Jay Lady Royals Fall Short Of Class 1A Championship
May 20, 2021
The Jay Lady Royals fell short of the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship Wednesday with a 5-4 loss to the Trenton Tigers.
Mattie Cochran went four and a third innings for Jay, allowing eight hits and four runs while walking one and striking out five. Alayna Lowery threw one and two thirds innings in relief, allowing one hit and one run while walking three and striking out two.
Caitlyn Gavin and Ella Nelson both had home runs for Jay in the sixth inning. Nelson led Jay at the plate, going 3-3. Gavin, Brett Watson, Christa Sanders and Madison Mathis had one hit each.
The Lady Royals finished at 24-6 on the season and is expected to return at least 10 top players next year.
Pictured: The Jay Lady Royals after their regional win. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall 2-1 To Rocket City
May 20, 2021
A
fter 14 games, the Blue Wahoos are even with their record and it has been reflective of how the season has started.
“I think we are still trying to find our identity a little bit, especially offensively,” said Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel following Wednesday’s 2-1 loss against the Rocket City Trash Pandas at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“Our starting pitching is holding up pretty good. We got (Brandon) Leibrandt going tomorrow and hopefully he can rebound from a couple bad losses.
“The bullpen is coming together, trying to find guys for the back end and how we are going to bridge it there. But guys are stepping up there are finding their roles and hopefully in another week or two, we get rolling and find out where we are.”
The loss dropped the Blue Wahoos to 7-7. The Trash Pandas (8-6) won their sixth game in the past seven. The teams will continue their six-game series Thursday with the Blue Wahoos transforming into the Pensacola Mullets, complete with uniforms and logo hats.
Making his third-start, Blue Wahoos pitcher Jake Eder gave up his first runs of the season, both in the fifth inning. Only one was earned.
A leadoff walk, then a throwing error on a slow chop was followed another walk to load the bases. Rocket City’s Michael Stefani hit a two-run single as part of his three-hit night with two doubles.
But after that struggle, Eder struck out the next three batters.
“He is a monster on the mound,” Randel said. “It wasn’t one of his cleanest outings. He threw a lot of pitches early. Got a few walks, four walks, so about 25 extra pitches. But he responded.”
Finishing with seven strikeouts, Eder, a former Vanderbilt star reliever, moved into lead among Double-A South Division pitchers with 26. The total is second-best in the 30-team Double-A level.
The Blue Wahoos could not catch a break at the plate.
The Trash Pandas made a pair of diving catches to thwart possible extra base hits. The Blue Wahoos only steal attempt was thwarted. There were also several hard-hit line drives right at fielders.
And in the eighth inning, Connor Justus hit a bomb was shifted by the wind just outside the left field foul pole.
That kind of night.
But in the ninth, the Blue Wahoos made it suspenseful. Peyton Burdick followed his three-hit night Tuesday with a blast into the wind that carried over the left-center wall to begin the inning.
With one out, Nick Fortes singled. But Trash Pandas closer Conner Higgins made a pair of big pitches on 3-2 counts to strike out Riley Mahan and Lazaro Alonso swinging to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos had just three hits against Rocket City starter Kyle Tyler, who had his best outing this season. He worked seven innings, struck out five with three walks.
In previous starts, he did not finish the fifth inning in either game. He gave up a combined 13 hits and six earned runs. Wednesday he dealt quality pitches the entire way.
“I thought we swung the bats all right,” Randel said. “Just missed a couple.”
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Jay Lady Royals Beat WeWa In Semifinals, Play For State Title Wednesday Afternoon
May 19, 2021
The Jay Lady Royals got the big win Tuesday afternoon 7-2 over Wewahitchka in the state 1A semifinals in Clermont.
The Lady Royals head into the state championship game at 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Eastern) Wednesday against Trenton.
Mattie Cochran pitched a complete game win for the Lady Royals over Wewa. She allowed six hits and two runs over seven innings while striking out 11 and walking none.
Alayna Lowery homered in the sixth inning, and Caitlyn Gavin had a home run in the sixth inning.
Ella Nelson, Brett Watson and Lowery had three hits each in the game; Christa Sanders added two. Jay had one hit each from Kassidy Nevels and Gavin.
