Blue Wahoos Split In Rocket City
April 15, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Rocket City Trash Pandas split in North Alabama Thursday.
Game One
Trash Pandas 5, Blue Wahoos 4
In a game that was suspended amid rain Tuesday night and completed Wednesday afternoon, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 5-4 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Madison, Alabama.
Braxton Martinez’s go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the difference, despite Pensacola homers from Jerar Encarnacion and Hayden Cantrelle.
In his Double-A debut, Cody Mincey struck out six batters over 5.0 solid innings. He was given a quick 1-0 lead before he threw a pitch, thanks to a Cantrelle double and Encarnacion RBI fielder’s choice in the top of the first. Encarnacion’s long two-run homer in the fifth put Pensacola ahead 3-1, but former Blue Wahoo Aaron Whitefield tied things up 3-3 in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer of his own.
The game was suspended tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday, and was picked up on Wednesday with Eli Villalobos (L, 0-1) on the mound. Martinez hit the pivotal homer in the eighth, and Kolton Ingram (W, 1-0) worked around a Cantrelle homer in the ninth to finish the game.
Game Two
Blue Wahoos 5, Trash Pandas 3
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos rode a strong pitching performance from Will Stewart and more clutch hitting from Paul McIntosh to beat the Rocket City Trash Pandas 5-3 on Thursday night.
The game helped the Blue Wahoos salvage a win out of their long day of baseball after falling 5-4 in the conclusion of Wednesday’s suspended game earlier in the afternoon.
Stewart turned in 4.0 innings of five-hit, one-run ball as the Huntsville-area native worked around traffic to keep his team in the game. His mound opponent, Brett Kerry, struck out 10 of the first 11 batters he faced and eventually struck out 12 batters over 5.0 one-hit innings.
Kerry’s lone hit allowed was a solo home run allowed to Cobie Fletcher-Vance with two outs in the fifth inning that tied the game 1-1. The Trash Pandas wasted no time reclaiming the lead, getting a two-run double from Trey Cabbage against Parker Bugg (W, 1-0) to take a 3-1 lead.
In the sixth, the Blue Wahoos welcomed the departure of Kerry and quickly loaded the bases against erratic reliever Ivan Armstrong (L, 0-1) with two walks and a hit batsman. McIntosh, who entered the game leading the league in batting average, tied the game with a two-run double to even the score 3-3.
Griffin Conine tallied the eventual game-winning at-bat, though it came about in curious fashion. With the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, Conine lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Ray-Patrick Didder for Pensacola’s fourth run. McIntosh tagged from second, though upon appeal he was called out for leaving early. Didder’s run still counted, having crossed the plate before the appeal, preserving the go-ahead run.
Troy Johnston tallied his first Double-A RBI with a single in the eighth, and Colton Hock (S, 2) protected the 5-3 lead by delivering a scoreless ninth.
The Blue Wahoos continue their road series against the Trash Pandas on Friday night.
by Daniel Venn, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Flomaton High’s Baleigh Johnson Signs With Coastal Alabama Brewton Volleyball
April 14, 2022
Wednesday, Flomaton High School senior Baleigh Johnson signed a volleyball scholarship with Coastal Alabama Community College in Brewton.
Johnson played volleyball for the past four years. She is the daughter of Russell and Melissa Johnson.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Trash Pandas Suspended Due To Rain
April 14, 2022
The second game of the series between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at the Rocket City Trash Pandas was suspended due to rain in the bottom of the seventh Wednesday night due to rain in Madison, Alabama.
The game, which was in a 3-3 tie, will resume Thursday at 4:05 p.m, prior to the regularly scheduled game at 6:35 p.m.
Tuesday night, the Blue Wahoos got their first win of the young season 4-3 over Rocket City.
Three Big Wins For Tate Baseball Over Navarre; NHS Falls To Lighthouse; Jay Softball Beats Northview
April 13, 2022
BASEBALL
Tate 20, Navarre 0
The Tate Aggies shut out Navarre 20-0 in fiving innings Tuesday night.
Ethan McAnally started for Tate on the mound, giving up no runs, no hits, and striking out three in three innings. Tucker Griffin went for one inning, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out one. Drew Reaves pitched an inning, allowing two hits, no runs and striking out one.
