Mesa’s Walk-off Homer Sends Wahoos To 6-4 Win
September 2, 2023
Victor Mesa Jr. has enjoyed a flair for dramatics at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The centerfielder did it again in a big way Friday night following a lengthy rain delay and tied game, blasting a towering, 2-out, 2-run, walk-off home run over the right field wall to lift the Blue Wahoos to a 6-4 victory against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
It was his second homer of the game and his second walk-off homer this season. On July 22, he blasted the first walk-off grand slam in franchise history in a 12-8 win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. It also became the Blue Wahoos’ third walk-off win via a home run this season.
This one, however, may have been the most satisfying.
After taking a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning, the Blue Wahoos were tied in the eighth inning when a massive storm struck the ballpark. It happened after the Lookouts were retired in order in top of the eighth.
A 1-hour, 9-minute delay ensued.
Blue Wahoos reliever Jefry Yan earned his third win with some clutch pitching in the ninth inning and a great defensive play by Blue Wahoos left fielder Tanner Allen, a Mobile native.
Yan allowed a lead-off single, then committed a balk to move the Lookouts’ Matheu Nelson into scoring position at second. But Yan got next batter James Free to pop out. The Lookouts’ Ivan Johnson followed with a liner to left that Allen caught with a sensational dive, then threw out Nelson before he got back to second to end the inning on a double play.
With two outs, none on in the bottom of the ninth, Nasim Nuñez drew a walk. Nuñez was playing in his first game in more than a week after sustaining an injury against Biloxi. He came back by going 3-for-4, all singles, plus reaching on the pivotal walk in the ninth.
Mesa followed by hitting a low fastball from reliever Steve Branch high into the thick air, then having the wind continue to carry the moon shot over the right field wall to end the game.
The Lookouts’ right fielder Rece Hinds, a former Niceville High star returning to Northwest Florida for the first time, had a big night with a pair of solo homers that helped Chattanooga back into the game.
The Blue Wahoos jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Mesa’s solo blast over the right-center wall before newcomer Jake Thompson connected on a two-run single. He joined the club Friday from the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate, the Beloit Sky Carp.
Cody Morissette provided the Blue Wahoos their fourth run with a solo homer in the fourth inning. But the Lookouts bullpen kept Pensacola in check until the ninth.
It was only the Blue Wahoos’ second win in nine games against the Lookouts, who suffered a six-game sweep three weeks ago in Chattanooga and won the Southern League North Division first half title.
The game was stopped at 8:43 p.m. before the Blue Wahoos batted in the bottom of the eighth inning. The grounds crew consisting of Blue Wahoos front office staff raced to get the tarp on the field before the rain fell.
The Blue Wahoos will now try to win another in the fifth game between the teams on Saturday. Blue Wahoos lefthander Jonathan Bermúdez (3-5, 5.07 ERA) will go against Chattanooga righty Chase Petty, making his Double-A debut.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Bonus Photos: Northview, Flomaton Bands And Cheerleaders
September 1, 2023
The Northview Chiefs took on the Flomaton Hurricanes last Friday night.
For a bonus photo gallery with the bands and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Quieted By Aguiar, Lookouts In 7-1 Loss
September 1, 2023
If not for three misplaced fastballs, Luis Palacios had a pitching line as good as any of his starts this season.
Unfortunately for him, that trio decided the game.
A rough first inning that included two home runs was later followed by a two-run bomb in the seventh in the Chattanooga Lookouts’ eventual 7-1 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In between those two innings, Palacios faced the minimum 15 batters. He allowed just one hit – a second inning single by Ivan Johnson, who was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a double. It was part of five consecutive innings when Palacios retired Chattanooga in order.
At that point, the Blue Wahoos trailed just 3-1. Will Banfield hit a fourth inning homer in his 2-for-4 night at the plate.
The Blue Wahoos managed just four hits off Lookouts starter Julian Aguiar, who worked into the eighth inning, striking out 12 of the 23 batters he faced. He did not allow a walk, improving to 4-3 with 3.47 earned run average.
The Lookouts tacked on a pair of unearned runs against Blue Wahoos reliever Chandler Jozwiak in the eighth, after a leadoff walk and a pair of infield errors.
