Blue Wahoos Fall Out Of First Place After 5-2 Loss To Biloxi
June 9, 2019
For a second night against the Biloxi Shuckers, the Blue Wahoos had their bats quieted and for the first time this season, they are no longer in first place.
Shuckers starter Johan Belisario (6-0) worked five solid innings, then three relievers combined to allow just one hit, as Biloxi overtook the Blue Wahoos atop the Southern League South Division with a 5-2 victory Saturday night at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss.
A crowd of 3,585 watched the Shuckers take a fifth-inning lead on a pair of walks, then produce a three-run eighth to pull away for the win.
After 62 games, the Blue Wahoos (36-26) will now play the role of chaser, trailing Biloxi (37-25) by one game, heading into the three remaining games of this pivotal series in the first half divisional race.
Jorge Alcala (5-2) is set to take the mound Sunday for the Blue Wahoos in a 2:35 p.m. game to try and get the divisional chase tied again. The teams will play again Monday and Tuesday. Each team has eight games left in the first half schedule.
The Blue Wahoos took an early lead Saturday when Jaylin Davis led off the fourth inning with a solo homer, his ninth of the season. Michael Davis and Brian Navarreto then followed with two out singles, but Belisario got Taylor Grzelakowski to ground out, ending the inning.
It became the third time in four innings the Blue Wahoos left a runner in scoring position.
Blue Wahoos starter Charlie Barnes (0-1), who absorbed his first loss since joining the team, was in a good flow through four innings until he struggled with control in the fifth inning. After giving up a leadoff double, then a walk, he was unable to throw out Luis Aviles Jr. on a bunt single which loaded the bases.
Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego went to the bullpen, bringing in Tom Hackimer, who walked the next two batters to give Biloxi a 2-1 lead with none out. But Hackimer then pitched out of the jam with a strikeout and double play ball to end the inning.
The offense wasn’t able to respond, going scoreless the next three innings. The Blue Wahoos best chance for a rally was in the top of the eighth when Ben Rortvedt and Davis reached on one-out walks. The Shuckers summoned reliever Luke Barker, who struck out Ryan Costello and Caleb Hamilton to end the inning en route to earning his eighth save.
In the bottom of eighth, Bilox touched up reliever Jeff Ames with three consecutive hits to start the inning. The third one, a double by Dillon Thomas, scored a run. Sam Clay replaced Ames and issued an intentional walk to C.J. Hinojosa. The Shuckers’ Max McDowell then smacked a two-run double to give the Shuckers a 5-1 lead.
With two outs in the ninth, Travis Blankenhorn hit an RBI double to score Grezelakowski, who had walked, for the Blue Wahoos second run.
After scoring 34 runs and winning four of five games against Jacksonville, the Blue Wahoos have scored just three runs against Biloxi and been unable to deliver a big two-out hit.
The season series between the teams, part of the Seafood Buffet Series, is now tied at 6-6. The Blue Wahoos will need to win two of the three remaining games to keep a tie-breaker edge should the teams end the first half tied in the standings.
Blue Wahoos Roughed Up In Series Opening Loss At Biloxi
June 8, 2019
The Blue Wahoos ran into a hot pitcher and a big inning in a 9-1 loss Friday night against the Biloxi Shuckers to begin their pivotal series battle at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss.
Shuckers’ righthander Alec Bettinger, named earlier this week as the Southern League Pitcher of the Week, after posting a pair of wins, spun another gem Friday, while wearing a New Orleans Saints jersey as part of a theme night before a crowd of 2,508.
Bettinger allowed just two hits, only one after giving up a leadoff home run to Pensacola’s Travis Blankenhorn to start the game. It was Blankenhorn’s 10th home run since joining the Blue Wahoos on April 27.
Bettinger then settled in to strike out 12 Blue Wahoos batters and allowed just one walk. The Shuckers moved back into a first-place tie with the Blue Wahoos atop the Southern League South Division first half standings.
Both teams have identical 36-25 records. The teams will continue their five game series Saturday at 6:35 p.m. Each team has nine games left in the first half schedule.
After Talyor Grzelakowski hit a two-out triple in the second inning for the Blue Wahoos’ second hit, it became their last one of the game. The Blue Wahoos had only three other baserunners in the game. Michael Davis reached on a walk, two others reached on errors.
Biloxi, meanwhile, pounded out 14 hits, including nine against Blue Wahoos starter Bryan Sammons (0-1), who had his roughest outing (9 hits, 6 earned runs) since joining the team two weeks ago.
