Blue Wahoos Implement Metal Detectors, Other Screening For This Season
April 2, 2024
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos have announced new enhanced safety measures at Blue Wahoos Stadium ahead of the 2024 season as part of their continued effort to improve fan experience and remain aligned with Major League Baseball’s facility operating standards.
Beginning on Tuesday, April 2 for their exhibition game against the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey, the Blue Wahoos will install metal detection and screening systems around the stadium’s main entrances. At the ballpark’s primary home plate entrance, the Wahoos have installed three automatic screening systems. The wire-free, high-convenience systems are currently used by eight different Major League Baseball clubs, including the Blue Wahoos’ MLB affiliate Miami Marlins. At stadium group entrances, the Blue Wahoos have installed two CEIA USA Metal Detection and Security Screening systems. The installed systems are part of a near-$100,000 investment by Blue Wahoos owners Quint and Rishy Studer to improve and prioritize fan and player safety.
“This move is consistent with our goal of making fans feel safe,” said owner Quint Studer. “Some years back, we expanded ballpark netting to the foul poles at a time when few teams were doing it. Over and over again, as foul balls that could have injured a fan were stopped by netting, that decision proved to be the right one. Prevention of harm is the key. Taking the lead from the Marlins and other MLB clubs in placing the most up-to-date detection system makes sense. We don’t ever want to be in the position of ‘we wish we had.’ This also supports the talented security staff, police officers and emergency personnel who are on site at every game.”
The Blue Wahoos remain wholly committed to fan and player safety as a top priority and are confident the new measures will ensure that Blue Wahoos fans and players can enjoy a fun, safe, and firearm-free experience.
The Blue Wahoos will host the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey in an exhibition series April 2 and 3, with Opening Day of the 2024 Southern League season coming Friday, April 5 at home against the Mississippi Braves. S
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Founded in 2012, they have won Southern League Championships in 2017 and 2022. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people in their community, and to make Pensacola the best place to live in the world.
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Ice Flyers Comeback Attempt In Home Finale Foiled By Macon Mayhem In 4-3 Loss
April 1, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers were hoping their scheduled home finale would put an Easter Sunday bow on a season of record-setting attendance and fan experience memories.
But the Macon Mayhem had other ideas.
On an afternoon that followed Macon’s overtime win Saturday night at Birmingham — thwarting the Bulls from clinching the league regular-season crown — the Mayhem jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second period Sunday and held on for a 4-3 victory against the Ice Flyers at the Pensacola Bay Center.
A crowd of 3,609 on Friends and Family Day boosted the Ice Flyers season attendance to 148,588 for the 28-game home schedule. It was by far the largest season attendance in the team’s 15-year franchise history.
Unfortunately for the Ice Flyers, they weren’t able to close it out with a win. They will now finish the 56-game schedule on the road next weekend at Fayetteville, which is battling to hold on to fourth place and home-ice for the first round of the playoffs.
Both teams Sunday were playing in their third game in three days. The Ice Flyers (25-25,4 OT losses) split their two-game series against Evansville the previous nights at the Bay Center, while Macon (15-32, 7 OT losses), which will finish in last place in the 10-team Southern Professional Hockey League, split two games at Birmingham.
“We got outplayed by a team that shouldn’t have outplayed us,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “It’s unacceptable. It was a very disappointing weekend to lose two home games. I care a lot about it. It’s frustrating. I just don’t feel that level was there (Sunday) from our group.”
The game recap:
FIRST PERIOD
The game’s first penalty led to the Ice Flyers first goal.
Macon’s Sacha Roy was whistled for tripping twice in the same sequence with 13:55 remaining. And 45 seconds later, Reggie Millette wristed a shot into the net, following a faceoff won by Garrett Milan in the Mayhem zone. Milan got the puck to Zac Herrmann, who found Millette open for the shot.
Less than two minutes later, Macon tied the game.
David Nippard rifled a shot that bounced off Ice Flyers’ goaltender Reid Cooper’s chest protector and the puck went over his shoulder and rolled into the net.