The Jay Lady Royals are 24-5 headed into Wednesday’s championship; the Trenton Tigers are 19-1. Jay has scored an average of 9.069 points per game this season, slightly better than Trenton’s 8.1 points per game.
Northwest Escambia Doubles Size Of Youth Football Program, Adds Four Teams
May 19, 2021
Northwest Escambia football announced they are doubling the size of their football program beginning this fall.
NWE is going from a four football team park to an eight team park, now fielding two teams in each group. As a result, they are reopening football registration.
Current roster spots available are:
- Freshman (5/6) – 20 spots
- Sophomores (7/8) – 13 spots
- Juniors (9/10) — 11 spots
- Seniors (11/12) — 16 spots
There is a maximum allowed of 25 players per team. The deadline to register is June 10.
To register, click or tap here.
Burdick Leads Blue Wahoos To Extra Innings Win Over Trash Pandas
May 19, 2021
After a disappointing offensive series against Birmingham, Blue Wahoos outfielder Peyton Burdick hoped his perseverance would finally yield results.
It certainly did Tuesday night.
Burdick produced three hits, but none bigger than his game-deciding double in the 10th inning, giving the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the season’s first walk-off celebration at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Burdick began his big night with a first inning, solo home run that was a no-doubter, even into the strong wind blowing in from the bay.
“You go up there every day, you keep working,” said Burdick, after being doused with a water bucket by teammates near second base. “That’s the name of the game in baseball, you gotta keep working. You never know what day is going to be your day.
“It is a great feeling, especially when you get off to a slow start. A day like today. For sure boosts your confidence and gets your head back a little bit.”
The game also treated a crowd of 3,001 to a duel by two of baseball’s top pitching prospects, both of whom excelled through the first half of the game. The series’ opener was a homecoming for Rocket City manager Jay Bell, the former Tate High star from decades ago, who had an 18-year distinguished career in the Major Leagues.
The Blue Wahoos’ Max Meyer, the Miami Marlins’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, made his third start resemble his pro debut May 4.
Meyer went six innings for the first time, giving up no runs, five hits, nine strikeouts and just one walk in 84 pitches. It was a rebound from his start in the team’s home opener May 11 when he yielded five runs in a 6-1 loss against Birmingham.
“I was able to rely on my slider a lot more and when I feel I have that pitch down, the game works pretty easy for me,” Meyer said. “I felt good out there. I have to improve on some fastballs. But I was happy with what happened today.”
Meanwhile, Rocket City’s Reid Detmers, the No. 10 overall pick in 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, after a stellar career at Louisville, settled into a shutout groove after allowing Burdick’s homer and an RBI ground out in the first inning.
Meyer spent some time last week on the mound before a Blue Wahoos practice with coaches surrounding him to work two of his pitches.
“The bullpen session helped me get used to the (stadium) mound a little bit better and I was able to figure out my offspeed pitches and we worked on fastball grip,” Meyer said.
The game went into the ninth with the Blue Wahoos holding a 2-0 lead before tough luck ensued. The lead evaporated on a two-out, two-run double by Rocket City’s Ibandel Isabel off closer Colton Hock to tie the game.
But with JJ Beleday on second to start the bottom of the 10th, in baseball’s new extra-inning format, Burdick smashed a fastball into the right center gap to end the game.
“I was waiting for that curve ball to come and he threw me a heater (fastball) with 2 strikes and I hit it the other way,” said Burdick, who finished 3-for-5. “It felt pretty good getting it on the barrel.”
Prior to the game, the Crestview High band entertained fans outside the main gate and performed the National Anthem.
The six-game series with the Trash Pandas, relocated to the Huntsville, Ala. area, after being the Mobile-Bay Bears for 20-plus years, will continue through Sunday.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Jay Beats Wewahitchka In State Semifinal
May 18, 2021
The Jay Lady Royals beat Wewahitchka 7-2 Tuesday afternoon in the 1A state semifinal in Clermont. The head to the state championship Wednesday against the winner of this afternoon’s Branford vs. Trenton game. Pictured: The Jay Lady Royals after their regional win last week. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Birmingham Beats The Blue Wahoos
May 17, 2021
The Blue Wahoos sustained a second hard-luck loss Sunday to end their first homestand of the season.
After holding a 5-4 lead in the ninth, the Birmingham Barons rallied with a pair of runs after loading the bases and held for a 6-5 win before a crowd of 4,102 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The comeback followed the Barons rally in the late innings Saturday to take that game.
