Wahoos Foiled By Shuckers In 10 Innings
April 12, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had the makings of a memorable win on Tuesday night in Biloxi, twice overcoming a deficit to take a 6-5 lead to the bottom of the 10th in the opener of their road series against the Shuckers.
Instead, Jackson Chourio showed why he is currently ranked the top prospect in Minor League Baseball. After hitting his first career Double-A homer in the fifth, the 19-year-old outfielder launched a walk-off two-run blast to send the Blue Wahoos to a 7-6 defeat.
The contest was a pitchers’ duel early, as Justin Jarvis took a perfect game into the fifth for Biloxi and M.D. Johnson fanned eight over 4.0 solid innings for Pensacola in his Double-A debut.
The Shuckers took a 4-0 lead on Chourio’s first homer in the fifth inning, but the Blue Wahoos jumped on the Biloxi bullpen in the seventh to tie the game. Paul McIntosh got Pensacola on the board with a solo homer before Griffin Conine brought home a pair with a two-run triple. José Devers tied the game when he reached on a throwing error, scoring Conine from third.
Biloxi reclaimed the lead in the seventh with an Isaac Collins RBI single, handing T.J. Shook (W, 1-0) a 5-4 lead going to the ninth. Down to their final strike with the bases loaded, the Blue Wahoos got a game-tying RBI single from Joe Rizzo before Devers was thrown out trying to score from second.
After a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning from Cristian Charle (L, 0-1) in his Double-A debut, the Blue Wahoos took their first lead in the 10th when Troy Johnston brought home Rizzo from third on a sacrifice fly. Charle got the first out of the 10th before Chourio blasted the walk-off homer beyond the center field wall.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday
written by Bill Vilona
Blue Wahoos Falter Late in 6-3 Loss To Biscuits
April 10, 2023
Patrick Monteverde ended last season as one of the top minor league pitchers in the Miami Marlins organization.
He began anew the same way, throwing a superlative-filled, one-hitter for the Blue Wahoos in six innings Sunday, but the Montgomery Biscuits rallied in the final two innings against Pensacola relievers for a 6-3 win in the series finale of the opening weekend at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3,878 endured one of the coldest home games in franchise history. The game-time temperature of 61 degrees, not accounting for the wind-chill, didn’t equate to the 57-degree temperature for a game in 2014.
Those in attendance watched a pitching duel through seven innings. The Blue Wahoos (1-2) provided Monteverde a 1-0 lead on Joe Rizzo’s RBI double to score Nasim Nunez, who led off with a single.
Monteverde, 26, rated the No. 30 prospect in the Marlins organization by MLB Pipeline, faced only 20 batters in the six innings. Aside from the fourth-inning single by Mason Auer, only three other batters got a ball out of the infield.
Now in his third minor league season, this was easily one of the best performances in his professional career. Monteverde, a Pittsburgh native, was an 8th round pick by the Marlins in the 2021 draft, after his junior season at Texas Tech.
Monteverde’s pivotal inning Sunday was in the fourth, following the one-out single by Auer. He walked the next batter Logan Driscoll on four consecutive pitches, then briefly walked off the mound in disgust.
He then regathered himself and struck out the next two batters. He threw a cutter to strike out Austin Shenton to end the inning, then retired the next six batters he faced in order to put a bow on the day. The lefty’s 11 strikeouts established a new career high.
Brady Puckett followed with a clean inning in the seventh. But the Biscuits (2-1) produced three runs off Austin Roberts in the eighth inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Alika Williams.
The Blue Wahoos’ Paul McIntosh energized the crowd with his two-out, two run single in the bottom of the inning. The hit scored Victor Victor Mesa, who reached on an error, and Nasim Nunez who coaxed a one-out walk.
Blue Wahoos closer Sean Reynolds was unable to seal the win, however, in the ninth inning. The Biscuits’ Driscoll led off the inning with a home run that nicked the right field foul pole as it was curving out of the field. That tied the game.
He then plunked next batter Herberto Hernandez and Austin Shenton followed with an RBI double. Williams then finished the scoring with a two out RBI single.