Cooper became a pro hockey buzz last April when the Washington Capitals signed the former NCAA Division III star goaltender to a contract — and he dressed for an NHL game as the backup goaltender.
Cooper was making his first start for the Ice Flyers. He played a total of 14 pro games, all in the higher level ECHL in 2023 and earlier this season before the Ice Flyers signed him.
Exactly three minutes later, the Mayhem took a 2-1 lead into the intermission when Roy’s shot from inside the blueline got through traffic and past Cooper with 8:40 remaining.
The Ice Flyers’ Spencer Kennedy created the other noteworthy moment of the period. He got tangled with Macon’s Dan Winslow, took exception to a hold around his neck and dropped Winslow with a flurry of punches. Teammate Billy Jerry jumped in and Kennedy threw some punches at him as well.
It produced seven minutes in penalties for Kennedy and gave Macon a five minute power play that the Ice Flyers killed off.
SECOND PERIOD
This is when the game was ultimately decided.
The Mayhem scored two goals less than two minutes apart and it caused Graham to pull Cooper from the game after Macon took a 4-1 lead with 13:46 remaining. He faced 16 shots, stopping 12.
The Ice Flyers No. 1 goalie, Stephen Mundinger, who played between the pipes the previous two nights, was unexpectedly summoned to finish the game Mundinger stopped all 14 shots he faced to help get the Ice Flyers re-energized.
Houston Wilson started the momentum with his shot through traffic with 2:54 remaining in the period, cutting the deficit to 4-2 at second intermission.
THIRD PERIOD
Less than three minutes into the period, Macon thought it had scored when a shot hit the pipe and the goal lamp came on. After the officials stopped play for video review, their initial decision of no goal was confirmed.
That led to the Ice Flyers Reggie Millette putting home a rebound on a shot from Mitch Atkins with 14:26 remaining. Suddenly, the crowd was making an impact and the Ice Flyers seemed positioned for a complete comeback.
But in the final four minutes, the Ice Flyers managed just three shots on goal, including the final 1:19 when Mundinger was pulled during a timeout for an extra attacker.
It was Macon’s fourth win against the Ice Flyers in the 10 games between the teams.
NOTABLES:
— With Sunday’s attendance, the Ice Flyers finished their 28-game home games with an average of 5,307 per-game. Only the Huntsville Havoc, the league’s attendance leader, has a better per-game average and total attendance in the SPHL.
— Following the game, the Ice Flyers signed autographs for fans on the second-level concourse.
— During the first intermission, the Ice Flyers front office staff had their moment in a contest shooting pucks from the blue line into an empty net.
— The Ice Flyers have clinched the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and will face either Birmingham or Peoria in the first round of the playoffs that can begin the week of April 8-14.
QUOTABLES:
Ice Flyers Coach Gary Graham: “The first two (Macon) goals were very lucky. The shots went off a player and went into the net. So, they had a little bit of puck luck early. And again, for the new goalie (Cooper), his first game when I had to pull him, he didn’t get a chance to do a lot for us.
“And any goalie is going to be upset which is normal. They are passionate guys, they are competitors, which I respect. For me, it wasn’t his play, it was more about trying to wake my team up. Sometimes for a coach it’s a gut feel and we did start playing a little bitter out of that. I’m upset that his first game was like that, but I have a lot of confidence in both of them, so that’s not going to waver at all moving forward.
On Ice Flyers Struggles:
“For me it’s the same thing over and over again. You look at a team, Macon, they shoot the puck from everywhere. They have two of the top five goal scorers in the league. They shoot and shoot and they get to the net. Every game, we have chances in the slot, we look for something cute on the back post, it’s been the same problem all year. We don’t have pure goal scorers on this team. We don’t have guys who want to shoot the puck.”
NEXT FACEOFF
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Fayetteville Marksmen
WHEN: April 5-6
WHERE: Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, N.C.
UWF Softball Honors Miracle League Players
March 31, 2024
The University of West Florida softball team invited the players of the Miracle League of Pensacola to their game Saturday afternoon. The Argos honored the Miracle League placers and organization.