Bettinger retired 16 of the final 18 batters he faced. Reliever Devin Williams entered in the eighth and produced two hitless innings.
Bettinger, a former University of Virginia standout, was drafted in 2017 in the 10th round by the Milwaukee Brewers – the Shuckers’ MLB affiliate. He has yielded just two runs in his last three starts, and only five runs allowed in his last six starts.
After Blankenhorn’s blast to start the game, the Shuckers’ Trent Grisham answered with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first, after Luis Aviles Jr. reached on a fielder’s choice.
But the game was shaped by the fourth inning when the Shuckers went through all nine batters in producing a four-run inning. After Sammons loaded the bases by giving up a pair of singles and walk, Aviles Jr. had an RBI fielder’s choice play and Grisham followed with an RBI single.
Following a pitching change, Patrick Leonard hit a two RBI single off Blue Wahoos reliever Adam Bray. The Shuckers added three more runs in the eighth inning off Blue Wahoos reliever Tyler Jay.
Pensacola will send Charlie Barnes (0-0,3.60 ERA) to the mound for Saturday’s game. Barnes and Sammons both joined the team May 27.
Six Blue Wahoos Selected To Southern League All-Star Team
June 7, 2019
The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs has announced that six members of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos roster have been named to the Southern League’s South Division All-Star Team through voting by field managers, general managers, and radio broadcasters for all 10 Southern League clubs.
Three pitchers from Pensacola’s roster, Brusdar Graterol, Griffin Jax, and Ryan Mason, will join three position players, 2B Travis Blankenhorn, OF Jaylin Davis, and C Caleb Hamilton, on the roster for the All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 18 at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.
All-Star Baseball, Softball Games Rescheduled (With Rosters)
June 6, 2019
The 20018-19 Subway High School All-Star Series baseball and softball games have been rescheduled for June 19 at University of West Florida’s Jim Spooner Field and Softball Complex in Pensacola.
The head coaches for the west teams, comprised of Escambia County schools, are Northview’s Amy Holland coaching softball and Brett McCullough of Pine Forest High School coaching baseball.
Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County Schools make up the east team. Brian Watson of Jay High School will lead the east softball team while Fort Walton Beach’s Brian McDaniel will coach the east baseball team.
New at this year’s event, Pensacola Sports is holding an equipment drive. Fans are encouraged to bring used / new baseball and softball equipment to be donated to the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Donations can include balls, bats, gloves, bags, cleats, catchers gear, trainings aids, etc. Miracle League of Pensacola officials will be on-site collecting the equipment. Miracle League of Pensacola will also gladly accept donations of monetary value.
Rosters are as follows:
WEST SOFTBALL
Catholic – Casey Durant
Catholic – Josie Madison
Escambia – Hailey Sedig
Escambia – Shelby Ullrich
Northview – Aubree Love
Northview – Makayla Jeneske
Northview – Lydia Smith
Northview – Valen Shelly
Northview – Tori Herrigton
Northview – Kendall Enfinger
Pine Forest – Crystal Hendrickson
Tate – Shelby McLean
Tate – Gabby Locke
Tate — Amber Decoux
Washington- Sumayah Fuavai
West Florida – Kenzi Wiley
West Florida – Amanda Klemm
West Florida – Meredith Morgan
West Florida Mackenzie McBride
EAST SOFTBALL
Baker - Shelby Sloan
Baker - Alyson Watson
Central - Skylair Fortner
Central - Malarie Foster
Choctaw - Alicyn Grete
Choctaw - Peyton Coots
Crestview - Caitlin Black
FWB Heidi Santos
Jay - Alyssa Baxley
Jay - Avarie Jackson
Milton - Kiahna Connell
Milton - Caroline Worrell
Milton - Alyssa Hudson
Navarre - Kallie Anderson
Navarre - Emily Cannington
Navarre - Lakin Grindland
Niceville - Katie Lightfoot
Pace - Ryleigh Baker -
Rocky Bayou - Madison Stubblefield
Rocky Bayou - Haley Nelson
Rocky Bayou - Rominey Willner
Rocky Bayou - Hayden Edelman
WEST BASEBALL
Catholic – Dustin Chabot
Catholic – Robert Black
Catholic – David Stafford
Escambia – William Browne
Escambia – Avery McNair
Escambia – Jayden Baesman
Northview – Seth Killam
PCA – Greg Clark
Pensacola – Jair Green
