Bermúdez Brilliant In 3-0 Shutout Win
September 17, 2023
His well-traveled professional career has taken Blue Wahoos pitcher Jonathan Bermúdez across the country with three different organizations, pitching in more than 100 games.
He provided great reason to always remember the one Saturday night.
The 27-year-old lefthander from Puerto Rico worked a career-long seven complete innings, allowing just three hits with nine strikeouts, helping lead Pensacola to a 3-0 win against the Mississippi Braves.
A sellout crowd on the final Saturday home game of the season watched Bermúdez out-dazzle M-Braves starter Hurston Waldrep, the former Florida Gators star, who was the first-round pick in July by the Atlanta Braves in the 2023 Draft.
Waldrep pitched four innings, the longest of his brief pro career, giving up four hits, a run and striking out five.
The crisply-played pitching showcase was completed in just 2 hours, 15 minutes.
In making his 18th start, Bermúdez faced just two batters above the minimum in seven innings. He did not allow a walk. Bermúdez was signed by the Miami Marlins on April 26 as a free agent, after being with the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros organizations – reaching the Triple-A level in each one.
Of the three singles he allowed, one was erased when the M-Braves’ Cody Milligan was thrown out on a perfect throw by Jake Thompson trying to stretch the hit into a double.
Relievers Chandler Jozwiak and Luarbert Arias followed behind Bermúdez to complete the shutout. The M-Braves had a single in the eighth off Jozwiak before Arias retired them in order in the ninth.
The Blue Wahoos chose to wear the Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok uniforms, which became instantly popular with the players when introduced before the season as part of the team’s participation the Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión program to honor the game’s Latin American history.
Pensacola got its first run in the third inning when Cobie Fletcher-Vance led off with a double, then scored on Victor Mesa Jr.’s single.
The score remained that way until the seventh inning, when Josh Zamora doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Norel González. Pensacola added its third run in the eighth inning when Paul McIntosh led off with a walk, then later scored on Bennett Hostetler’s RBI single.
The Blue Wahoos (78-57), extending their mark with the second-most wins in franchise history, will now end their regular-season schedule on Sunday, trying to even the series against the M-Braves. The Blue Wahoos’ team record for season wins was 81, set in 2016 as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate in a 140-game season.
Sunday’s finale will also be a special POW-MIA commemoration game to honor the 50-year anniversary of the return of U.S. POW service members and the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
Attending Sunday’s game will be two area men who were former POWs at that time. They will be honored with ceremonial first pitches, then more recognition between innings of the game.
Sunday’s afternoon game will feature the second rehab start this week by the Miami Marlins’ Sixto Sánchez, who was once the No. 1 prospect in the organization before a series of injuries the last three years stalled his career. Sánchez will be on a limited pitch count and is expected to be followed by M.D. Johnson.
Pregame activities will begin at 3:45 p.m., including ceremonial first pitches and special guest introductions. The official first pitch of the game will be at 4:05 p.m.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before traveling on Tuesday to face the Montgomery Biscuits for Game 1 of the Southern League Division Series. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be in Pensacola on Thursday, September 21 at 6:05 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A deciding Game 3, if necessary, will be at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Friday, September 22.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
No Place Like Home: Northview Gets 35-0 Senior Night Shutout Over Lighthouse (With Gallery)
September 16, 2023
There’s no place like home for a big win.
After dropping the first three games of the season on the road, the Northview Chiefs got a big 35-0 senior night win at home over Lighthouse Private Christian Academy Friday night. Northview is now 5-0 against Lighthouse across all meetings.
For a photo gallery click here. Look for a gallery with cheerleaders, the band and more in the next few days.
“It was just a great senior night at Northview,” head coach Wes Summerford said. “We’ve played three great teams, then Lighthouse came up here, and it’s just great to get a win. That’s important for our guys right now, and we get to work off that. That’s going to be our message. Our kids…we’ve got to rebound off this, and we’ve got to work on this win and be positive…feed off it and keep going.”
The penalty flags were flying all night against the Chiefs with five — that’s five — touchdowns called back on penalties.
But it was the five that hit the scoreboard that counted.
