Northview Chiefs To Hold Youth Football Camp
July 6, 2017
Northview Football Youth Camp will be held July 18 and 20 from 5-7 each evening.
The camp is for players entering kindergarten through the eighth grade. Players will receive instruction from Northview High School Chief players and coaches. Participants will be coached in offensive and defensive position groups. There will also be daily drills and competitions.
Camp fee is $25; all participants will receive a camp t-shirt.
Click here for a registration form (pdf).
For more information, contact Coach Marshman at (850) 377-204.
Wahoos Fall 6-4 To Biloxi
July 6, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel smacked a two-out single to left field that scored left fielder Tyler Goeddel with the go ahead run in the eighth inning Wednesday at MGM Park.
But that 4-3 lead was short lived as the Biloxi Shuckers scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth on back-to-back homers by right fielder Michael Choice and left fielder Clint Coulter that helped their ballclub rally for a, 6-4, victory over Pensacola.
The game featured the start of Rookie Davis, who is coming back from an injury. Davis pitched for the Blue Wahoos last season. For the Reds, Davis was 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA in five starts with Cincinnati this year.
Davis is returning from a back injury he suffered pitching for Triple-A Louisville Bats, where he was 0-0 in two starts with a 4.00 ERA.
On Wednesday, Davis pitched 4.2 innings and gave up four runs to Biloxi on six hits a walk and four strikeouts. He was replaced after getting the first two outs of the fifth inning but then allowed an infield single to Biloxi center fielder Johnny Davis, followed by an RBI double by second baseman Blake Allemand that tied the game, 3-3. Pensacola right-hander Davis then walked catcher Jacob Nottingham and was lifted for Blue Wahoos reliever Alex Powers after throwing 66 pitches.
In the second inning, Davis gave up a two-run homer to right field to first baseman Dustin DeMuth that put the Shuckers ahead, 2-0. DeMuth also doubled and led Biloxi by going 3-4 in the game.
Pensacola, though, went ahead, 3-2, in the fourth inning when second baseman Shed Long hit a two-out, three-run homer to right field that also scored Senzel and first baseman Gavin LaValley. Long’s first Double-A home run came off Biloxi reliever Josh Uhen. For the High-A Daytona Tortugas, Long had 13 homers in 247 at bats.
Biloxi reliever Matt Ramsey entered the game in the ninth and gave up a double to Pensacola right fielder Aristides Aquino but got out got out of the inning for his 20th save of the year, which leads the Southern League.
Pensacola dropped to 6-7 in the second half and 46-37 overall. Biloxi improved to 7-6 and 43-39 overall.
Blue Wahoos Beat Shuckers
July 5, 2017
In his last three games, 6-foot-6 right-hander Deck McGuire has not allowed a run in 21 innings for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
McGuire’s latest victim was the Biloxi Shuckers, who the former first round pick, shutout over seven innings, allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out seven to earn a 4-0 victory Tuesday in front of 6,098 at MGM Park.
Biloxi had little luck against McGuire, who retired 12 of the first 13 Shuckers he faced. McGuire, who threw 96 pitches, faced just three batters over the minimum in his seven-inning outing.
His Fourth of July victory improves his record to 8-5 and he has a 2.77 ERA. His eight wins tie him for second most in the Southern League.
During his scoreless-inning streak, McGuire has given up 10 hits, three walks and struck out 23 batters. Opponents are hitting just .210 against him on the year. The 28-year-old has bounced back this year, after playing for five teams in his seven-year professional career.
McGuire also helped himself at the plate, his line drive single to center field in the seventh inning drove in second baseman Shed Long to cap a three-run inning that put Pensacola ahead, 4-0. Long lined a two=out triple to centerfield to drive in both third baseman Nick Senzel and first baseman Gavin LaValley.
Pensacola’s other run came in the fourth inning when LaValley smacked a two-out double to center field that scored left fielder Tyler Goeddel for a 1-0 lead.
Blue Wahoos reliever Carlos Gonzalez pitched the final two innings and gave up a walk.
