, head coaches are released soon after the season, so they are able to begin seeking future employment. It is unusual for one to be dismissed two hours prior to Christmas break.
Since, more than 50 applications have been weeded through and two separate search committees have held two interview sessions both of which have yielded no results. Five candidates have been considered for the job and one was proposed for hiring last week to no avail.
Now, the board prepares to “start from scratch,” according to Superintendent Billy Hines, throwing out all prior applications and soliciting more applicants. The job was once again put up for advertisement Friday and has to remain open for 14 days ensuring the search will surpass 100 days.
The Advance supports the the board’s decision not to hire a coach recommended by a principal who will not be on campus next year, but for them to allow the process to prolong has led to false hope for a few candidates and a rumor mill to begin throughout town. One key example is that the coach proposed for the job last week was in fact in town under the impression that he already had the job without board approval. It was also learned that two of the Top 3 candidates following the first round of interviews had troubled pasts.
In defense for the board members, they were unaware of many of the actions behind the scenes, but now have the chance to make the right choice for the children of Escambia County High School.
With that said, all involved in the newest search, need to keep the student-athletes in mind when they convene to review candidates after the next interview process. The longer this process drags out, the more the student-athletes will suffer.
Who is to blame?
There is no time to point fingers, only time to get a coach in place and stop all the hoopla that has overtaken the community and the school.
Of the candidates that are rumored to apply for yet another time, only a few stick out amongst the crowd and the Advance hopes that the board will open their eyes and do what is best for the school: hire a coach who is willing to stick with the program and offer stability for the future.

By By Adam Prestridge
My column last week regarding the principal situation at Escambia County High School has created a lot of buzz.
I’ve been approached all over town in support of my opinion that current Escambia County Middle School Principal Zickeyous Byrd is the best candidate for the vacant principal’s job. Most had some concerns, but one continually came up in conversation.
Although my opinion has created some talk around town, not everyone agrees with me. At least, when it comes to one issue: What happens to the middle school should Byrd spread his wings and take on another challenge?
Well the answer is simple: Byrd should be the immediate supervisor of whoever takes in his place at ECMS. That way, he is still directly involved with the everyday functions of the school.
With that said, Byrd would not be the principal of both schools, just the go-to guy for the person taking over a school, which I believe has been turned around for the better by Byrd’s plan he came to Escambia County looking to implement.
That’s exactly what Escambia County High School needs, a person who comes in with a plan, executes that plan from day one, sticks to that plan throughout his or her tenure and has the guts to have people disagree with them. It is very uncommon to have one single person that possesses all of these traits. Zickeyous Byrd is one of those lucky people that was blessed with all of these traits and he uses them to help better the youth he works with day in and day out.
I know that the parents of students attending the middle school and those that are preparing to send their children to the school fear the day Byrd leaves the school, if he ever decided to, but you can’t hold someone back who has the ability to change the lives of so many with the knowledge and know-how in education as he does.
Working with Byrd over the years, I have witnessed him take on many challenges and overcome them all. It was not always easy, but he overcame them with hard work, dedication and drive. Some people are just driven by challenges and Byrd is one of those people.
Again, this is just my opinion of the situation, which can be taken with grain of salt, but what does the town have to lose. When it comes to ECHS principals, it has become a revolving door.
Stability is what is needed.
Adam Prestridge is publisher of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123.

By By Steve Flowers
In 1986, I was a young 34-year-old politician. I was running unopposed for my second four-year term in the state legislature from my hometown of Troy.
My best lifetime friend Keith Watkins was also 34 and was a young practicing attorney in Troy. We had been close friends since childhood. Richard Shelby did not know of our closeness, but ironically Keith and I were the only two people that Shelby knew in Pike County.
He asked us to meet him for breakfast and then asked us to be his county campaign managers for his race for the U.S. Senate against Jeremiah Denton.
Denton had been elected as the first Republican senator from Alabama since Reconstruction six years earlier. He had ridden Ronald Reagan’s coattails to victory but then proceeded to spend the next six years writing a book on how to get beat for a U.S. Senate seat.
Denton was a great soldier and patriot but a horrible politician and senator. He was vulnerable to say the least. So Shelby’s decision to roll the dice and run against Denton was not as much of a gamble as it appeared.
Shelby had made a conscious decision to leave the 435 member House of Representatives where he felt he would languish in obscurity for the next 20 years. In his own words he said, “I’m either going to the U.S. Senate and be somebody or I’m going home to Tuscaloosa and make some money.”
I have often thought of this scenario when I am asked why Artur Davis would leave a safe House seat to make an uphill race for Governor. Incidentally the congressional seat that Davis is vacating to make the gubernatorial challenge is the same seat that Shelby left 24 years ago.
It would appear to many of us who observe politics that Artur Davis has made a ludicrous decision even if he could win the Governor’s race. You are Governor for four years, maybe eight and given the economic situation of the state, probably only four.
Davis is a 40-year-old congressman who already has six years seniority under his belt. He is best friends with the President of the United States. He is a rising star in congress. He is in a safe seat. He is on the most powerful committees. He can be a major player in congress for at least two or three decades.
My guess is that he looked at the rat race of being a congressman and decided the grass is greener on the other side. Unquestionably he will be better off financially.
Davis has decided to go out in a valiant effort and then make money in Washington or New York. However, he faces a daunting task to be elected Governor of Alabama.
Davis is identical to Barack Obama not only in color but also philosophically. He is running as a liberal in a conservative state. Obama received 39 percent of the vote in Alabama. It is hard to envision how Davis can improve on that. He is basically an Obama clone.
A good many of the same folks who voted for George Wallace in 1970 as the most racist candidate in the most racist campaign in history are still alive and still voting. Furthermore, it is unlikely that an intellectual, Harvard educated, sophisticated man named Artur could be elected governor of Alabama regardless of his race.
Forty years ago Wallace not only ran against integration, he also ran against “pointy headed liberals” who went to Ivy League schools and “did not have enough common sense to park their bicycles straight.” Davis is not only black, he is a liberal intellectual elitist.
One of the most telling illustrations of contrast between Davis and his Democratic opponent Ron Sparks revealed itself early in the campaign fundraising season.
On the same day that Sparks was having a fish fry in rural Fayette County, Davis was at a penthouse in Manhattan at the home of the chic ultra liberal New York attorney Sanford Rubenstein raising money from the most liberal elite in the country.
Wallace would have had a field day with this one. I can see him now telling folks, “while my opponent campaigns for Governor of Alabama in New York City, I’m going to campaign for Governor of Alabama in York, Alabama.”
In short, Davis looks like someone who would be more at home running for Governor of New York than Governor of Alabama.
See you next week.
Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears weekly in 75 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the State Legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.