The losses, however, were countered by a week where the Blue Wahoos (6-6) returned to their bayfront stadium for the first time in 20-plus months and played six games in sunset settings.
Sunday’s game began with the Blue Wahoos honoring the Pensacola Ice Flyers for their SPHL President’s Cup championship, complete with team captain Garrett Milan throwing out the first pitch.
The day ended with kids of families at the game running the bases amid perfect weather.
The bright sunlight Sunday created havoc for any fly balls in the outfield. That benefited both teams in scoring runs.
Trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning, Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Lovello hit a fly ball that eluded Barons left fielder Craig Dedelow for what became a 3-run double.
Lovello then followed with a flare in the sixth inning that hit inside the right field line for a 2-run triple, giving him 5 RBI for the game.
The Blue Wahoos carried a 5-4 lead into the ninth with top closer Anthony Maldonado in to finish the game.
The Barons (9-3) tied the game on an RBI single from Ian Dawkins. On the third pitch Maldonado threw against cleanup hitter Micker Aldofo, he winced in pain with an arm injury.
He immediately left the game, forcing Tanner Andrews to rapidly warm up when called from the bullpen. Andrews, the sixth pitcher the Blue Wahoos used Sunday, threw a wild pitch that allowed the winning run to score.
In the Wahoos’ ninth, leadoff batter Connor Justus laced a pitch that reliever Andrew Perez snared. JJ Bleday followed by following off several two-strike pitches before striking out. Perez then ended the game on the next batter to record his first save.
In addition to Lovello, Jerar Encarnacion and Riley Mahan each had two hits.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off, along with all minor league teams, before facing the Rocket City Trash Pandas – one of newest minor league teams – for six games at Blue Wahoos Stadium beginning Tuesday.
The Trash Pandas, a franchise formed after formerly being the Mobile BayBears, are managed by Jay Bell, a Tate High graduate, who went on to a lengthy, distinguished career in Major League Baseball.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Blue Wahoos Fall In Extra Innings To Birmingham
May 16, 2021
The Blue Wahoos recreated a Saturday night experience devoid a year ago.
Absolute perfect weather. Overflow crowd. Festive mood. Post-game fireworks.
All this checklist lacked was a win.
After the Blue Wahoos carried a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning, the Birmingham Barons rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning, then scored six runs in the 10th for a 9-3 victory.
The crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium filled both ends of the stands, the party decks and the grass berm behind the outfield.
The night also included Blue Wahoos president Jonathan Griffith getting his COVID-19 vaccine on top of the visitors’ dugout during the seventh inning stretch.
And he led the crowd in “Take Me Out To the Ballgame” while doing it, as part of a free vaccination opportunity provided by the Department of Health in Escambia County.
The Blue Wahoos will conclude their first homestand of 2021 with an afternoon game (4:05 p.m.) against the Barons.
The night began well on the field. Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Will Stewart was outstanding, pitching six scoreless innings and leaving with a 3-0 lead.
After retiring the Barons in order in the first inning, Stewart pitched with runners on base in the next five innings without allowing a run.
In throwing 85 pitches, he gave up only four hits, two walks and struck out three strikeouts. He made big pitches to end innings in the second, fifth and sixth.
It was a turnaround performance from his first start last week at Mississippi. That night he gave up seven hits and five earned runs in five innings.
Unfortunately for him, it became a no-decision.
The Blue Wahoos had a 3-0 lead in the seventh. Centerfielder Peyton Burdick led off the first inning with a walk, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on two groundouts.
In the sixth, Jerar Encarnacion tripled to score JJ Bleday and Nick Fortes followed with an RBI single.
But with two outs and two runners on in the seventh inning, the Barons’ Xavier Fernandez hit a fly ball off reliever Brien McKenna that seemed to cross up two Blue Wahoos outfielders.
Center fielder Peyton Burdick’s diving attempt had the ball pop out of his glove, scoring two runs.
In the eighth, second reliever Tyler Stevens gave up a bases-loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch to tie the game.
After the Blue Wahoos were retired in the ninth, the Barons exploded for six runs in the 10th inning to blow open the game.
