Defending 1A State Champs Jay Defeats Northview For District Title (With Gallery)
May 5, 2023
The defending 1A state champion Jay Royals defeated Northview 13-3 Thursday night to claim the 1A District 1 Softball title.
The Royals took an early 6-0 lead in the first before added four more runs in the second. After a scoreless third, the Chiefs mounted a comeback attempt with three runs in top of the fourth, but Jay answered with three more runs of their own.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
Jenna Toups went for five in the circle for Jay, giving up five hits and three runs while striking out four and walking three.
Emma Gilmore led off in for Northview, allowing three runs. Aubrey Stuckey pitched the final four, surrendering seven hits and 10 runs while striking out two and walking six.
At the plate, Kaylee Gilbreath led the Royals going 3-3, and Brooklyn Sorrels went 2-3. Caitlyn Gavin, Carleigh Baker and Ella Nelson each had one hit.
Chloe Ragsdale went 2-2 for the Chiefs. Gilmore and Allison Flowers added one hit each
Both teams move into regionals next week.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pace Slips Past Tate For 6A District Title
May 5, 2023
The Pace Patriots claimed the 6A District 1 championship 7-6 Thursday night in Pace.
The Aggies held a 6-3 lead headed into the bottom of the seventh. Pace tied it up at 6-6, and the winning run was forced in when a Pace batter was hit by a pitch.
Clifton Quiggins and Drew Reaves had two hits each for the Aggies. Brayden Touchstone, Ethan McAnally, James Davis and Madox Land each added one hit.
File photo.
Johnston Leads Blue Wahoos To Eighth Win In A Row
May 5, 2023
Troy Johnston had his bat cooled to begin this week against the Mississippi Braves.
He made up for it Thursday on a Pensacola Mullets night that tied a piece of franchise history.
Johnston blasted his fifth homer of the season in the third inning, then produced the go-ahead runs in the seventh as Pensacola beat the M-Braves 6-3 for their eighth consecutive win. It delighted a crowd of 4,578 at Blue Wahoos Stadium and matched the longest winning streak in club history, which was first set in 2017, then again in 2018.
A chance at the record awaits on a Friday night with Blue Wahoos taking on another name change as the Pensacola Pok-ta-Pok in participation with the Copa de la Diversión initiative in Minor League Baseball.
Last week, Johnson tied the team record for single-game production with a two-homer, six-RBI game in a win against Montgomery.
After going 1-for-8 in the first two games of this series — hitless in seven prior plate trips — Johnston returned to his clutch-hitting ways. He came up with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh. He laced a 3-1 fastball pitch into right center for a two-run single to provide a 4-3 lead.
That pivotal moment was followed by Dane Myers’ sacrifice fly to score José Devers. Joe Rizzo then hit an RBI single to score Johnston.
The four-run rally was a big lift for Blue Wahoos starter Patrick Monteverde, named earlier Thursday as the Southern League Pitcher of the Month. He retired 16 of the first 18 batters he faced before the only dent in his six outings this season.
He gave out a one-out single, then consecutive walks to load the bases. The M-Braves Landon Stevens followed with a two-run single for the lead and ended Monteverde’s night.
But the Blue Wahoos bullpen was again flawless with relievers Austin Roberts (W, 2-0), Brady Puckett and Sean Reynolds (S, 3) combining for 3.1 scoreless innings, one hit, four strikeouts, no walks. Roberts got his second win.
Jose Devers manufactured the Blue Wahoos’ first run with his pop fly double, then went third on a wild pitch and utilized his speed to score on a second wild pitch.
The fourth game of the series is Friday at 6:35 p.m. with Pensacola’s M.D. Johnson (0-1, 4.00) going against AJ Smith-Shawyer (0-0).
written by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Win Number 100 For Northview Baseball Coach Jeremy Greenwell
May 4, 2023
Northview High School baseball coach Jeremy Greenwell is celebrating his 100th win.
After Tuesday’s number 100 in the W-column with a shutout of Central, the team presented Greenwell with an autographed home plate and a customized bat.
Greenwell was the first coach in Northview history to reach 100 wins.
Thursday night, Greenwell earned win number 101 as the No. 1 Chiefs beat the No. 2 Royals in Jay for the district championship.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fitterer, Blue Wahoos Blank Braves for Seventh Straight Win
May 4, 2023
Evan Fitterer continued to make a strong impression in a Blue Wahoos uniform, tossing the first five innings of a four-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday morning.
Fitterer (W, 2-0), who allowed only one hit over 6.0 scoreless innings in his Double-A debut at Montgomery last Thursday, scattered three hits over another strong start as the Blue Wahoos won their seventh game in a row.
Will Banfield started the scoring with a two-run homer in the second inning against Scott Blewett (L, 0-2), and Dane Myers followed with an RBI single in the third that would provide Pensacola all the run support they would need.