Pensacola evened its second half record to 6-6 and is tied for second in the Southern League South Division behind the 8-4 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Blue Wahoos, who won the first half South Division title, are 46-36 overall. Biloxi dropped to 42-39 overall.
Wahoos Drop Monday Game To Montgomery, Win Series 4-2
July 4, 2017
After clinching the series the previous evening, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped the series finale to the Montgomery Biscuits, 13-5, in front of a sold-out Blue Wahoos Stadion. It’s the 12th time the team has reached the 5,038 capacity.
The game Monday got so out of hand for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos that they inserted second baseman Angelo Gumbs in as pitcher for the first time in his professional career.
Gumbs, who Pensacola manager Pat Kelly reported threw 96 mph in high school, begged his coach to let him pitch. After abusing his bullpen in the six-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits, Kelly decided to allow him to throw the ninth inning with Pensacola trailing, 13-5.
Gumbs, who threw his fastball in the low 90s Monday, gave up one run on one hit and struck out one batter. He waved his hat in the air as he walked off the mound to the dugout.
“He’s been bugging me all year,” said Kelly, who last allowed a position play to pitch when veteran Ray Chang did against the Mobile BayBears July 5, 2016. “He was really excited about going into the game.”
Montgomery seemingly took out its frustrations of losing 13 of 17 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium dating back to 2014 by scoring 13 runs on 13 hits. Leading the way for the Biscuits was red-hot hitting first baseman Dalton Kelly, who clubbed two home runs — the first Montgomery player to do that this season. The 22-year-old, who was drafted in the 38th round, was called up Tuesday from the High-A Charlotte Snow Crabs.
The left-handed hitting Kelly crushed a two-run home run to left field in the third inning and then belted a solo shot over the 400-foot sign in dead center field. For the series, Kelly was 13-27 (.481) with three home runs and seven RBIs. In 69 games and 236 at bats with Charlotte, Kelly had just two home runs in the Florida State League.
“I told the coaches I thought Kelly would be a pretty good hitter,” said Pensacola’s Kelly, who is no relation. “I guess, I was right. He went to dead center. That’s impressive. There haven’t been a lot. Maybe one or two that I can remember.”
Both teams used five pitchers in the three hour, six minute game. Plus, Pensacola was forced to use relievers Domingo Tapia and Alex Powers as starters in the series, since it lacks a proven fifth starter on its current roster.
Kelly said starter Keury Mella — who has yet to win a game at home — lost his cool in the third inning when he gave up four runs.
The first two runs for Montgomery in the third inning scored when Andrew Velazquez, crossed the plate after Pensacola’s Mella bobbled the bunt by right fielder Nathan Lukes and then threw the ball over Gavin LaValley’s head into right field for two errors on the play.
Lukes then scored the second run for Montgomery on Senzel’s errant throw on a bunt by second baseman Riley Unroe. Mella pitched four innings, allowed seven hits, gave up five runs, one earned, walked two, struck out five and gave up two homers.
Besides Kelly’s two homers, Velazquez and first baseman Joe McCarthy, the Tampa Bay Rays No. 19 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, both launched balls out of the park.
“The third inning was key,” Kelly said. “Mella threw the ball away and he got shook.”
Pensacola benefited from a home run by left fielder Tyler Goeddel to lead off the fourth inning. It was his second this series and his fourth for Pensacola. The Cincinnati Reds top prospect, third baseman Nick Senzel, smashed a two-run homer to left field in the eighth inning. He was 3-4 on the night with three RBIs and is now hitting .306 in the Southern League.
Kelly said that pitcher Rookie Davis, a starter for the Blue Wahoos last year, is scheduled to pitch Wednesday in the five-game series against the Biloxi Shuckers. He was 1-2 in five starts for the Reds before going down with a back injury.
Pensacola dropped to 5-6 in the second half of the Southern League season and the first half South Division champions are 45-36 overall.
Wahoos Beat The Biscuits
July 3, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Austin Ross continued to dominate the Southern League from the mound. The Montgomery Biscuits didn’t get its first hit off him until the fourth inning.
