Wahoos Kept Quiet In 6-1 Loss to Braves
May 3, 2024
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday night, falling 6-1 to the Mississippi Braves.
Hurston Waldrep (W, 1-3) earned his first professional win, scattering four hits over 5.2 innings and allowing only an unearned run. Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, who allowed seven runs on 11 hits to the Blue Wahoos in his season debut last month, fanned five and walked only one.
After three scoreless innings, Pensacola starter Valente Bellozo (L, 1-2) allowed a pair of runs in the fourth on RBI singles to Bryson Horne and Cal Conley. A fielding error and Dalvy Rosario RBI single in the top of the fifth helped the Blue Wahoos draw to within a run, but the Braves answered back with two of their own in the bottom of the inning on a Drake Baldwin RBI single and Bellozo wild pitch to take a 4-1 lead.
Jonathan Hughes entered in the sixth and helped the Braves escape a jam, ultimately pitching 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Brandon Parker added an RBI double and Cade Bunnell hit an RBI single in the eighth off Lincoln Henzman to stretch the Mississippi lead to 6-1 before Parker Dunshee finished the game with three strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Jacob Berry was a bright spot for the Blue Wahoos, going 2-for-4 with a single, double and a deep flyout.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Friday evening. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Wine Homers As Tate Beats Milton 6-3 In District Semi-Finals
May 2, 2024
The No. 3 seed Tate Lady Aggies beat the No. 2 Milton Panthers 6-3 in the District 1-6A semi-finals Wednesday night.
The Aggies were first on the board in the top of the first inning after Kara Win tripled and Amburleigh Laird had a sacrifice bunt, both scoring one run.
In the bottom of the third, a homer from Milton’s Kayal Willis tied the game at two.
Tate regained the lead at 3-2 in the top of the fifth when Wine smacked a solo home run to centerfield.
Jordan Smith earned the win for the Tate Lady Aggies, giving up five hits and three run in seven innings while striking out three and walking one.
Wine and Laird had two hits each to lead Tate at bat. Peyton Womack, Lacy Wilson, Blakely Campbell and Tristen Showalter each recorded on hit.
Tate (15-10 will take on No. 1 seed Pace (22-2) for the district championship at 6 p.m. Thursday in Pace.
Pictured: Kara Wine had a home run for the Tate Lady Aggies Wednesday night. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spohn Stars as Wahoos Win Another Extra-Inning Thriller
May 2, 2024
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their third consecutive extra-inning game on Wednesday afternoon, scoring three runs in the tenth for a 5-3 victory over the Mississippi Braves.
Harrison Spohn was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI, including an RBI single in the 10th that proved to be the game-winner.
The low-scoring game was controlled early by two left-handed starting pitchers, as Pensacola’s Luis Palacios and Mississippi’s Drew Parrish locked horns. Spohn’s solo homer in the third gave the Blue Wahoos a brief 1-0 lead, but the Braves countered with solo homers from Yolbert Sanchez and Brandon Parker in the fourth to take a 2-1 advantage.
In the fifth, Bennett Hostetler laced a two-out double to left field before Spohn delivered a game-tying RBI single.
The Braves had ample opportunities to reclaim the lead, but left the bases loaded in the fifth and left runners at the corners against reliever Angel Macuare in the sixth.
After three scoreless innings of relief from Macuare, the Blue Wahoos turned to Austin Roberts (W, 2-0) in the ninth. The Pensacola closer worked around a one-out single to force extras.
In the top of the tenth, Domingo Gonzalez (L, 0-1) allowed an RBI single to Sean Roby that gave the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 lead. Bennett Hostetler doubled before Spohn’s third hit of the game brought home Roby for a 4-2 advantage. A wild pitch scored Hostetler for extra insurance, giving Roberts latitude to pitch around a Sanchez RBI double in the bottom of the inning to lock down Pensacola’s third win in a row.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Thursday evening. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Northview Baseball, Softball Win At Semis, Head To Championship Games
May 1, 2024
Northview 11, Central 1
The Northview Chiefs beat Central 11-1 Tuesday night in the District 1-1A semi-finals.
Jase Portwood tossed a two hitter, striking out eight and walking one in seven innings.
Dane King went 3-4 with four RBIs, and Portwood was 1-3 with three RBIs to lead the Chiefs at the plate. Jayden White and Brady Smith each added two hits.
Northview will take on Jay at 7 p.m. Thursday in Bratt for the district championship.
Northview Lady Chiefs 16, Paxton 0
The Northview Lady Chief shut out the Paxton Bobcats 16-0 Tuesday night in the District 1-1A semi-finals.
Makayla McAnally tossed a no-hitter and recorded 10 strikeouts in four innings.
Jamison Gilman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Bailey Burkette, Jamison Gilman, Riley Brooks and McAnally each had two hits. Brooks and Gilman both drove in three runs.
Northview advances to the district championship game against Jay at 7 p.m. Thursday at Central High School.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Falls To Gulf Breeze 2-1 In District Semifinals
May 1, 2024
The Tate Aggies lost on an extra inning walk-off 2-1 to Gulf Breeze in the District 1-6A semi-finals at Pace.
A solo home run from senior Bray Touchstone put the Aggies on the board in the top of the first. Ketch King went 3-5, and Conner Hassell was 2-5. Touchstone and Clif Quiggins each drove in a run.
