Free Soccer Clinic For Kids Ages 5-12 Next Week
July 11, 2019
Pensacola Sports will hold its 8th Annual Kickstart Soccer Clinic July 16-18. It is a free, fun and safe introduction to the sport of soccer for kids ages 5-12.
All participants will receive free soccer instruction from local high school and club coaches, as well as a ball, shin guards, and other giveaways from event sponsors.
Kids ages 5-8 will check-in at 8:30 a.m. with instruction from 8:45-10:15 a.m., while kids ages 9-12 will be from 10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. This schedule will continue all three days, weather permitting.
Participants must wear closed-toe shoes (cleats are not mandatory) and are encouraged to bring a water bottle, hat, and sunscreen.
In addition to the instruction, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will be providing several demonstrations for the participants.
Online registration is available through the start of camp. To register, or for more information, click here. Onsite registration is also available each morning before the clinic begins. The clinic will be held at the Brent Football Field located at 4711 N. “W” St.
Five Tate Cheerleaders Named All-American At UCF Camp
July 9, 2019
Five senior Tate High School cheerleaders were named UCA All-Americans during a recent camp at the University of Central Florida.
The full Tate varsity squad was awarded a trophy for Rally Routine – Best Incorporation of Transitions and Creativity as well as a trophy for Superior ratings all week.
The All-American cheerleaders are Bailey Carter, Shelby Fleming, Kensley Foley, Abi Manoso and Payton Simmons.
Pictured top: Tate High Schoo’s UCA All-American cheerleaders. Pictured below: The full Tate varsity squad. Pictured bottom: The 10 senior Tate cheerleaders at camp. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alcala Shines, But Blue Wahoos Endure Fourth Walkoff Loss To Barons
July 9, 2019
The Blue Wahoos right now can’t seem to shake heartbreak.
Or new ways to experience it.
The latest unfolded Monday night when Birmingham’s Damek Tomscha, a former Auburn Tigers player, led off the ninth inning with a home run on the first pitch, giving the Barons a 2-1 victory and their fourth walkoff win against the Blue Wahoos in this series at Regions Field in Birmingham.
It added into a fifth straight defeat, all against the Barons, and dropped the Blue Wahoos (9-10 second half) under .500 for the first time in two weeks. The Barons (14-5) have won each game in different ways.
The teams will conclude a six-game series Tuesday in Birmingham, then an off day ensues Wednesday that now seems especially well-timed for the Blue Wahoos. Birmingham won its ninth straight home game and 13 wins overall in the past 15 games.
What did go right Monday for the Blue Wahoos was the longest and arguably the best outing of the season from starting pitcher Jorge Alcala. The Minnesota Twins’ No. 19 rated prospect by MLB Pipeline was sensational in a six inning, four hit, shutout performance against the Barons.
Alcala had worked into the sixth inning just four other times, but never pitched six complete innings. It was only the third time he held an opponent scoreless and the first time he did it since May 13.
His performance included seven strikeouts, no walks. Of the 82 pitches he threw, 57 were for strikes.
Unfortunately for Alcala and his teammates, Birmingham starter Matt Tomshaw, a 30-year-old lefthander, who faced the Blue Wahoos 10 previous times the past seasons while with the Miami Marlins organization, was equally superb.
Tomshaw worked seven complete innings without allowing a run. He scattered six hits. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
The Blue Wahoos scored the game’s first run in the eighth inning against reliever Kodi Medeiros (3-8), who wound up as the winning pitcher.
Alex Kirilloff, who finished 3-for-4, led off with a triple in the centerfield gap. Brian Schales followed with a sacrifice fly to center fielder Luis Gonzalez, scoring Kirilloff.
But in the bottom of the eighth, Blue Wahoos reliever Jeff Ames gave up a leadoff single to Joel Booker, who then stole second base and went to third when catcher Brian Navarreto’s attempted put-out throw sailed into center field.
With one out, Luis Gonzalez hit a grounder that briefly handcuffed Kirilloff at first base, allowing Booker to score on the put out.
In the ninth, Joe Cronin drew a one-out walk. He stole second with two out. But Jordan Gore struck out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, reliever Anthony Vizcaya faced Tomscha as the leadoff batter. Tomscha, who was signed by the Chicago White Sox on June 28, jumped on Vizcaya’s first pitch and lined the ball over the left wall to cause another walkoff celebration by the Barons.
