Blue Wahoos End Season With Dramatic Walk-off Win In 10 Innings
September 16, 2024
by Bill Vilona
A rain delay had passed and the skies were still threatening Sunday when the Blue Wahoos hurriedly unfurled a pregame banner thanking their fans.
More than three hours later, after catching a break with weather, they treated the crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium to a 6-5, walk-off win in 10 innings against the Montgomery Biscuits, thus ending the season in a special way.
Josh Zamora blasted a fastball from fill-in pitcher Mason Auer, the Biscuits’ centerfielder, that hit the warning track in left-center and easily scored Andrew Pintar for the game-winner.
And the celebration was on. For the crowd of 3,839 who endured some intermittent rain, what a game and dramatic finish this one became.
While the game itself didn’t matter in the big picture of things – the Biscuits won both half-season division races — the teams played as if it were the postseason.
The Blue Wahoos had a 3-0 lead into the sixth. The Biscuits picked up a run that inning, then had a 4-run rally in the seventh against two new Blue Wahoos relievers.
Trailing 5-3, the Blue Wahoos answered in the eighth with a pair of runs. Graham Pauley led off with a walk. Pintar doubled to put runners on second and third. Kemp Alderman followed with a two-run double.
It stayed that way through the ninth. In the top of the 10th, Blue Wahoos reliever Tyler Eckberg had a clutch performance to earn the win. With the Biscuits’ placed runner Xavier Isaac on second, Eckberg struck out the first batter, Dru Baker. Auer then followed with a walk.
Eckberg got catcher Ricardo Genoves and third baseman Willy Vasquez to fly out to end the inning.
With many in the crowd standing with anticipation, the Wahoos got their turn. Pintar was the placed runner on second base. He moved to third when Auer’s first pitch to Alderman sailed wide and high past home plate.
With one-out and a 2-1 count, Zamora ended the game and the Blue Wahoos (71-65) finished the season with three consecutive wins against the Southern League South Division winners to split the series. The Biscuits (80-57) will now head to Biloxi to face the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday in the first game of their divisional playoff series.
Because of their playoff games ahead, the Biscuits went to Auer in the 10th. But he surprised, reaching the mid-90s with his fastball and locating a breaking pitch well.
The Wahoos got a big swing from Zamora to produce their first walkoff win since July 25, after staring the season 5-0 on home walkoffs.
The Blue Wahoos used seven pitchers in this game, beginning with Evan Fitterer, who worked five innings, allowing no runs on two hits and recording seven strikeouts for one of his best outings of the year.
Four Blue Wahoos hitters – Johnny Olmstead, Nathan Martorella, Graham Pauley and Andrew Pintar – finished with two hits apiece in a 12-hit attack.
Olmstead got things started for the Blue Wahoos when he led off the first inning with a single and later scored on a wild pitch. He then scored the game’s second run when leading off the third inning with a single, advancing on a double steal and scoring on Martorella’s RBI ground out.
The Blue Wahoos picked up their third run in the when Josh Zamora doubled and catcher Spencer Bramwell doubled. It was only the second game Bramwell has played this season as bullpen catcher.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos players followed the game by cleaning out lockers and preparing to head out on Monday to their homes and either begin an off-season or await playing in the Arizona Fall League which begins in early October.
— More than a dozen people, including injured Blue Wahoos pitcher M.D. Johnson, participated in a post-game baptismal service performed by Marcus Pointe Baptist Church, a long-time Blue Wahoos partner. Entitled, “Headed For Home,” each person was introduced by the assistant pastor handling the ceremony. They climbed into a baptismal pool that was located at home plate while the brief service was completed.
— Johnson, who played at Dallas Baptist University during his collegiate career, started 16 games for the Blue Wahoos before an injury curtailed his season. He and his wife attended Sunday services at Marcus Pointe Baptist and liked living in Pensacola.
WHAT’S NEXT?