Senior Devin Kelly had two senior night touchdowns in the first half from seven yards and one yard out. Senior Joe Wright had a one-yard rushing TD with 2:12 to go in the half and added another in the third quarter.
Northview (1-3) will sit out next Friday night with a bye before they gas up the bus and hit the road again for their next two games against Elberta on September 29 and Baker on October 6. Homecoming will be October 13 as the Jay Royals head to Bratt.
“We have a bye week to get healthy. We were short a few guys tonight,” Summerford said. “Get those guys healthy, and work on not having those penalties.”
For a photo gallery click here. Look for a gallery with cheerleaders, the band and more in the next few days.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Navarre Tops Tate 45-42 In Late Night District Battle
September 16, 2023
The Tate Aggies fell to the Navarre Raiders 45-42 in a late night battle in Navarre.
The game kicked off about 8:30, an hour late, due to a lightning delay. Then the real fireworks began in the District 1-4S matchup.
The Raiders were first on the board early in the game. Tate’s Laquarius Bradford returned the ensuing kickoff down to the 14-yard line, leading to the first touchdown for the Aggies from Andre Colston. Colston added another short TD run to put the Aggies on top 14-7 in the first.
Navarre answered to tie it up 14-14. The Aggies rolled ahead 21-14 with a touchdown run from Nathan Case before Navarre tied it up 21-21.
Tate scored again on a Carson Secchiari run that made it 35-28, Navarre still on top. Colton added another short touchdown run with 5:33 to go in the third, and it was all tied up 35-35. Navarre took the lead 38-35 with a field goal before the Aggies took the lead 42-38 with a touchdown from Demoarion Clay.
Navarre scored again with about nine and half minutes in the game, 45-42.
With just seconds to go in the game and facing fourth down, the Aggies decided to try a 50-yard field goal. The ball had barely left the foot of Tate’s Jackson Clarke when it was blocked by a Navarre player from around the outside.
The Navarre raiders took a knee to end the game about 11:30 p.m.
At 2-2, the Aggies are still having their best season in five years — it’s the first season with two wins since 2018. The Aggies will have next Friday night off before looking for win number three as they host the Milton Panthers on September 29.
Pictured: Northview’s Taite Davis hands off to Andre Colston Friday night in Navarre. Image courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
September 16, 2023
Here are high school football scores from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Navarre 45, Tate 42 [Story...]
- Northview 35, Lighthouse Private Christian Academy 0 [Story, photos...]
- Jay 14, Baker 3
- Choctaw 35, Pine Forest 14
- Escambia 37, Fort Walton Beach 0
- Bay 35, Pensacola High 0
- Pace 28, Crestview 0
- Gulf Breeze 73, Milton 42
- BYES: Washington, West Florida
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 34, Cottage Hill 14
- Jackson Academy 46, Escambia Academy 18
- St. Michael 41, Escambia County (Atmore) 26
- Jackson 38, T.R. Miller 7
- W.S. Neal 48, Monroe County 12
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated Lighthouse Christian 35-0 Friday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Late Rally Not Enough As Wahoos Fall 5-4
September 16, 2023
Pregame rain returned Friday, continuing a week-long trend, thinning the crowd and delaying the Blue Wahoos game by nearly two hours on consecutive days.
The glum scenario has carried into a post-game feeling as well.
After trimming a 5-1 deficit with an eighth-inning rally, the Blue Wahoos fell short of ninth-inning heroics in a 5-4 loss against the Mississippi Braves at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Once again, M-Braves closer Brooks Wilson locked the door with his second dominant performance in four nights. This time, his array of splitters led to a pair of ninth-inning strikeouts to seal the Blue Wahoos’ fate.
It was M-Braves’ third win in four games of this series.
What had been a sunny afternoon turned into a thunderstorm at 6:25 p.m. – 10 minutes before the scheduled start of Friday’s game. A one-hour, 50-minute delay. It was a similar scenario to Thursday’s game, which started well past the scheduled time.
The M-Braves produced three runs off Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer in the fifth inning. The big hit was a two-run double by Bryson Horne.