Wahoos Beat Birmingham
May 15, 2021
As a later-round draft pick from Illinois State in 2019, pitcher Jeff Lindgren knew he had to prove himself quickly.
A performance like the one he delivered Friday night for the Blue Wahoos certainly helps.
Making his first professional start, Lindgren, 24, a Champagne, Illinois native, produced the longest outing by a Blue Wahoos starter, so far this season, tossing a 2-hitter in seven innings to lead Pensacola’s 3-2 win against the Birmingham Barons.
Lindgren did this in front of the first sellout crowd (5,038) of the opening homestand.
“It’s always playing with a chip on your shoulder,” said Lindgren, chosen in the 24th round by the Miami Marlins as a college senior and signed for a few thousand dollars. “When you have that kind of motivation it helps get to where you want to be in my situation right now.”
On the first night since a mask ban was lifted for fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Lindgren got through a rough first inning then found a groove that let him breeze through innings.
He threw 86 pitches, striking out seven and not allowing a walk. He worked five innings and allowed four runs in his first Double-A start a week ago at Mississippi.
“I just continued to follow the game plan that (pitching coach Tim Norton) and (catcher Rick Fortes) put together before the game,” said Lindgren, who made all his prior appearances in relief, including his 2019 rookie season in Jupiter. “It really was working for me in the first game and things just got away from me. I settled back in and ran (Friday).”
When he exited after the seventh, he saw many in the crowd standing.
“It was awesome,” Lindgren said. “Especially after taking so much time off (not playing last year). I didn’t really realize the crowd until the end but my team had my back all day.”
Lindgren got the run support he needed when Demetrius Sims jumped on a first pitch to deliver a 2-run, 2-out single in the sixth inning.
That lead was saved by Anthony Maldonado, who pitched two scoreless, hitless innings. to record his third save.
Lindgren overcame a rocky opening inning. He plunked consecutive batters with one out, then yielded a bloop, 2-run single to Barons’ catcher Carlos Perez.
From this point, Lindgren was sensational.
He retired 16 batters in a row, before Ti’Quan Forbes reached on a two-base throwing error in the seventh inning to move into scoring position. But Lindgren ended the inning by getting Craig Dedlow to fly out to left on the first pitch.
Birmingham starter Konnor Pilkington was equally effective. After the Blue Wahoos got a run back in the first inning on Fortes’ 2-out single, Pilkington retired the next 12 batters he faced.
Nick Lovullo broke the string with a one-out single. It was one of just four hits the Blue Wahoos had in the game. But they made the most of them.
The Blue Wahoos (6-4) evened the series at 2-2 heading into Saturday’s fifth game against the Barons (7-3).
Jay Softball Wins Regional Championship; Northview Baseball Falls To Holmes County In Eight
May 14, 2021
SOFTBALL
Jay 10, Holmes County 0
The Jay Lady Royals are Region 1-1A champions and are in the state final four after beating Holmes County 10-0 in Bonifay Thursday night.
Mattie Cochran tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing one hit, two walks and striking out seven.
The Royals had two home runs. Cochran and Caitlyn Gavin both homered in the fourth.
Gavin went 2-3 with two runs and five RBIs. Brett Watson at 3-5 with three runs; Alayna Lowery was 2-4 with one run and one RBI; Mattie Cochran was 2-3 with one run and one RBI; Ella Nelson was 1-3 with a run; and Kassidy Nevels was 1-4 with a run.
Jay moves one to the state semifinals on May 18 against Wewahitchka. The winner will face either Branford or Trenton on May 19 for the state championship.
BASEBALL
Holmes County 3, Northview 2 (8 innings)
Holmes County defeated Northview 3-2 in the Region 1-1A championship Thursday night in Bonifay.
The game was 2-2 at the end of seven and moved into extra innings. Holmes County walked off with the win after Cody Jones singled on a 2-2 count, driving in the winning run.
For Northview Jamarkus Jefferson allowed four hits and one run over five and a third innings while striking out four. Josh Landis threw one and two-thirds innings in relief. allowing four hits, two runs, two walks and striking out two.
Jefferson went 2-3 for the Chiefs. Bryce Korinchak was 1-3; Rustin Pope was 1-3 with an RBI; and Landis was 1-3 with a run.
The Chief’s season ended at 17-7. Northview entered regionals as District champions for the first time since 2015.