OPENING NIGHT: 2025 Blue Wahoos Season Opener
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: April 4, 2025
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Blue Wahoos’ Palacios Sets Franchise Win Record In Saturday Win
September 15, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
In both experience and performance, the Blue Wahoos made their final Saturday night of the season a memorable one.
With another capacity crowd riveted to the final out, closer Dale Stanavich delivered an emphatic save – stranding runners on first and third with none out – to preserve the Blue Wahoos’ 4-3 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits.
It was Pensacola’s first Saturday win at Blue Wahoos Stadium in three months, going all the way back to June 22.
That in itself made the post-game fireworks, a grand finale of displays this season, contain a bit more pop and sparkle.
But there is much more.
The crowd of 5,038 was the 26th sellout in 2024, the most since 2016. The win enabled the Blue Wahoos (70-65) to reach a coveted 70-win total as a consolation achievement despite missing the playoffs.
All of this in a game where Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios, aided by a two-run rally by teammates in the fifth inning, picked up his 10th win and set the franchise record for career wins (20).
Palacios, 24, a Venezuela native who earned his high school equivalency degree this year in Pensacola, passed former Major League pitcher Daniel Wright, who attained 19 wins as a Cincinnati Reds prospect when pitching three seasons (2015-16 and 2018) for the Blue Wahoos.
There was also another emotional “Home Run For Life” from sponsor Ascension Sacred Heart with a woman, who survived an auto accident in 2021 that claimed her daughter’s life, then had to overcome massive injuries, ran the bases with her smiling young granddaughter as the crowd roared.
Yes, it was this kind of night.
Stanavich reacted with emotion himself, pounding his glove and hugging catcher Joe Mack after getting a ground out to end the game, earn his fifth save and deliver a rare Saturday home win for this team.
The game began with a bang for the Blue Wahoos. Nathan Martorella homered for the second consecutive night, this time as the second batter in the bottom of the first, to provide the game’s first run.
It became 2-0 when Shane Sasaki homered in the third inning.
The Biscuits rallied for three runs in the fifth off Palacios, highlighted by a two-run triple from Jalen Battles. Palacios ended the inning without further damage and it proved pivotal.
The Blue Wahoos answered right back, something they had often been unable to do in the final portion of the season. Johnny Olmstead led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and went to third on Sasaki’s double. Olmstead scored on a ground out to tie the game.
With one out, Andrew Pintar singled to right field and Sasaki beat the throw home, which eluded catcher Dominic Keegan for the go-ahead run.
From that point, both teams’ bullpens took over. The Blue Wahoos trio of Matt Pushard, Justin King and Stanavich combined to throw four scoreless innings, allow just three hits and combine for nine strikeouts and no walks.
In the eventful ninth, Stanavich allowed a double and single to start the inning. He then struck out Dru Baker with a wicked breaking pitch. He struck out Mason Auer with a 97 mph fastball and got Willy Vasquez to ground out to third.
It became quite a way to end the final Saturday home game this season.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Final Game Of 2024 Season
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Northview Dominates Central on Senior Night
September 14, 2024
The Northview Chiefs cruised to a 40-0 victory over the Central Jaguars on Friday night in Bratt, capping their senior night celebration with a shutout performance.
For more photos, click here.
A strong start set the tone for the Chiefs. Junior quarterback Dane King led the way with a quarterback keeper on the opening drive, setting up Zikel Jones for an 8-yard touchdown run. Sam Reid’s impressive catch-and-run play followed, leading to Moses Delarosa’s touchdown run to give Northview a comfortable 14-0 lead over the fledgling first year Central program.
The Chiefs continued their dominance in the second half, with Delarosa adding a 56-yard touchdown run and Jamaris Durant finding the end zone from 2 yards out.
With the victory, Northview improved to 2-2 on the season. They will look to keep their momentum going as they travel to Bonifay next Friday night to face the Holmes County Blue Devils.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Great Place To Be: Tate Is Now 4-0 With Homecoming Win Over Milton (With Gallery)
September 14, 2024
“We are 4-0. We are proud of that. It’s a great place to be.”
