BayBears Sweep Blue Wahoos In Sunday Doubleheaders
April 9, 2018
The Blue Wahoos dropped the opening series of the season after getting swept in Sunday’s doubleheader in Mobile.
Pensacola played well enough to win game two, but their late-game rally fell just short.
Shed Long turned in a monster 2-for-4 performance with all hits going for doubles. He would’ve been 3-for-4, except after hitting what seemed like a first inning double, was instead ruled an out after Long did not touch first base.
Blue Wahoos starter Jesus Reyes (L, 0-1) ran into trouble in the third inning when the BayBears sent nine men to the plate. Taylor Ward had a two-out, two-RBI double that made it 3-2 before Wade Wass’s single made it 4-2.
Pensacola rallied in the fifth when CJ McElroy reached on an error and then scored on Long’s would-be third double of the game to make 4-3.
In the sixth, Nick Longi led off the inning with a single off Greg Mahle (W, 1-0), but with Aristides Auino at the dish, Longhi was picked off by the lefty’s deceptive move to first. Aquino then singled, but the rally never came to fruition.
Jake Jewell (S,1) pitched a perfect seventh inning to seal the sweep.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Blue Wahoos again fell victim to a big inning.
In the fourth inning, starter Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 0-1) began to struggle with his command. Hutton Moyer led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and promptly stole second base. After a Michael Bearish single, Connor Justus walked and Moyer scored on a wild pitch to put Mobile up 2-0. Gutierrez then induced Jose Rojas to hit into a double-play.
With two outs the inning it appeared Gutierrez worked out of trouble when Brendon Sanger grounded out to the pitcher; however, Chad Tromp was dinged for catcher’s interference and that error allowed the inning to continue.
Carlos Navas replaced Gutierrez with the bases loaded and promptly surrendered a bases-clearing double to Matt Thaiss, which broke the game open at 6-0. Moyer capped the scoring with a two-run homer in his second at-bat of the inning to make it 9-0. By the time inning came to a close the BayBears sent 11 men to the plate and scored eight runs in an inning for the first time since May of 2014.
BayBears starter Jose Rodriguez (W, 1-0) was excellent in his Double-A debut earning the win by holding Pensacola to a pair of hits over five innings.
Longhi has a nine-game hitting streak (.423, 11-for-26) dating back to last season and has a hit in every game of his Pensacola career except his Blue Wahoos debut on July 7 (10 games).
The Blue Wahoos bullpen has already pitched 15.2 innings in relief and have held the BayBears to a total of five runs (2.87 ERA).
Had Shed Long not been ruled out for not stepping on first base it would have been the first time in his career that he had three doubles in a game.
The Blue Wahoos will close out the series tomorrow night when Double-A newcomer Wyatt Strahan goes head-to-head with Mobile’s Dylan Unsworth.
Diamond Divas Take Second In Backing The Blue Tournament
April 8, 2018
The Northwest Escambia Diamond Divas softball team recently took second in the Backing the Blue tournament. Proceeds from the second annual tournament benefited the family of Officer Justin Billa of the Mobile Police Department was killed in the line of duty. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Rained Out, Doubleheader On Sunday
April 8, 2018
Saturday’s contest against the BayBears was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, beginning at 1:05 p.m. The series is currently tied at one game apiece.
Right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez is still expected to take the mound for the Blue Wahoos for his Double-A debut in game one. The Cuban native is in just his second season of affiliated baseball after signing with the Reds in 2016. He enters this season as the Reds ninth-best prospect according to Baseball America.
Jesus Reyes, who joined the Blue Wahoos in the second half of last season, will take the hill in game two. In 10 games with the Blue Wahoos last season, Reyes went 2-4, 3.31 ERA.
The BayBears will send out a Double-A debutant of their own in Jose Rodriguez, who was a California League Mid-Season All-Star last season with Inland Empire. Rodriguez finished the season ranked fourth in the California League with 134 strikeouts.
Mobile will call upon another right-hander in Ivan Pineyro who spent time playing across three different levels in the Angels farm system last season.
Tate’s Kayley Groff Signs Tennis Scholarship With Coastal Alabama
April 7, 2018
Tate High School tennis player Kayley Groff signed full ride tennis scholarship with Coastal Alabama Community College.