Pine Forest – Nolan Rigby
Pine Forest – Christian Munoz
Tate – Trey LaFleur
Tate – Hunter McLean
Tate – Easton Sidner
Washington – Sam Jackson
Washington – Colby Livingston
West Florida – Graham Holland
West Florida – Will Hackett
West Florida – John Leland
West Florida – Gavin Coles
West Florida – Derrick Town
West Florida – Dylan Reaves
EAST BASEBALL
Baker - Payton Rockwell
Central - Daryl Peek
Choctaw - Jared Gornto
Choctaw - Kairee Stocker
Choctaw - Brady Peters
Crestview - Coby Aguilar
Crestview - John Gillis
Crestview – Cooper Martin
FWB - Cameron Gagliano
FWB - Alex Holz
FWB - Karsun Barrett
Gulf Breeze Nick Deweese
Gulf Breeze Bryson Smith
Gulf Breeze Enoch Rycroft
Jay - Trevor Flowers
Laurel Hill - Tyler Southard
Milton - Tylor Patterson
Navarre - Cameron Terrian
Navarre - Eric Anderson
Navarre - Kaleb Hellard
Niceville - Connor Walsh
Pace - Aidan Gilroy
Pace - Brandon Sproat
Pace - Ty Kirchharr
Rocky Bayou - Cole Embey
Register Now For Tate Aggies Youth Football Camp
June 5, 2019
The Tate High School Aggies will host their Youth Football Camp June 24-26 from 5-8 p.m. daily.
The cost is $75 for each attendee in grades 2-8. Registration includes the three day camp, event t-shirt and a pizza party on the last day of camp.
Register online at tatehighfootball.com or on the first day of camp.
Northview’s Jayden Jackson Receives Offer From Division 1 Boston College
June 4, 2019
Northview High School junior running back Jayden Jackson has received his first offer, and it’s from Division 1 Boston College. NorthEsambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Jay High’s Burkhead Signs With Pensacola State
May 31, 2019
Jay High School graduate Dutch Burkhead has signed a baseball scholarship to play with Pensacola State College. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rortvedt, Davis Each Homer Twice In Wahoos 6-4 Loss To Mississippi
May 31, 2019
It had been over a full calendar year since the last time a Blue Wahoo hit two home runs in a game. Thursday night, a pair of Wahoo sluggers went deep twice, but the Blue Wahoos still fell 6-4 to the Mississippi Braves.
In game three of a five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the M-Braves took an early 2-0 lead over Pensacola in the first inning against opener Williams Ramirez. With two outs, Tyler Neslony tripled to right, barely beating a rapid relay from the outfield and sliding under the tag at third. The next batter, Ryan Casteel launched a two-run home run.
The score stayed locked at 2-0 until the fourth inning when Pensacola cut the lead in half with a towering home run off the bat of Ben Rortvedt.
The Braves answered immediately in the top of the fifth, stringing together singles by Christian Pache and Drew Waters with two outs before Neslony drilled a three-run shot off Jorge Alcala, his second home run in as many days against the Wahoos.
Prior to the fifth, Alcala had pitched strong in relief of Ramirez, throwing 3.0 scoreless innings on just two hits. He finished the night with a line of 5.0 innings pitched, five hits and three runs allowed, two walks, and six strikeouts. For Alcala, it was his third straight outing following an opener, a role in which he holds a 6.59 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched.
Trailing 5-1, Jaylin Davis lofted a no-doubt solo shot in the sixth inning for Pensacola to keep the Wahoos in the ballgame.
Davis would strike again in his next at-bat, lining another solo shot over the left field wall in the eighth.
The Braves also added a run in the eighth on back-to-back doubles by Riley Unroe and Luis Valenzuela off reliever Sam Clay, who struck out six over 3.0 innings of relief.
The Wahoos made it interesting in the ninth. With one out, Rortvedt knocked an opposite field solo home run, his second of the night. With the score now 6-4, Caleb Hamilton followed with a single up the middle.
With the tying run at the plate, the Braves turned to Jeremy Walker in relief to try and close out the game for the second straight night. For the second straight night, he delivered, retiring the next two batters to preserve the win for Mississippi.
Over in Biloxi, Brewers prospect Trey Supak came within one out of a no-hitter in a 3-0 win for the Shuckers over the Tennessee Smokies. With the Wahoos loss and Biloxi’s win Thursday, Pensacola’s lead in the Southern League South Division is down to just 1.0 game.