Cristian Charle, Zack Leban and Jefry Yan (S, 2) worked the final four innings out of the Blue Wahoos bullpen, securing just the fifth seven-game winning streak in team history. The franchise record is eight wins in a row, accomplished in 2017 and 2018.
The Education Day game was played in front of 5,038 fans, a group mostly comprised of students and field trip groups. It marked the seventh sellout of the season in 11 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Mississippi Braves on Thursday evening in Pensacola
written by Erik Bremer/photos Blue Wahoos
Burkett Homers As Northview Shuts Out Central, Heads To District Championship (With Gallery)
May 3, 2023
The Northview Chiefs shut out Central 9-0 Tuesday afternoon in the District 1-1A semifinals.
No. 1 Northview (16-6) will take on No. 2 Jay (16-10) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Jay for the district title.
Cason Burkett homered in the third inning for the Chiefs, going 2-2 overall. Rustin Pope went 2-3, while Kaden Odom, Luke Bridges, Josh Landis and Ethan Collier each added a hit for Northview.
Burkett pitched two innings for Northview, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out three. Jamarkus Jefferson went for two, Kaden Ocom for two and Grayden Sheffield for one inning on the mound, allowing no hits and not runs while striking out a combined four.
Also on Tuesday, Jay shut down Baker 11-1.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Tate Beats Gulf Breeze 9-2 To Advance To District Championship (With Gallery)
May 3, 2023
The No.3 Tate Aggies blew past the No. 2 Gulf Breeze Dolphins 9-2 in the District 1-1A semifinals Wednesday.
Drew Reaves homered in the third, and Ethan McAnally had a dinger in the firth for Tate.
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Rilee Lowery went six innings on the mound for Tate, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out seven.
Brayden Touchstone led the Aggies at the plate with two hits. McAnally, Reaves, Clifton Quiggins and James Davis each had a hit for the Aggies.
The Aggies (18-6) will take on the Patriots (23-2) in Pace Thursday at 7 p.m. for the district championship.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Gilmore’s Bottom Of The Eighth Walk-Off Single Pushes Northview Into District Championships
May 3, 2023
Emma Gilmore hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning as Northview beat Paxton 6-5 Tuesday night in the District 1-1A semifinals Tuesday night in Bratt.
The game was tied at when Gilmore singled on a 3-0 count to score Makayla Golson.
With the win, Northview (14-11) advances to the title game against the defending Class 1A state champion Jay Royals. Northview will host at 7 p.m. Thursday. Jay (13-11) is coming off a 7-0 shut out of Baker Tuesday afternoon.
Aubrey Stuckey opened in the the circle for the Lady Chiefs, going six innings allowing four hits and five runs while striking out five. Jamison Gilman went for two innings, giving up one run and not hits while striking out three.
Gilmore, Gilman and Mary-Clayton Dawson had two hits each for Northview. Stuckey, Berklee Hall andAllison Flowers added on hit each.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Wild Ninth Leads Wahoos To Sixth Straight Win
May 3, 2023
Trailing 1-0 going to the bottom of the ninth, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos took advantage of three consecutive Mississippi Braves errors for a 2-1 walk-off victory, their sixth win in a row.
After a leadoff single from Joe Rizzo against Jake McSteen (L, 0-1), both Cody Morissette and Victor Mesa Jr. were prepared to sacrifice an out to advance the tying run. Both reached on errors from third baseman Beau Philip, loading the bases for Dane Myers. Myers hit a weak chopper towards the left side of the infield, where McSteen made an errant throw home to bring home the tying and winning runs.
Eury Pérez was outstanding in his start for Pensacola, fanning a season-high 11 batters over 5.0 two-hit, one-run innings. His only blemish, a solo homer to Ardan Pabst in the fifth, gave Mississippi a 1-0 lead that they would hold until the game’s final moments.
Tanner Gordon twirled 7.0 scorless innings for the Braves, preventing Pensacola from establishing a threat all night. But the Pensacola relief trio of Josan Méndez, Patrick Murphy and Sean Reynolds (W, 1-1) kept the game within reach, allowing the Blue Wahoos to rally for their first walk-off win of the season.
At two hours and one minute, it was the fastest nine-inning game of the season, almost eclipsing a 1:54 game from 2019 as the fastest in team history.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday morning.
written by Bill Vilona, photos Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
6A District 1 Playoffs: Tate Falls To Navarre
May 2, 2023
The No. 3 Tate Lady Aggies fell to No. 2 Navarre 14-4 in the first round of the 6A District 1 tournament on Monday.
Peyton Womack went for three innings for Tate, allowing eight hits and six runs with no strikeouts. Jordan Smith pitched an inning, allowing nine hits and eight runs with no strikeouts.
At the plate for the Lady Aggies, Amburleigh Laird went 3-3, and Kate Balagbagan went 2-2. Lacy Wilson and Kara Wine both added a hit.
The Aggies ended their season at 8-16 overall.
Also Monday night. No. 1 Pace shut out No. 4 Milton 3-0. Pace and Navarre will play for the district championship on Wednesday.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