Cade Kelly and Kirk Mosley led the Aggies at bat with three hits. Drew Reaves, Frankie Randall and Jay Davis had two hits each.
For a varsity and junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
Tate 4, Navarre 1 (JV)
Tate Aggies junior varsity topped Navarre 4-1 Tuesday.
On the pitcher’s mound, Cole McNair allowed one hit, no runs and had three strikeouts over three innings.Tristin Lynn threw for two, allowing one hit and striking out three in two innings. In one inning, Conner Baer allowed one hit and one run.
Anthony Longo knocked a home run for the Aggies.
Neal Croom went 2-3 for the Aggies to lead at the plate. Trey Rebber, Damien Cullen, Ketch King, Allan Beasley and Longo had one hit each.
Tate 13, Navarre 3 (Freshmen)
The Tate Freshmen Aggies beat Navarre 13-3.
Brodie Rhodes pitched the win, going three innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out four with no walks. Brayden Beck and Trevor Land closed the game in relief.
Brayden Walker and Nathan Ozuna led the Aggies at the plate, both going 2-3.
Lighthouse Christian 4, Northview 1
Lighthouse Christian defeated Northview 4-1 Tuesday night in Bratt.
SOFTBALL
Jay 13, Northview 7
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 13-7 Tuesday night in Jay.
Caitlyn Gavin had a solo homer for the Lady Royals in the second, and Alyana Lower added her home run in the fifth. Northview’s Kailyn Watson hit a home run in the seventh inning.
Rylie Cochran led off for the Royals, going four innings, allowing four runs on five hits and recording nine strikeouts.
Jamison Gilman was in the circle for four and a third innings for Northview, giving up 11 runs on 10 hits while striking out three. Aubrey Stuckey went for one and two-thirds innings, surrendering three hits, two runs and striking out three.
Gavin and Kaylee Gilbreath were both 3-4 for the Lady Royals.
Watson led the Chiefs at bat, going 3-4. Chloe Ragsdale, Kayla Dixon, Stuckey and Alanna Roberson added one hit each.
West Florida 4, Tate 2
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Aviles Homers Late To Lead Blue Wahoos To First Win
April 13, 2022
A go-ahead ninth-inning homer for Luis Aviles Jr. against his former team helped lift the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to their first win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating the Rocket City Trash Pandas 4-3 in Madison, Alabama.
The solo blast from Aviles, who played last season for the Trash Pandas, capped a comeback for the Blue Wahoos after falling behind early. A near-perfect effort from the Blue Wahoos bullpen kept the game within reach as the offense slowly worked their way back into the game.
George Soriano struck out six batters in his Double-A debut, allowing three unearned runs over 4.0 innings. A pair of errors and a pair of walks netted the Trash Pandas a run in the first, and they took advantage of another error from Aviles in the second to extend their lead to 3-0. An RBI double from Anthony Mulrine and RBI single from Aaron Whitefield proved to be the only two hits in the ballgame for Rocket City.
The Blue Wahoos got on the board in the third on an RBI single for Paul McIntosh against Rocket City starter Coleman Crow, but couldn’t gain any more traction until the seventh inning. Aviles poked a one-out single against reliever Jack Dashwood, and with two outs Victor Victor Mesa delivered an RBI double to draw the score to 3-2. One batter later, McIntosh kept up his hot hitting with an RBI triple to tie the score 3-3.
Robert Garcia and Andrew Nardi (W, 1-1) were perfect over their relief appearances, setting the stage for Aviles to line a solo blast just out of the reach of left fielder Torii Hunter Jr. to lead off the ninth against Luis Ledo (L, 0-1). Colton Hock (S, 1) worked around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth to lock down his first save of the year.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Wednesday night.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Northview Baseball Shuts Out PHS 19-0 On ‘Logan Night’
April 12, 2022
The Northview Chiefs shut out the Pensacola High Tigers 19-0 in three innings Monday on “Logan Night”.
It was Senior Night for the Chiefs as they honored Logan Misenar, Northview varsity baseball’s only senior.