The Blue Wahoos will have an off day on Monday, then will begin a six-game road series on Tuesday against Biloxi Shuckers in Biloxi, Mississippi.
written by Bill Vilona, photo by Nino Mendez/Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate Aggies Drop Two In Tallahassee
April 9, 2023
The Tate Aggies dropped two games in Tallahassee, including one on the final play of the game.
Lincoln 4, Tate 3
The Tate Aggies lost to Lincoln 4-3 on the last play of the game Friday in Tallahassee.
Drew Reaves gave up three runs and five hits, striking out seven, in six and a third innings.
Frank Randall and Brayden Touchstone both went 2-3 for the Aggies. Reaves, Caden Kelly, and James Davis each added one hit for Tate.
Chiles 12, Tate 4
Chiles defeated the Tate Aggies 12-4 Saturday in Tallahassee. Complete stats were not available at publication time.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
McIntosh Slams Blue Wahoos To 12-7 Win
April 9, 2023
Blue Wahoos catcher Paul McIntosh was the team’s second-best power hitter during the Blue Wahoos’ memorable past season.
He showed that pop in the second game of 2023 with one big, first-inning swing and cannon ball grand slam into the stadium’s Pepsi Pirate Deck area, igniting the Blue Wahoos’ 12-7 victory Saturday night against the Montgomery Biscuits.
And then, more flares followed in the air with the traditional Saturday, post-game fireworks display, completing the night before another sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
McIntosh, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI and scored a run, was among four Blue Wahoos players with multiple hits in the game. He bombed a 95 mile-per-hour fastball with 113 mph exit speed that carried 440 feet into the right-center berm area. It was part of Pensacola’s 8-0 lead into the fifth inning.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos evened the season-opening, weekend series on a night when star prospect Eury Pérez had a rocky end to his start on the mound.
Perez struck out the side in the first inning, got a double-play to end the second inning, then retired six of the next seven batters.
But in the fifth, he gave up a leadoff home run to Biscuits catcher Logan Driscoll, then two walked a pair and didn’t record an out in the inning.
He was lifted when right fielder Dane Myers dropped a fly ball that led to two more runs scored. Pérez finished with four innings pitched, three hits, one earned run, three walks and five strikeouts.
Through four innings, the Blue Wahoos had eight runs on eight hits and eight of the nine hitters in the batting order had reached base. Seven different runners scored.
It was that kind of start in a game that lasted 3 hours, 13 minutes, and had nine pitchers used.
The season-opening, weekend series concludes Sunday with the Blue Wahoos’ Patrick Monteverde going against Montgomery’s Cole Wilcox.
Written by Bill Vilona, photo by Nino Mendez/Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Tate Aggies Football Getting New Video Scoreboard
April 8, 2023
A new video board is coming to Tate High School’s Carl Madison Field in Pete Gindl Stadium.
In addition to scores and game information, the board can be used to display hype videos before the games, senior interviews, and more.
The video board is privately funded by football boosters. It is expected to be in operation by the first kickoff in August.
NorthEscambia.com photos/graphics, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Drop Opening Day Game To The Biscuits
April 8, 2023
The Montgomery Biscuits used speed to spoil the Blue Wahoos’ first game back from a championship.
Seven stolen bases led to four runs and the Blue Wahoos had few opportunities at the plate in a 6-1 loss to the Biscuits in the team’s season opener Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A sellout crowd of 5,038 saw the night begin in a celebratory way with the Blue Wahoos’ returning players getting presented championship rings by selected season-ticket holders. The first 2,000 fans received replica rings, completed with the team logo, in a promotion sponsored by Hill-Kelly Dodge.
The game featured the same starting pitching matchup as late September, back when these teams last met in the deciding game of the Southern League divisional series.
Blue Wahoos lefthander Dax Fulton, who entered the season ranked as the Miami Marlins’ No. 4 prospect, left with one out in the fifth inning and absorbed the loss. He threw 87 pitches, giving up two hits, two runs, issuing two walks with six strikeouts.