The Wahoos and Braves will play again Friday night wiith righty Andro Cutura (0-2, 6.87 ERA) on the mound for Pensacola against Braves #2 pitching prospect Ian Anderson (2-3, 3.38 ERA).
Five Home Runs Power Blue Wahoos To 7-0 Win
May 29, 2019
The Blue Wahoos launched five home runs into Tuesday’s thick, humid air during a season-high home run show in a 7-0 victory against the Mississippi Braves to start an extended homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
There was plenty of entertainment at the ballpark Tuesday on the Summer Kickoff and Out of School Fireworks Night game theme.
No team in nine years had hit five home runs against the M-Braves, the Atlanta Braves affiliate, which has been an organization full of talented arms. The last time it happened was April 10, 2010.
“Home runs definitely come and go. They are contagious, I can tell you that,” said Blue Wahoos catcher Caleb Hamilton, whose two-run blast in the second inning became all the offense needed. He finished 2-for-4 while catching the Blue Wahoos tenth shutout win this season.”Other than the one Travis (Blankenhorn) hit Sunday, we haven’t hit a bunch recently, so it was nice to kinda explode out.”
No team in all levels of baseball has thrown more shutout wins than the Blue Wahoos. Tonight’s shutout came after a week of roster moves that left the Blue Wahoos without four of the five starting pitchers that comprised their rotation just a week ago.
Another former Wahoos starting pitcher, Devin Smeltzer, wowed Tuesday in his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins, throwing six scoreless innings in the Twins eventual 5-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I am so happy for him,” said Hamilton. “I love that kid to death.”
Four Pensacola pitchers combined Tuesday to rack up 15 strikeouts against the M-Braves, led by new starter Bryan Sammons, who had eight in four innings of work.
Sammons, 23, a left-hander elevated Monday from the Fort Myers Miracle, the Twins’ Advance-A affiliate, struck out the side in the first and second innings – mixed around three walks – but his pitch count (80) for innings prevented a longer night.
“It is always fun when you get moved up and make that first start for a new team,” said Sammons, a Western Carolina University grad and eighth round pick by the Twins in 2017. He pitched one game last year in Double-A for then affiliate Chattanooga.
“I didn’t necessarily have the control I wanted, but overall I will take the outing and look forward to improving from here on out,” said Sammons. It was probably a little extra jitters, but after the first batter you get back to playing baseball again. I felt I was pitching better as the game went on.”
Like the Twins have done this season, the Blue Wahoos on Tuesday displayed a diverse power show.
Outfielder Jimmy Kerrigan returned from being sidelined a month to hit a homer, his third this season. Alex Kirilloff, a top-10 overall prospect in the game, blasted his first Double-A homer in the eighth inning, following a first-inning double.
Shortstop Jordan Gore hit his first home run this season with a solo shot in the seventh that followed Mitchell Kranson’s two-run bomb three batters earlier.
“Kirilloff had his first one, Jordan had his first one, Jimmy hit one. That was very good to see,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego.
The win pushed the Blue Wahoos’ league-best record to 31-20 and kept two-games ahead of surging Biloxi, the Brewers’ affiliate, in the Southern League South Division, setting up a two-team race for the first half, division title between the Gulf Coast rivals.
After allowing 31 runs against the Tennessee Smokies, the Blue Wahoos staff settled back into a season-long groove Tuesday. Relievers Adam Bray, Tom Hackimer, and Sam Clay followed Sammons with a combined five innings, allowing just one hit, no walks and getting seven strikeouts.
“It’s great to see Sammons in his debut,” Borrego said. “He gave us a solid outing. He ran a little bit out of gas because of the pitches he threw, but he was able to battle through four innings.”
The Wahoos and M-Braves will square off again Wednesday night in game two of Pensacola’s 10 game home stand.
NWE 14U Team Receives Tournament Rings
May 28, 2019
The Northwest Escambia 14U baseball team recently received their runner-up rings for finishing second of seven teams from the PARA Park Baseball League. Picture are (front, L-R) Luke Bridges, Caden Mills, Aron Chavira, Braeden McGhee, Josh Diamond, Josh Landis, Drake Allen Driskell, Trent Knighten, J. P. Gilman, (back) Team Manager Allen Driskell, Coach Eric Jefferson, Judson Lee, Jamarkus Jefferson, Coach Justin Mills and Coach Philip Gilman. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.