M-Braves Take 2-1 Win Over Blue Wahoos
August 29, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Led by Luis Palacios, who produced his best start in a month, the Blue Wahoos wove together another strong performance on Wednesday from their pitching staff.
But this time, scoring one run wasn’t enough.
The Mississippi Braves produced two fifth-inning runs on four singles, all after two outs, then made that stand for a 2-1 victory against the Blue Wahoos to even the series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Palacios followed Tuesday’s masterful outing by Blue Wahoos starter Patrick Monteverde with a strong one of his own. In six innings pitched, he didn’t allow a walk and faced just one batter above the minimum in the first four innings. The fifth inning was heading that same direction until four consecutive M-Braves batters produced two-out singles.
That became the difference in a game that had 15 hits, but only two of those for extra bases. Palacios (8-7) had given up a combined 22 hits and 16 runs in three prior August starts, which had raised his earned run average to 4.81 coming into Wednesday’s game.
He found a good rhythm Tuesday and had the Blue Wahoos in good position to take a lead.
That appeared to be the path in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jared Serna led off with a single and Nathan Martorella and Graham Pauley both followed with singles that scored the Blue Wahoos’ lone run.
But with runners on the corners with one out, M-Braves reliever Rolddy Muñoz struck out Joe Mack and Andrew Pintar to end the inning in a game-decisive sequence.
The Blue Wahoos didn’t get two runners on base the rest of the game. Three M-Braves relievers followed with shutout innings, including former Pensacola State College star Patrick Halligan, who earned his sixth hold by pitching a hitless eighth inning.
Serna finished 2-for-4 as the Blue Wahoos’ lone multi-hit batter in their lineup. In the ninth, M-Braves closer Elison Joseph made quick work of three batters to end the game.
The third game of the series will be Thursday at 6:05 p.m. with the Blue Wahoos’ Evan Fitterer (6-5, 4.06) going against M-Braves converted knuckleball pitcher David Fletcher (3-5, 5.85), who was formerly a Los Angeles Angels starting infielder.
Fletcher is trying to make a career comeback and become a two-way player like his former teammate, Shohei Ohtani.
The Wahoos will take on the Mississippi Graves at 6:05 p.m.Thursday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Flomaton Sweeps Northview In Straight Sets (With Gallery)
August 28, 2024
The Flomaton Hurricanes dominated the Northview Chiefs in a volleyball match on Tuesday night, winning in three straight sets.
The final scores were 25-17, 25-20, and 25-21.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Flomaton victory comes on the heels of a 2-0 loss to Faith Academy on Monday. Northview, meanwhile, had defeated Pine Forest 3-1 Monday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Monteverde Magnificent As Blue Wahoos Win With One Hit Against M-Braves
August 28, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos ended their season-high losing streak in a special way.
They received an unparalleled outing Tuesday night from starting pitcher Patrick Monteverde, then a shutdown performance by relievers Woo-Suk Go and Dale Stanavich to get a 1-0 victory against the Mississippi Braves, thus beginning their week-long homestand with a new mark in franchise history.
In ending their six-game slide, it became the first time the Blue Wahoos won a game despite getting just one hit. All 11 previous times they were one-hit in club history resulted in losses.
Monteverde, 26, a lefthander who helped the Blue Wahoos win their 2022 Southern League championship and was stellar last season, which led to being elevated to Triple-A Jacksonville this season, reproduced his dominant form.
He allowed just two hits in seven innings, no walks and 10 strikeouts. Monteverde didn’t hesitate when asked if this was his best performance of 2024.
“Yeah… finally,” he said, smiling. “It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster this year, but it’s always good to get another shutout under your belt, more more importantly help the team get back in the win column.”
When he exited, Woo-Suk Go and Stanavich followed in the eighth and ninth by not allowing a baserunner. It was the Blue Wahoos’ best overall pitching sequence of the season, holding the M-Braves to just two hits, no walks and racking up 12 strikeouts.
And it happened in a pivotal time as the Blue Wahoos (63-56 overall, 25-26 in second half) hope to stay in playoff contention. They had lost 11 of their past 13 games before Tuesday’s win.