Groff currently plays the number three position for the Tate Aggies with a 9-1 record so far this year.
“She has been a catalyst on the varsity squad for the last three years,” Tate head tennis coach David Bonucchi said.
Groff has also been a member of the Showband of the South for four years participating in Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Concert Band. She is also an exceptional academic student and a member of the Beta Club.
Pictured top: (standing, L-R) Tate High Principal Rick Shackle, Coastal Alabama’s tennis coach (full name unavailable), Tate tennis coach David Bonucchi, (sitting, L-R) mom Kaye Mathis, Kaley Groff, twin sister Haley Groff and Ronnie Antone. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Tops Washington, Northview Beats Baker
April 7, 2018
Tate and Northview both earned big wins Friday night in high school baseball.
Tate 10, Washington 3
The Tate High School Aggies Beat the Washington Wildcats 10-3 Friday night.
Cole Fryman earned the victory on the pitcher’s mound for the Aggies. He went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out two and walking one. Ryan Greene and Gabe Castro helped close out the game in relief.
For Tate: Blake Anderson 1-2, R, RBI; Ethan Bloodsworth 1-3, RBI; Reid Halfacre RBI; Trent Jeffcoat 2-3, 3B, R; Kaden Kings 2-5, RBI; Raymond Lafleur 2-4, 2B, 3RBI; Mason Land 4-4, 4R; RBI; Hunter McLean 2-3, 2R, 2RBI; Jesse Sherrill 1-2, 2R.
Northview 13, Baker 3
The Northview Chiefs beat the Baker Gators 13-3 Friday night in five innings in game that saw a one hour delay for rain and lightning.
Seth Killam pitched five, allowing five hits, three runs, one error and striking out seven.
For Northview: Trevor Singleton 3-3, 4R, Jackson Moore 2-4, 2B, RBI; Adam Aliff R, RBI; R; Seth Killam 2-4, 3R, RBI; Jason Fischer 2-4, R, RBI; 2-3, R, RBI; Tanner Levins 1-3, R, RBI; John Chivington 1-3, R; 2RBI.
Up next, the Chiefs will host Jay Tuesday at 6 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Trent Kite Takes Second In State Weightlifting Championship
April 7, 2018
Northview’s Trent Kite placed second Friday in the 2018 FHSAA 1A Weightlifting State Championships at Arnold High School in Panama City.
Kite, a sophomore, competed in the 129-pound weight class, setting personal records in both the bench press and clean and jerk portions of the meet.
In the bench press, Kite pressed 235 pounds, while he cleaned and jerked 210 pounds for a 445 pound total.
The 2nd place finish matches the highest finish in the history of Northview High School. Also finishing second for Northview were Greg Gibson in 1997 and Antheus Straughn in 1999. Kite is the first Northview lifter to place at the state meet since 2004, when Karlos Mims placed fifth in the 238-pound division.
Kite’s second place finish earned five points for Northview, good enough to finish tied for 13th overall in the team standings out of 61 schools competing in the meet and better than eight of the nine region schools represented at the meet.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Bounce Back With Win Over Mobile BayBears
April 7, 2018
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos bounced back after a tough loss on Opening Day to beat the Mobile BayBears, 9-1, on Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile.
The game was tied at 1-1 until Shed Long drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh inning. A batter later, Gavin LaValley roped a bases-clearing double just inside the third base bag. He would later score and the Wahoos were up 6-1.
Josh VanMeter unloaded a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to make it 9-1 and cap the Pensacola scoring. The blast was his second extra-base hit of the game. He hit a two-out double in the sixth inning.
Shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez also shined at the plate for the Blue Wahoos. The Havana, Cuba native singled three times in the game, making him 4-for-7 on the young season.
On the mound Keury Mella got a no-decision despite allowing just one run (earned) over five solid innings. He walked just one with three strikeouts. Robinson Leyer (W, 1-0) was the first guy out of the pen and he scooped up the win with two scoreless innings in relief. He allowed the first two batters he faced to reach safely, before retiring the next six hitters.
Jonah Wesely (L, 0-1) suffered the damage from the Blue Wahoos’ seventh inning rally resulting in his first loss of the season. He was charged with all five runs (four earned).
