Wahoos Rally, Win Eighth Straight Series
May 16, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos resiliency shined again Wednesday, thus continuing their series unbeaten streak in a significant way.
Trailing 3-0 early in a matinee, road finale against the Chattanooga Lookouts, turned the game with a big inning, then got a clutch closer performance from Sam Clay to hold on for a wild, 7-6 victory in the series deciding game at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In winning a pair of back-to-back road series’ against Mississippi and Chattanooga, the Blue Wahoos (26-14) headed home following the early game with a 6.5-game lead in first place of the Southern League’s South Division. There are 30 games left in the first half, divisional playoff chase.
What’s more, the Blue Wahoos won the final two games of the series after their top hitter, second baseman Luis Arraerz, whose .342 average was third best in all Double-A, was elevated Tuesday to Triple-A Rochester.
New faces, new game stars keep emerging with the Blue Wahoos.
Wednesday, Caleb Hamilton bashed a 2-run homer to highlight a 5-run rally in the fourth inning, which changed the game. The Lookouts (21-17) had taken a 3-0 lead off Rodney Dobnak, who grinded into the sixth to earn his second win in three Double-A starts for the former Independent League pitcher.
Hamilton, who played third base Wednesday, but also has shared a catcher’s role, went 2-for-4 in the game. Alex Kirilloff went 1-for-5, but his one hit was the eventual game-winner, a two-run single in the eighth inning to provide a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Lookouts got a pair of runs off Blue Wahoos top closer Ryan Mason. The Lookouts had the tying run on second, following Chris Okey’s, two-out, RBI double to cut the lead to 7-6.
Mason got Alfredro Rodriguez to fly out to Kirilloff in right field to end the threat.
In the ninth inning, Clay earned his third save by retiring the first two hitters, former Blue Wahoos’ T.J. Friedl and Jose Siri, then giving up a single before getting Brantley Bell to ground out and end the game.
The series matched two Southern League teams that switched affiliations after last season. It also included former Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly, who took Pensacola to three consecutive post-season appearances as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate and the 2017 SL co-championship shared with the Lookouts, then the Minnesota Twins affiliate.
Earlier in the game, the Lookouts were in solid position to get the series win. They got a two-run homer in the second from Mitch Nay, then another run in the third off a fielding error.
But the Blue Wahoos erupted in the fourth. Taylor Grzelakowski coaxed a one-out walk. Hamilton followed with his homer over the center field wall. Catcher Ben Rortvedt, the Blue Wahoos newest player, elevated from Advanced-A Fort Myers, singled and then scored on Mark Contreras’ two-out double.
Joe Cronin followed with an RBI double. Travis Blankenhorn then singled home Cronin to make it a 5-3 lead. It was 5-4 in the eighth when Kirilloff’s two-run single became decisive.
The Blue Wahoos then took a near 400-mile bus ride back to Pensacola and will begin a five-game homestand Thursday against the Mobile BayBears.
Playoffs: Losses For Tate And Northview Softball; Northview Baseball Falls, Jay Advances
May 15, 2019
Niceville 6, Tate 4
The Tate Lady Aggies fell to the Niceville Lady Eagles on the final play of 7a regional semifinal action Tuesday night.
In the top of the fifth inning, Tate scored three runs to make it a 4-3 ballgame.
With two out in the top of the seventh, Tate tied it up at 4-4. In the bottom seventh of the Michaela Brocato hit a walk-off home run to give Niceville the win.
Avery Beauchanie went six and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on six hits while striking out two.
At the plate for the Aggies, Hannah Halfacre, Gabby Locke and Shelby McClean had one hit each.
Wewahitchka 9, Northview 1
The Northview Lady Chiefs were eliminated 9-1 in the 1A regional final at Wewahitchka Tuesday night.
The Lady Chiefs finished their season at 20-5 with a district championship, their first since 2011.