And the Blue Wahoos offense contributed just enough runs to keep his record a perfect 7-0 in a, 3-2, victory over the Biscuits Sunday in front of 4,333 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Cincinnati Reds No. 1 prospect Nick Senzel drew a bases loaded walk on a full count from Montgomery reliever Mike Broadway to score catcher Joe Hudson with the winning run in the seventh inning.
“That was an awesome at bat,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “He had no fear. He recognized the slider was out of the zone and took it for a walk.”
Pensacola has now beat the Montgomery Biscuits in 13 of the last 16 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium dating back to the 2014 season. It also clinched the six-game series, which it leads 4-1.
The Blue Wahoos evened their record at 5-5 in the second half of the Southern League season and the first half South Division champions are 45-35 overall.
Ross admitted he didn’t have his best stuff Sunday but heading into the sixth inning the 28-year-old hurler, who has spent seven years in the minors, had not allowed a run and given up just one hit. In the top of the sixth Montgomery third baseman Michael Russell leadoff the inning with a home run just inside the left field foul pole. Biscuits second baseman Riley Unroe scored when left fielder Joe McCarthy hit the third straight single off Ross in the inning to tie the game, 2-2.
Ross was making his second start for the Blue Wahoos since returning from the Triple-A Louisville Bats where he made five appearances, four of them starts. He was 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA.
“It was good but not every time you go out there are you going to feel great,” Ross said. “The rule is one third of the time you will feel awful, one-third of the time great and one-third in between. It’s what you make out of the bad ones that count.”
His final line was seven innings pitched, five hits allowed, two earned runs, three walks and 102 pitches in the suffocating 90-degree heat in Pensacola. His ERA on the year is 1.36, which is best in the Southern League.
This is his first year with the Cincinnati Reds organization after spending the previous six with the Milwaukee Brewers, Ross has reached the Triple-A level, one step below the big leagues, the past three seasons.
“The last two years, I’ve had really good years but things didn’t go my way,” said Ross, who reserved 19 tickets Sunday for his landlord and her family and his hunting buddy’s family. “All I can do is strive to get better and prepare for when I do get there.”
Kelly said he likes having Ross back on his rotation. He pointed out that Louisville has six starters on its staff.
“It helps our club,” Kelly said. “He made some good pitches when he had to. If you can compete in the Southern League, you can play at the big-league level.”
Pensacola clinched the win in the ninth inning after Zack Weiss made it “interesting,” Kelly said.
Weiss is returning from an injury to his throwing elbow that kept him from pitching last year. A top Reds pitching prospect after saving 25 games in Pensacola in 2015, he looked healthy Sunday.
Weiss earned his first save for Pensacola this season after loading the bases with two outs on a single and two walks. He struck out two, including the last batter who he caught looking at a wicked 76-mph breaking ball after throwing five straight fastballs. Weiss had also thrown one inning Saturday.
“We wanted to see him go back-to-back in a pressure-filled situation,” Kelly said. “You have to just keep plugging away and get three outs before they score.”
Blue Wahoos Drop Slugfest To Biscuits 10-8
July 2, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Montgomery Biscuits in 12 of the last 14 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium dating back to the 2014 season.
However, Montgomery finally got a W on the Blue Wahoos home field Saturday, 10-8, in a seesaw slugfest in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038. Pensacola had won the first three games of the six-game series.
Has Pensacola manager Pat Kelly seen a game with that much offense in the Southern League?
“Not in this league,” Kelly said. “That was a Pacific Coast League game right there.”
Blue Wahoos right fielder Aristides Aquino doubled to start the fifth inning and scored when catcher Chad Tromp hit a sizzling grounder down the line into right field, putting Pensacola ahead, 7-6. Left fielder Tyler Goeddel then hit a line drive off the left field wall on one hop for the third double of the inning, which scored Tromp for an, 8-6, lead.
However, Montgomery came right back in the sixth inning with two runs to tie it, 8-8, when second baseman Riley Unroe hit a line drive single into right field to drive in catcher Nick Ciuffo. Biscuits third baseman Grant Kaye then clobbered a single to center field to drive in shortstop Andrew Valezquez.
Montgomery first baseman Dalton Kelly then scored what would be the game-winning run in the seventh inning when he reached first base on a perfect bunt down the third base line and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by DH Mac James that put the Biscuits on top, 9-8.