The Blue Wahoos got a run back in the sixth on a two-out single from Norel González to score Nasim Nuñez, who had walked and stolen second base. At that point, it was Pensacola’s first hit since Paul McIntosh’s first inning single.
The M-Braves added a run in the seventh and another in the eighth against relievers Josan Méndez and Zach Willeman to open a 5-1 lead.
But in the bottom of the inning, the Blue Wahoos offense came to life. Nuñez reached on an error and scored on Will Banfield’s triple. Bennett Hostetler’s double scored a third run and Cody Morissette reached on a throwing error that scored Hostetler.
But Wilson retired the Blue Wahoos in order in the ninth for his second save in two days.
The Blue Wahoos will try to get back in the series on Saturday.
The M-Braves will be throwing former Florida Gators star Hurston Waldrep (0-0, 3.00 ERA) on Saturday. He was the Atlanta Braves’ No. 1 draft pick in July following a 2023 season with the Gators in which he helped Florida reach the College World Series.
The Blue Wahoos will have lefthander Jonathan Bermúdez on the mound (4-5, 4.94 ERA) for the fifth game of the homestand.
Pregame activities will begin at 5:45 p.m., including ceremonial first pitches and special guest introductions. The official first pitch of the game will be at 6:05 p.m.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Escambia Parks And Rec Wins State Sports Tourism Award
September 15, 2023
The Florida Recreation and Park Association Awards has awarded Escambia County Parks and Recreation the 2023 Excellence in Sports Tourism Award: Small Market Award.
The award recognizes efforts to advance the park and recreation profession in the area of sports tourism.
Escambia County Parks and Recreation maintains property throughout the county, including the athletic fields and parks, neighborhood and open space parks, community centers, beach access parks, boat launch areas and the Equestrian Center. The department partners with Pensacola Sports, the local sports marketing organization, to attract and retain events that fit the community.
The Southeastern Conference hosted the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in October 2022 after a previous run in Orange Beach. The week-long event saw record-breaking attendance and generated over $2.5 million in local economic impact. Parks and recreation staff worked tirelessly to welcome players and visitors, prepping the field prior to the tournament and maintaining the grounds daily.
Traditional sports events, including lacrosse, youth soccer and baseball, and intramural college flag football, have contributed to the economic impact, marking Escambia County as a true sports destination. In 2022, the Equestrian Center hosted 51 events, generating over $6 million of local economic impact.
Pictured: The record-setting SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex last October. Thee tournament will return in October 2023. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Early Deficit Swallows Wahoos In 8-2 Loss
September 15, 2023
The first inning breezed quickly for Blue Wahoos pitcher Patrick Monteverde, resembling so many of his previous starts this season.
But he will quickly want to forget the rest.
After suddenly struggling with his pitch command, a leadoff homer in the second inning was followed by three consecutive walks and a grand slam, leading to the Mississippi Braves’ 8-2 victory in the season’s final Mullet Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game’s start time was delayed 46 minutes after another set of afternoon storms.
It wound up becoming the shortest of Monteverde’s 21 starts with the Blue Wahoos this season. He was lifted after the 42-pitch, five-run second inning. The Blue Wahoos were unable to bounce back at the plate. They had only two hits in the first five innings and none after scoring two runs in the sixth.
Wearing Pensacola’s alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets, Monteverde didn’t look like himself in more ways than one on Thursday. He was coming off recording his 10th win last week against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. In doing so, he became only the fifth Blue Wahoos pitcher in team history to earn 10 wins in a single season.
He was the first with 10 wins since former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rookie Davis in 2016 during his time with the Blue Wahoos.
After the rain delay Thursday, Monteverde (10-5) started with an eight pitch, 1-2-3 first inning.
But that was followed by a knockout punch. M-Braves designated hitter Drake Baldwin led off the second with a booming homer to center field. Three walks later, right fielder Landon Stephens blasted his 21st homer well over the left field wall toward the water for a grand slam.
The Blue Wahoos got a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-run single by Victor Mesa Jr., one of just five Pensacola hits.
While the weather affected the crowd, the game had two special guests in attendance.
Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng watched the game from various locations in her first trip this season to Pensacola.