It was a quick and decisive game three at the UWF Softball Complex as UWF Softball (23-12, 12-6) run-ruled the Shorter Hawks (2-32, 1-20) by a 10-0 score Saturday afternoon.
The bats for West Florida continue to light up the scoreboard in recent weeks, as the run-rule marks the sixth victory in that manner in the last nine games. Since the March 15 series against Christian Brothers, UWF has outscored opponents 95-20 in that time.
It is also third-straight series sweep in conference for UWF. The victory marks their 23rd win of the year, surpassing the total from last year with 17 regular season games remaining. With a month till the GSC Tournament, UWF sits at fourth in the conference standings.
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Jurey’s Three RBIs Not Enough As Northview Falls To J.U. Blacksher
March 30, 2024
J.U. Blacksher 8, Northview 6
The J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs defeated the Northview Chiefs 8-6 in a Friday afternoon game in Uriah, Alabama.
Starter Grayden Sheffield went two innings for the Chiefs, giving up four hits and five runs, striking out one and walking three. Jase Portwood went for four on the mound in relief, giving up six hits and three runs while striking out two and walking two.
Kalen Jurey went 1-2 with three RBIs for Northview. Portwood was 1-2.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the Jay Royals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bratt.
Blacksher 7, Northview 5 (JV)
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ice Flyers Miss On Power-Play Chances, Fall 2-1 In Overtime Against Evansville
March 30, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers came up empty on nine power-play chances Friday night.
And then lost the game in overtime while on the power play, silencing a crowd of 5,010 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
For a photo gallery, click here.
It was that kind of night, that tough of a loss as the Evansville Thunderbolts exited with a 2-1 victory to begin the Ice Flyers final home weekend of the season on Easter weekend.
“It was very fitting that we lost the game on a power play by a lack of execution, giving up a shorthanded goal. It sums up the night unfortunately,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham.
After Evansville was whistled for its 10th penalty with 53.8 seconds left in regulation play, the Ice Flyers had their chance to win the game. But they were unable to get a good look in that span, then went into overtime with the penalty carrying over.
On a 4-on-3 situation, an Ice Flyers player fell while trying to make a pass. The Thunderbolts’ Matthew Hobbs got the turnover, got free on a breakaway and made a quick deke and wrister past Ice Flyers goaltender Stephen Mundinger for the game winner.
Mundinger had kept the Ice Flyers in the game the entire way, stopping 31 shots, many of them with brilliant glove saves, but the offensive production lacked, and Evansville got the win.
Evansville (23-27, 3 OT losses, 47 points) also won the previous meeting between these teams. They will play again Saturday night for the final time. The Thunderbolts clinched the final playoff spot in eighth place and trail the seventh-place Ice Flyers (24-25, 3 OT losses, 51 points) heading into the final four games of the season for both teams.
The game recap:
FIRST PERIOD
The Ice Flyers had two power play chances and a 13-5 edge in shots, but the period ended scoreless.
With 11:54 left and both teams even-strength, the Ice Flyers briefly reacted to the goal light coming on after a loose puck in a scrum was poked into the net.
But referee Keith Grooms had raised his arm and blown his whistle a second before the puck was pushed into the net to signal play stoppage. The Ice Flyers did not react as if there was a dispute. There was some pushing and shoving among several players, but no penalties issued.
Mundinger made his best save of the period on a clear breakaway chance by coming out and forcing a shot into his chest protecter.
SECOND PERIOD
This began with a flurry of shots, then ended with a flurry of fists.
And a tied game at 1-1.
Evansville had three point blank chances in the first five minutes, two of those by center Grant Spence. All were thwarted by Mundinger.
That lift carried into the game’s first goal when Reggie Millette broke free after a face off and made a perfect feed from the right side to newcomer, Spencer Kennedy, who buried a one timer into the net with 13:50 left in the period.
Kennedy played his first game Friday for the Ice Flyers, after being on four different teams this season, including 19 games for Roanoke and 13 for Peoria in the SPHL.
