Blue Wahoos Fall Late To Chattanooga
July 18, 2021
Zach McCambley turned in a quality start in his Blue Wahoos Stadium debut; however, TJ Hopkins go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth gave the Lookouts a 3-2 win Saturday night.
Leading 2-1, Dylan Bice was brought in to close the ninth. After a single from Wilson Garcia, Hopkins belted a two-run homer to left to give Chattanooga the lead. Despite getting the tying run on the in the bottom of the inning, Hector Perez (S, 1) shut down the ‘Hoos to preserve the win.
The late-game dramatics from Chattanooga spoiled a dazzling home debut for McCambley. After allowing six runs and five walks in his Double-A debut on July 10, the right-hander rebounded with six solid innings against the best hitting team in Double-A.
McCambley allowed one run (zero earned) while scattering three hits and two walks while striking out six. The only run he allowed was due to a throwing error on a pickoff attempt before a base hit into center by Jay Schuyler.
Pensacola played very well against Nick Lodolo, who was making his first start since featuring in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. After a double and a walk to begin the second inning, Jhon Nunez grounded an RBI single to right to bring home J.D. Osborne, giving the Wahoos an early 1-0 lead. After Chattanooga tied the game in the top of the fifth, Pensacola scored on a bases loaded walk off Lookout reliever Michael Byrne.
Neither team was able to generate much offense throughout the night until Hopkins game-winning hit.
The series concludes Sunday afternoon.
Blue Wahoos Fall 4-0 To Chattanooga
July 17, 2021
In his first start back from the Futures Game, Jake Eder produced another quality start but was not backed by the offensive production he needed as Pensacola was defeated 4-0 by Chattanooga Friday night.
Eder pitched six complete innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits to fall to 3-3 on the season.
The Blue Wahoos did not have a hit until Demetrius Sims’ infield single in the sixth inning. Peyton Burdick and Galli Cribbs Jr. picked up a hit a piece but the Wahoos struggled with runners in scoring position.
Mac Sceroler pitched four hitless innings for the Lookouts and Randy Wynne (W, 2-4) tossed a clean fifth inning to secure the win.
The series continues tomorrow with RHP Zach McCambley (2-5, 4.48) getting the start for the first time in Pensacola.
Cribbs Delivers In The Clutch; Wahoos Walk-Off Lookouts 2-1
July 16, 2021
Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Devin Hairston doubled before Galli Cribbs lined the game-winning single to left to give Pensacola a thrilling 2-1 walk-off win against the Lookouts on Thursday.
Hairston wasted no time in the ninth and he ground the first pitch he saw from Matt Pidich (L, 2-4) just inside the left field line for a leadoff double. That brought up Cribbs, who initially was trying to lay down a sac bunt. However, after a couple of pitches—and the corner infielders crashing aggressively—Cribbs laced a line drive into left-center that allowed Hairston to score the winning run from second. That base hit gave Pensacola their seventh walk-off win in 32 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Unlike the first couple of games in the series, neither side was able to generate much offense. For Chattanooga, their only run came from a solo homer against Max Meyer in the top of the third. Outside of that pitch, Meyer was excellent in his first outing since participating in the Futures Game in Denver. The Marlins #3 prospect ultimately worked six innings and allowed four hits while walking one and striking out four. It also was his third quality start of the season.
Chattanooga starter Ricky Salinas was even better for the Lookouts as he worked 5.2 shutout innings, scattering seven hits while tying his season high with eight strikeouts.
The Wahoos bullpen again rose to the occasion late in the game. Alberto Guerrero entered the game in the seventh and delivered two shutout innings. Dylan Bice (W, 4-1) replaced him in the ninth, and despite a leadoff walk, and runners on the corners with only one out, managed to escape trouble without conceding a run.
With the win, and Mississippi’s 10-2 loss to the Smokies, the Wahoos are now three games back of the M-Braves for the best record in the league.
The series continues tomorrow with LHP Jake Eder (3-2, 1.33) taking the hill for Pensacola. Chattanooga is using the combination of RHP Mac Sceroler (1-0, 1.50) and RHP Dylan Baker (0-0, 9.00).