Kelly is playing in his first Double-A series after being called up Tuesday from High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs where he was hitting .305. The 22-year-old was 5-5 Saturday with his first Double-A home run, a two-run shot that he crushed to left field. He also had two doubles and scored three times.
Kelly has torn up Pensacola pitching, so far, going 10-17 (.588) with four doubles, four runs scored, one home run and four RBIs.
The game had four lead changes, a combined 18 runs and 28 hits, including 11 extra-base hits and five home runs. The teams have identical 4-5 records in the second half of the Southern League season.
Pensacola center fielder Gabriel Guerrero led the hit parade for the Blue Wahoos, going 3-6 with a run scored. This season, the 23-year-old has had 25 multi-hit games, including five three-hit games.
Despite the loss, Guerrero said he has enjoyed seeing the Pensacola lineup produce 22 runs over the past three games. Defense and pitching were the keys to the Blue Wahoos first half crown in the South Division, as the team hit a paltry .228.
“It’s fun with everybody hitting,” Guerrero said. “That’s good. Hopefully, we will win more games.”
Aquino, the Cincinnati Reds No. 6 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, was 2-4 with two runs scored, a double and hit his ninth homer of the season to lead the ball club. Second baseman Josh VanMeter blasted his second homer in two games and now has three on the season.
Blue Wahoos fans also got to see the return of reliever Zack Weiss, who saved 25 games for the club in 2015. However, one of the Reds top pitching prospects missed the entire 2016 season with a pitching elbow injury that he finally had surgery on earlier this year.
Weiss pitched one inning, allowed one run on two hits and struck out one. Previously, he made 10 appearances for the High-A Daytona Tortugas where he was 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA and allowed opponents a .178 batting average.
“It’s nice to see him back,” Kelly said. “He had a great season here two years ago.”
Wahoos Win 2-1; Rain Suspends Second Game
June 30, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Deck McGuire struck out a season-high 10 in six innings of work Thursday in a game resumed after rain suspended Wednesday’s game after the first five outs of the game.
Behind McGuire, who hasn’t allowed a run in his last 14 innings, Pensacola won the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader with Montgomery, 2-1, at Blue Wahoos Stadium. McGuire, threw his third shutout in his past four appearances.
Over all four games — three of those starts — the 2010 first round pick, has allowed just two earned runs in 25 innings pitched.
Montgomery led Pensacola 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when rain-delayed the second game 77 minutes Thursday before it was suspended. The Blue Wahoos had one out with runners on first and second. The seven-inning game will resume at 5 p.m. Friday and will be followed by a second nine inning game.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly liked what he saw from McGuire, who improved to 7-5 on the year with a 2.98 ERA.
“That was outstanding,” Kelly said. “He had 10 punch outs in six innings. His breaking ball was very effective.”
In the first game, Pensacola scored two runs in the second inning off of Montgomery right-handed pitcher Benton Moss to go ahead, 2-0.
Blue Wahoos left fielder Josh VanMeter scored the first run of the game when Montgomery catcher Nick Ciuffo made a bad throw with the bases loaded trying to pick VanMeter off. Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson then hit a bouncer to third that brought right fielder Aristides Aquino home for the second score.
Montgomery’s only run came in the eighth inning when Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez threw a two-out wild pitch that allowed Biscuits DH Justin O’Conner to score from third base.
In the second seven-inning game Thursday, Pensacola righty Alex Powers made the start, even though, he had never pitched more than 3.1 innings. He was making his first start in 145 appearances in his five-year professional career and first start in 174 pro and college appearances at Southern New Hampshire University.
He didn’t do so bad filling in while Pensacola seeks a fifth starter to complete its rotation. The 25-year-old Powers got four of the first six outs on Ks. Powers ended up throwing a career-high four innings and held Montgomery scoreless. Plus, he struck out a career-high six, while giving up two hits and a walk.
“He’s thrown well all year in all kinds of roles,” Kelly said. “I was hoping to get three innings out of him and he gave us four.”