Spence then tied the game with 8:58 left when burying a rebound off a leg pad save by Mundinger. Brendon Harrogate got free on a 2 on 1 break to force the kick save and Spence had wide open net to finish.
After seeking a fight in the first period, but getting no takers, Kennedy landed several punches to Grayson Valente’s face as the horn sounded to end the second period. It followed a slashing call against the Thunderbirds’ Adam Pilotte.
It took minutes to sort out the infractions. Kennedy was given a five-minute fighting penalty; two minutes to Pilotte and another two minutes to Valente to start the third period.
Evansville tied the game with 8:58 remaining on a rebound shot by
THIRD PERIOD
The Ice Flyers began with a man-advantage for the first 90 seconds in a penalty filled start to this period.
The teams were not at full strength together until less than 10 minutes remained. The Ice Flyers had 12 shots in the period, but none of them with rebound chances to follow. In the period, the teams combined for 25 penalty minutes.
QUOTABLES
Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham:
“We had a lot of passengers (Friday) unfortunately. I didn’t expect it. We had a good week of practice. I tip my hat to Evansville. I thought it was a chance-for-chance, coin flip type of game, but again we should start seeing guys rise to the top as this point in the season.
The power play (woes) are the same thing all year. We just don’t have shooters. We have three of the top assist guys in the league, but we don’t have anyone in the top 15 for goals. We just don’t have guys who want to shoot the puck and when we do shoot the puck we miss the net. It’s been the same thing.
If we could just get our power play to buy into getting pucks and bodies to the net, maybe we could do something with the power play.
On Spencer Kennedy’s Impact: “Obviously he knows his role here, he knows his job. He did a great job his first shift with a big hit, and it got the crowd going, because we didn’t have a good start. That hit kind of got us going. I think we rattled off the next 13 shots.”
WHAT TO GO?
WHO: Evansville Thunderbolts vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Four RBIs For Pugh As Northview Comes Back To Beat Pine Forest
March 29, 2024
The Northview Chiefs recovered from a four-run deficit to defeat the Pine Forest Eagles 9-8 Thursday night in Pensacola.
Pine Forest scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. The Chiefs regained an 8-7 advantage in the top of the fifth, and Pine Forest tied it up at eight in the bottom of the sixth on a Northview error Brady Smith singled in the top of the seventh, scoring one run, to make it 9-8.
Starter Smith went for three and two-thirds innings for Northview, allowing five hits and seven runs, striking out five and walking one. Jackson Bridges went for three and a third innings, surrendering one hit and one run, striking out nine and walking three.
Colby Pugh led the Chiefs at the plate, going 2-4 with four RBIs. Smith was 1-4 with one RBI.
The Chiefs will be back in action Friday at 2 p.m. at J.U. Blacksher in Uriah, Alabama.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Kevin Randel Returns To Lead 2024 Blue Wahoos Coaching Staff
March 28, 2024
The Miami Marlins and Pensacola Blue Wahoos announced Wednesday that reigning Southern League Manager of the Year Kevin Randel will return for a fourth season as Pensacola’s manager in 2024 after leading the team to their best regular season winning percentage in team history in 2023. Randel’s coaching staff will include returning defensive coach Danny Black (secondnd season) and video coordinator Clay Metzger (thirrd season), as well as new pitching coach Jerad Eickhoff, hitting coach Jason Krizan, strength and conditioning coach Brandon Remalia, athletic trainer Shelby Perry, player development analyst fellow Shbieb Dabaja and coaching fellow Renny Tolentino.
“It’s great to be back in Pensacola for a fourth season,” Randel said. “The connections I’ve built with the staff, fans and community make this a great place to play, and I’m proud of the winning culture we have developed these past few years.”
Randel previously led the Blue Wahoos to a winning 57-54 record in 2021, his first year with the team, before guiding Pensacola to a Southern League championship in 2022. With Randel at the helm in 2023, the Blue Wahoos went 79-57 and returned to the Southern League Championship Series. 18 Pensacola players managed by Randel have made their Major League debuts, and his 204 managerial wins trail only Pat Kelly (218 wins from 2015-17) for the most in franchise history.
