Blue Wahoos Get Wild Walkoff To Delight Sellout Crowd With Second Win
April 7, 2024
by Bill Violan, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Two games into the season, the Blue Wahoos already have a walkoff win.
On a Fireworks Saturday, no less, complete with a bizarre finish.
Pinch-runner Dalvy Rosario, who joined the team earlier in the day, scored on a wild pitch, after advancing on a wild pitch to give the Blue Wahoos a 7-6 victory against the Mississippi Braves, as another sellout crowd celebrated at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“It’s kind of something I’ve gotten used to,” said Blue Wahoos starting pitcher M.D. Johnson, who worked five solid innings in his outing. “It’s like once we do get to the bottom of the ninth, whether we’re down one, or we are tied, it’s like ‘Who is going to do it? Someone is going to do it.”
In this case, the Blue Wahoos built a 6-3 lead after five innings. But the M-Braves got a pair of runs in the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, leadoff batter Cade Brunnel drew a walk from Blue Wahoos reliever Matt Pushard. A pinch-runner, Geraldo Quintero was inserted.
Quintero used his speed to steal second, then advanced to third on a fly ball to center. With two outs, two strikes, Yolbert Sanchez tied the game on a ground ball single through the hole between first and second. Pushard got the final out to head into the bottom of the ninth.
Paul McIntosh led off with a walk. Rosario was inserted as a pinch-runner. Jacob Berry swung and missed a third strike from reliever Jorge Juan, but the ball eluded catcher Tyler Tolve, allowing both runners to advance.
Another wild pitch sent Rosario to third and he scored on a wild pitch.
The joyous crowd of 5,038 then watched the season’s first fireworks display.
After playing games to quiet settings on back fields in the Miami Marlins spring training complex, Johnson said the setting the first two games of 2024 has been a welcome change.
“In spring training, everyone is just ready to get to the season,” he said. “You just want to get out of Jupiter. And here, with as much as fans as we have, you don’t have to build up to that energy level. It’s just there.
“The crowds here are amazing. I have been through four levels (of minor leagues) if you count short season in the Marlins system. But the crowds here in Pensacola are absolutely amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”
Earlier in the game, it was a another big night for left fielder Tanner Allen. The Mobile native and former Mississippi State star drove in a run in the first inning, went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a run.
Shortstop Javier Sanoja had a big hit with a two-run double in the fifth inning.
GAME NOTABLES
The Tiger Point Sports Association celebrated its youth baseball organization with a parade of 200-plus kids on the field during pregame ceremonies.
ON DECK
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opening Weekend
WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Cancer Sucks: Tate’s Strike Out Cancer Games Surpass $200,000 For The Fight Against Cancer
April 6, 2024
The first year, they raised $2,550 and didn’t know if they would ever beat that mark.
Friday night, the Tate Aggies surpassed the $200,000 mark over the years at the 14th annual Tate Aggie Softball Strike Out Cancer game. It all benefits the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.
“You guys are amazing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” Tate head coach Melinda Wyatt told a large crowd before the game.
Last year, the game raised $27,755 for the fight against cancer. Friday night’s total had passed $24,000 as donations continued.
“I thought of three things that could probably sum it all up. We hate cancer. Cancer sucks. We need your money.”
For a Strike Out Cancer photo gallery, click here.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
“That you to the Tate community,” Escambia Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard said before throwing the ceremonial first pitch. “I want you to know that we hate cancer, cancer sucks, but we love you.”
Survivors and current cancer patients and their families lined up on the field to tell their stories.
“My husband is struggling right now with cholangiocarcinoma bile duct cancer; please say a prayer for my husband,” the first speaker said tearfully.
“I’m Shannon Thompson And I just went through breast cancer and in remission and blessed to be here today.”
“I’m Evan Morgan and I’ve had breast cancer, two, lung, cancers and you’ll be fine, you’ll be fine,” the 1968 Escambia High School graduate reassured the others.
“My name is Natalee Hoffman,” the nine-year-old said as she stood tall in the pitcher’s circle holding a single carnation. “I have kidney cancer. Thank you all very much.”