That’s a far cry from his last outing Monday, Powers gave up four earned runs on six hits in three innings of relief against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
However, Powers was relieved by Geoff Broussard who blew Pensacola’s 2-0 lead. He gave up four runs, three earned, allowing Montgomery to take a 4-2 lead.
Broussard gave up one run in the fifth inning and gave up three more runs to the Biscuits in the sixth, failing to get an out against the first four batters he faced before being chased from the game.
The Blue Wahoos, which feature four new players from High-A Daytona Tortugas in the Southern League second half, have struggled at the plate. The first half champions have scored more than two runs just once in its first seven games after the All-Star break.
Plus, the team has had one game postponed on the road against the Chattanooga Lookouts and now two home games suspended in a row because of rain against the Montgomery Biscuits.
Rain, rain go away, said Kelly. “Baseball is a game of routine. It’s tough to get into any kind of rhythm,” he said.
Tate Aggies Attend Southeastern Line Camp
June 28, 2017
The Tate High School linemen took part in the Southeastern Line Camp this week to develop their offensive and defensive skills. The Tate Aggies will open play on August 18 at Pine Forest and August 25 at home against Pensacola High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Earn Top Awards At Camp
June 27, 2017
The Tate High School Cheerleaders attended the the UCA Camp held June 23-26 at Florida State University.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Awards:
Each individual team was awarded Spirit Sticks throughout the weekend and all teams earned multiple Superior ribbons during evaluations.
The Team Program won:
Overall Game Day Traditions
Top Banana Award for team Spirit
3 Pin-it Forward Winners
5 All- American Cheerleader Winners
Freshman:
Overall GameDay Champion Freshman Division
Overall Extreme Routine Champion Freshman Divison
JV:
Award for earning Superior evaluations all weekend
Award for Most Improved
Varsity:
Overall Champion Game Day Elite Co-ed
2nd Place for Extreme Routine Elite Co-ed
“I am so proud of the efforts, strength and resiliency of each athlete in this program. Tate High School has always held a special place in my heart and it’s exciting to be part of such a great program. We have some amazing athletes and I’m so excited to show the Aggie Nation what we have learned this weekend at UCA Camp,” Head Coach Morgan White said. White serves as the varsity coach, while Karen Potter is freshman coach and Annie Wiggens is junior varsity coach.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Snaps Losing Streak To Chattanooga
June 27, 2017
In his first game back with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, right-hander Austin Ross picked up right where he left off.
Ross allowed one run in six innings on six hits and three walks while striking out six to help Pensacola snap a nine-game losing streak to the Chattanooga Lookouts with a, 6-1, victory Monday at AT&T Field.
Not only that but the Blue Wahoos snapped a seven-game losing streak with Ross’ strong outing. Ross struck out five hitters in the first four innings. His record remained a perfect 6-0 with Pensacola and he owns a 1.23 ERA.
The 28-year-old was called up May 30 to the Triple-A Louisville Bats where he started four of five games, going 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA.
Chattanooga loaded the bases in the first inning but scored only one run when DH Jon Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to score shortstop Nick Gordon, putting the Lookouts ahead, 1-0.
But the Blue Wahoos fought back to tie the game, 1-1, in the fifth inning when right fielder Aristides Aquino singled in left fielder Josh VanMeter, who smacked a leadoff triple.
Pensacola added two more runs in its next at bat in the sixth inning to go up, 3-1. Coming through again with two outs and runners in scoring position was — no surprise — VanMeter, who doubled to center to score third baseman Nick Senzel and first baseman Gavin LaValley. VanMeter is 13-31 (.419) in the situation and has 18 of his 31 RBIs on the season.
Blue Wahoos relievers Ismael Guillon and Carlos Gonzalez blanked Chattanooga over the last three innings.
LaValley hit a three-run homer on a blast to left field, putting Pensacola in control of the game in the eighth inning, 6-1.
The 22-year-old LaValley, who played his first five-game series in Double-A, shined. Called up from High-A Daytona Tortugas, the 6-foot-3 LaValley hit .353, going 6-17, with two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs.
Meanwhile, VanMeter, who was chosen to the Southern League All-Star game, went 3-4 with a double and triple, scored a run and knocked in two.