Smokies Beat Wahoos
April 8, 2017
In his second game of the season, Pensacola right hander Luis Castillo did his impression of Amir Garrett who toed the mound for the Blue Wahoos last year. The Tennessee Smokies defeated Pensacola, 2-1, Friday to tie the series at one game apiece in front of the second sellout crowd of 5,038 this season.
Despite the loss, Blue Wahoos coaches liked what they saw from Castillo, the Red’s No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Castillo was the No. 2 prospect in the Miami Marlins organization and its Minor League Pitcher of the Year before being picked up in a trade Jan. 19.
Castillo, who effortlessly throws a fastball in the upper 90-mph range, allowed just one run, three hits, walked one and struck out five in six innings in his first start for Pensacola. It was just his fourth start in Double-A.
Blue Wahoos pitching coach Danny Darwin compared Castillo’s explosiveness to Garrett’s.
“The only thing holding him back right now is his slider,” Darwin said. “There are not many arms that can throw 97, 98 mph like he does with ease.”
Speaking of Garrett, all he did was become the first Reds’ pitcher since 1970 – 47 years ago – to throw six or more scoreless innings in his debut. In franchise history, it has only been done three times. His line against the St. Louis Cardinals: 6 IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, and 4Ks and picked up the victory.
Castillo had his slider working against Tennessee. After allowing a leadoff single to Tennessee left fielder Charcer Burks, the 24-year-old Dominican, struck out the next batter and then got out of the first inning on a double play by second baseman Josh VanMeter and shortstop Blake Trahan that wowed Blue Wahoos fans. Castillo then set down the next 11 batters in a row.
He ended his night on the hill striking out Smokies second baseman Davis Bote on a slider. He pumped his fist and looked up to the sky.
“That was great to see him use his slider,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “He did a really good job. (Catcher Adrian) Nieto made him throw it.”
The only run off of Castillo came on a two-out solo shot over the left center wall in the fifth inning to Tennessee center fielder Trey Martin, who was 2-4 Friday.
Pensacola got its third solo home run of the season when center fielder Brian O’Grady yanked the ball deep over the right field fence to tie the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the fifth.
Tennessee regained the lead, 2-1, in the eighth inning when Smokies second baseman Davis Bote hit a ground rule double that bounced just inside the right field line over the fence. It dove in pinch hitter Cael Brockmeyer, who had reached first when he was hit by a pitch thrown by Pensacola reliever Alex Powers.
Right-handed reliever Austin Brice, who is doing rehabilitation in Pensacola to recover from an inflamed ulnar nerve of his throwing elbow, relieved Castillo. In his one inning of work, Brice struck out two, hit Tennessee hitter Jeffrey Baez in the back with a fastball, and got Martin out on a long fly ball to the warning track in left field.
“The pitch he hit the guy with was his first two-seamer in three weeks,” Darwin said. “He threw on the side the day before and was a little anxious.”
Herrington Pitches No-Hitter In Chiefs Win; Tate Wins At Kissimmee; Tate Baseball Beats Washington
April 7, 2017
SOFTBALL
Northview 8, Freeport 0
Tori Herrington pitched a no-hitter as the Northview Chiefs beat Freeport 8-0 Thursday night in Bratt.
Herrington pitched seven, walked one and struck out nine for the Chiefs.
For Northview: Jamia Newton 3-4, R, 2 RBI; Aubrey Love 1, 4; R; Peighton Dortch R; Alana Brown 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Valen Shelly2-2, R, 2 RBI; Lydia Smith R.
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Jay 9, W.S. Neal 1
Tate 7, Lake City Columbia 3
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Lake City Columbia 7-3 in the Kissimmee Klassic Thursday.
Up next: The Tate Lady Aggies will play Lake Howell at 3 p.m. Friday in Kissimmee.
BASEBALL
Tate 13, Washington 2
The Tate Aggies beat Washington 13-2 Thursday night.
Gabe Castro earned the win for the Aggies. He went for five and a third inings, allowing two runs, four hits and striking out four.
WP: Castro 5 1/3, 2 R, 4 H, 4 K.
Reid Halfacre 3-5, 2B 2 RBI, Logan McGuffey 4-4, R; Logan Blackmon 2-3, 3 R, RBI; Kyler Hultgren 4-5, 3 RBI; Hunter NeSmith 1-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI; Mason Land, 1-5, R; Corben Young 2R; Ryan Greene R; Jesse Sherrill 1-4, R, RBI.
Washington will be at Tate Friday night at 7:00.
Washington 17, Tate 7 (JV)
Gulf Breeze 6, Tate 5 (9th)
Wahoos Open Season With Win Over Smokies
April 7, 2017
Tyler Mahle said he pitched his worst in his four-year professional career with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at the end of the 2016 season.