During the game, the Lady Jaguars defeated the Lady Aggies 7-0.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
Sydney Scapin earned the win for the Jags, giving up no hits and no runs in seven innings, striking out 17 and walking three. For Tate, Peyton Womack took the loss, surrendering five runs and six hits, striking out four and walking two over four innings. J. Smith closed in the circle for Tate, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out four and walking one.
Brea Holley and Abagayle Cogdill had three hits each for West Florida. Scapin, Holey, Cogdill and Macey Vegas each drove in runs.
Northview Chiefs Wallop Escambia Gators 16-1 In Four Friday Innings
April 6, 2024
The Northview Lady Chiefs walloped the Escambia Lady Gators 16-1 in a run-ruled shortened four innings Friday evening in Bratt.
The Chiefs scored 13 runs in in the third inning to secure the big win. Riley Brooks tripped to score three of those runs, two were on an Avery Stucky double, and three were scored on walks.
The Gator led at the end of one, and the Chiefs tied it up in the second when Mikayla McAnally scored.
Stucky started in the circle, giving up just one hit and one run in two innings, walking two and striking out three. Daviona Randolph threw two innings of scoreless ball in relief for the Chiefs, surrendering two hits while striking out three and walking two.
Stuckey and Chloe Ragsdale had two hits each for Northview. Stuckey and Brooks drove in three runs each for NHS.
The sure-handed Chiefs had no errors.
Up next, Northview will be at Choctaw at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Blue Wahoos Open Season With 8-6 Win Over M-Braves
April 6, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
In a perfect match to the setting, Tanner Allen dazzled on opening night for the Blue Wahoos.
Allen, a former Mobile prep star who became an All-American in 2021 while helping Mississippi State win the College World Series, went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs as the Blue Wahoos outslugged the Mississippi Braves 8-6 Friday before an overflow, sellout crowd of 5,000-plus at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“It is a true blessing. It was an unbelievable night,” said Allen, who joined the Blue Wahoos in mid-August last year. “I mean, Pensacola showed out tonight. We had a packed house. Fans brought the energy and we kinda fed off it the whole game.
It was a great game and really made me look forward to (Saturday),” said Allen, a fourth-round pick by the Miami Marlins in 2021. “Every time you come to the ballpark on opening day you have those opening day jitters and for me I almost can’t even sit still. So, I was doing stuff all day to try and keep my mind occupied.
“I don’t care if you’re playing in front of a hundred thousand or five people, your knees are going to be shaking and for me, when you see that first pitch go by, it’s like, hey it’s the same game I’ve played my entire life. It’s time to go.”
The game began Friday, backlit by a postcard-perfect, blue sky, the shimmering beauty of Pensacola Bay and a buzz throughout the stadium with fans even covering the outfield berm in right center.
After the M-Braves scored in the first inning, Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer then pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs. He struck out the next two batters and got an infield grounder to end the inning.
That proved pivotal.
The Blue Wahoos’ Jacob Berry, the Marlins top draft pick in 2022, blasted a shot over that right-center berm and out of the ballpark to tie the game.
The M-Braves then took a 3-1 lead in the second. But Allen changed that with his two-run double that followed Cody Morrisette’s RBI single.
It was also big game for Morissette, who had three hits, including a solo homer in fourth inning to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 4-3. The second baseman also helped turned a pair of double plays that thwarted M-Braves’ scoring chances.
There were 12 runs scored and 20 hits after the first five innings with the Blue Wahoos taking a 7-5 lead. Allen’s two-run single was part of that. The teams finishes with 24 hits combined (13 for the Blue Wahoos). Each team also used five pitchers apiece.
The Blue Wahoos bullpen that followed Fitterer was outstanding. Angel Macuare, Chandler Jozwiak, Zach McCambley and closer Austin Roberts combined to throw 4.2 innings, give up just three hits, one run and struck out eight batters.
With a sizeable portion of the crowd on its feet, Roberts threw a perfect changeup to strike out Justin Dean with the tying run on base to end the game and bring a roar from the stadium.
“It may have been the best crowd I have ever played in front of as a professional,” said Allen, who played high school baseball in Mobile at UMS-Wright School.
GAME NOTABLES.
This was the first game, too, with a new start time (6:05 p.m.) for all night games this season. Seven new food items at the storefronts.
It was also the first game in team history with fans going through security metal detectors at all three entrances to Blue Wahoos Stadium. This is something that Major League Baseball has in all 30 stadiums nationwide and has urged its minor league affiliates to follow suit.
