NICEVILLE — For the first time since 2006, the Crestview baseball team will play for a district title after holding off a feisty Mosley team for a 5-4 victory in the District 2-5A semifinals at Niceville.

And for the second year in a row, Fort Walton Beach stunned rival Niceville on its home field in the district tournament. This time, the Vikings held off a late Niceville charge to earn a 7-5 win in the night’s second semifinal game to earn a meeting with the Bulldogs in Thursday’s championship game.

The Bulldogs split two games with the Vikings during the regular season.

The Vikings (13-11) got a complete game, gutsy effort from starting pitcher Sam Bass, who labored through 145 pitches. After surrendering two runs in the first, Bass held the Eagles (20-6) scoreless until Niceville mounted a three-run seventh to make things interesting.

“I can’t say enough about the effort the kids have shown, having battled a season of ups and downs,” Fort Walton Beach coach David Garner said. “They came out and battled the No. 1 seed.”

The score was tied 2-2 after the first and remained that way until the fifth, when the Vikings strung together four singles and a walk against Niceville reliever Kyle McDorman to score two runs and take a 4-2 lead. Fort Walton Beach got two more runs off McDorman and another off of Garrod Voigt in the sixth to stretch the lead to 7-2.

But with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles started to stir. Two singles and a Tyler Kinard two-run triple made it 7-4, and then Tate DeShong walked to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Will Mullen.

Mullen grounded sharply to short, but Cody Kilpatrick’s throw to second for the force out pulled William Fowler off the bag, allowing Kinard to score. However, DeShong thought the ball got into right field and tried to make it to third, where he was thrown out to end the game.

“That heart has been all year with these guys,” Niceville coach Cory Hamrick said. “We have won so many close games late. That’s just how they are. They’re an exceptional group. It’s a tough way to go out, especially this early in district, but these guys played their tails off.”

Phillip Gabes led the Vikings with two hits and three RBIs, while McDorman closed his Niceville career by going 3-for-4 with a run driven in.

Crestview led its semifinal game throughout, but needed a gutsy outing from a freshman relief pitcher to put the No.2 seed Dolphins away. Dennis Gibbons threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the save for starter Kameron Miller, who struck out five while allowing all four Mosley runs to earn the win.

“All year it’s been pretty evenly matched between us,” Crestview coach Tim Gillis said. “Mosley has a good team and they battled, and we scrapped today. Fortunately for us, we came out on top.”

Crestview (18-8) got on the board in the first, thanks to a couple of costly defensive miscues by Mosley. Dakota Dean singled and Kameron Miller reached on an error by the Mosley third baseman to set the table, and both runners came in on an error by the center fielder on a David Ogilvie pop up.

The Bulldogs added a run in the second on an RBI single by Miller to drive in Dean, who finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mosley then cut the lead to 3-1 with a run in the third.

The fourth was the busiest inning of the game, as the Bulldogs picked up a pair of runs on an RBI single by Dean and a run-scoring double by Miller. But Mosley’s Logan Quimoyag got the Dolphins (20-6) right back in the game in their half of the inning with a two-run home run to make it 5-3.

Mosley seemed poised to tie the game or take the lead in the sixth when they scored a run on a Jordan Larry RBI single to make it a 5-4 game, but the Dolphins left a pair of runners on base.

Gibbons came on to get the final out of the sixth before closing out the Dolphins in the seventh for the save.

“He’s done a good job all year,” Gillis said. “We stuck him in some situations just to see how he would do. He’s got great mental makeup. He thrives on pressure.”

Alex Simoneaux finished 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Dolphins, while Zach Rhodes also had a pair of hits.

CRESTVIEW – Sparked by a three-run seventh inning, the Niceville baseball team came from behind to beat Crestview 4-3 in District 2-5A play Friday.

For most of the game, the breaks seemed to go the way of the Bulldogs (14-8, 2-4), who took a 3-1 lead into the final frame. But just when it looked like the night would belong to the home team, the bounces started to favor the Eagles (18-5, 6-0).

With one out in the seventh, Niceville’s Travis Sweeney managed to muscle a ball just over the head of Gabe Gunter in right field for a double. Taylor Saris then singled just past a diving Bulldog third baseman Dennis Gibbons. Sweeney went to the third on the play, and when the Crestview defense lost track of Saris, he advanced to second without a throw.

Crestview coach Tim Gillis then elected to intentionally walk Kyle McDorman.

Ben DeVall was hit by a Kameron Miller pitch to score Sweeney. Saris and McDorman scored as Dakota Dean couldn’t come up with infield choppers off the bats of Chase Darhower and Tyler Kinard to cap the Eagle comeback.

“It was a big win for our guys,” Niceville coach Cory Hamrick said. “We never stopped battling. Kameron Miller was really good tonight and that is two (games) in a row that Kameron has gone out and been dominant against us.

“Our guys never stopped believing and we got the runs there in the seventh. It’s a good win for us.

