Sparks Lifts Wahoos Past Lookouts, 10-8, In Extras
July 25, 2018
With two outs and a runner at second base in the 10th inning, Taylor Sparks blasted his 10th home run of the season to give the Blue Wahoos a 10-8 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts Tuesday night at AT&T Field.
The Lookouts ambushed Wahoos starter Vladimir Gutierrez with four first inning runs. Brent Rooker started the scoring for the second straight night with a home run, Tuesday’s was a two-run shot. The Lookouts would score two more while sending all nine batters to the plate in the inning.
Trailing 4-0 in the third inning, the Blue Wahoos rallied for six runs to take the lead. Aristides Aquino delivered the big hit with a three-run homer to put the Wahoos in front 6-4. The Blue Wahoos added two more in the fourth. Jose Siri tripled and scored on a TJ Friedl single. Friedl scored later in the inning on a two-out single from Shed Long.
Gutierrez settled down and didn’t allow a run over his final four innings. He was done after five innings with four runs allowed on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts. It was the most runs he had allowed in a start since June 1.
The Lookouts rallied for four runs to tie the game in the seventh inning against Juan Martinez. With the Wahoos still leading 8-6, Rooker laced a two-run double to tie the game at 8-8. It stayed that way until Sparks belted his home run in the 10th to put the Blue Wahoos up 10-8. Alex Powers (S, 11) worked a scoreless bottom of the 10th to finish off the win. Rafael De Paula (W, 2-3) earned the win out of the bullpen with two scoreless innings in relief. Williams Ramirez (L, 2-6) allowed the two 10th inning runs to take the loss for the Lookouts.
Everybody in the Wahoos starting lineup got at least one hit with five players getting two hits. Sparks led the charge with a double and his home run. Chris Okey also had a pair of extra base hits, both doubles, as part of a 2-for-5 game. Aquino’s homer was his only hit, but it extended his hit streak to eight games.
The Blue Wahoos will continue the series Wednesday morning. RHP Tony Santillan (2-0, 1.50) will start for Pensacola against Lookouts RHP Sean Poppen (3-5, 4.32)
Wahoos Winning Streak Ends With Loss To Lookouts
July 24, 2018
After Pensacola had taken the lead in the top of the ninth inning, the Lookouts rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to top the Blue Wahoos, 4-3, Monday night at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tenn. The loss snapped the Blue Wahoos winning streak at six games.
Pensacola took an early lead with a run in the top of the first when Mitch Nay singled home Jose Siri. The lead was short lived. In the bottom of the inning Brent Rooker socked his 18th home run of the season to tie the game.
The Blue Wahoos answered to reclaim the lead when Taylor Sparks scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the second inning. The game stayed 2-1 until Chattanooga tied the game in the fifth. Jaylen Davis singled on a line drive that hit off Wahoos pitcher Seth Varner and ricocheted in the hole between first and second base and allowed Jimmy Kerrigan to score.
With the game tied in the ninth, Luis Gonzalez drove home Mitch Nay with a one-out double to right field. Pensacola had a chance for more, but stranded two runners in scoring position. The Lookouts answered against Wahoos reliver Alejandro Chacin (L, 1-2). Mitchell Kranson led off the bottom of the ninth with a pinch-hit home run to tie the game. Then, with one out, Tanner English tripled to left field. With two outs, Chris Paul yanked a 1-2 pitch to left field for the game winning hit.
Pensacola wasn’t without opportunities in the game. The Blue Wahoos left 15 runners on base and were just 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
Despite a no-decision, Varner was solid. He allowed just two runs, one earned, over six innings with one walk and five strikeouts. Carlos Navas backed him up with two scoreless innings in relief. The blown save was the first of the season for Chacin. Ryne Harper (W, 1-2) picked up with win despite allowing a run (unearned) over 1.1 innings.
The Blue Wahoos will try to bounce back on Tuesday night with RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (8-8, 4.13) on the mound against RHP Omar Bencomo (6-4, 3.41).
More Teams Needed For Century Fire Coed Charity Softball Tourney
July 23, 2018
More teams are needed to make the First Annual Century Firefighter’s Coed Charity Softball Tournament happen. The tournament is scheduled for Saturday, July 28 at Showalter Park in Century.
