Wahoos Rebound From Friday’s Loss With Shutout Win Over Biloxi
August 8, 2021
Behind a brilliant performance from Will Stewart (W, 5-5) the Blue Wahoos shut out the Shuckers 4-0 on Saturday night at MGM Park.
Stewart, who entered play today in sensational form—needed just 70 pitches to hurl six shutout innings against the Shuckers. He did so while surrendering only three hits and one walk while striking out three. The only blemishes on his night were a pair of errors, which ultimately had no impact on the game.
The first came in the top of the third when he failed to pick up a David Hamilton bunt attempt with his glove. However, Stewart struck out the next two batters to end the inning. In the fifth, his throw to first on a swinging bunt was low and skipped past Lazaro Alonso for a two-base throwing error. In that inning—and Biloxi’s best chance at scoring—the Shuckers literally ran themselves out of the inning with a bizarre double play.
With runners at second and third, Stewart fielded a comebacker to the mound that caused Cam Devanney to be in a rundown between third and home. The Wahoos ran Devanney back to third; however, the runner who started at second (Hamilton) was on third base as Devanney approached the bag. Devanney gave himself up as Santiago Chavez tagged him out; but at that same moment, Hamilton retreated to second base. The Wahoos then had Hamilton in a rundown and ultimately, he was tagged out to end the inning.
Since July 1st, Stewart has an ERA has a 2.43 ERA, which is the lowest in the Double-A South. He is also 1-0 over his previous two starts against Biloxi, with 12 shutout innings and only five hits allowed against the Brewers’s Double-A affiliate.
After Stewart’s six innings, Pensacola’s bullpen retired all nine batters they faced to end the game.
Offensively, Peyton Burdick led the way with a 2-for-3 night that included his 19th home run of the season. Tied at 0-0, Burdick turned the first pitch he saw from Carlos Luna (L, 1-2) around and drilled it to left to put Pensacola ahead 1-0. He later singled in the fifth and added two walks giving him 63 on the year (most in Double-A).
Pensacola doubled their lead in the top of the fifth when Griffin Conine knocked a two-out RBI single to right that scored Chavez. In the seventh, JJ Bleday snapped a 0-for-19 skid with a two-out two-run double to put the Wahoos ahead 4-0.
Pensacola looks to close out the series with a win in Sunday’s finale
Heavy Hitters Go Quiet In 4-0 Shutout Loss
August 7, 2021
Noah Zavolas (W, 4-6) pitched seven shutout innings as Pensacola came up short in a 4-0 loss to Biloxi Friday night at MGM Park.
Zavolas turned in one of his best outings of the year scattering five hits and three walks across his start while also striking out seven.
The Wahoos best chance to score may have come early in the game. In the top of the first the Wahoos loaded the bases via three Zavolas walks; however, Demetrius Sims flew out to right field with two outs to end the threat.
In an abbreviated outing for Pensacola, Jake Eder (L, 3-5) was handed a tough-luck loss as he yielded one unearned run in three innings of work. After Eder retired the leadoff hitter to begin the bottom of the first, Sims and Marcos Rivera botched back-to-back grounders to set up the Shuckers with first and second and only one out. Alexander Palma followed with an RBI single to put the Shuckers ahead 1-0. Eder remained composed and forced David Fry into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
Eder finished the night having surrendered one hit and picked up three strikeouts in his three innings on Friday,
In the second inning, Santiago Chavez led off the road half of the inning with a lead-off double for the Wahoos. Zavolas, unphased, retired the next three batters to end the potential threat.
Pensacola’s top four hitters in the lineup (JJ Bleday, Peyton Burdick, Griffin Conine and Brian Navarreto) struggled against Biloxi’s starter. The four hitters finished the night a combined 0-for-14 with two walks and four strikeouts.
Most of Biloxi’s damage came late in the game. Eight of the Shuckers 10 hits came in the final three innings of the game. After Alberto Guerrero allowed a run in his 2.1 innings of work, Dylan Bice was tagged for a pair of runs, courtesy of a David Hamilton two-run homer in the seventh.
Trailing 4-0, Colton Hock made his return to the Blue Wahoos. He worked a scoreless eighth inning in his first appearance since July 4th, which was also against the Shuckers.