Kirilloff’s three hits in the game raised his batting average to .285. Mark Contreras, Brian Navarreto, Caleb Hamilton and Joe Cronin each had one hit .
Jeff Ames pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Alcala. He got out of a situation in the seventh, following a triple by leadoff batter Ti’Quan Forbes and Tomscha being hit by a pitch.
Ames retired the next three batters in a clutch relief effort.
Tri-County 8-10 Softball Takes Second In The State
July 8, 2019
The Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Star Team came in second place in the state Sunday in the Florida Little League tournament in Lehigh Acres. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Can’t Break Losing Streak With Birmingham
July 8, 2019
The Blue Wahoos held leads three times Sunday in effort to break a losing streak against the Birmingham Barons.
In each case, prosperity was short-lived.
For the third time in this series, the Blue Wahoos suffered a walk-off loss, but the one Sunday occurred in the most bizarre way, after reliever Zack Weiss’ two out, wild pitch in the 10th inning caromed down the left field line, allowing two runs to score in the Barons’ 6-5 win at Regions Field in Birmingham.
It became the fourth consecutive loss for the Blue Wahoos (9-9 second half), after they entered the road trip on a six-game win streak.
The Barons (13-5 second half), who had the Southern League’s worst record in the first half, won their eighth consecutive home game, their 11th overall in the past 12 games.
Birmingham’s eight-game home win streak is the club’s longest in six years. The Barons and Blue Wahoos will play again Monday and Tuesday as part of a six-game series.
The Blue Wahoos loss continued their recent struggles on the road. They have now lost 12 of their last 14 road games.
They seemed in position for a breakthrough Sunday. Trailing 4-2 in the ninth, they tied the game with singles. Mark Contreras led off the ninth with a base hit. Joe Cronin followed with a single. Aaron Whitehead moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Jordan Gore grounded out to first, allowing Contreras to score. Travis Blankenhorn came through again with a big hit, this time his two-out, RBI single to right field tied the game.
After Blue Wahoos’ reliever Hector Lujan, who pitched two scoreless innings Sunday, retired the Barons with a double-play after two batters reached on singles, the game went extra innings.
In the 10th, Alex Kirilloff began on second base in the MILB extra-inning format. Lewin Diaz drove him home with a double. But Birmingham reliever Hunter Schryver retired the next three batters to keep it a one-run game.
Weiss started the bottom of the 10th in relief of Lujan. He walked Joel Booker, after Luis Gonzalez was placed on second base. Blake Rutherford singled to load the bases.
Weiss then got Gavin Sheets, the Barons’ hottest hitter, to ground into a double play that began with a force out at home.
One out away from a win, calamity ensued. Weiss’ pitch got away from catcher Ben Rortvedt and the ball bounced down the line allowing Booker to score, then Rutherford, who kept running and beat the throw to the plate.
The game began three hours earlier with Kirilloff blasting a first-inning, solo home run, his second in three days.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Charlie Barnes held that lead until Birmingham tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sheets hit a solo homer, his 11th HR this season. It also extended his on-base streak to 25 games. He is rated the No. 17 prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization by MLB Pipeline.
The Blue Wahoos regained the lead in the fifth inning when Joe Cronin’s double was followed by Jordan Gore’s one-out double.
But in the sixth inning, the Barons knocked Barnes out of the game after Booker and Rutherford singled and Sheets hit a run-scoring double. Alex Phillips replaced Barnes and got the first out, but gave up an RBI signled to Damek Tomscha, then a ground ball out that scored Sheets with the third run of the inning.
It stayed 4-2 until the eventful ninth and 10th innings.
Four Blue Wahoos players had multiple hits among the team’s 12 for the game. Blankenhorn, Kirilloff, Contreras and Cronin all had two hits. Eight of the Blue Wahoos batters reached base at least once in the game.
The vital statistic again was the Blue Wahoos finishing the game 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
The series continues Monday with the Blue Wahoos’ Jorge Alcala (5-5, 5.81 ERA) going against Birmingham’s Matt Tomshaw (3-4, 3.29).
The good news for the Blue Wahoos is their road woes haven’t cost a big drop in the standings. Jacksonville (10-8) leads the South Division, but the other four teams are within three games. Pensacola and Biloxi are tied for second with 9-9 records.
