Same court, different sport

Robert Klawitter-The Corsair

 

I’ve always heard buried treasure is found where “X” marks the spot, but finding a head basketball coach on a volleyball court sounds a bit more farfetched.

However, PJC athletic director Bill Hamilton did just that, filling the men’s basketball head coaching vacancy with current Pirate volleyball coach Pete Pena.

Now, if you know nothing about Pena, your first response will probably be similar to mine. Questioning why Hamilton would end the searching process so swiftly just to fill the vacancy with a coach of another sport.

Hamilton is athletic director for a reason though, and let’s not forget he’s also a Hall of Fame baseball coach. So, he knows the attributes of a great coach, and obviously he saw those in Pena.

Pena does bring basketball experience having served as an assistant coach twice here at PJC from 1979-82 and 1987-89, and head coach at Catholic High from 1989-99. So he’s not exactly a volleyball coach thrown into the basketball world.

Pena is also currently serving as an assistant on the Lady Pirates softball staff, but despite the full schedule he’s not walking away from his players on the diamond yet. So his passion and love for the game of basketball will have to fuel his first recruitment process. Pena’s eager to get to work, as he looks to restore relationships with local high school basketball programs.

His philosophy, to find good players that play great, and have pride for the name across their jersey hints toward the type of players we should become accustomed to watching at Hartsell Arena in upcoming years. Mix that with Pena’s coaching ability which Hamilton speaks highly of, and we may come to realize the Pirates found a hidden treasure right here at home. Hopefully championships will soon follow.

Pete Pena is PJC’s new basketball coach

Pensacola Junior College selects one of its own, Pete Pena, to head the men’s basketball program. He replaces head coach Paul Swanson, who stepped down March 11.

“We are glad to announce the hiring of Pete Pena as the new men’s basketball coach,” said PJC Athletic Director Bill Hamilton. “Although Pete is not really ‘new,’ his duties will be, as he takes on this challenging role. All of us congratulate Coach Pena and look forward to the 2010-2011 Pirate basketball season with renewed optimism.”

PJC President Ed Meadows said, “Coach Pena appreciates and understands the level of competition in the Panhandle Conference, and he also understands the expectations of PJC’s fan base.

“PJC’s administration is pleased with Coach Pena’s willingness to accept the challenge and opportunity to produce a winning team where his student athletes are successful both on the court and in academics. I am excited we have selected a highly capable person with such enthusiasm and integrity as Coach Pena.”

Pena has spent the last 11 years as PJC’s head volleyball coach, but prior to taking the PJC volleyball post in 1999, all of Pena’s coaching experience was in basketball. Pena spent 10 seasons (1989-99) as head coach at Catholic High, posting a 143-156 record while taking the Crusaders to the regional playoffs three times. He also served two stints as an assistant basketball coach at PJC, one under Chip Boes (1979-82) and another alongside Kirk Speraw (1987-89). In Pena’s five seasons as a PJC assistant, the Pirates won the Panhandle Conference championship every year.

“This is an outstanding opportunity that I am proud to have,” Pena said. “To be the basketball coach at the school you love makes this very special. I will expend all my energy not to disappoint.”

Pena’s wife, Brenda, is PJC’s head softball coach.

John Wood College couldn’t score a run against PJC softball

Ker-Seh Dahn-The Corsair

The PJC Lady Pirates came out with a massive softball swing shutting out John Wood College March 10 in a double header.  

“Everyone got to play and got some experience out there on the field,” Head Coach Brenda Pena said.

The first game ended at 7-0. There wasn’t a chance for John Wood players to come back and take on the Pirates.

In the second game, the Lady Pirates were up two to nothing in the bottom of the first inning; as Kaci Pribanic and Hannah Wilson made their way home for the earned runs.

But it wasn’t until the second inning when Lady Pirates brought in the action.

Bases were loaded when Gerisi Garcia stepped onto the plate to send one runner home, making the score 3-0. At that point, John Wood College kept making errors and the Lady Pirates line-up collected eight more runs.

The mercy rule interrupted the second game cutting it short after the top of the fifth inning, due to the Lady Pirates drastic lead 11-0.

