Wahoos Beat Chattanooga In Two-Hit Shutout
September 3, 2022
Dax Fulton pitched 6.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos blanked the Chattanooga Lookouts 4-0 on Thursday night.
Fulton (W, 1-0) allowed only an infield single over the course of his dominant start, fanning eight batters as he completed 6.0 innings for just the second time in his professional career. A bullpen effort from Jefry Yan, Robinson Martínez and Sean Reynolds finished off a two-hit shutout performance.
The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Griffin Conine took Chattanooga starter Eduardo Salazar (L, 6-10) deep for his team-leading 22nd home run of the year. Conine now stands one homer shy of tying Pensacola’s single-season record of 23, set by Peyton Burdick in 2021.
J.D. Orr helped the Blue Wahoos double the lead in the fifth by singling, stealing second, taking third on a balk and scoring on a passed ball. Marcus Chiu brought the lead from 2-0 to 4-0 in the sixth with a two-run single against reliever J.C. Keys.
Fulton gave way to the bullpen in the seventh, and only a Daniel Vellojin single in the eighth prevented the Blue Wahoos from keeping the Lookouts off the bases for the remainder of the night.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Northview Sweeps Flomaton In Three Straight (With Gallery)
September 2, 2022
The Northview Chiefs beat the Flomaton Hurricane in straight sets Thursday night in Bratt.
Northview defeated Flomaton 25-17, 25-20, 25-21.
The Chiefs (1-3) will host Jay (4-1) next Tuesday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One-Run Magic Runs Out In 3-2 Wahoos Loss To Lookouts
September 2, 2022
After tense one-run wins on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday night by a score of 3-2.
Michael Siani’s go-ahead home run in the eighth helped the Lookouts collect just their second win in nine games against the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola’s Patrick Monteverde and Chattanooga’s Joe Boyle traded zeroes through the first three innings before the Blue Wahoos struck first in the fourth inning on a Davis Bradshaw RBI single. The lead wouldn’t last long, as Garrett Wolforth laced a two-run double in the fifth to put the Lookouts ahead 2-1.
Pensacola tied the game in the sixth with an RBI single from Cobie Fletcher-Vance, but left the bases loaded as reliever Connor Curlis worked out of the jam to preserve the tie.
Chandler Jozwiak struck out six of the seven batters he faced in relief for the Blue Wahoos, who threatened in the eighth but did not score against Ryan Nutof (W, 6-2). Nutof didn’t retire a batter, but singles from Will Banfield and Fletcher-Vance were erased on the basepaths as the Blue Wahoos squandered an opportunity to reclaim the lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Siani took Zack Leban (L, 0-3) deep for a solo home run, his second in as many ballgames. Pedro Garcia (S, 12) allowed a pair of two-out singles in the ninth to give Pensacola one last chance, but Paul McIntosh struck out looking to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Northview Homecoming Parade Set For September 16. Here’s How To Enter For Free.
September 1, 2022
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade will take place Friday, September 16 with a longer route.
For free entry to participate in the parade, click here for a form (pdf). Registrations are due by September 6.
The parade will line up at noon and roll at noon from Northview High School. It will travel east on Highway 4 before turning on Bratt Road by the Travis Nelson Park, around the park to Ashcraft Road to Highway 99, travel north past Bratt Elementary School, turn back onto Highway 4 and end at Northview. Candy and other throws will not begin until the parade reaches the “Bratt Crossroads” at Highway 99 and Highway 4. (Note that Ashcraft Road has a very narrow shoulder with no place to park.)
In previous years, the parade has lined up at Bratt Elementary, but there is construction on that campus this year.
Here are some other changes to note for this year:
- Only parade participants will be allowed to enter Northview’s campus.
- Northview students will return to seventh period after the parade..
- Parents picking up parade participants from NWE, Ernest Ward, or other youth organizations may park at the NHS baseball field to pick up the child.
- Only parade floats should enter the NHS bus loop following the parade.
Pictured: Scenes from the 2021 Northview High School homecoming parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Rally Late For 5-4 Win Over Lookouts
September 1, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos clinched a winning August with a comeback 5-4 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Wednesday night.
Trailing 3-2 in the eighth, the Blue Wahoos strung together three hits and a pivotal error to claim a two-run lead. With the win, the Blue Wahoos ended August with a 13-12 record, their fourth winning month in a row.
For the second straight night, the Blue Wahoos jumped ahead in the first inning. Paul McIntosh doubled to the left field corner and Norel González singled him home to put Pensacola up 1-0.
Starter Cody Mincey worked effectively through three innings, but allowed a game-tying RBI single to Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the fourth and solo homers to Garrett Wolforth and Michael Siani in the fifth to put the Lookouts in front 3-1.
Griffin Conine hit his team-leading 21st home run off the left field foul pole in the sixth, trimming the deficit to 3-2 and putting him just two homers away from tying Pensacola’s single-season franchise record of 23 set by Peyton Burdick in 2021.
Tyler Eckberg (W, 1-0) twirled 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in his Double-A debut to take the game to the eighth, where McIntosh doubled and González singled once again to tie the game 3-3. Cobie Fletcher-Vance hit a sharp grounder that was misplayed by Wolforth at first to score the go-ahead run, and Davis Bradshaw capped the rally with an RBI single to bring the score to 5-3.
An opportunity for a sixth Pensacola run was foiled on a rare “fourth out” play, as Fletcher-Vance was ruled to have left early from third on a tag play that resulted in the end of the inning. Though the third out had already been recorded as Bradshaw was thrown out attempting to advance to second, the Lookouts successfully appealed and Fletcher-Vance’s run was negated.