Birmingham Barons Beat The Wahoos
July 7, 2019
The Blue Wahoos missed several chances early in Saturday’s game against Birmingham to build a lead.
It cost them in the end.
For the second time in three games, the Birmingham Barons celebrated a walkoff win, after Joel Booker hit a two-out, RBI single in the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory against the Blue Wahoos and a third straight win in this weekend series at Regions Field in Birmingham.
The Barons (12-5 second half) continued their hot start in the second half, winning for the 10th time in the past 11 games as Southern League North Division leaders.
Trailing 4-2 in the eighth inning, the Blue Wahoos (9-8 second half) tied the game on Brian Schales’ two-run homer. They had a chance to get another run when Lewin Diaz walked and Brian Navarreto had a two-out single, but reliever Alec Hansen struck out Mark Contreras to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth against Birmingham’s third reliever, Danny Dopico, a repeat scenario occurred. With two out, Travis Blankenhorn, who had a big night going 3-for-3, walked and Alex Kirilloff singled, but Dopico struck out Schales to end the threat.
In the bottom of the ninth, Alfredo Gonzalez led off with a single against reliever Sam Clay. Ramon Torres moved the runner over on a sacrifice bunt. Clay threw a wild pitch to send Gonzalez to third. After Clay struck out Luis Gonzalez for the second out, Blue Wahoos manager summoned Anthony Vizcaya to pitch to Booker.
On a 1-2 pitch, Booker delivered the game-winner.
The game started with Blue Wahoos leadoff batter Travis Blankenhorn smashing his 16th homer over the right field wall. From that point, the Blue Wahoos had runners on base in four of the first six innings, but could not get another run.
They were 1-for-8 in the game with runners in scoring position.
Blue Wahoos starter Randy Dobnak pitched out of trouble in the first three innings, allowing just one run. He then retired the next nine Birmingham batters in order through the sixth inning.
But in the seventh, Dobnak gave up a lead off double against Damek Tomscha. With one out, Alfredo Gonzalez reached on a fielder’s choice when Tomscha beat a throw home from shortstop Jordan Gore.
Torres followed with a double against Dobnak to put runners on second and third. Clay entered the game and got Luis Gonzalez to hit a grounder to the mound and he threw out Alfredo Gonzalez at the plate.
But with two out, a wild pitch scored Torres. Clay hit Booker with a pitch to put runners on first and second. Blake Rutherford then doubled to score the third run and give Birmingham its 4-2 lead.
The Blue Wahoos were outhit 10-8 in the game. Blankenhorn had a big game, going 3-for-3, scoring two runs, driving in a run and twice reaching base on walks. Kirilloff went 2-for-5.
The teams will continue their six-game series on Sunday. Charlie Barnes is scheduled to start for the Blue Wahoos.
Blue Wahoos Start Fast, But Surging Barons Continue Winning Ways
July 6, 2019
The Birmingham Barons staggered into the first half season break with the Southern League’s worst record.
But they are far different team two weeks into the second half, as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos can attest.
The Barons (27-42 overall first half, 11-5 now), produced a four-run rally in the sixth inning Friday night in winning for the ninth time in 10 games, including the first two games of this series, with a 7-3 victory against the Blue Wahoos at Regions Field in Birmingham.
A crowd of 6,347 watched the Barons, affiliate of Chicago White Sox, fall behind in the fourth inning before turning the game in their favor to continue their best performance stretch this season.
The Blue Wahoos (47-39 overall, 9-7) got their three runs in the top of the fourth on two swings. Alex Kirilloff led off the inning with a homer over the right field wall, his third as a Blue Wahoos players. Mark Contreras followed four batters later with a two-run shot, scoring catcher Ben Rortvedt, who was hit a pitch after Kirilloff’s homer.
Those two blasts, however, were among only four Blue Wahoos hits in the game. They had only two baserunners the rest of the game.
Birmingham relievers Vince Arobio and Kodi Medeiros combined to allow just one hit and one walk in the final four innings of the game.
Bryan Sammons started for the Blue Wahoos, his first since June 25 before going on the injured list. He faced the minimum nine batters in the first three innings, yielding only a walk.
But in the fourth inning, the Barons’ gifted outfielder Luis Robert led off with a solo homer, his eight of the season to trim the deficit.