“We are very excited for Conference to start, and look forward to seeing [PJC] out here supporting your Lady Pirates,” Pena said.

 The first conference game is March 17 and it will be the beginning of a very competitive league, according to Pena.

Lady Pirates end season with loss in state semis

Madelain Tigano - The Corsair

One point. Just one point was the difference in going to the finals or going home. The Pensacola Junior College Lady Pirates lost the semi final round in the FCCAA/NJCAA Region VIII State Championship Basketball Tournament 61-60 against Tallahassee Community College March 5 in Marianna.

All-State guard and University of Florida signee Deana Allen hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to put PJC within one point with 4.1 seconds left in the game.  Then came the controversy.

Following Allen’s shot, the base referee called the ball out of bounds when Tallahassee inbounded the ball with one foot out of bounds.  Another referee, though, awarded Tallahassee a timeout.

 “It was very controversial, the out-of-bounds call.  PSB Live was telling me ‘let them watch it on film. You can see the ball was out of bounds,’ and it would have been our ball at our goal with plenty of time to score,” Head Coach Chanda Rigby said.  “But if anything else, I was thinking, I wish we wouldn’t have put ourselves in that situation for the ending to be so close to need that call.”

Karneshia Garrett had a game high 19 points, with 14 in the second half.

“I just wanted the ball in the post,” Garrett said. “I knew the inside was weak so I was just going to pound it in.”

Rigby was happy with the freshman’s performance.

“Garrett was pretty unbelievable as far as her determination and her scoring around the goal,” Rigby said.  “We probably should have done a better job getting it to her.”

The Pirates got off to a sluggish start and were down by 13 points six minutes into the game. They made up some ground late in the first half with eight unanswered points, but still trailed 31-22 at the half.

PJC came within 1 on four occasions in the second half in a hard fought game, but was unable to pull ahead.

“I don’t think we attacked as hard as we needed to in the beginning of the game,” Rigby said.  “When we came back in the second half and started attacking, the other team already had the momentum. It’s hard to get momentum back.  We never had the momentum in the game.”

Sophomore DeAngela Sword provided a spark with 10 points off the bench.  Allen pumped in 9 points, including 2 three-pointers, all in the second half.

“It looked like (Tallahassee) wanted it more,” Garrett said. “We are just going to go back and start working on it for next year.”

With three freshmen in the starting line-up during post-season play, the Lady Pirates have a lot to look forward to next year.

“I am going to work even harder than I did this year to improve, by starting at the beginning of the year and not just by conference time,” Garrett said.

Lady Pirates sail past Indian River

Robert Klawitter - The Corsair

The PJC Lady Pirates showed they’re not ready to go home yet, pulling out a narrow 56-52 victory over Southern Conference Champion Indian River State College (21-5) in the first round of the FCAAA/NJCAA Region VIII State Championship at Chipola College in Marianna.

PJC (24-5) came to life after halftime starting the second half on an 8-0 run while increasing the tempo of the game and spreading the floor on offense.

“They were in a sagging defense and we kept forcing it into the paint off the dribble or to our post players in the first half,” Head Coach Chanda Rigby said.  “We knew we had to score more in transition or extend their defense by getting the ball out to the corners in the second half.” 

PJC increased the lead to 10 during a 22-8 run, going up 41-31 with 12:30 left in the game.  During the run PJC’s smothering defense held Indian River to only nine points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

 “The first play of the second half they ran a same play they scored off of several times against us and Deana Allen jumped up and caught it in the air,” Rigby said.  “I knew that would set the tempo.  They were going to play harder.”

Freshman guard Jessica Merritt led the Lady Pirates offensively, scoring a game high 22 points while shooting 7 of 19 from the field and 8 of 10 from the line.  Freshman guard Meghan Perkins chipped in with 14 points and 7 rebounds.  Merritt and Perkins helped offset the lack of production from sophomore team captain Deana Allen while she battled through foul trouble.  Allen was pulled with four fouls just 6 minutes into the second half.

Rebounding was the difference in the game, leading to second chance shots for PJC while they shot 27 percent for the game.  Freshman forward Karneshia Garrett led the Lady Pirates with 6 offensive boards, with 13 total rebounds while PJC outrebounded Indian River 57-32. 