The Bulldogs came out focused a night after losing to Fort Walton Beach 10-0.

“It’s disappointing, but we fought hard,” Crestview coach Tim Gillis said. “I was real proud of our kids. They fought hard and that’s all you can ask of them.

“A couple of bad bounces went against us tonight, but that’s baseball. Like I tried to explain to our guys, the time is going to come when the bounces go our way and hopefully it will be the right time.”

Miller, who took the loss on the mound, held the Eagles hitless through three innings as the Bulldogs built a 2-0 lead off McDorman, Niceville’s starting pitcher.

Crestview got on the board in the first inning when Derek Lovelace reached on an error and later scored on a Tyler  Henderson double.

Consecutive singles by Henderson, David Ogilvie and Seth Thomason allowed Henderson to score Crestview’s second run of the game in the third inning. The opportunity for a big inning was cut short when Ogilvie was thrown out at the plate on what looked to be a double steal attempt, and Gabe Gunter popped out to center.

Darhower, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a Miller wild pitch for Niceville’s first run on of the game in the fourth.

Colt Tarpley struck out six Bulldogs in relief of McDorman in three innings of work.

Henderson led the way for the Bulldogs with three hits. Saris had two hits to pace the Eagle attack.

LYNN HAVEN — The upperclassmen on this edition of the Mosley baseball team have had their share of glory, resilience and success.

Thursday afternoon against visiting Niceville, however, they had no sense of timing.

Mosley produced a lackluster effort in a 9-0 District 2-5A loss to the Eagles on Senior Recognition Day at Harry Frank Field. Niceville took a 1-0 lead when Ranson Early scored on a throwing error in the second inning and opened a cushion in the third against losing pitcher Josh Hart.

The only drama from that point was whether or not Niceville right-hander Nick Junger would no-hit the Dolphins (17-6, 2-3 in 2-5A). His quest for a gem lasted until two outs in the sixth inning when Bowen McGuffin lined a solid single to center field.

Alex Simoneaux doubled with one out in the seventh, and Junger settled for a two-hit shutout.

Mosley coach Todd Harless acknowledged that his ballclub came out flat.

“They did, and the sad thing is this is Senior Recognition Day,” he said. “I hate it for our seniors that this was the last game they’ll ever play here unless we get a playoff game.”

While the outcome didn’t affect the 2-5A tournament in two weeks hosted by the Eagles (17-5, 5-0), it certainly didn’t build momentum for the Dolphins. They finish their district schedule tonight at Fort Walton Beach, and whatever that outcome, will meet Crestview in a tournament matchup of Nos. 2 and 3 seeds. Niceville will host Crestview, where it will play tonight.

Harless noted that the Dolphins, who lost 2-1 to the Eagles earlier this season, played as if they were intimidated by the “N” on the opposing jerseys. Junger said the scouting report against Mosley was that it puts the ball in play, and one key was keeping the Dolphins off the basepaths where they can utilize their team speed.

“I felt good by about the second batter,” Junger said. “My curveball was moving and I tried a splitter a little bit and was getting it in on their hands. We haven’t blown out anybody in district, and we knew Mosley had a good team.”

Junger said that a teammate reminded him during the fifth inning that he was working on a no-hitter. While that thought wasn’t at the forefront, he said, he clearly was aware of the situation.

“It was very hard hit,” Junger said of McGuffin’s single. “When he hit it I just thought, ‘well, there that goes.’”

Mosley often is the team playing small ball, but Niceville was the aggressor almost from the start. Hart worked out of a base-loaded, no-out situation in the first inning with the help of a strikeout and two ground balls. The Eagles had loaded the bases on singles by Travis Sweeney and Kyle McDorman and Ben DeVall being hit by a pitch.

Early walked with one out in the second and steamed toward third on a bunt-and-run with Cory Eller at the plate. An errant throw enabled Early to trot home with the first run.

Consecutive singles by McDorman, DeVall and Chase Darhower began the third, and defensive lapses by Mosley helped the lead begin to expand for Junger.

NICEVILLE – Tyler Kinard’s grandparents were in town to see him play on Tuesday, and he did what any good grandson would do. He launched a solo homerun over the fence in left-center field to give Niceville their first lead of the game over Dunbar High School out of Kentucky – a lead they never relinquished.

The Eagles went on to win 5-3 over a Dunbar team that was undefeated coming into Tuesday’s game.

The Bulldogs took advantage of a slow start by Niceville’s Gerrod Voigt. Voigt gave up four hits and a run in the first inning. He finished the evening allowing two runs – both earned – eight hits, two strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings pitched.

After going hitless through the first three innings, Niceville (12-4) finally flipped the switch in the fourth.

Cory Eller got Niceville’s first hit of the game with a leadoff single and was driven in on a bloop single by Chase Darhower. Kyle McDorman then reached on an error and later scored on a hit by Colt Tarpley (1-for-1, run, walk) to knot the score at 2-2.