The Lookouts got a run back in the eighth on a Tyler Mitzel wild pitch, and looked poised to tie the game in the ninth when Allan Cerda hit a leadoff double against Robinson Martínez (S, 1). The reliever coaxed a strikeout and deep flyout before fanning pinch hitter James Free to end the game with the tying run on third base.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Thursday in Chattanooga.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Blue Wahoos Hold On For 9-8 Win Over Chattanooga
August 31, 2022
Nine early runs were just barely enough for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night, as a late Chattanooga Lookouts charge came up short in a 9-8 Wahoos win.
Leading 9-0 after 5.0 scoreless innings from starter Zach King (W, 2-4), the Pensacola bullpen allowed eight unanswered runs before Jefry Yan (S, 3) got the final out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.
Pensacola jumped out to an immediate 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Griffin Conine sacrifice fly and Will Banfield RBI single. They added to the lead in the fourth against Lookouts starter Andrew Abbott (L, 5-7) with an RBI single from Nasim Nuñez and an RBI double from Norel González, stretching the lead to 5-0.
The Blue Wahoos added three more in the fifth and one in the sixth against reliever Myles Gayman, as Demetrius Sims hit an RBI double, J.D. Orr hit a two-run single and Conine drove in his team-leading 65th run with a fielder’s choice.
King allowed only two singles to Christian Encarnacion-Strand over 5.0 scoreless innings, but the Lookouts jumped on Blue Wahoos reliever Andrew McInvale as soon as the game turned to the bullpen. Encarnacion-Strand hit a three-run homer in the sixth and Mike Siani hit an RBI double in the seventh to cut the Pensacola lead to 9-4.
In the ninth, Sean Reynolds had a shaky outing as the Lookouts rallied to bring the game within reach. Elly De La Cruz and Encarnacion-Strand each hit RBI doubles before Yan came on and allowed a hit batsman and bases-loaded walk to bring the score to 9-8. With the tying run at third and the winning run at second, Brian Rey’s bid for a game-winning hit was foiled on a diving play by third baseman Cobie Fletcher-Vance and a scoop at first from Marcus Chiu to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
‘Safety Concerns’ Move Tate Vs. PHS Football Game To Saturday Morning At Tate
August 30, 2022
Friday night’s schedule Tate Aggies at Pensacola High School football game has been moved to 9 a.m. Saturday at Tate High School.
According to an email from Escambia School Superintendent Tim Smith, the game was moved to Tate High School due to safety concerns shared by local law enforcement.
Escambia County Public Schools spokesperson Cody Strother said there were some “neighborhood issues” that spilled over into the stands last week at the PHS at Washington game. “We are just trying to be proactive and do what’s best.”
“There were several incidents and fights following the PHS and Washington game last week,” Pensacola Police Department spokesman Officer Greg Gordon told us. “We support (the school district’s) safety concerns, and this will let things cool off.”
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Commander Andrew Hobbs said there will be extra deputies at Saturday morning’s game.
“Now that it has been moved into the county, we will have a presence there and ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.
The scheduled Friday, September 9 Pensacola at Pine Forest game has moved to 9 a.m. Saturday, September 10 at Pine Forest.
Pictured: Game action at last Friday night’s Tate at Pine Forest game. NorthEscambia.com photo by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Bonus Photo Gallery: Northview And Flomaton Band, Cheerleaders, Fans And More
August 29, 2022
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Flomaton Hurricanes 48-33 Friday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery with the cheerleaders, bands, fans and more, click here.
For a game action story and photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ladwig’s Strong Start Spoiled In 11-4 Wahoos Loss
August 29, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 11-4 in their series finale against the Montgomery Biscuits on Sunday afternoon despite another quality start from A.J. Ladwig.
Ladwig (L, 7-4) allowed an unearned run in the first and a solo homer to Niko Hulsizer in the fourth, but completed 6.0 innings of four-hit ball. Pensacola couldn’t solve Montgomery starter Michael Mercado or reliever Chris Gau (W, 5-0), collecting only an infield hit over the first seven innings.
Montgomery broke the game open in the top of the eighth, scoring four runs against Jefry Yan thanks to a pair of walks and RBI singles from Kyle Manzardo and Jordan Qsar. The Blue Wahoos returned the favor with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, getting two-out RBI hits from Nasim Nuñez, Paul McIntosh and J.D. Osborne to draw the deficit to 6-4.
Biscuits reliever Trevor Brigden fanned Griffin Conine as the potential go-ahead run to end the eighth-inning threat, and the Montgomery offense got back to work in the ninth with five more runs against Zack Leban and Robinson Martinez. A Manzardo three-run homer was the decisive blow as the Biscuits earned a split in the six-game series.
After an off day Monday, the Blue Wahoos begin a six-game road series against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
FWC: If You Find A Fawn, Leave It Alone
August 28, 2022
White-tailed deer fawning is in full swing in the Florida Panhandle. Sometimes people assume a fawn they find by itself has been abandoned, and they try to “rescue” it, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
But instead of trying to rescue it, FWC says just leave it alone.
During the first few weeks of a fawn’s life, a doe will hide her offspring then move to a safe distance to prevent her scent from attracting predators to the young animal’s hiding spot, FWC said. She’ll return often to nurse and care for the fawn. While hidden, the baby deer might lie motionless as a survival mechanism to deter predators. But sometimes people mistakenly think a fawn’s lack of movement means it’s sick or injured, prompting them to remove the animal to get it help.
“If you find a fawn that you think is abandoned, do not touch it, pick it up or remove it from its natural environment. Instead, leave it alone and quietly move away from the area,” FWC said.