The two teams continue their five-game series with game three Saturday night at The Hank. Reds #9 prospect RHP Vladimir Gutierrez makes his anticipated Double-A debut against RHP Jose Rodriguez of the BayBears
Baseball: Northview Beats 20-0 Neal, Tate Shuts Out Washington; Jay Softball Over NHS
April 6, 2018
Northview 3, W.S. Neal 2
W.S. Neal’s 20-0 perfect season came to an end at the hand of the Northview Chiefs Thursday night.
Northview downed Neal 3-2 in East Brewton.
Tanner Levins pitched six innings for the Chiefs, and Seth Killam finished it off in the seventh.
For the Chiefs: Jackson Moore 1-3, R, RBI; Seth Killam 1-3, R; John Chivington 2-3, R, RBI.
The Chiefs will host Baker Friday at 6:30.
Tate 10, Washington 0
Raymond Lafleur tossed a no-hitter as the Tate Aggies shut out Washington 10-0 Thursday night.
Lafeur recorded six strike outs in six innings.
For Tate: Blake Anderson 2-4, 2R; Ethan Bloodsworth R; Reid Halfacre R; Zach Hyatt R; Trent Jeffcoat 2-2, 2B, R, RBI; Mason Land 2-3, 2B, R, RBI; Hunter Riggan R; Jesse Sherrill 3-4, 2R, RBI.
SOFTBALL
Jay 3, Northview 2 (9 innings)
The Jay Lady Royals beat the 10-0 Northview Lady Chiefs by the score of 3-2 Thursday night in Jay.
BayBears Power Past Wahoos 9-4 In Season Opener
April 6, 2018
The Mobile BayBears spoiled the Blue Wahoos encore to their Southern League Championship with a 9-4 win over Pensacola on Opening Day at Hank Aaron Stadium on Thursday night.
Daniel Wright suffered the shortest outing of his professional career as the Wahoos lost on Opening Day for just the second time in team history.
After a clean opening inning for Wright and the Blue Wahoos, things quickly turned south in the second.
The BayBears opened the scoring early in the inning. Double-A debutant, Michael Barash, homered off the first pitch he saw in the second to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Connor Justus and Zach Gibbons fired back-to-back singles before Bo Way doubled Mobile’s advantage with an RBI groundout.
With two outs, the BayBears rallied for five additional runs thanks to a pair of BayBear hits and a pair of Blue Wahoos errors. Wright had a chance to end the second when Thaiss hit a weak grounder towards first but Wright’s flip to Gavin LaValley sailed over the first baseman’s head allowing Brennon Lund to score.
Two batters later Hutton Moyer made the Blue Wahoos pay when he crushed his first home run of the season to make it 7-0.
Pensacola tried to climb back into the game when they plated a pair of runs in the third. LaValley’s two-run single gave the Blue Wahoos a brief surge of momentum.
The BayBears proved to be relentless as they answered Pensacola’s two runs with two of their own in the bottom of the inning.
There were several bright spots that could be extracted from Thursday’s contest. Nick Longhi, in his first game since injuring his elbow, went 3-for-4. LaValley and Gabriel Guerrero both reached base twice.
The bullpen also turned in a solid effort after the seven-run rally. Brennan Bernardino, in his second season with the Blue Wahoos, pitched two near-perfect innings while newcomer Jose Rafael De Paula did not allow a run over his two innings of work.
Pensacola will put this game behind them and get ready for tomorrow when RHP Keury Mella gets the ball for the Blue Wahoos opposite RHP Luis Pena.
Area Teams Compete In Jay Invitational Track Meet (With Photo Gallery)
April 5, 2018
Here are results from the Jay Invitational track meet held Tuesday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Top Schools, Women (with points)
- Baker High School 166.50
- Pensacola Christian Academy 156.50
- Paxton School 88
- Northview High School 79
- Jay High School 71
- Rocky Bayou Christian School 61
- Central High School 13
- Freeport High School 10
Top Schools, Men (with points)
- Pensacola Christian Academy 139
- Northview High School 129
- Jay High School 81
- Paxton School 77
- Central High School 64
- Baker High School 62
- Rocky Bayou Christian School 51
- Freeport High School 40
For complete results, click here (pdf).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
