Panhandle Arsenal 7U Wins World Series
July 31, 2023
Panhandle Arsenal 7U went undefeated to win their World Series championship recently in Dothan, Alabama.
Arsenal’s overall record for the season was 36-7, outscoring opponents 519-247. They played in 11 tournaments and won eight of nine championship games.
Coaches are head coach John Buck, Marcus Moultrie, Davin Hathaway and Ryan Spikes.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Berry Homers, But Blue Wahoos Fall to Braves In Series Finale
July 31, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t end their weeklong road trip with a win, falling 10-5 to the Mississippi Braves on a hot Sunday afternoon.
Jacob Berry was a bright spot, as the Miami prospect capped his first week at Double-A with his first Blue Wahoos homer in the sixth inning of a losing effort.
Cody Morissette got the Blue Wahoos on the board in the second inning with a little help from Victor Mesa Jr. at second base. Morissette flied out to deep right field, but Mesa was able to tag and advance two bases to score the game’s first run.
M.D. Johnson (L, 1-4) ran into trouble in the bottom of the second, allowing three runs on three hits to give the Braves a 3-1 lead. Drew Campbell and Cal Conley hit RBI singles, while Cody Milligan added an RBI double.
The Braves added a run in the fifth on a Luke Waddell RBI double, and blew the game open with a five-run sixth against the Pensacola bullpen. Cade Bunnell hit a solo homer, and Campbell, Waddell and Drew Lugbauer added RBI singles to stretch their lead to 9-2.
That would be more than enough for Mississippi’s Domingo Robles (W, 6-7), who allowed only two runs over 6.0 innings in a quality start. The Blue Wahoos tacked on three runs in the late innings on a Morissette homer and RBI singles from Mesa and Will Banfield, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
With an eighth-inning triple, his fifth of the season and ninth of his Pensacola career, José Devers tied former Blue Wahoo Jose Siri for the most triples in franchise history.
After an off day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos begin a six-game home series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Eder Fans Ten As Blue Wahoos Beat Braves 7-2
July 30, 2023
Jake Eder had his most dominant start since his return from Tommy John surgery, striking out 10 batters over 5.2 one-hit innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Mississippi Braves 7-2 on Saturday night.
Eder (W, 2-1) pitched into the sixth inning for the first time this year, allowing only a Hudson Potts solo homer as the Blue Wahoos secured a series win in their six-game set against the Braves.
Bennett Hostetler led the Pensacola offense, opening the scoring with a two-run double against Luis De Avila (L, 5-6) in the second and adding a two-run homer in the sixth.
Mississippi threatened to tie the game twice, but were shut down both times. In the fifth, a leadoff hit batsman came around to score thanks to an Eder throwing error and a Beau Philip RBI groundout to bring the score to 3-2. With the tying run at third base, Eder struck out Cody Milligan to end the inning.
In the eighth, the Braves loaded the bases with an error and two scratch singles before Jefry Yan (S, 11) entered to face Tyler Tolve representing the tying run in a 6-2 game. Yan fanned the Mississippi catcher on three pitches to end the inning, and returned for the ninth to strike out three more batters and earn his league-leading 11th save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series and road trip against the Braves on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Braves Top The Wahoos 4-1 Friday Night
July 29, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their five-game winning streak come to a close on Friday night with a 4-1 loss to the Mississippi Braves.
Despite plenty of opportunities, the Blue Wahoos went 1-for-11 with men in scoring position and were victimized by some bad luck in yet another low-scoring game in Mississippi.
The Braves took the game’s first lead in the second on a solo home run from Drew Lugbauer and an RBI single from Beau Philip. Lugbauer’s home run was his 15th of the year, and 16th in his career against Pensacola to lead all active Southern League players.
Mississippi starter Nolan Kingham (W, 1-0) lived on the edge through 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing doubles to Will Banfield and Norel González that nearly cleared the outfield fence but stayed in the ballpark. He outdueled Blue Wahoos starter Jonathan Bermudez (L, 2-3), who allowed four runs over 5.0 frames in the loss.
Jesse Franklin V doubled the Mississippi lead to 4-0 in the fifth with a two-out, two-run double. The Blue Wahoos scored their lone run on a Dalvy Rosario RBI fielder’s choice in the seventh inning, and saw an eighth-inning rally come up short before Kyle Wilcox (S, 3) locked down the Braves win in the ninth.
Luarbert Arias struck out three batters in 2.0 hitless innings of relief for the Blue Wahoos in his Double-A debut.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Saturday.
written by Erik Bremer
Northview Chiefs Receive FHSAA Sportsmanship Award
July 28, 2023
The Florida High School Athletic Association has selected Northview High School as the Class 2A runner-up for the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award.
FHSAA recognizes member schools that promote sportsmanship both on and off the field. The award is given to schools whose athletic teams demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship during the 2022-2023 regular season as well as FHSAA State Series competition. This year, 14 high schools and two middle schools received the prestigious award. Northview was the only Escambia County recipient.
“Northview’s coaches always instill in their athletes respect and class on and off the field,” Northview Athletic Director Obreonne Smith said. “The athletes, coaches, and community working together have made this award possible. Northview High School will continue to strive to ensure all programs are successful.”
The Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school in each classification whose total sports program best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship as demonstrated by its coaches, players and spectators. Awards are also given to a runner up within each classification. Criteria for selection of the winners includes programs and activities implemented within the school and community to promote sportsmanship; the number and type of exceptional sportsmanship reports; and the source of the nomination.
The award, presented annually since 1991, is named in honor of FHSAA Commissioner Emeritus Fred E. Rozelle.
Classification runners-up receive $500 and a commemorative plaque.
While Northview competes in Class 1R in football and 1A in other sports the Chiefs compete in Class 2A in sports including girls and boys track and field.
Pictured: Northview High Principal Mike Sherrill and Athletic Director Obreonne Smith with the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Palacios Nearly Perfect As Blue Wahoos Win Fifth Straight
July 28, 2023
Luis Palacios flirted with a no-hitter and fanned a career-high 11 batters as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Mississippi Braves 4-1 on Thursday night for their fifth win in a row.
Palacios (W, 7-3) didn’t allow a hit until Cody Milligan circled the bases on a triple and a throwing error with two outs in the sixth. The lefty retired 17 in a row, and delivered 7.0 innings without allowing an earned run for the second time in as many starts.
The Blue Wahoos took an early 1-0 lead in the second when Griffin Conine laced an RBI single to center field against Braves starter Alan Rangel (L, 1-11). They added insurance in the sixth on a Cody Morissette RBI double, followed by a two-run homer from Conine against reliever Domingo Gonzalez.
The 5.2 hitless innings from Palacios marked the longest no-hit bid for a Pensacola starter this season. He was relieved by Brady Puckett for a perfect eighth, and Josan Méndez (S, 1) for a scoreless ninth.
Dalvy Rosario was 3-for-4 with a trio of singles and three stolen bases, the most for a Pensacola player in a single game this season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Friday.
by Erik Bremer
Wahoos Rally Late, Prevail 4-3 Over Braves
July 27, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos eked out another one-run win over the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday night, pushing across the winning run in the ninth inning on a Dalvy Rosario sacrifice fly for a 4-3 victory.
The Blue Wahoos have now taken four in a row, and the first two games of their weeklong series against the Braves.
Eury Pérez, back in the minors and on a game mound for the first time in 20 days, showed the same stuff that made him the talk of baseball through his first 11 MLB starts. The righty, on a strict pitch count, fanned five batters over 2.1 innings while allowing two runs, one earned.
The Blue Wahoos strung together three hits in the first inning, scoring the game’s first run on a Jacob Berry RBI single. Playing in his second Double-A game, Berry added another RBI single in the sixth in a 2-for-4 night.
After Mississippi scored two runs in the second on RBI singles from Jesse Franklin V and Landon Stephens, the Blue Wahoos got 3.2 scoreless innings of relief from Chandler Jozwiak and Matt Pushard to keep the game in check. An RBI groundout from Victor Mesa Jr. in the sixth was followed by Berry’s second RBI knock of the night to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 3-2.
Zach McCambley (W, 3-0) allowed an unearned run in the seventh on a Cody Milligan double and Griffin Conine fielding error, but bounced back to put up a zero in the eighth. In the ninth, Pensacola loaded the bases against Kyle Wilcox (L, 1-3) before Rosario lifted a fly to left that scored Cody Morissette with the go-ahead run.
Jefry Yan (S, 10), pitching on back-to-back nights, worked a spotless ninth to earn his league-leading 10th save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Thursday.
Chosen 10U Wins Montgomery Tournament
July 26, 2023
The Chosen 10U softball team played up and took first place in a weekend tournament in Montgomery.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the team was forced to play as a 12U tournament team and still finished first place in that bracket. The Chosen 10U team plays out of Century and includes athletes from Northwest Escambia, Century, Jay and Pace.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Top The M-Braves 3-2
July 26, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos did the little things right on Tuesday night, scratching out just enough offense to beat the Mississippi Braves 3-2 in their series opener at Trustmark Park.
Of the five runs scored in the game, only one came in on a run-scoring hit. After a José Devers RBI single in the third, Pensacola’s pivotal runs came in the middle innings on RBI groundouts from Will Banfield and Griffin Conine.
Evan Fitterer was sharp through three innings in his start for the Blue Wahoos, but ran into trouble in the fourth and departed with the bases loaded in a 1-1 tie. Austin Roberts (W, 3-1) needed only one pitch to strand all three runners, and ultimately retired all 10 batters he faced in his first appearance back from Triple-A Jacksonville.
Banfield put Pensacola ahead in the fifth with an RBI groundout, and Conine provided insurance in the sixth with an RBI groundout of his own. Domingo Robles (L, 5-7) was the tough-luck loser, turning in a quality start for the Braves on a night when Mississippi managed only two hits.
Eli Villalobos gave a run back in the eighth thanks to a pair of walks and a groundout, but Jefry Yan (S, 9) struck out the side in order in the ninth to lock down the win.
In his Double-A debut, 2022 first round pick Jacob Berry was 1-for-3 with a single, walk and stolen base.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer
8U Panhandle Dream Takes Second In USSSA Road To Beach Tourney
July 25, 2023
The 8U Panhandle Dream took second place in the USSSA Road to the Beach Championship in Fort Walton Beach as a Class C travel team. They finished the season ranked No. 1 in the state in the USSSA power rankings. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