“This series, coming off last week (against Tennessee Smokies), obviously we got swept and to be honest with you, we didn’t think we were out-teamed, if that makes sense,” Monteverde said. “We knew we have a good club here and we know what we’re capable of.
“So going into this week, I made it clear…not that I needed to, everybody in the clubhouse knows, this was a big week coming up. These guys (M-Braves) past us in the standings and we need to get back on the right track and win a series at our place.”
Neither team had a hit through the first four innings Tuesday. M-Braves starter Jhancarlos Lara had yielded five walks in that stretch, including two to begin the second inning, but the Blue Wahoos couldn’t take advantage.
The game’s first hit was a one-out single in the fifth inning by the M-Braves Adam Zabrowski – the first to reach base after Monteverde retired the first 13 batters he faced in order.
Monteverde then struck out the next two hitters and the Blue Wahoos manufactured a run in their half of the fifth inning.
Johnny Olmstead and Jakob Marsee had back-to-back walks with one out. On a double-steal attempt, Olmstead was throw out at third. But shortstop Jared Serna came through with a two out single after Olmstead got M-Braves shortstop Cal Conley to move out of position with aggressive baserunning.
From that point, the only M-Braves baserunner was thrown out on a steal attempt in the sixth inning. The rest of the way, the pitching was exceptional.
When it ended, Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack hugged Stanavich, then Mack gathered a water cooler bucket with Stanavich to dump on Monteverde while he was doing an on-field postgame interview.
“This clubhouse is great,” Monteverde said. “I look forward to coming to the ballpark every day. Nobody is pressing. We know we still have some time and can get rolling at any time.
“Sometimes, a game like this is when the offense (comes around). This wasn’t their best day, but they produced when they had to with timely hitting and (Tuesday) was one of those. Thankfully that was all it took. But the overall vibe and clubhouse atmosphere is great.”
This series brings some sentimentality. It is the final time the Blue Wahoos will play the Mississippi Braves in club history.
The M-Braves are moving to Columbus, Ga. in 2025 where they will play in remodeled stadium, Synovus Park (formerly Golden Park), located on the Chattahoochee River that separates the state line in Georgia-Alabama. A $50 million renovation is ongoing at the 98-year-old ballpark and the facility is on schedule to be ready for April 2025 when next season begins.
When the move happens, the Atlanta Braves will have all four of their top affiliates within the state of Georgia and all within a 2-hour plus drive of Atlanta with Gwinnett (Triple-A), Columbus, Rome, Ga. (High-A) and Augusta (Class A).
The second game of the series is set for Wednesday (6:05 p.m.) with the Blue Wahoos sending lefthander Luis Palacios on the mound against the M-Braves top pitcher Landon Harper (2-1, 1.46 ERA).
UWF Debuts At No. 12 In 2024 AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll
August 27, 2024
The UWF football team will open the 2024 season ranked No. 12 following the release of the AFCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Argonauts are among three Gulf South Conference teams in the poll, with Valdosta State at No. 7 and Delta State at No. 18.
UWF’s week four opponent, Grand Valley State, was slotted at No. 4 with one first place vote.
UWF went 8-4 a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The Argos were ranked 23rd in the final poll a year ago.
UWF is 64-25 all-time with five NCAA postseason appearances in seven seasons. The Argos have reached the national semifinals three times and the national championship twice, winning the title in 2019. Since 2019, UWF’s 42 victories rank fifth among all Division 2 programs.
The Argos open the 2024 season on Thursday, September 5 when they host McKendree at PenAir Field on the UWF campus. Kickoff for the game is at 6 p.m.
Photo Scott A. Miller/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Swept Out of Tennessee Despite Late Comeback
August 26, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (62-56) mounted a late comeback in Sunday’s finale versus the Tennessee Smokies (74-45), but fell victim to another late home run and lost in walk-off fashion 9-5. The defeat marks the Wahoos’ 11th loss in 13 games and their first time being swept in a six-game series since August 8-13, 2023 in Chattanooga.