That’s how Tate Head coach Rhett Summerford described the Aggies 30-14 homecoming night win over the Milton Panthers.
It’s a revival of sorts for the Aggies. Tate has not started a season at 4-0 since 2016, and they dropped that fifth game that year to Niceville on the way to a 9-3 season.
The Aggies are coming off a 5-5 season last year and, before that, several tough years that saw them win just one game in each season from 2019 to 2022.
Before a huge crowd at Pete Gindl Stadium, Tate opened the scoring Friday when senior quarterback Taite Davis connected with Elijah West for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give the Aggies a 7-0 lead with 35 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Milton responded with a touchdown of their own but missed the extra point, leaving Tate with a narrow 7-6 advantage. Carson Secchiari added a 23-yard touchdown to extend the Aggies’ lead.
Nicco White later contributed 23-yard touchdown with 4:32 to go in the fourth, and Milton scored a late touchdown with less than a minute to go.
“Good things, bad things,” Tate head coach Rhett Summerford said following the win. “We’ve still got work to do. It was ugly at times. I think we got into the red zone plenty of times to score a lot of points, and we just didn’t capitalize enough.”
“Defense kind of played bend but don’t break; it was kind of grindy. It was only 14, and one of those they scored at the end, but offensively, we can’t get into the red zone and not score. I think that’s the frustration part of the night, and I told the kids we’ve got work to do.”
The Aggies will face a quick turnaround as they travel to West Florida next Thursday night. With a short week of preparation, including a JV game on Monday, Summerford said the Aggies “have got to kind of get after it.”
Loor for photo galleries over the next few days from the homecoming parade, the alumni cheerleaders, cheerleaders, student section, band, fans and more.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
September 14, 2024
Here are this week’s high school football scores from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Tate 30, Milton 14 [Story, photos...]
- Northview 40, Central 0 [Story, photos...]
- Jay 41, Baker 0
- Walton 48, West Florida 21
- Escambia 30 Panama City Bay 29 (OT)
- Pine Forest 27, Choctaw 21 (OT)
- Pace 55, Gulf Breeze 0
- Pensacola 20, Destin 7
- Montgomery (AL) Catholic 28, Pensacola Catholic 14
- Washington Fort 22, Walton Beach 0 (Thurs)
- Mosley 30, Navarre 0 (Thurs)
ALABAMA
- T.R. Miller 56, Flomaton 7
- Mobile Christian 13, Escambia Co. 6
- Orange Beach 42, W.S. Neal 32
Pictured: The Tate Aggies went to 4-0 Friday night with a win over Milton. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Clinch Eighth Consecutive Winning Season After Beating Biscuits
September 14, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos missed out on a playoff berth this season.
But they now have continued an impressive feat.
In a performance Friday that reminded of early summer success, complete with a near-capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium filled with energy, along with quality pitching and a big inning, the Blue Wahoos clinched an eighth consecutive winning season with an 6-2 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos (69-65) have now had winning seasons since 2016 with three different affiliations. This one is the fourth in a row for Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel – the only manager in franchise history to do it – and he guided this season’s ballclub with 60 different players.
Pensacola is the only team in the Miami Marlins organization in 2024, from the big-league club through Class A, that will end the season with a winning record.
After the game, a sizable portion of the crowd remained in the ballpark to cheer Jessica Webster, a stomach cancer survivor and member of the Miracle League of Northwest Florida and ARC-Gateway, as she took a trip around the bases with Blue Wahoos mascot Kazoo.
The crowd cheered when learning after six months of treatment, Jessica is now cancer-free.
It provided a poignant finale to a game the Blue Wahoos needed to end a three-game losing streak this week and bring good vibes back to their dugout.