The entry fee is $200 per team. Proceeds will benefit fire victims in the Century and Byrneville areas.
Concessions will be available.
For rules and entry information, call Kevin Bullard at (850) 324-8457 or Shaun Moye at (251) 236-1182
Wahoos Sweep Shrimp With 12-7 Win
July 23, 2018
Pensacola completed its first series sweep of the season against Jacksonville, 12-7, Sunday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Wahoos set the tone early against Jacksonville starter Kolton Mahoney (L, 3-5). With a 1-0 lead, TJ Friedl singled Taylor Sparks home to double the lead. With Mitch Nay batting, a wild pitch by Mahoney allowed Jose Siri to score, giving the Wahoos a 3-0 lead. By the time the second inning came to a close, the Wahoos were up big on the Jumbo Shrimp, leading 7-0.
Jacksonville went to their bullpen in hopes of stopping the onslaught. Reliever Reilly Hovis replaced Mahoney and wound up surrendering five more runs to the Blue Wahoos during his outing. Jacksonville used a total of four pitchers on Sunday and the bullpen allowed no more runs after the fifth inning.
Rookie Davis (W, 1-0) had an impressive first start in his rehab appearance for the Wahoos. Davis pitched six innings and allowed three runs on five hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. Davis contributed on the offensive side as well. In the bottom of the third inning, Davis launched a solo homer to right field to give the Wahoos a 10-3 lead at the time.
The Shrimp attempted to make a comeback in the ninth inning against Wyatt Strahan (S, 1). Sharif Othman singled to center field that scored Joe Dunand to cut Jacksonville’s deficit 12-6. Eric Jagielo then hit an RBI single to left field to plate home Justin Twine to make the score 12-7. With runners on the corner, Strahan was able to get out of the jam when Monte Harrison lined out to right field to Aristides Aquino to end the game.
The Wahoos head on the road to face the Chattanooga Lookouts. It will be a battle of the southpaws as Seth Varner (5-1, 2.48) will start for the Wahoos and Lewis Thorpe (4-4, 3.95) will take the hill for the Lookouts.
Wahoos Shutout Shrimp 3-0
July 21, 2018
After scoring 17 runs through the first two games of the series, the Blue Wahoos only needed one to clip past the Jumbo Shrimp, 3-0, on Friday. Tony Santillan (W, 2-0) turned in six shutout innings and TJ Friedl paced the offense with three hits in the Wahoos victory in front of a capacity crowd to capture their fourth straight win.
Despite not scoring many, the Wahoos offense got off to a quick start behind Santillan. After a one-out single by Friedl, he advanced to second on a wild pitch, and after moving to third on a groundout, he scored on Rodrigo Vigil’s eight passed ball of the season to make it 1-0.
On Friday, a one-run lead was plenty for Santillan. He retired eight of the first nine Jumbo Shrimp that came to the plate and only twice to did Jacksonville have runners in scoring position. For the first since joining the Wahoos, the 2015 second-round pick looked dominant as he struck out six without walking a batter on 80 pitches.
Pensacola doubled their lead thanks to a defensive miscue by the Shrimp. With Friedl on first, Mitch Nay hit into what looked like a double play ball to first. After Jagielo stepped on first base, his throw towards second sailed by the shortstop Joe Dunand and into left field. Shed Long followed with a single to right field, which brought home Friedl to give the Wahoos a 2-0 edge. Long would plate home a third run with a solo home run on the second pitch he saw from Miguel Del Pozo in the eighth inning.
Despite his starter having thrown only 80 pitches, Jody Davis turned the game over to his bullpen in the seventh inning. He wound up using three different relievers to secure the game’s last nine outs. Jacksonville’s best chance at a late comeback came in the ninth when Monte Harrison led off the inning and reached on Long’s 10th error of the season. However, Alex Powers (S, 10) remained unphased and retired the next three batters in order for the save.
Robert Dugger (L, 2-4) was strong for Jacksonville despite taking the loss. He allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits over his six innings of work. The right-hander walked two and tied his season-high with seven punchouts.