In the fifth inning, Ti’Quan Forbes walked. The Barons’ Luis Gonzalez tripled to score Forbes. With Sammons coming off an injury and having a pitch limit, the Blue Wahoos went to Andro Cutura with two outs in the fourth.
Cutura gave up a double to Ramon Torres to score Gonzalez and tie the game.
In the sixth inning, the Barons scored four runs on three hits against Cutura.
Nick Madrigal doubled to start the rally. Blake Rutherford singled to score Madrigal. Gavin Sheets reached on a fielding error. Both runners were moved on a sacrifice bunt. Cutura issued an intentional walk to load the bases.
Laz Rivera produced a squeeze play bunt to score Rutherford and keep the bases load. With two out, Ramon Torres worked a walk against Cutura to score another run. Robert was then hit by a pitch to force in the fourth run of the inning.
Unlike previous games of their six-game winning streak that ended Thursday, the Blue Wahoos could not get baserunners in the final five innings to set up a potential rally.
Travis Blankenhorn, Kirilloff, Contreras and Joe Cronin had the Blue Wahoos four hits.
The teams will play the third game of a six-game series on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the Blue Wahoos’ Randy Dobnak (4-0, 2.54 ERA) going against the Barons’ Tanner Banks (1-5, 3.43 ERA).
The Blue Wahoos’ Adam Bray pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Cutura.
Largest Catfish In Florida History Caught In Santa Rosa County
July 5, 2019
It’s not a fish tale but a real record — the largest catfish in the state of Florida was caught recently in Santa Rosa County.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) fisheries biologists certified a new state record flathead catfish weighing 69.3 pounds, measuring 47 inches long, with a girth of 34.25 inches, caught by angler Marvin Griffin from Santa Rosa County. Griffin caught his flathead catfish on rod and reel using live bait in the Yellow River.
“I wasn’t expecting to catch a state record when I started fishing that day with John Babb,” said Griffin. “But, it was the first and only fish we caught that day. I never would have been able to bring the fish into the boat without his help.”
Griffin brought his catch to the FWC’s Blackwater Hatchery near Holt, where biologists weighed it on a certified scale.
Griffin’s family has been fishing the Yellow River for years and have historically caught exceptionally large catfish there. Griffin’s uncle, James Auston Jr., caught a state record flathead catfish in the Yellow River and held the record from 2011 until 2016.
“I have always wanted to catch a state record,” said Griffin. “After my uncle caught his, I made it a mission of mine to catch my own.”
The former state record weighed 63.8 pounds and was caught on the Chattahoochee River in Jackson County in 2016.
“A state record catch is an amazing angling accomplishment,” said Chris Paxton, FWC’s Northwest Regional Fisheries Administrator. “With Griffin’s family history of state record catches, it seems that this family takes advantage of their quality time spent on the water. We are proud to award this state record to such an avid outdoor enthusiast.”
Flathead catfish are a non-native fish found in many Northwest Florida panhandle river systems. Flatheads prefer long, slow-flowing, moderately turbid rivers. Their solitary lifestyle makes them more difficult to catch than other catfish. Adult flathead catfish feed primarily on live fish, crawfish, freshwater clams and mussels.
Alabama All-State Running Back Patrick McGhee Signs With UWA
June 27, 2019
Alabama all-state running back Patrick McGhee has signed a letter of intent to continue his football career at the University of West Alabama, according to an announcement Wednesday by head coach Brett Gilliland.
At 6-foot, 210-pounds, McGhee rushed for 2,256 yards and 38 touchdowns at Escambia Academy, averaging 11.5 yards per carry. The Atmore product recorded 16 runs of 60 yards or more.
McGhee, who is penciled in to begin his UWA career at linebacker, led the Escambia Academy Cougars to a state championship in 2017. He won the All-Saban Running Back Award in 2016 and 2017 at the Nick Saban Camp, as well as collecting most valuable player honors at the National Athletic Association of Private Schools All-Star Game.
He also played outside linebacker at Escambia Academy and has been timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and 10.8 in the 100-meter dash. Leading EA to the state track and field championship, he won state titles in the long jump and high jump, while finishing fifth in the state in the shot put.
He was selected as Escambia Academy’s Outstanding Male Athlete following his senior year.