Both teams scored early and often to begin Sunday’s game. In the bottom of the first inning, Tennessee struck first against Pensacola righthander Jeff Lindgren (5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER) when third baseman Jonathon Long drove home right fielder Christian Franklin with a single. The Wahoos answered with three runs in the top of the second when center fielder Shane Sasaki doubled home the tying run before second baseman Johnny Olmstead singled home two more to give Pensacola a 3-1 lead.
The Smokies tacked on another run in the second, then jumped ahead in the third inning when Jonathon Long hit a two-run home run to give the Smokies a 4-3 lead. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth when Tennessee tacked onto its lead when left fielder Parker Chavers singled home catcher Casey Opitz.
Trailing 5-3, the Pensacola offense came to life in the late innings. In the top of the seventh, Johnny Olmstead smacked his second home run of the series to cut the lead to 5-4. In the eighth, third baseman Graham Pauley followed up with a solo home run of his own to tie the game 5-5.
In the ninth, the Wahoos put a man on but could not score against Smokies righthander Zac Leigh (W, 2-2). In the bottom of the ninth, Pensacola lefthander Chandler Jozwiak (L, 3-4) took the mound for his second inning of relief following a scoreless eighth. Tennessee immediately put men aboard via a leadoff bunt single from second baseman Reivaj Garcia and a walk to right fielder Felix Stevens. Following a fielder’s choice and a one-out walk to load the bases, Smokies first baseman Haydn McGeary stepped to the plate and hit a 2-2 pitch for a walk-off, series-ending grand slam. The homer marked the third time in as many games that Tennessee hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later.
The 9-5 defeat marks the Wahoos’ eleventh loss in 12 regular season games versus Tennessee. Pensacola has three series and 18 total regular season games remaining this season.
The Wahoos return home on Tuesday to begin a series versus the Mississippi Braves. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.
Youth Football Takes Center Stage at NWE Jamboree (With Gallery)
August 25, 2024
Fans descended upon Northwest Escambia’s Greg Gibson Field for a Saturday jam-packed with youth football excitement
It’s estimated that several thousand fans attended a kickoff jamboree Saturday at Northwest Escambia’s Greg Gibson Filed in Walnut Hill.
The kick-off jamboree stretched over 10.5 hours, featuring a series of 25-minute scrimmage games between local teams. The NWE Chiefs, Cantonment Cowboys, Ensley Chiefs, Perdido Bay Bucs, and Pensacola Seahawks all took to the field, showcasing their skills and kicking off the upcoming season.
Click here for a photo gallery featuring games from Cantonment and NWE U6 and U14 teams.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Another Late Smokies Homer Condemns Wahoos to 5-4 Defeat
August 25, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
For the second straight game, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos endured a game-breaking Tennessee Smokies homer in the eighth inning on Saturday night in a 5-4 loss.
Just minutes after Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack had tied the game 4-4 in the top of the eighth with his 21st home run of the season, Pablo Aliendo put Tennessee ahead for good with a solo home run of his own.
The Blue Wahoos have tied a season high with five losses in a row, and now trail the Biloxi Shuckers in the fight for a playoff spot by 3.5 games with 20 to play pending the results of Biloxi’s game in Birmingham.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 2-0 in the second on a two-run homer from Nathan Martorella, his third of the series and ninth of the season. Tennessee starter Matthew Thompson allowed another run in the fourth on a bases-loaded RBI single from Jacob Berry, though another run was cut down at the plate as Graham Pauley was thrown out trying to score by a strong throw from right fielder Felix Stevens.
Pensacola starter Robby Snelling was perfect through 3.2 innings, but allowed three consecutive hits with two outs in the fourth as Luis Verdugo lined a two-run single to draw the Smokies to within a run.
Snelling, afforded an opportunity to pitch into the sixth for the first time since joining the team, was unable to protect Pensascola’s 3-2 lead. A leadoff walk to Brett Bateman was followed by a two-run homer to Jonathon Long, just out of the reach of Berry in right field.