Pensacola’s Offense Sputters; Lookouts Even Series With 5-1 Win Over The Wahoos
July 15, 2021
Chattanooga scored twice in the second and never trailed as they beat the Wahoos 5-1 Wednesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Will Stewart (L, 3-5) made his 12th start of the year for Pensacola and came just short of his third quality start in a row. The lefty ran into trouble in the second when the Lookouts opened the frame with three consecutive base hits. With runners at first and second and the Lookouts up 1-0, Errol Robinson laced an RBI single to left; however, the Wahoos executed defensively and the cutoff man, Connor Justus, cut Peyton Burdick’s throw and trapped Chuckie Robinson in a rundown between second and third. The next batter struck out, limiting Chattanooga to a two-run lead.
Pensacola had a response in the third inning when they scored their only run of the night. After a leadoff walk, Galli Cribbs Jr. dropped a drag bunt down for a base hit. Chattanooga starter Connor Curlis (W, 4-4) tried to make a glove flip to first and instead tossed the ball towards the dugout for his second of the year.
With runners at second and third, J.D. Orr ripped a one-out single to score Justus and cut the deficit down to 2-1. After Orr stole second, Burdick and JJ Bleday struck out to end the inning.
That was the best chance for the Wahoos who were held off the board for the rest of the night. Pensacola was limited to three hits after their 11-run, 10-hit performance on Tuesday.
Curlis turned in his best outing of the year as the southpaw pitched 6.2 innings (season-high) and allowed just one unearned run while walking two and striking out nine.
Stewart took the hill in the seventh, but failed to retire a batter. After loading the bases, Pensacola brought in Alexander Guillen; however, Chattanooga brought home all three runs to put them up 5-1.
The series continues tomorrow evening at Blue Wahoos Stadium. RHP Max Meyer (4-1, 1.67) takes the hill for Pensacola and he will be opposed by RHP Ricky Salinas (3-3, 4.50).
Nine-Run Second Inning Leads Wahoos To Blowout Win Over Lookouts
July 14, 2021
Pensacola scored nine times in the bottom of the second to runaway with Tuesday’s series opener 11-3 against the Lookouts at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
On the hill for Chattanooga, Graham Ashcraft (L, 3-1)—who struck out the side in the first—failed to record an out in the second as the Wahoos sent 15 men to the plate. Remarkably, nine consecutive Blue Wahoos batters reached safely to open the inning, using five hits and four walks to bat around before the first out. After Nick Fortes and Riley Mahan each walked to lead off the inning, Chris Chinea, Connor Justus, Galli Cribbs Jr., Devin Hairston, and J.D. Orr each knocked hits in succession to open a 6-0 lead for the Blue Wahoos. Two walks and two fielding errors later, the Wahoos led by nine.
The inning was highlighted by Devin Hairston’s bases-clearing double that put the Wahoos. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and Pensacola up by 9, Hairston came up to the plate and flew out to deep left to end the inning—just shy of a grand slam.
With the Wahoos up 9-0, starter Jeff Lindgren (W, 3-5) eased his way to a win, throwing five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits. He was lifted in the sixth for Andrew McInvale, who allowed one run across two innings of work. Zack Leban finished the final two innings in shutout fashion, giving up three hits and striking out one along the way.
After being no-hit on Saturday, the Wahoos have scored 21 runs in their last 18 innings. They have also created more separation between themselves and third-place Chattanooga for the second and final playoff spot in the Double-A South.
LHP Will Stewart (3-4, 4.20) will try to make it three wins in a row for the Wahoos when he takes the mound for his 12th start of the year tomorrow. He will be opposed by LHP Connor Curlis (3-4, 4.80).
Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Stars Win Florida State Championship
July 13, 2021
The Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Star Team won the Florida little league state championship Monday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Tate Youth Football Camp
July 12, 2021
Registration is open now for the 2021 Tate Youth Football Camp, which will be held July 19-20 from 5-8 p.m.
The camp will be directed by the Tate coaching staff, assisted by Tate football players. This is an opportunity to work on fundamentals, practice agility, run through drills and learn about being part of a team.
The cost is $50 in advance, or $60 on the day of the camp. Attendees will receive a t-shirt. No football equipment will be needed. Cleats are recommended but not required.
To register, click or tap here. For more information, click the graphic on this page to enlarge.
Wahoos Knock 10 Hits In 10-4 Series Finale Win Over M-Braves
July 12, 2021
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos ambushed the M-Braves early and avoided a six-game sweep with a resounding 10-4 win at Trustmark Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Wahoos were off the the perfect start scoring five times before Edward Cabrera (W, 2-1) ever took the mound. M-Brave starter Spencer Strider (L, 1-2) struggled mightily with his command, walking five consecutive batters to put the Wahoos 2-0.
After a sac fly from Galli Cribbs, John Nunez and Devin Hairston tallied back-to-back run-scoring singles to put Pensacola up 5-0.