Luke Bridges led the Chiefs at the plate as they played through a light rain. Bridges went 3-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Josh Landis went 2-2 with five RBIs and two runs; and Cason Burkett was 2-2 with four RBIs and two runs. Kaden Odom and Rustin Pope had one hit each.
Odom, Clayton Allen and Landis were on the mound for one inning each, allowing a combined one hit and striking out six.
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NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall 3-1 To Biloxi
April 11, 2022
Bryan Hoeing struck out 10 batters in a dominant Double-A debut as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped their series finale to the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday afternoon by a score of 3-1.
Hoeing (L, 0-1) scattered 7 singles over 5.2 innings, but fell victim to a pair of errors and three unearned runs as the Blue Wahoos were swept in their season-opening three-game series.
Biloxi used a pair of infield singles in the first inning to load the bases against Hoeing before a Felix Valerio grounder to shortstop to Luis Aviles Jr. was misplayed into the game’s first run.
Paul McIntosh evened the score 1-1 in the fourth inning with his second home run of the season, but the Shuckers got back to work in the fifth inning to take the lead for good.
An error from third baseman Bubba Hollins put Gabe Holt aboard to begin the inning, and a single put runners at the corners before a wild pitch brought home the go-ahead run. Felix Valerio delivered a two-out RBI single to extend the Biloxi lead to 3-1, though an outfield assist from right fielder Griffin Conine ended the inning and prevented further damage.
The Blue Wahoos got scoreless relief from Jefry Yan, Josh Simpson and Eli Villalobos to keep the game within reach, but were unable to capitalize on three Biloxi errors thanks to effective long relief from Biloxi’s Tyler Herb (W, 1-0). Pensacola loaded the bases in the ninth against the righty before Victor Victor Mesa grounded into a game-ending double play.
After an off day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos travel to Madison, Alabama for their first road trip of the season against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Chávez’s Big Game Not Enough As Wahoos Fall Late
April 10, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came up short in the search for their first win of the 2022 season on Saturday night, falling 6-5 to the Biloxi Shuckers in front of another sellout hometown crowd.
After a seventh-inning rally gave the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the game, Biloxi’s Tristen Lutz hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the ninth to guide the Shuckers to their second late win in a row.
Zach McCambley pitched well for Pensacola in his first start of the season, completing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) while striking out five.
Offensively, an early two-run home run from Biloxi’s Felix Valerio was countered by an equalizing Cobie Fletcher-Vance two-run shot in the bottom of the second, but a pair of Pensacola errors put Biloxi back ahead 4-2.
Santiago Chávez knocked a solo home run in the sixth to draw the Blue Wahoos to within a run at 4-3, and 2.0 scoreless relief innings from Zack Leban kept the game within reach until Pensacola scratched across two runs in the seventh on an RBI infield single from Luis Aviles Jr. and a bases-loaded walk from Chávez to take a 5-4 lead.
Pensacola had an opportunity to extend their lead in the eighth, as Hayden Cantrelle drew a leadoff walk and stole his way to third base, but were unable to bring home the insurance run.
Andrew Nardi (L, 0-1) allowed the go-ahead home run to Lutz in the top of the ninth, and Nash Walters (W, 1-0) worked around another Blue Wahoos baserunner at third base in the bottom half of the inning to lock down Biloxi’s win.
The Blue Wahoos and Shuckers wrap up their three-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate Aggies Tennis Ends Regular Season With Wins Over Navarre
April 9, 2022
Tate High School Aggies Tennis end their regular season with a boys 4-3 and girls 7-0 win over Navarre. Next up for the Aggies is the district tournament at Gulf Breeze next Tuesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Gets Central Florida Road Trip Win Over Wiregrass Ranch
April 9, 2022
The Tate High Aggies earned a big 11-4 road trip win Friday night against Wiregrass Ranch of Wesley Chapel, Florida (near Tampa).
Rilee Lowery earned the win for Tate, allowing five hits and four runs over four and two-thirds innings while striking out five. Dalton Biggs and Ethan McAnally closed in relief.
Madox Land, Jackson Penton and Bray Touchstone had two hits each to lead the Aggies at the plate.
File photo by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.