The game began with Montgomery’s leadoff batter, third baseman Brayden Taylor, smashing a home run off Blue Wahoos starter Tristian Stevens. Taylor is one of nine Biscuits players ranked in the top 10 of the Tampa Bay Rays’ best 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline.
He was also a big part of why the Rays won the first three games of this series to clinch the second half Southern League South Division title, following their first-half division win.
But from that point Stevens settled into a groove and did not allow another run in his four innings of work. He struck out four and had zero walks.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game in the fourth inning on Johnny Olmstead’s two-out single to score Joe Mack, who had led off the inning with a walk.
The Biscuits reclaimed the lead in the fifth against reliever Adam Laskey when Jalen Battles hit an RBI double in the gap to score Willy Vasquez.
And then, the Blue Wahoos produced a rally they had lacked earlier this week.
They scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth, beginning with Nathan Martorella’s leadoff homer. The next three batters reached base on a walk and two singles. Graham Pauley’s single scored Jared Serna, who had walked and stolen second.
Paul McIntosh followed with a sacrifice fly to score Mack. Olmstead delivered another RBI single.
The lead expanded to 6-2 in the sixth when Serna’s sacrifice fly scored Andrew Pintar, who had led off the inning with a single. Pintar, Martorella and Olmstead all had two hits as part of the Blue Wahoos’ 11-hit attack.
Laskey earned his sixth win in relief, working four innings and allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out four batters. Woo-Suk Go finished the game in the ninth with a scoreless inning.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: BlueWahoos Stadium
Northview Chiefs Edge Hoboes in Three Set Battle (With Gallery)
September 13, 2024
The Norview Chiefs defeated the Hoboes of Laurel Hill in three sets Thursday evening on their home court in Bratt.
The Chiefs took the first set by a score of 25-20. The Chiefs secured a 25-21 victory in the second., and Northview took the third set 25-23.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Chiefs will travel to Laurel Hill for a rematch with the Hoboes on Thursday, September 19.
The Northview Chiefs will host the Escambia Gators on Monday at and J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs on Tuesday. All of next week’s games will begin at 5:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Biscuits Blast Past Blue Wahoos For Twinbill Sweep And Second-Half Crown
September 13, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
After fringes of a hurricane interrupted this final homestand, the Blue Wahoos returned Thursday and were hit with a power surge.
The Montgomery Biscuits blasted five home runs, including four by different players in the first game and a big first-inning blast in the nightcap, to sweep a doubleheader with 10-3 and 4-3 wins that clinched a second-half division crown and eliminated the Blue Wahoos from playoff contention.
Following the game, the Biscuits (80-54 overall, 40-25 in second half) celebrated in the visitors’ dugout with a variety of beverage sprays and chugs of beer.
Their playoff opponent in the Southern League divisional series next week will likely be the Biloxi Shuckers, who led late in their Thursday game over the Mississippi Braves with a magic number of one.
For the Blue Wahoos (68-65 overall, 30-35 in second half), it’s the first time they’ve missed the playoffs since 2021.
They faced long odds this week, needing to win at least five games against a Montgomery team loaded with nine of the top 10 prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system.
Following Wednesday’s postponement – the first time the Blue Wahoos were forced to postpone a home game in two years — the Biscuits’ dual wins in two seven-inning games at Blue Wahoos Stadium continued a season trend. The weather Thursday turned sunny with a wind blowing out to left field and the Biscuits took full advantage.
They are now 19-8 this season against the Blue Wahoos. They’ve won all three games so far this week heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
The first game Thursday had the Biscuits holding a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning. The Blue Wahoos scored the game’s first run on newcomer Kemp Alderman’s second inning homer.
But in the sixth, the Biscuits got a pair of runs against Blue Wahoos reliever Chandler Jozwiak, then walloped three homers in the seventh against relievers Josh Ekness and Josh White in a five-run rally that blew open the game.