Following an eight-season playing career as an infielder in the Marlins system, Randel began his managerial career in the Marlins organization in 2015, leading the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Randel went on to lead the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads for two years before making the move to Double-A Jacksonville in 2019.
Eickhoff joins the Blue Wahoos for his first season after a seven-year MLB career that included time with the Philadelphia Phillies (2015-19), New York Mets (2021) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2022). Selected in the 15th round of the 2011 Draft by the Texas Rangers out of Olney Central College (IL), Eickhoff was traded to the Phillies in 2015. He also spent time in the Padres and Guardians organizations, finishing his career with Triple-A Columbus in 2023.
Krizan joins the Blue Wahoos for his first season after spending 2023 as the hitting coach for High-A Winston-Salem in the Chicago White Sox organization. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 8th round of the 2011 Draft out of Dallas Baptist University, where he was a First-Team All-American in his senior season. After an 11-year minor league career in the Tigers, Mets and Giants organizations, he made his MLB debut for San Francisco in 2022.
Black, returning to the Blue Wahoos for his second season, played six seasons in the Marlins minor league system from 2010 to 2015, including parts of four seasons for Double-A Jacksonville in the Southern League and parts of two seasons with Triple-A New Orleans. He began his coaching career in 2018 and has served in various roles since, including as an assistant coach for Advanced-A Jupiter from 2018-2019 and as a defensive coach for Triple-A Jacksonville in 2021 and the FCL Marlins in 2022.
Perry joins the Blue Wahoos as athletic trainer after serving in the same role for High-A Beloit in 2023 and the FCL Marlins in 2022. Remalia is in his fourth season as a strength and conditioning coach in the Marlins organization after working for Class-A Jupiter in 2021 and 2022, followed by High-A Beloit in 2023. Metzger is in his third season with the Marlins and Blue Wahoos after spending the 2021 season in a video and information role with the Atlanta Braves.
The Blue Wahoos will host the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey in an exhibition series April 2 and 3, with Opening Day of the 2024 Southern League season coming Friday, April 5 at home against the Mississippi Braves.
Tate Aggies Falls To Milton Panthers
March 27, 2024
The Tate Aggies fell to the Milton Panthers 7-4 Tuesday night.
Zane Warrington started and took the loss for Tate, giving up four hits and six runs in three and one-third innings, striking out seven and walking two. Nate Conners went for three and two-thirds innings in relief, surrendering one hit and one run while striking out four.
Bray Touchstone was 1-4 at the plate for the Aggies with three RBIs.
Up next, the Aggies will travel to Niceville on Wednesday to take on Merritt Island at 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pace Tops Tate 14-4 To Win Aggie Classic (With Gallery)
March 22, 2024
The Pace Patriots won the 29th annual Aggie Classic championship Thursday night 14-4 over the Tate Aggies.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Sammy Roberts earned the win for the Patriots, giving up three hits and one run in five innings, striking out one and walking one.
Logan Kimmons took the loss for the Aggies, going three and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs and six hits while striking out three and walking three.
Ketch King went 1-for-3 at the plate and one RBI to lead the Aggies. Kaleb Posta, and Brayden Beck each added one hit for the Aggies.
Grant Walters was 3-3 for Pace with a home run and three RBIs. Glenn Brooks also had a Patriot homer.
The Patriots were undefeated in the Aggie Classics, while Tate was 3-1.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Choctaw Softball Gets Past Tate 2-1 (With Photo Gallery)
March 22, 2024
The Tate Lady Aggies fell 2-1 to Choctaw Thursday night at home.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Peyton Womack went seven innings for the Lady Aggies, surrendering two runs on four hits while striking out two and walking six.
Lacy Wilson, Kate Balagbagan, Blakely Campbell, and Peyton Womack each had one hit Tate.
Up next, the Lady Aggies will host Milton after spring break on April 4. The Strike Out Cancer Game that was set for March 22 has been rescheduled due to weather for April 5.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