The Wahoos got the clutch hit they were looking for in the eighth, as Mack turned around a Blake Whitney (W, 8-0) offering and sent his team-leading 21st homer of the season off the glove of the leaping Stevens in right field to tie the game 4-4.
After a scoreless seventh, Matt Pushard (L, 3-4) was sent out for the eighth to try and keep the game tied for the Blue Wahoos. Aliendo gave the Smokies their second go-ahead eighth-inning homer in as many days, following a dramatic Stevens homer on Friday with a solo blast of his own to put Tennessee ahead 5-4.
Martorella led off the ninth inning with a single, but pinch-runner Shane Sasaki was thrown out stealing second by Aliendo in a strikeout-double play to end the game and hand Cayne Ueckert (S, 2) the save.
The Blue Wahoos have now dropped 10 of their past 12 games, including three games in Tennessee’s final at bat this series.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series and look to avoid being swept by the Smokies on Sunday. First pitch from Smokies Stadium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT.
King Scores Three TDs As The Northview Chiefs Dominate Destin, 26-7 (With Gallery)
August 24, 2024
Dane King led the Northview Chiefs to a decisive 26-7 opening night victory over the Destin Sharks on Friday night at Tommy Weaver Stadium.
The junior had three touchdowns for the Chiefs — short runs from 3 and 1 yard in the first quarter and another 1-yarder in the third. Moses Delarosa added a 1-yard touchdown run to seal the win on what a was really comfortable football Friday night by August standards.
For a photo gallery, click here.
(Look for another photo gallery with cheerleaders, fans, the band and more in the next few days)
Despite the win, Northview head coach Wes Summerford saw areas for improvement.
“There are some things that we need to clean up,” he said. “Every time we had a chance to hit a stride, whether it’s a penalty, or we turned it over or something like that. The defense had a couple of missed assignments. Stuff we can clean up. I think the kids know that and that’s good. I’m glad that we’ve got that confidence.”
The Chiefs capitalized on several turnovers by the Sharks. Sam Reid intercepted a pass late in the first quarter, while Colby Pugh and Nate Duffy added interceptions in the second and third quarters, respectively. Northview also recovered a fumble in the third quarter.
With the win, the Chiefs stand at 1-0 on the young season. They will travel to Opp, Alabama, next week to face the Bobcats, who also opened their season with a victory, 31-29 over Bonifay.
Summerford acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“It’s a new team on our schedule,” the Northview coach said. “It will be a tough task for us; it’s a good program.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Scoreboard
August 24, 2024
Here are Friday night high school football scores (and a few Thursday night scores) from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Tate 24, Fort Walton Beach 0 [Story...]
- Northview 26, Destin 7 [Story, Photo Gallery...]
- Jay 34, Vernon 0
- Escambia 45, West Florida 12
- Pensacola at Pine Forest
- Williamson (Ala.) 52, Washington 0
- Navarre at Pensacola Catholic
- Crestview 42, MIlton 7
- Pace 17, Mary Montgomery 14
- South Walton at Gulf Breeze (Saturday)
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 23, Clarke County 15 (Thur)
- T.R. Miller 28, Reeltown 7 (Thur)
- Alabama Christian 30, Escambia County (Atmore) 26
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat the Destin Sharks 26-7 Friday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Roll Past Fort Walton Beach Vikings, 24-0
August 24, 2024
The Tate Aggies kicked off their 2024 regular season with a convincing 24-0 victory over the Fort Walton Beach Vikings on the road.
The Agges got on the board early following a 15-yard touchdown pass from Taite Davis to Christian Neptune.
The Aggies got on the board early in the game when quarterback Taite Davis connected with Christian Neptune for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Davis continued to shine in the second quarter, finding Elijah West on a long pass to the three-yard line before keeping the ball himself for another touchdown to give Tate a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Senior Carson Secchari added to the Aggies’ tally in the second half with a 15-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.
Tate will remain on the road for their next two Friday nights under the lights, traveling across the bay to Gulf Breeze on August 30 and across town to Pensacola High on September 6.