Kinard (1-for-3) led-off the fifth with his solo home run to give the Eagles the 3-2 lead.

“It was one of those ones where right when I hit it I knew it had a chance of going out,” Kinard said, “and it just felt great to see it bounce over the fence.”

“Great swing by Tyler,” Niceville coach Cory Hamrick said. “He was struggling a little bit coming into today, but he worked really hard yesterday in practice in the cages. He really bared down.”

Travis Sweeney (1-for-3, double, run) knocked a standup double off the fence and was driven in by McDorman to close the scoring in the bottom of the fifth, giving the Eagles a 4-2 lead, and they never looked back.

Dunbar (11-1) scored a run in the top of the sixth on a Niceville fielding error, but the Eagles answered with an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning, bringing the score to 5-3.

Kevin Kelleher (one earned run, hit, 2 strikeouts) came on for Voigt in the top of the fifth and earned the win. Tarpley and Nick Junger combined to finish-off the Bulldogs in the final inning.

“Guys really battled,” Hamrick said. “They put the ball in play, scored a few runs early; we weathered a little bit of a storm and just battled. (Dunbar) had a good guy on the mound.

“I give credit to my team. They did a nice job tonight.”

NICEVILLE - Navarre pitcher Brock Secondine and Niceville pitcher Mikel Belcher went head-to-head all evening in what Navarre coach Mickey O’Quinn called the “the best-pitched game” he’s seen all year.

Belcher put up the big numbers with 13 strikeouts while allowing only three hits and two walks. But Brock Secondine allowed just four hits, struckout five and picked up the one thing Belcher didn’t – the win. Navarre edged out Niceville for the 2-1 victory in the second night of tournament play in the Northwest Florida Bulldog Classic.

With runners on the corners and the score tied 1-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Jason Frederick came through with a well-executed bunt down the first base line, scoring Kyle Rogers for the game-winning run. Rogers was pinch running for Cale Secondine (2-for-3, RBI) who singled to right field to open the inning.

“Huge win,” O’Quinn said. “I don’t think we’ve ever beaten Niceville in the history of Navarre baseball.

“Brock was outstanding. He was just outstanding on the mound. It’s about his fourth just dominant start on the mound.”

The Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, making two of the three hits they would get all evening count. Cale Secondine ripped a shot to the gap in left-center field scoring leadoff man Dusty Jones (1-for-3, double, run) from second.

The close win by Navarre (8-9) left Niceville coach Cory Hamrick with mixed emotions.

“Mikel was good enough to win tonight,” Hamrick said. ” (Brock) Secondine matched him pitch-for-pitch and they manufactured one more run than we did.

“Our hitting was pitiful. It was really bad, we didn’t execute at the plate.”

Brock Secondine’s gem of a game might have had something to do with that.

“We had four, they had three, just a great pitched ball game,” O’Quinn said. “All you can do is give credit to the pitching right there. A couple timely hits turned out huge for us.”

Travis Sweeney finished 2-for-2 with a double and Niceville’s (10-4) lone RBI.

CRESTVIEW – The name of the tournament has changed, but good baseball will remain as the tournament previously known as the Powerade Classic now becomes the Northwest Florida Bulldog Classic.

This year’s tournament opens today with games at Crestview, Choctawhatchee, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville. Eight teams will compete for the tournament championship that will be decided Friday at 7 p.m.

Choctaw, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Pace, Navarre, Milton and Alabama-based Shoals Christian join the Bulldogs in this year’s tournament.

Crestview kicks off the tournament today at 6 p.m. against longtime rival Pace. The Patriots are the defending state champions in Class 5A and were voted national champions in the country by USA Today.

Bulldog coach Tim Gillis expects another great week of baseball, even though the number of teams participating is down from past years.

“It’s a few less teams than normal,” he said. “We can theorize about all kinds of reasons for that. Some of it might be money, but spring breaks not matching up is the main reason.

“We still feel like we’ve got a strong field, with obviously the local teams we have in it.”

One interesting twist to the tournament is that teams from the Bulldog Classic will also be playing teams competing in The Bash at the Beach tournament during pool play, and those games will count toward the seeding for the Bulldog Classic championship game.

“Each team will play three games during pool play and then they play a game on Friday, so it’s a four-game guarantee for every team involved in the tournament,” Gillis said. “That’s kind of the way we formatted it the last seven or eight years.

“We try to go on and schedule out the first three days so everybody knows where and when they will be playing. And then we try to get the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the finals.”

After games are completed Thursday, Gillis will seed teams for Friday play. The top two teams, based first on won-loss records and then tiebreakers, will play in the championship game.

Gillis isn’t sure if there is a clear-cut favorite to win the tournament, but if he did single out one or two teams that might have a slight edge on everyone else.

“I think it’s going to be an eight-team battle royal,” Gillis said. “You’ve got to like Pace’s chances, and Niceville usually does good.

“But Pace is defending state champions and national champions, so they are going to be tough to beat.”