Equally noteworthy, Darrell Randel, father of Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel, watched his son manage for the first time. He traveled from Montclair, California with son, Jeff, and his wife, Kristin, along with their daughter Kaylee and older son Jacob.
Kevin Randel didn’t know his dad was visiting until they met Thursday morning at a Pensacola restaurant. The group will take in Friday’s game as well.
The series against the M-Braves now shifts to the weekend.
The Friday game will have the Blue Wahoos’ Evan Fitterer (7-6, 4.40 ERA) on the mound against the M-Braves’ Daniel Martinez (0-2, 5.56). It will be the 23rd start of the season for Fitterer, a righthander from Mission Vejo, California, who was the Miami Marlins’ fifth round draft pick in 2019.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Buxton Debuts, Banfield Homers In 3-2 Wahoos Win
September 14, 2023
The Blue Wahoos’ latest new pitcher shined on Wednesday.
And another team feat was attained.
In his Double-A debut, Ike Buxton set an early tone by throwing four scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit, then Pensacola’s bullpen sealed a 3-2 victory against the Mississippi Braves at Blue Wahoos Stadium that added another season superlative.
It was this team’s 77th win, pushing them into the second-most wins in team history. In addition to that, Will Banfield’s solo home run in the fourth inning – the first run of the game – was the Blue Wahoos’ 162nd homer this season, which is now tied for the sixth-most in modern Southern League history since 1964.
On Wednesday, the team transformed into the Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok as part of the Copa de la Diversión in Minor League Baseball.
The game began with Buxton in command. He joined the team earlier this week after pitching in 2023 for the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate in Beloit, Wisconsin. The 23-year-old right-hander from Sun Valley, Idaho was a 15th round draft selection in 2022 by the Marlins.
He was 6-2 with a 3.01 earned run average before Wednesday’s no-decision. Chandler Jozwiak, another pitcher who began this year in Beloit, followed and got his second win with two hitless innings.
Luarbert Arias and Dylan Bice preserved the win in late relief, with Bice getting his second save.
In the ninth inning, the M-Braves’ Cade Bunnell blasted a one-out Bice pitch out of the ballpark to make it a one-run game. With two outs, Drew Campbell singled and Cody Milligan walked on a 3-2 pitch Bice believed was a strike.
But Bice then responded by getting Luke Waddell to fly out to end the game.
Pensacola got its second run when Banfield came back up in the fifth inning and drove in Nasim Nuñez on a sacrifice fly. Nuñez had walked and advanced to third on Paul McIntosh’s single.
Norel González provided the game-winning RBI with his eighth-inning single to score Bennett Hostetler.
The third game of series with the M-Braves is Thursday, with the Blue Wahoos (77-55) taking on their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets and wearing their specialty uniforms on “Mullet Thursday.” There will also be drink specials for those of legal age at various locations on the stadium concourse.
The Blue Wahoos will enter with a 4-6 record in the Mullet uniforms.
The Blue Wahoos’ top pitcher, left-hander Patrick Monteverde (10-4, 2.97 earned run average), will make his final regular-season start Thursday against M-Braves righthander Daniel Martinez (0-2 5.56).
Pregame activities will begin at 6:15 p.m., including ceremonial first pitches and special guest introductions. The official first pitch of the game will be at 6:35 p.m.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Northview Defeats Pine Forest In Match Played With No Officials
September 13, 2023
In a match played without officials, the Northview Chiefs defeated the Pine Forest Eagles 2-0 in high school volleyball Tuesday in Bratt.
Northview took the two sets 25-14, 25-12.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Northview (5-3) will be at Laurel Hill on Thursday. Pine Forest (0-5) will host West Florida on Monday.
We were told there were no officials at the game due to a scheduling error.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Softball 10th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot Fundraiser Held (Photo Gallery)
September 13, 2023
Almost 100 people participated in the 10th Annual Tate High School Softball Sporting Clay Shoot fundraiser.
There were about 30 teams that took part in the event at the Santa Rosa Shooting Center.
The top three teams were Elite Mechanical, American Concrete Supply and Cordova Dentistry.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