In Game 2, Montgomery shortstop Carson Williams, the No. 2 rated prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, hit a three-run homer off starter Jacob Miller. The Biscuits then made it 4-0 in the second after Jalen Battles reached on an error, then scored on Williams’ RBI single.
The Blue Wahoos halved the deficit on Johnny Olmstead’s two-run homer in the fourth inning. They added another on Andrew Pintar’s RBI double in the fifth inning, but left the bases loaded with one out in a sequence that proved decisive.
The Blue Wahoos did not get a base runner in the final two innings against the Biscuits bullpen.
These losses dropped the Blue Wahoos to a losing home record (32-34) this season. They have not won a six-game home series since the first week of June.
They will now try to get a win Friday in the fourth game of the series with righthander Tristian Stevens (2-3, 3.98 ERA) on the mound.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Friday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: BlueWahoos Stadium
High School Golf: Tate And Northview Girls And Boys This Week
September 12, 2024
BOYS GOLF
The Tate and Northview high school boys golf teams placed in the top ten at the Byron Nathan Classic held this week at the Stonebrook Golf Club in Pace.
Pace took first place with a team score of 292, followed by Tate in fourth with 311 and Northview in ninth with 335.
Tate was led by a solid performance from Baylor Touchstone and Jacob Drysdale, who tied for fifth place with scores of 74 each. Ben Robinson finished 22nd with an 80, while Parker Hassel and Landon Ray rounded out the top five for Tate with scores of 83 and 90, respectively.
Northview’s Jack Boutwell placed 12th with a score of 76, followed by Luke Godwin in 22nd with an 80. Miles Smith at 88, Kelan Jurey with 91, and Jackson Bridges at 95 completed the scoring for Northview, finishing 55th, 62nd, and 70th, respectively.
GIRLS GOLF
Tate High School
The Tate High School girls golf team dominated this week against Jay and Milton at The Tanglewood Golf & Country Club in Milton.
The Aggies showcased their exceptional talent, posting a team score of 184 to easily outdistance their opponents. Jay finished second with 229, while Milton placed third with 231.
Tate’s dominance was further highlighted by their complete sweep of the top five individual spots. Talia Smith led the way with a score of 40, followed by Jordan Smith (46), Kara Wine (47), Paige Raiter (50), and Kinzlee Biggs (51). Alessa Lloyd also contributed to Tate’s success, tying for fifth place with a score of 51. Destiny Owen rounded out the top six for Tate with a score of 61.
For Jay, Presley Hawthorne led the team with a score of 52, followed by Kaitlyn Cooley, Layla McCullough, and Kinzie Nevels, who all tied for 10th place with scores of 59. Natalie Hendricks finished 17th with a score of 62.
Northview High School
The Northview High School girls golf team had a third-place finish at The Club at Hidden Creek in Navarre recently.
Pensacola Catholic dominated the tournament with a team score of 174, while Navarre finished second with 191. Northview’s total of 236 placed them third overall.
Leading the way for Northview was junior Anna Kunkel, who delivered a stellar performance, earning second place individually with a score of 41. Bailey Burkett and Payton Daw also contributed significantly to the team’s success, finishing ninth and 11th, respectively, with scores of 59 and 67.
Kaylee Long, Amberly Dunn, and Presley Amos rounded out Northview’s top six, placing 12th, 15th, and 16th with scores of 69, 75, and 77.
Northview Lady Chiefs Fall To Jay (With Photo Gallery)
September 11, 2024
The Jay Lady Royals defeated the Northview Lady Chiefs Tuesday in Bratt.
Jay took the four-set victory by scores of 25-17, 30-28, 25-21, and 25-17.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The second set was a thrilling nail-biter as Northview and Jay went back and forth, fighting fiercely for every point on a scoring run that went from 23-23 to a final win for Jay of 30-28.
On Thursday, Northview will host the Hoboes of Laurel Hill at 5 p.m., and Jay will host Rocky Bayou Christian at 6 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