The 22-year-old righty won only one of his final eight starts and posted a 7.17 ERA.
But given the honor of pitching the Blue Wahoos season opener Thursday, Mahle pitched 4.1 perfect innings and third baseman Taylor Sparks and first baseman Eric Jagielo both launched homers to right field to propel Pensacola to a, 4-1, victory over the Tennessee Smokies. Pensacola, which played in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038, improved to 5-1 in its season openers in franchise history.
Mahle looked sharp, retiring the first 13 Tennessee batters, while striking out five.
“It was a good one, especially on opening day,” Mahle said. “My first starts of the season haven’t been good.”
The Smokies finally got their first hit off Mahle, who threw a no-hitter for High-A Daytona last season, in the fifth inning when he smacked a line drive to center field. Tennessee then scored a run to tie the game, 1-1, when Tennessee center fielder Trey Martin singled to right field with two outs to drive in right fielder Jeffrey Baez.
Mahle, who was called up to the Blue Wahoos mid-season last year, said he felt fresh starting out the new season. Last year, he won five of his first six starts and posted a 2.41 ERA before his bad stretch.
Mahle posted a combined 14-6 record with a 3.64 ERA over 27 starts in both High-A Daytona and Double-A Pensacola. His 14 wins tied for the most among Reds’ farmhands. Mahle was lifted for Pensacola reliever Ismael Guillon after giving up his first walk of the game and throwing 86 pitches.
Mahle’s first start in Pensacola comes after a strong performance in the Futures game in which he allowed one run on seven hits, walked one, hit one batter and struck out three in five innings. Mahle allowed hits to the first four batters he faced before settling down in the game that ended in a 1-1 tie.
“It was good to get sent down and then pitch against them again,” he said. “I did really well. It keeps in their minds that I can possibly pitch up there (for Cincinnati).”
Guillon, who replaced Mahle, promptly struck out four and walked one. For the game, Blue Wahoos pitchers combined to strike out 13 Smokies.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly praised Mahle for his strong performance.
“I thought he was marvelous,” Kelly said. “That’s the way he pitched all spring. Last year, he just kind of ran out of gas down the stretch and into the playoffs.”
Tennessee’s lead was short lived when in the bottom of the fifth inning, Blue Wahoos third baseman Taylor Sparks launched the ball over the right center field wall to put Pensacola back on top, 2-1.
Sparks hit 14 homers last year between High-A and Pensacola but hit just .179.
“There are many things I’m working on like plate discipline,” said Sparks, who scored twice. “I was just as pumped up to get a walk as hitting a bomb.”
Pensacola scored first when it got three singles in a row off Tennessee season opening starter Zach Hedges. Pensacola shortstop beat out the throw on a swinging bunt and then Devin Mesoraco hit a line drive that fell in front of Smokies center fielder Trey Martin and advanced Trahan to third. Mesoraco, an All-Star in 2014, is doing his rehabilitation with the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola right fielder Aristedes Aquino, the Reds’ Minor League Player of the Year last season, then hit a ground ball back up the middle to drive in Trahan and put the Blue Wahoos up, 1-0.
Tennessee reliever Daniel Corcino, who a Blue Wahoos pitcher for parts of three seasons, put Pensacola ahead, 3-1, in the seventh inning when with the bases loaded and two outs he walked Blue Wahoos catcher Adrian Nieto to score Sparks.
First baseman Eric Jagielo, who was 2-3 on the night capped the scoring for Pensacola by hitting a bullet over the right field wall for a solo homer in the eighth inning.
Zach Hedges was tapped for the start for Tennessee, after being a bright spot in the Smokies rotation last year posting eight starts and going 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA. He finished the game allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out three in five innings.
Softball: Northview Falls To South Walton
April 6, 2017
The Lady Chiefs take a tough loss on the road at South Walton Tuesday night.
Tori Herrington took the loss allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, 11 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Jamia Newton scored the lone run for the Chiefs on an RBI by Kendall Enfinger early in the first inning. The Seahawks answered in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Alyssa Selvy. Neither team would score again till the Seahawks scored the game winning run on a triple in the bottom of the 8th followed by an RBI single.
Kendall Enfinger had the lone hit for the Chiefs going 1-3 with an RBI.
South Walton’s Alyssa Selvy recorded 13 strikeouts against the Chiefs allowing one hit and no walks.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Softball: Kentucky Team Tops Tate
April 5, 2017
Louisville (KY) Male High School topped the Tate Aggies Tuesday 4-2 in softball action.