For a moment the Wahoos lead was in peril. Mississippi scored four times in the bottom of the fourth after hitting for the cycle as a team against Cabrera. Drew Lugbauer hit a two-run homer, Jefrey Ramos laced an RBI triple and Jalen Miller made it 5-4 with an RBI double.
After the first, Mississippi would not score again. Cabrera and the Wahoos bullpen held the M-Braves to a total of two hits over the final eight innings. Pensacola’s starter finished the game having thrown 85 pitches across 5.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked only one en route to his second win with the Wahoos.
The bottom of the lineup contributed a lion-share of the offense. Pensacola’s 5-9 hitters went 8-for-18 with nine RBIs and five runs scored. J.D. Osborne launched his first homer of the season in the win while Connor Justus and JJ Bleday each had at least one walk and one double.
The Blue Wahoos will now head home in preparation for their six-game showdown against the Chattanooga Lookouts. The series begins on Tuesday.
Blue Wahoos On Losing End Of No-Hitter For First Time Ever
July 11, 2021
For the first time in franchise history, the Blue Wahoos were on the wrong end of a no-hitter, losing 6-0 to the Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park.
Bryce Elder fired seven shutout innings and struck out six while walking four. The M-Braves brought in Daysbel Hernandez for the final two innings. For Mississippi, it was the fourth no-hitter in the club’s history and the first since Ian Anderson and Jeremy Walker no-hit the Jackson Generals on June 28, 2019.
Zach McCambley made his Double-A debut for the Wahoos and struggled early against the red-hot M-Braves. The right-hander and top-30 prospect in the Marlins system allowed six runs in 3.1 innings.
McCambley entered the night having struck out 73 compared to just six walks across 11 starts with High-A Beloit. On Saturday however, the New-Jersey native battled his command as he walked five only striking out one.
The M-Braves led 4-0 after two innings. Up 1-0, Trey Harris hit a three-run double in the second to put Mississippi up 4-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Justin Dean homered off McCambley to make it 6-0.
Jose Mesa Jr replaced McCambley in the fourth but was only able to pitch 1.2 innings before he was lifted from the game due to injury. Tyler Stevens and Alexander Guillen pitched the final three innings scoreless fashion.
Including Saturday’s loss, the Blue Wahoos have now lost a season-long five straight games to the M-Braves. The club entered the series with a one-game lead over the M-Braves for the best record in the Double-A South and now find themselves four games out of first place and on the verge of being out of a playoff spot.
Pensacola will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon in a pitching rematch of Tuesday’s series opener. RHP Edward Cabrera (1-1,1.77) will face off against RHP Spencer Strider (1-1, 3.95).
M-Braves Rally, Walk-Off Wahoos in Ninth
July 10, 2021
In a 4-4 tie, Wendell Rijo dropped a game-winning single into shallow right to give the M-Braves a 5-4 win over the Wahoos on Friday night at Trustmark Park.
The Wahoos led for most of Friday’s game largely due to Will Stewart’s second consecutive quality start. The left-hander pitched six innings and allowed three runs (one earned) without walking
a batter. The only run he allowed in the first five innings was a solo homer to Jefrey Ramos in the bottom of the fourth.
With the game tied at 1-1, Pensacola scored three times in the sixth to take the lead. After Victor Victor Mesa reached on a fielding error, Peyton Burdick walked before JJ Bleday lined a run-scoring
double into right center. The inning continued as Nick Fortes reached on comeback to the pitcher that Fortes beat out due to Troy Bacon slowly lobbing the ball to first. After a sac fly and a walk, Tristan Pompey—who homered earlier in the game—beat the shift
with an infield single, which scored Bleday.
Unfortunately for the Wahoos, the three-run lead was short lived. Mississippi scored twice in the bottom of the inning, all with two outs. Stewart had the chance to end the inning when he induced
a comebacker from Ramos, but the southpaw’s throw to first sailed into right field. The inning continued and the M-Braves ultimately scored twice to make it a 4-3 game.
Josh Roberson took over in the seventh, and with two outs and a runner at first, Shea Langeliers drove in the tying run with a base hit to right.
Pensacola was unable to score in the eighth or ninth, and in the bottom of the ninth, Justin Dean walked, stole second, and eventually reached third on a groundout to short. That setup Rijo for
the game-winning single to give Mississippi their fourth straight win over the Wahoos.
Pensacola will try to avoid losing their fifth consecutive game to the M-Braves Saturday night.