Bozeman 7, Northview 1
The Bozeman Bucks beat the Northview Chiefs 7-1 in regional semifinal action Tuesday night at Bozeman.
Tanner Levins pitched six innings for the Chiefs, allowing seven runs on nine hits.
Jackson Moore led Northview at the plate, going 2-3 while Bryson Love and Jacob Bryant added one hit each.
The Chiefs finished their season at 17-6.
Jay 9, Port St. Joe 6
The Jay Royals beat Port St. Joe 9-6 in 1A regional play Tuesday.
Jay will travel to Panama City Bozeman on Friday.
Pictured top: This season, the Northview Lady Chiefs won their first district title since 2011. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Senior Scholar Athletes Honored
May 13, 2019
The top senior student-athletes in each sport from Escambia and Santa Rosa County were honored recently during the 2019 Annual Senior Scholar Athlete Banquet. There were 214 senior nominees.
Cali Wilson, Gulf Breeze High School and Walker Parra from Washington High School, won the overall female and male scholarships, respectively. The Pensacola Sports Foundation awarded these two individuals each with a $4,000 scholarship.
Individual sport winners were:
Baseball – Mason Land – Tate
Girls Basketball – Breanna Garrett – Pensacola Catholic
Boys Basketball – David Melega – Navarre
Cheerleading – Krysanne Hagen – Tate
Boys Cross County – Rory Carmody – West Florida
Girls Cross – Erica Fisher – Pace
Football – Hunter Rayburn – Pensacola High School
Girls Golf – Mary Elise Shultz – Pace
Boys Golf – Chase O’Connor – West Florida
Girls Lacrosse – Vanessa Welch – Gulf Breeze
Boys Lacrosse – William Butler – Pensacola Catholic
Girls Soccer – Makenna Stafford – Tate
Boys Soccer – Quinten Endacott – Pensacola Catholic
Softball – Madelyn Vasquez – Gulf Breeze
Girls Swimming – Georgia Smith – Pensacola Catholic
Boys Swimming – Cason Forst – Tate
Girls Tennis – Callie Mitchell – Gulf Breeze
Boys Tennis – Michael Eddins – Pensacola Catholic
Girls Track – Taylor Hill – West Florida
Boys Track – Spencer St. – West Florida
Volleyball – Autumn Carter – West Florida
Girls Weightlifting – Julia McMaster – Navarre
Boys Weightlifting – Joshua Carter – Navarre
Wrestling – Tyler Tran – Pace
Northview’s Kline Signs To Cheer With Northwest Florida State College
May 12, 2019
Northview High School senior Gabrielle Kline has signed to cheer at the collegiate level with Northwest Florida State College. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Lady Chiefs Beat Franklin County In Regional 1A Semifinal
May 11, 2019
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat Franklin County 5-1 in the regional 1A semifinals Friday evening in Bratt.
Senior Kendall Enfinger allowed no hits in six innings. She entered the game after the first inning when started Tori Herrington came out with a pulled muscle.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Tonight was a big win for us here at Northview. We played a really good team,” Northview Head Coach Amy Holland said. “We knew they were going to be a tough team to beat. We’ve looked at their stats. They’re no sloppy team; they’ve had a good season.”
“Our girls were ready tonight,” Holland added. “Tori got hurt there early in the game, and that’s something our out team hadn’t had to rely on somebody else. But they relied on Kendall. Kendall Enfinger came in as a senior; she got the job done tonight. I think she pitched an awesome game. Her team said ‘hey, you pitche, we’ve got your back’ and that’s what our team did tonight.
“We Tori got hurt and I had to come in, honestly I got a little nervous at first,” Enfinger said. “But then I realized, hey I can do this and do this for her. She’s always had my back through all the years. We’ve played on the same team since we were seven years old.”
“We played more as a complete team tonight than we’ve played all year,” Holland said.