Diaz Big Hits Leave Big Impression In Blue Wahoos Home Win
June 27, 2019
Pensacola fans gained their first chance Tuesday night to see first baseman Lewin Diaz at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It became quite an introduction.
The 22-year-old Diaz flashed his power, his fielding prowess and a megawatt smile, after driving in four runs with a homer and bases-clearing triple to lead the Blue Wahoos to an 8-3 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers. The win began a nine-game, two team homestand in a desired way.
Diaz had a 2-for-5 night at the plate Tuesday, which followed getting eight hits in the past weekend road trip at Jacksonville, during his Double-A level debut series.
“He can be really special,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego, who managed Diaz last season with the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, where Diaz also played the first half of this season. “He’s turned into a really different ballplayer.”
Diaz, signed by the Minnesota Twins as a 17-year-old in 2013 from Santiago, Dominican Republic, has been the Blue Wahoos’ best player since joining the team.
He’s had five extra-base hits with three doubles, the triple Tuesday and his first-inning home run that became his 14th this season.
He also elicited a crowd reaction with a long flyout to centerfield in nearly the same spot he blasted a pitch off the wall for three RBI.
“The biggest thing has been the teammates here,” said Diaz, speaking with help of Borrego, who is bilingual. “I feel really comfortable with my teammates and that has made me more relaxed, more focused in the game.”
Also helping, as Borrego pointed out, is how the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Diaz has reshaped his body after going through a weight-loss program that adversely affected him last season.
In 79 games with the Fort Myers Miracle, Diaz hit .224 with only three homes and 35 RBI.
This season? He’s batting .385 with the Blue Wahoos with a combined 14 homers and 44 RBI in 63 games.
“He just lost a lot of weight,” Borrego said. “I can’t say how much weight … but he had basically some baby fat. So we put him on a program on eating healthy, but last year, he lost too much weight .
“Mentally, he was just out. This year is totally different. He’s more confident, he feels really good, and you see the results now.”
The results Tuesday quickly wowed. Moved up by Borrego to No. 2 in the batting order, Diaz hit a one-out pitch in the first inning like a moon shot, soaring higher than top of the outfield video board, before the ball dropped straight down into the grass berm beyond the right field.
In the second inning, after Jimmy Kerrigan led off with a blast over the left field fence, the Shuckers chose to walk Travis Blankenhorn to load the bases with two out against Diaz.
He promptly hit a 1-0 pitch off the right-center fence padding, scoring all three baserunners and giving the Blue Wahoos a 5-0 lead. That was plenty for Blue Wahoos starter Bryan Sammons, who pitched five scoreless innings against the Shuckers.
“Basically, everything has changed for me,” Diaz said. “I’ve been working on my mental approach. I am getting more focused in the game and trying to get better quality at-bats.. I am happy now.
“At 17, I was immature, still trying to learn a lot of things. But now I feel more mature and I’m playing in a different level.”
The Blue Wahoos, meanwhile, looked like a different team Tuesday night than the one which lost the final three games of their last series at Jacksonville.
And different than the team swept by the Shuckers in a five-game series June 7-11 in Biloxi that ultimately decided the Southern League South Division first-half winner.
Borrego, who was coming off an extended family vacation, as permitted in season by the Twins, noticed an uplift when he walked into the team’s clubhouse at Blue Wahoos Stadium. He flew into Pensacola earlier Tuesday from Fort Myers.
“I recharged my body and that was great,” Borrego said. “I was able to spent time with my family, especially after how the first half ended, a long first half…. then getting to spend time with my daughter and my wife, it’s always great.
“As soon as I got here, the clubhouse was totally different. I can feel that. I am big on that. When I can see players laughing, I know it’s good.”
Sammons was good on the mound, allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out six batters in five innings. Anthony Vizcaya followed with two scoreless innings, then Zack Weiss overcame a shaky eighth inning when he allowed three runs, to slam the door on the win.
The Blue Wahoos added three runs in the eighth inning, after Biloxi closed the deficit to 5-3. Alex Kirilloff led off with a double Jimmy Kerrigan reached on a fielding error. With one out and the bases loaded, Aaron Whitefield grounded into a fielder’s choice play which scored Kirilloff. Jordan Gore followed with a two-run single.
The Blue Wahoos spread eight hits in the game among seven batters in the lineup.
The Blue Wahoos will continue the homestand Wednesday.