With their win, the Lookouts (67-55 overall) took a 2-1 lead in the series that now shifts to the weekend.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Weather Clouds Wahoos’ Rallies In 4-2 Loss
August 31, 2023
With the sun still shining and rain falling, a brilliant rainbow formed before the game above Blue Wahoos Stadium.
That became the best bit of fortune Wednesday with the Blue Wahoos.
After Chattanooga jumped to a 4-0 lead amid some inclement weather, the Blue Wahoos halved the deficit, but left runners in scoring position in the final four innings of a 4-2 loss against the Lookouts.
In each of the last four innings, the Blue Wahoos had two runners on base, but were unable to get a two-out hit or a big blast to change the game.
The Blue Wahoos collected nine hits in the game, including seven of the nine batters in the lineup with at least one hit, but were unable to get a big inning.
Norel González had a pair of singles. Newcomer Tanner Allen, a Mobile area native, playing in his eighth game in the outfield, hit his first home run for the Blue Wahoos with a solo blast in the fifth inning. Catcher Paul McIntosh scored the team’s other run on a balk after moving to third on a wild pitch.
Starting pitcher Patrick Monteverde matched his second-shortest outing with 4.2 innings in a hard-luck loss. He gave up a leadoff triple to the Lookouts’ star centerfielder Blake Dunn, one of the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospects. Dunn then scored on a wild pitch. The Lookouts got three more runs against Monteverde in the second inning with Francisco Urbaez hitting a two-run homer as the big hit.
Three Blue Wahoos relievers – Caleb Wurster, Matt Pushard and Josan Méndez – combined to give up just two hits the rest of the way.
The Lookouts made several big defensive plays to take away hits and right fielder Rece Hinds, a former star at Niceville High, threw out Pensacola’s Cobie Fletcher-Vance in the third inning with a laser throw to the plate as Fletcher-Vance tried to score on a fly ball.
Cody Morissette hit a deep ball to the base of the right-center wall that just missed a homer and Victor Mesa Jr. was robbed on a leaping line-drive catch.
It was that kind of night for the home team.
The third game of the series will be Thursday.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Blue Wahoos Beat Lookouts 9-7 In Opener
August 30, 2023
Injuries to shortstop José Devers and second baseman Nasim Nuñez have created a void in middle of the Blue Wahoos infield.
Josh Zamora stepped up in a memorable Double-A debut Tuesday to fill a need at shortstop and help deliver a 9-7 victory against the Chattanooga Lookouts in the series opener at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Zamora, 24, signed last year as undrafted free agent from the University of Nevada, collected hits in his first two at-bats for the Blue Wahoos, including a two-run single in the fourth inning and later reached on a walk to complete a 2-for-3 welcome. Zamora joined the Blue Wahoos last Saturday from the Beloit Sky Carp – the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate.
He was in the lineup Sunday when the game was halted in the first inning by a thunderstorm and did not resume.
His two RBI provided a 6-0 lead Tuesday for Pensacola, following a three-run homer by Will Banfield in the third inning and Bennett Hostetler’s solo blast in the second.
It also changed the narrative of this season’s matchup against Chattanooga.
The Lookouts took all six games three weeks ago in Chattanooga, which became the first time the Blue Wahoos were swept in a six-game series. It led to a record-tying nine-game losing streak.
In that series, the Blue Wahoos led for just two innings the entire week. Tuesday night, they jumped to a quick lead and expanded it.
And since that nine-game slide, the Blue Wahoos (68-51) have resembled the team that cruised to a first-half division win and put together the best overall record in the Southern League. They won two of the final three games against Montgomery in the last homestand, then took four of the five games played at Biloxi.
They got a superlative start Tuesday from righthander M.D. Johnson, who continues to pitch his best at Blue Wahoos Stadium. He worked into the sixth inning, allowing just two hits and two runs with eight strikeouts and two walks.
The Blue Wahoos opened a 9-2 lead in the seventh inning on a two-run double by Norel González and a sacrifice fly by Cody Morissette. They made the most of six hits to score the nine runs.
Closer Jefry Yan battled through a rocky ninth. After allowing a three-run homer that trimmed the deficit to two runs, Yan struck out the next two batters before a single and hit batter put the tying run on first base. But he struck out Austin Callahan to end the game and leaped off the mound with excitement.
The series continues Wednesday.
Tate Lil Aggies Cheer Camp, Northview Mini Chief Cheer Camp Both Coming Soon
August 29, 2023
Youth cheerleading clinics are coming up at both Tate and Northview high schools.