On a Giveaway Friday, the first 1,000 fans receiving a blue denim, adjustable baseball hat, sponsored by LandrumHR. The company also filled the Winn-Dixie party deck with a group of 300 in right field.
Fans were treated to a Navy jet flyover that occurred seconds after the National Anthem.
Three fighter jets, VT-86 Saberhawks from Naval Air Station-Pensacola roared over the stadium. The jets began their journey with a turn 12 miles off the coast of Pensacola and reached the stadium in 90 seconds.
ON DECK
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opening Weekend
WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Tate Boys Tennis Defeats Navarre
April 6, 2024
The Tate Aggies tennis boys defeated Navarre 7-0 this week. With the win, the Aggies improved to 10-1 on the season. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Lady Chiefs Come From Behind To Beat The Jay Royals
April 5, 2024
The Northview Lady Chiefs battled back from a four-run deficit defeat the Jay Royals 6-4 Thursday night in Royal territory.
The Royals were first on the board with a 2 RBI Morgan Barrow homerun to right field. Jay increased their lead in the bottom of the third when Kaylee Gilbreath singled and Brooklyn Sorrells scored.
A Jamison Gilman double and a single rom Riley Brookes for Northview tied it up at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. With doubles in the top of the eighth from Avery Stukey and Mikayla McAnally, the Chies pulled head with a 6-4 lead.
Gilman led things off in the circle for the Lady Chiefs, giving up five hits and four runs in four and one-third innings while striking out one and walking three. McAnally went three and two-third innings in relief, surrendering one hit, walking one and striking out three.
Layna Lowery opened for Jay, giving up four hits and one run in six innings, walking one and striking out three. C Carroll finished, surrendering six hits and four runs while striking out one and walking none in two innings.
The Northview Chiefs will host the Escambia Gators Friday at 5:30 p.m. while Jay will host T.R. Miller on April 9.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
WFHS Slides Past Northview Varsity; JV Battles To A Tie
April 5, 2024
West Florida 5, Northview 1 (Varsity)
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs 5-1 in varsity action Thursday night in Bratt.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Grayson Phillips earned the win for the Jags, allowing two hits and one run while striking out seven and walking one over seven innings.
Jase Portwood took the loss for the Chiefs, going six innings while surrendering five runs and nine hits, walking two and striking out seven.
Phillips had two RBIs for WFHS. Jaxson Cramer, Dax Robbins, and Connor Powers each contributed two hits.
Brady Smith and Dane King had one hit each for the Chiefs.
Northview will host Pine Forest MOnday at 6:30 p.m. West Florida will travel to Crestview Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 2:30.
West Florida 4, Northview 4 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Northview and West Florida battled to a 4-4 tie after five innings Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
J Boutwell opened on the mound for the Chiefs, giving up four hits and four runs while walking four and striking out five over four and one-third innings. G Harrison closed, tossing two-thirds of the final inning giving up no hits and no runs while striking out two and walking one.
Ayden Crabtree, Brayden Gindl, Easten Odom and Nate Jones each had one hit for Northview.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Peacock Signs With Mount Mercer University
April 5, 2024
Gage Peacock of Beulah has signed with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Lighthouse Private Christian Academy senior received baseball and an academic scholarships. He will also bowling for the school.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Defeats Northview In Flag Football (With Gallery)
April 4, 2024
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 21-0 in girls flag football Wednesday afternoon in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate quarterback Gabrielle Smart had 103 yards passing, completing 14 of 20 attempts. Smart also had 60 yards rushing and one touchdown on six carries. Hannah Pitman had 100 yards rushing on six carries for the Aggies. Ryan Clarke had 34 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Northview stats were not provided.
Wednesday was senior night for Northview with the team honoring seniors Carsyn Dortch, Kendal Beasley and Ava Gurganus before the game.
The Chiefs ended their season at 3-5 overall. The Tate Aggies, currently 5-5, will end their season Thursday against Gulf Breeze.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NWE Hosting 8U, 10U Baseball Tourney With Free Entry
April 4, 2024
Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park will host a recreational 8U and 10U baseball tournament on April 13 and 14 with a three-game guarantee.
Registration is free. Click here for a registration form.