Northview’s Student Athletes Rank No. 6 Academically In Florida Class 1A
August 6, 2021
All of Northview High School’s student athletes were collectively ranked No. 6 academically in the state in Class 1A for the 2020-2021 school year, according to rankings from the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Northview High School students not only work hard athletically, but also in the classroom,” said Obreonne Smith, Northview athletic director. “This is a great accomplishment for the students, staff and school.”
Pictured: Class of 2021 members of the Northview High School Lady Chiefs softball team. Pictured below: Last year’s Chiefs baseball team celebrates a district win over Jay. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Burdick And Conine Homer Again In Wahoos 10-2 Loss To The Shuckers
August 6, 2021
The Shuckers used a five-run sixth inning and hit a combined four homers in their 10-2 win over the Wahoos on Thursday at MGM Park.
Pensacola got off to the perfect start when Griffin Conine hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first off Justin Bullock (W, 2-0) to put the Wahoos up 1-0. For Conine it was his third homer in two days and his 29th of the season, which is the most in MiLB.
Unfortunately, Zach McCambley (L, 0-4) he was hit hard early and failed to make it past the fifth inning for the third time in five starts. David Hamilton and David Fry each homered off McCambley in the bottom of the first. In the second, Ryan Aguilar hit a two-run home run to put the Shuckers up 4-1.
After Peyton Burdick hit a solo home run in the top of the third, the Shuckers responded with a Mitch Longo home run to extend Biloxi’s lead up to 5-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Biloxi sent 10 men to the plate and scored five times. After Tyler Stevens was lifted for Jefry Yan, Pensacola had a chance to escape the inning with no damage dealt. With the bases loaded and two outs, Yan induced a ground ball from Mitch Longo, however, the ball was misplayed by Demetrius Sims. Four more runs came home to score after the error, and when the dust settled, Biloxi led by eight.
Tevin Mitchell and Zack Kone each made their Double-A debuts, and both players tallied their first career Double-A hits. The loss snaps Pensacola’s three game-winning streak and is only the fourth loss in 15 tries against the Shuckers this year.
LHP Jake Eder (3-4, 1.95) gets the start for Pensacola in Friday’s contest against Biloxi. He will be opposed by RHP Noah Zavolas (3-6, 5.40).
Wahoos Slug Their Way To Third Win In A Row
August 5, 2021
The Blue Wahoos won their third game in a row thanks to a five-homer night in a 9-6 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday night at MGM Park.
In the bottom of the first inning, Peyton Burdick and Griffin Conine hit back-to-back homers against Jesus Castillo (L, 3-6) to put the Wahoos up 2-0. After the Shuckers tacked an unearned run against Meyer in the bottom of the first, the Wahoos restored their two-run lead when Chris Chinea smoked an RBI double that scored Demetrius Sims.
The Wahoos soon put the game out of reach with a five-run fifth inning that extended the lead to 7-1. Galli Cribbs hit a two-run homer off Castillo in the inning for his first Double-A homer since August 24th, 2019. Later in the inning, Conine belted his second homer of the night off Castillo, his fifth with the Blue Wahoos and his 28th this season. After MJ Melendez hit three home runs tonight for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, both Conine and Melendez are tied for the MiLB lead in homers this year.
In the sixth, Burdick crushed his crushed his 17th homer of the year with a no-doubter to left. According to Trackman technology, the projected distance on Burdick’s home run was 457 feet and possessed an exit velocity of 114 mph. Burdick finished the evening with three hits and two RBI.
Other notable performances include Connor Justus, who finished the night 3-for-3. Justus has now hit safely in five straight games, and during that stretch is slashing .500/.545/.700. Chris Chinea also went 3-for-5 with two RBI for Pensacola.
The offensive explosion distracts from another fine outing from Max Meyer (W, 5-1) who now leads the team in wins. Meyer—who allowed baserunners in all five of his innings—demonstrated poise while neutralizing nearly every rally Biloxi attempted to orchestrate. With runners at first and third in the first inning, Meyer struck out Chad Spanberger to limit the damage to one unearned run. In the same scenario in the third, Meyer induced a Spanberger groundout to keep the Shuckers off the board. Ultimately, Meyer allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out six compared to one walk.
Despite a few late-inning runs from the Shuckers, the game was never seriously in threat for the Wahoos. Pensacola will attempt to make it four consecutive wins in Thursday’s contest against the Shuckers.
Photos: Jay High Day At The Blue Wahoos
August 4, 2021
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos held Jay Day on Monday, featuring the Jay High School Royals and a local state championship softball team.