The Biscuits’ Mason Montgomery worked three innings, giving up the Blue Wahoos’ lone run on a two-out single in the third inning by José Devers, who had two of Pensacola’s four hits and reached base all four times.
After a clean first inning, Fulton yielded a one-out walk in the second, which turned into the first run. Tristan Peters stole second and scored on Blake Hunt’s two-out single.
Greg Jones led off the third by reaching on a fielding error. He stole second, then stole third and scored on catcher Will Banfield’s throwing error on the play.
The Biscuits expanded their 3-1 lead after six innings by scoring three runs in the ninth off reliever Sean Reynolds to put the game away.
The teams will continue the three-game series Saturday with the Blue Wahoos throwing Eury Perez – the Miami Marlins No. 1 prospect, number 13 overall by MLB Pipeline – against Montgomery’s Anthony Molino.
Written by Bill Vilona, photo by Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Jay Shuts Out Northview; Navarre Tops Tate 8-3
April 7, 2023
Jay 10, Northview 0
Jay senior Jenna Toups pitched a complete game 10-0 shutout of the Northview Chiefs Thursday night in Bratt.
Toups allowed three hits and recorded four strikeouts.
For Northview, Emma Gilmore allowed no hits and one run walking one in two-thirds of an inning. Jamison Gilman threw six and a third innings, allowing 12 hits. nine runs and one walk while striking out three.
Caitlyn Gavin was 3-3 for Jay at the plate, Kassidy Nevels was 2-3, and Brett Watson was 2-5.
Makayla Golson was 2-3 for Northview at bat, and Chloe Ragsdale was 1-2.
Next Tuesday, Northview will travel to Baker and Jay will host Gulf Breeze.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Navarre 8, Tate 3
Navarre defeated the Tate Aggies 8-3 Thursday night.
Jordan Smith took the loss for the Lady Aggies, going four and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out three. Kate Balagbagan threw two and third innings, giving up five hits, five runs and striking out three.
Kara Wine, Amburleigh Laird and Peyton Womack each had one hit for Tate.
The Tate Lady Aggies will host Meade County of Brandenburg, Kentucky, Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Pictured: The Jay Royals shut out the Northview Chiefs Thursday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flag Football: Northview, Pine Forest, PHS, Tate (With Gallery)
April 7, 2023
Here are high school girls flag football scores from Thursday:
- Pace 52, Tate 6
- Pine Forest 30, Pensacola High 0
- Pensacola high 6, Northview 0
- Pine Forest 28, Northview 7
For a photo gallery with Northview, Pine Forest and PHS, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Aggies Down The Navarre Raiders 9-3; Aggies JV Wins 7-1
April 5, 2023
Tate 9, Navarre 3
The Tate Aggies defeated the Navarre Raiders 9-3 Tuesday night at Tate.
The Aggies took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Complete stats were not available at publication time early Wednesday morning.
Up next, the Aggies will travel to Tallahassee to take on Lincoln Friday night.
Tate 7, Navarre 1 (JV)
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Varsity Beats Escambia; Chiefs JV Falls (With Gallery)
April 5, 2023
The Northview Chiefs split games with the Escambia Gators Tuesday in Bratt.
For a photo gallery from both varsity and junior varsity action, click or tap here.
Northview 6, Escambia 5
The Northview Chiefs beat the Escambia Gators 6-5.
Jamarkus Jefferson earned the win, giving up three hits and two runs while striking out six in three innings. Tyler Shaw opened on the mound for Northview, allowing three hits and three runs while striking out seven in four innings.
Jefferson, Trent Knighten, Wyatt Scruggs and Cason Burkett had one hit each for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs will host T.R. Miller from Brewton on Tuesday.
Escambia 4, Northview 0 (JV)
In junior varsity action Tuesday afternoon, Escambia got past Northview 4-0.
Brodie Rhodes pitched four innings for the JV Chiers, allowing three hits and four runs while walking four and striking out three. Kelan Jurey closed for an inning on the mound, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Jurey, Dane King and Robbie Bodiford each had one hit for Northview.
Pictured above and below: Northview’s JV takes on Navarre Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds. Northview varsity gallery pictures by Brystal Rhodes for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