In the second half, “we started rebounding well and attacking the basket,” Assistant Coach Tanisha Rogers said.

“The main thing that kept us going was that we didn’t get down on each other.  Instead, we came together,” Allen said.  “Good teamwork and not blaming each other helped us out in the second half.”

The Lady Pirates shot a dismal 14 percent from the field in the first half, hitting only 5 of 35 and missing all 11 shots from beyond the 3-point line.

“I gave them a few little adjustments at halftime, but basically it was them.  They did not want to go home after one game,” Rigby said.  “Their determination led to them playing better in the second half.”

PJC advances to the second round, and will face Panhandle Conference rival Tallahassee Community College at 3 p.m. March 5.  PJC won the series 2-1 against Tallahassee in the regular season.

“It’s going to be tough.  Tallahassee played great; we watched them play before our game, and they played hard,” Rogers said.  “It’s going to be another battle between Panhandle teams.”

Pirates sweep weekend series against Pearl River

Robert Klawitter-The Corsair

The PJC Pirates baseball team heated up this past weekend, despite Pensacola seeing snow for the first time in years.   The Pirates swept a four game series, which included doubleheaders on Feb. 6 and 7, from Pearl River Community College.

PJC won the first game 6-3, behind “very competitive,” pitching from sophomore Paul Davis, Head Coach Bill Hamilton said.  Davis pitched seven strong innings, totaling 11 strikeouts, while giving up a single run in the second, fifth, and sixth innings.

“I was happy with my performance, but wish I could have finished stronger,” Davis said.

Davis’ teammates made it easier on him, scoring three early runs in the first inning.  Sophomore Tyson Workman scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a walk then stealing second.  Freshman Shawn McDorman and sophomore Steven Groves both reached base with singles, and were driven in by freshman Josh Doyle’s two-out double.

In the third inning McDorman and sophomore Saxon Butler hit back-to-back solo homeruns to power the Pirates to a 5-1 lead. 

Pearl River answered back with a run in both the fifth and sixth, but was shut down by Davis in the seventh, the final inning in the scheduled seven-inning doubleheaders over the weekend.

The Pirates took the second game 14-4, but despite winning in the sixth by the 10 run rule, the game provided some early challenges for the Pirates.  Starting pitcher, freshman JJ McClaughlin was pulled in the first inning after giving up five consecutive hits which included a two-run homer before recording a single out. 

Sophomore pitcher Wes Winters took over in the first inning, inheriting the bases loaded with Pearl River Wildcats.  Winters got a strikeout from the first hitter he faced, and limited the damage by only allowing one more run to score on a sacrifice fly.

PJC chipped away by scoring two runs off shaky pitching, reaching base on walks four times in the bottom of the first.

Pearl River added a solo homerun off Winters in the second, but it wasn’t enough as freshman Blake Brown blasted a two-run and a three-run homer to power PJC past Pearl River. 

“I just ran into two of them out there,” Brown said.  “The wind helped me out too.”

Winters, “a one to two inning thrower,” Assistant Head Coach Keith Little said, would finish the game pitching four consecutive scoreless innings, totaling five strikeouts on just over 60 pitches. 

“We didn’t expect him to go the distance,” Little Said.  “His performance was big for the bullpen.”

PJC won the second doubleheader 5-2 and 4-0, finishing the weekend series sweep behind freshman Josh Tankski’s complete game shutout in the final game of the series on Sunday.

The Man behind the PJC Microphone

Wade Manns-The Corsair

He’s one of the loudest voices in the PJC sports community — literally.

Robbie Harvey, 26, is stadium announcer at the Hartsell Arena for the Pensacola Junior College womens’ and mens’ basketball games. It’s his job to make sure the crowd is pumped up for the Pirates and Lady Pirates. He’s really enthusiastic when the Pirates score, but he also lets the crowd know how he feels — as well as how they should feel — when the opposing team scores. He may have to announce it, but he doesn’t have to like it.

“When it comes to the other team, I just announce their names with a monotone type of voice,” Harvey said. “Not very exciting; we don’t want to excite them.”