Male jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second before adding one in the seventh. The Aggies remained scoreless until two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Hannah Brown pitched seven for the Aggies, allowing eight hits, four runs, one error, walking four and striking out three.
For Tate: Hanna Brown and Hayden Lindsay were 1-4, Belle Wolfenden 1-4, R; Shelby Ullrich 3-4, R, RBI; Leslee Scruggs RBI.
Pictured: Hayden Lindsay with a single in the first. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Special Olympic Athletes Take Part In Young Athletes Program
April 4, 2017
The Escambia County School District’s Young Athletes Program took place Friday at Escambia Westgate School’s Greenhouse Playground.
The event included an opening ceremony with following a torch run. Nearly 100 athletes took part in the event.
“Our students have been learning these skills throughout the school year and now is the time for them to shine and have fun demonstrating their personal best in each activity,” said event coordinator Mona Burch.
Special Olympics Florida provided T-shirts for all the students, staff and volunteers that are registered participants. In addition, all students received a participation certificate and ribbon at the conclusion of the event.
Partnering with Escambia Westgate in putting on this big event were 31 student volunteers from Tate High School’s Early Childhood Education Academy. They ran each of the activity stations and assisted some of the classes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Team Fusion Earns Top Ranking After Tourney Wins
April 3, 2017
The Team Fusion 7U Travel Ball has won seven tournaments this season. They team was ranked #1 in the nation on the USSSA power ratings at 25-2. Their only losses came to 8U teams.
Team members are Dax Brooks, Cade McNair, Cooper Halfacre, Kaden Posta, Clive Pack, Kannon Ham, Nate Filbert, Bryce Rakestraw, Jackson Harris, Nolan Cheshire and Sawyer Elliott. Head coach is Glenn Brooks, while assistant coaches are Stevie McNair, Roger Pack and Keith Posta.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate, Navarre Honor Ashley McCullough; South Walton Tops Northview
April 1, 2017
Tate 4, Navarre 2
Friday night was about sportsmanship and the brotherhood of baseball as the Tate High School Aggies and the Navarre Raiders honored Ashley McCullough.
Ashley, the wife of Tate pitching Coach Brett McCullough passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Tuesday. The Aggies’ GoFundMe page for the family had raised over $17,000 as Friday night for Brett McCullough and the couple’s two-year old daughter Taylor. Click here to donate.
Catholic, West Florida, and Milton high schools have all donated to the family.
The Tate Aggies and Navarre Raiders stood as one family and posed for photos Friday night. Later, on the field, Tate topped Navarre 4-2.
Logan McGuffey earned the win for Tate Aggies Varsity. He pitched five innings, surrendering two runs, eight hits, and striking out five.
Jesse Sherrill went 2-3 for Tate with a RBI. Also for Tate: Reid Halfacre 1-3, R; Logan Blackmon 1-3, 2B, R; Corben Young, R; Mason Land 2-3, 2B; Kyler Hultgen 1-2.
South Walton 4, Northview 2
Herrington Tosses Shutout In Northview Win; Tough Night For Lady Aggies
April 1, 2017
Northview 1, South Walton 0
Tori Herrington tossed a shutout Friday night as the Northview Lady Chiefs beat South Walton 1-0 in Bratt.
Herrington allowed just three hits and struck out 12 in the district win for Northview.
A sacrifice bunt by Valen Shelly sent Aubrey Love across the plate in the only run for the Chiefs in second inning. Herrington and Love were 2-3 at bat, while Lydia Smith was 1-2.
The Chiefs will be on the road in Santa Rosa Beach Tuesday to face off with South Walton again.
Jay 10, Baker 5
Niceville 10, Tate 3
The Niceville Lady Eagles beat the Tate Aggies 10-3 Friday night.
Tate pitcher Hannah Brown allowed 10 hits in six innings. Shelby Ullrich was 2-3 at bat, with a home run and two RBIs for the Aggies. Deazia Nickerson was 2-3 with a run.
The Aggies (12-4, 7-0) remain undefeated in their district. They will face Franklin, KY, on Monday.
FWC Conducting Deer Hunting Survey
March 31, 2017
The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has contracted with Responsive Management, a survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues, to conduct studies on Florida hunters’ participation in deer hunting.
During April and May, you may receive a phone call from Responsive Management asking you to participate in a survey about your deer hunting experiences. Licensed hunters will be randomly selected to participate in the study to ensure it is scientifically valid. The FWC saidt is important that all hunters respond because this information will help them better understand hunters’ participation, harvest, preferences, opportunities, needs, and opinions.
Depending on which phone carrier you use, the call will display as coming from “Responsive Management”, area code 540, or unknown. You also may receive an email from Responsive Management requesting your participation in the survey.