Tate’s Neal Crook surrendered five hits and two unearned runs. Zane Warrington went two innings on the hill, giving up one run and four hits, striking out none and walking three.
Tate’s season ended at 11-14.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Get 5-3 Road Win Over The M-Braves In 10 Innings
May 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their second 10-inning game in a row on Tuesday night, beating the Mississippi Braves 5-3 thanks to an unconventional rally.
A pair of run-scoring balks from reliever Trey Riley (L, 0-3) in the top of the tenth allowed the Wahoos to maintain a share of first place in the South Division.
Jonathan Bermúdez was stellar in his start for Pensacola, tying a career high with 10 strikeouts over 6.0 innings of two-run ball. Justin Dean’s two-run double in the second inning gave Mississippi an early lead, but Joe Mack got Pensacola on the board in the third with an RBI single against Braves starter Luis De Avila.
The game remained 2-1 in Mississippi’s favor until the seventh, when the Blue Wahoos had runners at the corners and Mack at the plate once again. Paul McIntosh took off from first base, getting into a rundown long enough for Dalvy Rosario to score from third and tie the game 2-2.
The Braves tried the same trick in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Mack and shortstop Harrison Spohn delivered perfect throws to cut down runner Drake Baldwin at the plate on a double steal attempt and keep the game tied.
Chandler Jozwiak (W, 1-0) left the bases loaded in the ninth to force extras, and Riley’s two balks prompted an ejection as the game slipped away from the Braves in the tenth. Raffi Vizcaíno (S, 1) allowed only the placed runner to score in the bottom of the tenth as the Blue Wahoos improved to 12-10 on the season.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Blue Wahoos, who play again Wednesday morning in game two of their series against the Braves.
Molino Falcons 6U Win Northview Diamond Club Tourney
April 30, 2024
The Molino Falcons 6U won a weekend tournament in their division. The two-day Northview Diamond Club 2nd Annual Spring Bash was held at the Molino Ballpark. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Open 1A Districts With 17-2 Win Over Laurel Hill (With Gallery)
April 30, 2024
With 14 runs in the third inning, the No. 4 seed Northview Chiefs opened the District 1-1A playoffs with a big 17-2 quarterfinal win over the No 5 Laurel Hoboes Monday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Jayden White earned the win for the Northview Chiefs in a mercy rule shortened four innings. He gave up two hits and two runs, staking out four and walking one.
At the plate, Northview’s Grayden Sheffield drove in four runs on three hits. Jase Portwood and Jackson Bridges had two hits each, while Dane King and Brady Smith, both added a hit.
In district semifinal action on Tuesday, No. 1 Central will take on Northview about 7 p.m. following a 4 p.m. game between No. 2 Jay and No. 3 Baker. The winners will face off on Thursday for the district championship.
NorthEscamia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Announces 2024 Football Schedule
April 30, 2024
UWF head football coach Kaleb Nobles has announced the program’s 2024 schedule which includes a program-high six home games and four road contests.
UWF will face four teams that participated in the 2023 postseason and six that won at least five games, in addition to a 7-game Gulf South Conference slate.
“We are excited for a great 2024 season that we know will bring great competition both in the Gulf South Conference & out of conference,” Nobles said. “We are excited about each opponent on the schedule & look forward to being at our best in 2024.”
UWF will open the school’s eighth season of play at home against McKendree on Thursday, Sept. 5. Following a 35-3 UWF win in Lebanon, Illinois last season, the Bearcats ended the year with five victories and played in the America’s Crossroads Bowl.
After a week off, the Argonauts will welcome West Alabama to Pensacola for the GSC opener on September 21. The teams have split all eight meetings and the Argos have won three of the last four.
UWF will travel to Allendale, Michigan to face national power Grand Valley State on September 28. This will be the first meeting between the programs.
UWF will entertain the GSC’s two Mississippi schools in back-to-back weeks at home, facing Mississippi College on October 5 and Delta State for Homecoming on October 12. Both contests will kick off at 4 p.m.
The Argonauts will make the 825-mile trip to eastern North Carolina to face Chowan on October 19. It will be the fourth meeting with the Hawks and the first in Murfreesboro since 2016.
UWF will play host to former GSC foe Shorter on October 26 before traveling to Due West, South Carolina to face GSC affiliate member Erskine for the first time ever. The November 2 contest will be the fourth in the Palmetto State in program history.
North Greenville will make its third trip to Northwest Florida in five seasons on November 9 for Salute to Service/Senior Day. The regular season will conclude a week later at Valdosta State, as the Argos play their fourth game in the Eastern Time Zone.
UWF is 64-25 all-time with five NCAA postseason appearances in seven seasons. The Argos have reached the national semifinals three times and the national championship twice, winning the title in 2019. Since 2019, UWF’s 42 victories rank fifth among all Division 2 programs.
Tate Senior Jackson Leonard Wins Weightlifting State Title, Sets State Records
April 29, 2024
Tate High School senior Jackson Leonard won a State Championship at the FHSAA Boys Weightlifting meet recently in Lakeland.
Leonard competed in the 219 pound weight class as he won the Olympic style competition with a new state record of 605 total pounds. Included in his record-breaking performance was another new state record of 270 pounds in the match.
He also placed fourth in the traditional competition.
Tate junior Owen Davis competed for in the 238 pound weight class where he finished 12th in the traditional competition.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.