Self-taught, yet talented, Harvey started announcing when he was 15, having won a contest sponsored by the city’s hockey team, the Ice Pilots. He then went on to DJ at weddings and school dances, “and from then on, the rest is history,” he said.

Few can say they truly enjoy their job, but Harvey does.

“There’s really no inspiration (to become a public address announcer),” he said. “I don’t do this to garner fame or money or get to a different level. I simply do this to just have fun.”

In addition to announcing games at PJC, Harvey is the voice you’ll hear at Five Flags Speedway and its biggest annual race, the Snowball Derby. He also is the announcer for the Pensacola Pelicans minor league baseball team. And his voice isn’t the only thing paying his bills; he’s also a video editor and documentary producer.

Shawntez Patterson, power forward/combo forward, is in his first year of playing for the PJC men’s basketball team. He said he usually tunes out the announcer’s voice, except when Harvey mentions his name. Harvey helps energize him and is “trying to get the fans into it… so I try to give him a good enough reason to call my name,” Patterson said.

Harvey said he is PJC women’s basketball coach Chanda Rigby’s biggest fan. Rigby, a head coach for 20 years, five at PJC, said she likewise appreciates Harvey’s work.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Robbie here,” she said. “Out of all the gyms I’ve been in… even (compared to) some big-time programs, we have the best announcer there is. Not only is he very talented, he’s got a great voice, he’s very sharp. He’s passionate about what he does, and he is very easy to work with. He’s a nice guy.”

When Harvey announces the starting lineup, he pumps up the team, Rigby said.

“Even if there is no crowd here, the way he announces and calls out that starting five…,” she said. “There are two big-time things about (playing in the Lou Ross Center). The players are big time, and Robbie’s voice is big-time.”

 

 

Chipola Indians vs. PJC Pirates

PJC Women vs. Chipola

Lady Pirates stun nation’s top team

Jessica Merritt shoots from under the basket to score points against Gulf Coast Feb. 6

Robert Klawitter

- The Corsair

 

The Hartsell Arena was a packed house Wednesday, Feb. 3, as the Lady Pirates hosted the No. 1 team in the country, and previously undefeated Gulf Coast Community College. 

PJC cranked up the intensity late, to overcome a 15-point second half deficit.  Along with smothering defense, PJC made crucial free throws down the stretch to seal the 68-64 win, and hand Gulf Coast their first loss of the season.

“This win proves that our program can compete and win against the best in the nation,” Head Coach, Chanda Rigby said.  “Gulf Coast has had a strangle hold on this conference the last twelve years.”

The Lady Pirates were forced to make starting lineup adjustments, as they “fought through injuries and illness,” Rigby said.  With sophomore guard, Izzy Chilcott, out for the game, and sophomore starting guard, and team captain, Deana Allen, starting the game on the bench, the Lady Pirates fell down 14-5 early in the first half.  Allen gave PJC a spark off the bench, as the Lady Pirates surged back to take their first lead 24-23 with 7:25 left in the first half.

“The team responded, and fought through adversity,” Assistant Coach Leah Drury said. 

Unfortunately, Gulf Coast answered back with an 11-0 run, and went into halftime with a 41-35 lead.

“Defensively we have to protect the paint, and on offense we have to do a better job spreading the floor and working the post in the second half,” Rigby said.

Gulf Coast gained early momentum, increasing PJC’s deficit to 15 after another 14-5 run to start the half, and lead the game 55-40 with 12:40 left.

With their back against the wall, PJC cranked up the intensity on the defensive end, resulting in easy offense during a 23-7 run, which gave the Lady Pirates a 63-62 lead with 2:30 left.

“We didn’t really make any adjustments, the will to win was the difference,” Rigby said.  “Our girls never quit.”

The Lady Pirates didn’t let up there, clamping down on defense, forcing Gulf Coast into a shot clock violation.  Critical free throws down the stretch helped seal the upset for the Lady Pirates.  The win moves PJC within one game of Gulf Coast in the conference standings. 

“This win gives us confidence, and proves that when we work hard we can beat anybody,” Allen said.

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