Having earned a series win, Pensacola will look to make it five wins in a row when they take on the Jumbo Shrimp Saturday night. RHP Daniel Wright (4-6, 4.20) will toe the rubber for Pensacola against RHP Merandy Gonzalez (1-4, 5.10).
Former NBA Coach To Lead Bratt Basketball Camp Next Week
July 20, 2018
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a basketball camp next week with a former NBA, college and high school coach.
The camp for children ages 8-14 will be held July 25-27 at the church. Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball and Biblical awareness.
Dutremble is a a retired coach and member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He career includes coaching at every level from high school to the NBA, and into international arenas, with a lifetime coaching record of 687-117 and seven national championships. He was selected “Coach of the Year” six times, and served as national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland, and Jordan. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving under Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, from 1979-83 and helping the team to three NBA championships with players like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The cost is $45 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. The funds are used exclusively to purchase shoes and basketballs for needy children in other countries where Dutremble conducts camps.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt is located on Highway 4 just west of Northview High School.
All children participating in the camp will receive a certificate of completion and a t-shirt from Dutremble. For registration information, call (850) 327-6529, or stop by the church Monday through Wednesday mornings.
Pictured: Students that participated in a previous basketball camp at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Inset: Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Football Team Volunteers At Ronald McDonald House
July 20, 2018
The Northview High School Chiefs football team gave back Thursday, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Surge Past Jacksonville In Series Opener, 11-3
July 19, 2018
Pensacola lit up the Shrimp in an 11-3 victory Wednesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With Pensacola behind 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Chris Okey belted a two-run homer to give the Wahoos a 4-3 lead. The Wahoos would catch fire against Jacksonville’s relief pitcher Kyle Keller in the bottom of the eighth inning, eradicating the Shrimp’s chances of a possible comeback. Shed Long doubled home TJ Friedl to increase the Wahoos lead to 5-3. Luis Gonzalez singled to center field that scored both Mitch Nay and Long to extend the Wahoos lead to 7-3. Pinch-hitter Narciso Crook hit a sac fly that plated home Aristides Aquino to make the score 8-3. The straw that finally broke Jacksonville’s back was Jose Siri’s three-run homer, his second of the game, that gave Pensacola the winning score of 11-3.
Southpaw Seth Varner (W, 5-1) turned in another excellent outing for the Blue Wahoos. The Cincinnati-native pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (one earned), one walk, and struck out four. Since joining the starting rotation on May 25, Varner is 5-1 in nine starts. His 1.86 ERA is the lowest in the Southern League since that date.
The bullpen kept the Shrimp in check. Carlos Navas pitched a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts. Alex Powers closed out the game, retiring the last three batters in order, to secure the Wahoos victory.
The Wahoos will look to continue their hot streak in Thursday night’s game. Right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez (7-8, 4.67) will start for the Wahoos, and RHP Max Duval (2-9, 7.11) will take the hill for the Shrimp.
Northview Baseball Needs Coed Softball Tournament Teams
July 18, 2018
The Northview High School baseball team will hold a coed softball tournament Saturday at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
Registration is $200 per team with a three girl minimum using modified USSSA rules.
For more information, call Coach Greenwell at (850) 712-6354 or Coach Lowery at (850) 232-3205.
File photo.
Century Donates $1,600 For Youth Football Uniforms, More Help Needed
July 17, 2018
The Town of Century voted Monday night to contribute $1,600 towards new uniforms for the Century Sports Association, but the group is still about $800 short of the amount needed.
Century’s donation includes $1,450 earned when the nonprofit Urban Development Center rented the town’s Century Business Center to hold workforce training classes; the remaining $150 was money leftover from their Independence Day fireworks.
According to an invoice submitted to the town, the Century Sports Association ordered 75 new youth football uniforms for $4,860. A $1,500 deposit was paid, and the youth league has secured donations to pay all but $800 of the bill.
Century Sports President Amanuel Dobose said program participation is growing steadily and is a positive influence for Century’s youth.
Anyone wishing to help the Century Sports Association can email centurysportsassociation@gmail.com or mail a donation to P.O. Box 1252, Century, FL 32535