The Jay High band performed the National Anthem, and the Jay Royals varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads also performed.
New principal Benjie West, a Jay graduate who took over June 4, threw out the first pitch.
And the The Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Star Team was honored for winning the Florida Little League state championship.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos courtesy Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Justus Shines In Wahoos 5-2 Win Against Shuckers
August 4, 2021
Connor Justus and Brian Navarreto each homered for the Wahoos as Pensacola took Tuesday’s series opener 5-2 at MGM Park.
After trailing 2-0, the Wahoos scored five unanswered, giving Kyle Nicolas (W, 1-0) his first career Double-A win.
Nicolas was excellent in his second start with the Wahoos. He allowed two runs in five innings while striking out six. Biloxi’s only offense came in the bottom of the third when Garrett Mitchell—the Brewers top prospect according to MLB Pipeline—launched a two-run homer to right to put the hosts ahead. Mitchell’s homer was one of only three hits Biloxi’s offense mustered against Nicolas.
Pensacola’s comeback effort began in the top of the fifth. After Demetrius Sims walked, Riley Mahan doubled to left center to put Pensacola on the board. The next batter, Justus, crushed a two-run homer to left field to put the Wahoos ahead 3-2. For Justus, it was his second home run of the season.
In the seventh, Justus walked to begin the inning. After a perfectly executed sac bunt from Galli Cribbs, the Wahoos picked up another run thanks to Peyton Burdick’s second double of the night. Leading 4-2, the Wahoos added one more when Brian Navarreto hit a solo homer of J.T. Hintzen to put Pensacola up 5-2.
The Wahoos bullpen, which had its struggles in the previous series against Mississippi, was magnificent against the Shuckers. Three different relievers pitched four scoreless innings while only allowing four total baserunners.
The series continues tomorrow night with RHP Max Meyer on the mound for Pensacola. He will be opposed by RHP Jesus Castillo.
Blue Wahoos Breakout With Big Win On Jay High Day At The Ballpark
August 2, 2021
The Blue Wahoos touted tandem, outfielders J.J. Bleday and Griffin Conine, made sure Sunday was a fun day — Jay High Day at the ballpark.
And maybe a well-needed one, too.
After what had been a rough homestand, both with weather and team results, Bleday and Conine put a charge into the mood by producing two big hits apiece and six runs batted in, as the Blue Wahoos busted out with an 11-3 victory against the Mississippi Braves in the final game of their series.
While the M-Braves took four of the six games, what occurred Sunday among an energized crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium left a good mood to finish the weekend.
“We want to just keep building off (Sunday),” said Bleday, who went 2-for-5, scored three runs and scorched the ball in four plate appearances. “We have been struggling.. We have been letting some games affect us, but today we did a really good job.. We came out hot.”
That started with Bleday’s lead-off single in the first inning, followed an out later by Conine’s two-run blast off a 99-mph fastball. The moon shot exited his bat and carried 441 feet over right center wall, bounced on the concourse, then bounded out of the stadium.
It continued Conine’s lead as the top home run hitter (26) in Minor League Baseball.
“This series (M-Braves) did a really good job of fastballs up every at bat,” said Conine, who was elevated a week ago from the Beloit Snappers, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate where he hit 23 homers.
“(M-Braves pitchers) all throw 96 to 98 (mph) and that is tough to get on top off. So (Sunday) I really put emphasis in pregame work with fastball machine.
“Getting one (homer) in the first (inning) was awesome. It was a lot of fun out there today.”
The enjoyment carried through the stadium. It was Jay Day at the ballpark, complete with Jay High School’s band, their cheerleaders and their principal all part of pregame activities.
They started the festivities, then the Blue Wahoos followed with their performance.
Riley Mahan followed Conine’s homer with a solo shot in the first. The Blue Wahoos then knocked out M-Braves starter Victor Vodnik with a four-run second inning, highlighted by Bleday’s 2-run triple.
Vodnik was strong in Mississippi’s win Tuesday in the first game of the series, but faced only 12 batters Sunday when pulled with one out in the second on Jay High Day at the ballpark.
Seven of the nine batters in the Blue Wahoos lineup factored into the scoring. The big boost came from the bottom of the order with J.D. Orr, Connor Justus and Galli Cribbs Jr. combining for five hits, six runs scored and they reached base a combined 10 times in the game.
After the Blue Wahoos game Friday night was rained out, the team ended a seven-game losing streak by winning Saturday’s first game of a doubleheader and followed Sunday with one of the top performances this season.