TATE HIGH SCHOOL
The Tate High School Lil Aggies Fall Cheer Clinic will be Saturday, September 16 from 8:30 a.m. to noon with a parent showcase at noon.
The deadline to register is Wednesday, September 1.
All Lil Aggie athletes will receive an Exclusive 2023 Lil Aggie t-shirt and a Lil Aggie hair bow. In addition, they will receive free admission into the varsity football game on Friday, September 29, 2023, where they will get to participate in the pregame runout and cheer the first quarter of the game with the Tate Varsity Cheerleaders.
The Lil’ Aggies Fall Cheer Clinic will teach athletes proper stretch techniques, Tate sideline cheers, proper jump techniques and motion placement, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building. All Lil Aggies will be provided with a snack and drink as they leave the cheer clinic.
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
The Northview Mini Chief Cheerleading Clinic will be held September 8 and September 22 from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m.
The cost is $35 per child with snacks and drinks included. Campers or teams will learn individual cheer skills, partner stunts, a spirit dance and have fun. They will also have a chance to cheer with the Northview cheerleaders under the Friday night lights at an upcoming football game.
Attendees should have comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. Questions? Email lauren.ashleymccall@yahoo.com
Pictured: The 2023 Lil Aggies Summer Cheer Camp. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Shuckers Canceled in Biloxi After Just Two Batters
August 28, 2023
Only two batters into the series finale between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers, rain forced the delay and eventual cancellation of Sunday’s game at MGM Park. As it was the final regular season matchup between the two teams, the game will not be made up.
Victor Mesa Jr. singled against Carlos Rodriguez to lead off the ballgame, and before Jacob Berry could complete his at-bat, a rapid arrival of intense rain prompted the teams to take cover.
After an off day Monday, the Blue Wahoos begin a six-game home series against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Century 10U Girls Win Battle Of The Bats Championship
August 27, 2023
The Century Baseball Association 10U travel girls won the Battle of the Bats championship recently. The tournament raised $2,912 for Relay for Life in Atmore. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos’ Win Streak Snapped In 6-2 Loss
August 27, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their five-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday night with a 6-2 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers.
Jonathan Bermúdez (L, 3-5) pitched well, allowing only two earned runs over 5.0 innings, but the Pensacola offense had a quiet night in their first loss in a week.
Biloxi took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Isaac Collins singled, stole second, took third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch. Felix Valerio stretched the lead to 3-0 in the second inning with a two-run homer.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve Shuckers starter Christian Mejias (W, 5-10) through five innings, but put together a threat in the sixth inning to force Biloxi to go to their bullpen. Nick Bennett allowed RBI singles to Norel González and Bennett Hostetler as the Blue Wahoos got within a run, but retired Cody Morissette and Cobie Fletcher-Vance to end the threat with two men in scoring position.
Another opportunity fell by the wayside in the seventh, as Kyler Castillo singled and Will Banfield doubled to put runners on base with one out. Once again, the Biloxi bullpen delivered as Jacob Berry and Paul McIntosh grounded out to preserve the 3-2 score.
The Shuckers added insurance in the seventh on a two-run single from Jackson Chourio, and got another in the eighth on a Lamar Sparks RBI single. Cam Robinson shut the door in the ninth for a 6-2 final.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Shuckers on Sunday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Flomaton Hurricanes Blow Past Northview Chiefs (With Photo Gallery)
August 26, 2023
The Flomaton Hurricanes blew past the Northview Chiefs 35-14 Friday night in Flomaton.
Flomaton was first on the board 7-0 after a 52-yard touchdown from senior Jaxson Fillmore on the Canes’ first play of their second drive. Northview’s Devin Kelly tied it up 7-7 with a TD early in the second quarter.
At the half, it was an even 7-7 on a very hot night at Hurricane Field.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
For a bonus photo gallery with the bands and cheerleaders, click here.
Northview pulled ahead with 6:01 in the third quarter with a 20-yard run from senior Wyatt Scruggs.
But in the fourth quarter it was all Flomaton as they scored three unanswered touchdowns in the span of just over three minutes.
Fillmore had five touchdowns for FHS, rushing for over 340 yards on 29 carries.
Northview will travel to Atmore next Friday night to take on the Escambia County Blue Devils. Flomaton will host Walton.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