Northview, currently ranked No. 2 in the state, will travel to Wewahitchka Tuesday night in the regional final. The winner will advance to the state semifinal May 21 against either Trenton or Frostproof.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Kendall Enfinger tossed six innings for Northview’s regional win Friday night over Franklin County. Pictured below: Kaitlin Gafford slides in for a score, Ashley Ragsdale swings, and the Northview Lady Chiefs celebrate. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Tops Northview For District Baseball Championship
May 11, 2019
The Jay Royals claimed the District 3-1A baseball championship Friday night with a 3-2 win in Bratt over the Northview Chiefs.
After the Chiefs took a 1-up lead in the bottom the second on an error, Jay answered with one in the top of the fifth as Carson Walters scored on a sacrifice by Dutch Burkhead for a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Nick Venable doubled on a 2-2 count to score Bryson Love.
Josh Majors got the start for Jay, going four innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out two.
Seth Killam led for the Chiefs, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out four in six innings. Venable tossed one inning in relief out of the bullpen, allowing one run and one hit.
Venable lead at the plate for Northview, going 2-4 with one RBI. Brycen Loven went 1-2 with a run.
For Jay, Walters, Trace Seib and Trevor Flowers had one hit each.
Jay will host Port St. Joe Tuesday at 7 p.m., while the Northview Chiefs will travel to Panama City Bozeman at 7 p.m. in the regional semifinals. The winners will face off Friday night at 7 p.m. in the regional finals.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pine Forest Beats Escambia For First District Title In 12 Years
May 11, 2019
The Pine Forest Eagles won their first district championship in 12 years Friday night, claiming the District 1-7A title with a 3-0 win over the Escambia Gators.
Jason Roberts pitched a complete game win for Pine Forest, giving up zero runs on four hits and striking out three over seven innings.
Tekoah Roby led Pine Forest, going 2-2 with one RBI. Also for Pine Forest: John Pinette 1-3, R; Timmy Williams 1-3; Nolan Rigby 1-3, R; Chase Gullat 1-2, RBI.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Football Players Volunteer At Molino Park, Kingsfield Elementary Schools
May 11, 2019
Tate Aggie football players continued their outreach service Friday morning, helping out in the car rider lines at Molino Park and Kingsfield elementary schools. Next week, they will be at Jim Allen and Lipscomb elementary schools.
Photos by Kristi Barbour and Dorrian Vance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Top Navarre By One In Regional Semifinals
May 9, 2019
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Navarre 1-0 Wednesday night in Region 1-7A semifinals.
The only score of the game came in the sixth inning when Shelby McLean was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in Gabby Locke.
Avery Beauchanie allowed two hits and no runs while striking out two in seven innings for the Lady Aggies.
Libby Locke and Gabby Locke were both 2-3 at the plate to lead Tate.
The Lady Aggies advance to face Niceville next Tuesday night in Niceville.
Pictured: Shelby McLean was hit by a pitch Wednesday night to score Tate’s only run Wednesday night. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Aggie Cheerleaders Receive State Championship Rings
May 9, 2019
The Tate High School varsity cheerleaders received their state championship rings Wednesday.
The Aggie cheerleaders won the Florida High School Athletic Association Region Small Coed Championship in late January. They went on took take fifth place in the nation in their division Sunday night at UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando.
The Tate Aggie state championship cheerleaders are Kyndell Ammons, Morgan Austin, Jonah Cass, Bailey Carter, Shelby Fleming, Isabella Floyd, Kensley Foley Hagyn Helton, Payton Herring, Madeline Hughes, Erin Johnson, Elena Lucci, Abi Manoso, Keaden Martin, Kyndal Milsted, Ashlyn NeSmith, Madelyn Ray, Emma Romero, Payton Simmons, Ariyana Wyatt, Krysanne Hagen – co-captain, Emilee Potter – co-captain, and Kennedy Bellard – captain. This year’s head coach is Morgan White and the assistant coach is Annie Wiggins.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.