“I think (postponement) allowed guys to get some rest and hit the reset button,” Bleday said. “These last two games we won were a good area where we want to be at.”
Will Stewart, as he’s so often done this season, delivered a quality start on the mound. He worked five innings, allowed just hits, one walk and struck out six to earn his fourth win.
Four relievers followed. The Blue Wahoos turned three double-plays and new catcher Santiago Chavez threw out the M-Braves’ Justin Dean trying to steal third in the first inning.
In all, the Blue Wahoos got 11 runs on 11 hits. They will now head to Biloxi for a week-long series against the Shuckers at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss.
His first week in Pensacola left Conine with a good impression of the crowd setting at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“The ballpark is awesome,” said Conine, 24, the son of Jeff Conine, a 17-year Major League player, two-time All Star, who led the Marlins to both of their World Series titles.
“It is really fun,” he said. “The fans are really into it. I know Beloit is getting a new ballpark (opens Tuesday), but playing in the old one, I’m definitely not used to the fan electricity and the buzz at the ballpark like here.”
It was Jay Day in a big way at the ballpark. The Jay HS band entertained fans outside the stadium before the game with various songs. The band then performed the National Anthem.
The Jay High varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads also performed before the game.
New principal Benjie West, a Jay graduate who took over June 4, threw out the first pitch. In addition, the Jay 10-under girls softball team was honored before the game for winning a state tournament championship.
by Bill Vilona, Senior Writer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Blue Wahoos Split Doubleheader, Snap Seven Game Losing Streak
August 1, 2021
The Blue Wahoos snapped their seven-game losing streak with a doubleheader split on Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Pensacola took the first game with a 5-0 win, but lost game two by a final score of 8-1.
Elieser Hernandez took the mound in game one as part of a Major League Rehab assignment for Miami. The three-year major league veteran looked impressive in his 2.2 innings of shutout ball. Hernandez—who is recovering from a right quadriceps injury—allowed one hit and struck out three. He was removed after throwing 46 pitches.
Offensively, the Blue Wahoos relied on power in order to surge past Mississippi. Three of the top hitting prospects in the Marlins system, JJ Bleday, Griffin Conine, and Peyton Burdick all homered in the win. Conine belted a two-run shot in the bottom of the first to put the Wahoos quickly ahead. Bleday crushed a solo shot to center in the fifth before Burdick added his own solo homer in the sixth.
Andrew Nardi replaced Hernandez in the third inning and 2.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball. Pensacola brought in Zack Leban to clean up the game’s final two innings en route to the club’s first shutout win of 2021.
In the second game, Jeff Lindgren struggled on the mound as the M-Braves clubbed five home runs in the win. Mississippi has now hit 18 home runs through the first five games of the series, which is the most homers in a five-game stretch in the club’s history. With the defeat, Pensacola has now lost four consecutive series.
The series finale is Sunday afternoon
M-Braves Hand Wahoos Seventh Straight Defeat With 5-1 Loss
July 30, 2021
For the third night in a row, Pensacola saw an early lead evaporate at the Blue Wahoos fell 5-1 to the M-Braves on Thursday night.
Pensacola starter Zach McCambley (L, 0-3) allowed four runs—including a pair of homers—in 4.2 innings of work. The 22-year-old struck out five while only walking two in his second career start at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Lazaro Alonso led off the frame with a solo home run. For Alonso, it was his first home run since May 28th against the Biloxi Shuckers.
After that Mississippi scored five unanswered. Immediately after the Alonso homer, Greyson Jenista homered in the top of the third to tie the game. The M-Braves tooka 2-1 lead later in that inning after Braden Shewmake doubled home Jalen Miller with two outs in the frame. The visitors added three more runs, including a pair of homers late, bringing the total of home runs allowed this series up to 13 in three games.
Mississippi’s starter, Freddy Tarnok (W, 1-0), struck out 12 Wahoos across five innings of work. Outside of the home run, Tarnok only allowed two other hits while walking only two for his first career Double-A win. Pensacola batters struck out 20 times on Thursday, which is the highest strikeout total this season in a single game. The Wahoos are also mired in their worst losing streak of the season, having lost seven straight games dating back to July 22nd.
The series continues Friday when RHP Jeff Lindgren toes the rubber (3-6, 4.76). Opposing Lindgren will be RHP Spencer Strider (1-4, 6.65).