Furious Finish Sends Wahoos To 6-4 Comeback Win In Rocket City
July 10, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came to life late, scoring six runs in the final two innings to beat the Rocket City Trash Pandas 6-4 in comeback fashion on Tuesday night.
Jakob Marsee ignited a comeback with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Cody Morissette tied the game with a two-run blast of his own in the ninth. After an infield error kept the rally alive, Jacob Berry continued his hot streak with a go-ahead, two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning as the Blue Wahoos took the opener over the Trash Pandas.
Trash Pandas starter Chase Chaney scattered three singles over 7.0 shutout innings, and Rocket City held a 4-0 lead heading to the top of the eighth.
Adam Laskey (L, 3-3) escaped with three earned runs allowed on a season-high 10 hits over 3.2 innings in his start for the Blue Wahoos. In the first inning, RBI singles from Eric Wagaman and Tyler Payne put the Trash Pandas up 2-0. Nelson Rada added an RBI single in the fourth to force Laskey from the game, and Payne laced his second RBI single of the night off reliever Tyler Eckberg in the fifth inning.
Justin King, signed as a free agent by the Marlins last week, impressed in his Blue Wahoos debut with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh inning.
The game was paused in the bottom of the eighth inning as intense rain moved through the area. After a 34-minute delay, the game resumed as Raffi Vizcaíno (W, 4-2) breezed through the eighth inning.
In the ninth, Zach Zubia led off with a double against Camden Minacci (L, 0-1) before Morissette hit the game-tying, two-run homer. A pair of outs followed before Diego Infante reached on a throwing error from first baseman Sam Brown to keep the inning alive. Joe Mack singled and Paul McIntosh walked to load the bases for Berry, who ripped the first pitch he saw into the right field corner for the game-winning two-run double.
Vizcaíno issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth, but buckled down to seal the Blue Wahoos win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Wednesday. First pitch from Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Berry, Blue Wahoos Split Twin Bill With Biscuits
July 7, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split a doubleheader with the Montgomery Biscuits on Saturday night, falling 4-0 in game one but rallying to take game two 4-1 behind a dominant performance from Jacob Berry.
In game one, the Pensacola offense managed just three singles as Cole Wilcox (W, 6-2) outdueled Jonathan Bermúdez (L, 3-4) in a 4-0 final. The Biscuits took a lead on solo homers from Jalen Battles in the third and Carson Williams in the fourth, and added insurance on a Battles two-run single later in the inning.
In game two, Berry stole the show with a 3-for-4 performance. He opened the scoring with a two-run homer off starter Adam Leverett (L, 3-3) in the second, and added a pair of doubles as the Blue Wahoos won 4-1.
Tristan Stevens (W, 1-0) allowed just an unearned run over 5.0 innings to secure his first career Double-A win for the Blue Wahoos. Chandler Jozwiak worked a scoreless inning of relief to set up closer Austin Roberts (S, 15) for his league-leading 15th save.
The Blue Wahoos split their six games against the Biscuits, taking two of three in Pensacola before salvaging the final game of their series in Montgomery. They end a taxing stretch of 12 games in 12 days with a 6-6 record.
After two consecutive off days, the Blue Wahoos return to action against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Tuesday night for a six-game road series. First pitch from Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Blue Wahoos, Biscuits Rained Out In Montgomery
July 6, 2024
Friday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at the Montgomery Biscuits has been postponed to due rain at Riverwalk Stadium.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, July 6, with two seven-inning games beginning at 4:00.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Walked Off By Vasquez, Biscuits
July 5, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos suffered a dispiriting defeat on Thursday night, falling 6-5 in walk-off fashion to the Montgomery Biscuits.
Pensacola held a 5-1 lead late into the game, but after a 48-minute rain delay in the seventh inning the Biscuits took advantage of erratic pitching to storm back. In a save opportunity, Blue Wahoos reliever Raffi Vizcaíno (L, 3-2) walked the bases loaded in the ninth to set the stage for a Willy Vasquez walk-off, two-run single.
The loss was Pensacola’s first in walk-off fashion at the hands of an opponent, and just their second loss in 35 games when leading after eight innings.
In front of a sellout Fourth of July crowd of 6,548 fans, the Blue Wahoos jumped ahead early. Paul McIntosh led off the second with a triple against starting pitcher Ian Seymour, and scored on a safety squeeze bunt from Jakob Marsee. RBI singles from Joe Mack and McIntosh in the third extended Pensacola’s lead to 3-0.
After Vasquez dropped a pop-up at second base that would have ended the top of the seventh, Pensacola got RBI singles from Diego Infante and Jacob Berry to take a 5-1 lead.
Luis Palacios turned in a quality start, working into the seventh inning and allowing only four hits. But a Tanner Murray triple and Nick Schnell RBI single were followed by a squall of rain, forcing the Pensacola starter’s departure after 76 pitches.
On the other side of the delay, Patrick Murphy struggled with his command and issued three walks and a Gionti Turner RBI single to trim the Pensacola lead to 5-4. Vizcaíno worked a 1-2-3 eighth, but after Austin Vernon (W, 1-3) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth the Blue Wahoos reliever struggled with his command. Trying for his ninth save in nine tries, he issued three walks in the bottom of the ninth without retiring a batter before Vasquez chopped a walk-off single up the middle past a drawn-in infield.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday night. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Blue Wahoos Celebrate Holiday Series Win Against Biscuits
July 4, 2024
Not even close.
Overcome with emotion hours earlier, after his mother surprised him by throwing a ceremonial first pitch – the first time in two years she was healthy enough to see him pitch – Roberts channeled a racing heart and ended the ninth inning on pop out to preserve the Blue Wahoos 4-3 win against the Montgomery Biscuits.
On this eve of Fourth of July, as the Blue Wahoos welcomed an overflow crowd that filled Blue Wahoos Stadium in every corner, the final moment before fireworks launched was the most memorable.
Roberts and his mother again embraced on the field, this time after Roberts was doused with a celebratory ice bath.
His mother and her boyfriend traveled from California – a trip that took 40 hours — to be with her son.
“Oh man, it’s amazing,” said Roberts, speaking to Blue Wahoos’ broadcaster Carter Bainbridge following the game. “I haven’t seen her in two years and (Wednesday) was the first time she was able to watch me play professionally. So it means a lot, so God bless, all glory to God and I’m just excited and hopefully they can come out and keep watching us play.”
His teammate Jacob Berry set up the joyous occasion in the bottom of the eighth.
After the Biscuits tied the game in the top of the eighth inning on a two-run blast by second baseman Tanner Murray, well beyond the left field, Berry led off the bottom of the inning for Pensacola.
He squared up a second-pitch cutter from reliever Nelson Alvarez and launched a moon shot deep into the sky, over the party deck areas in right field and out of the stadium.
It was Berry’s second, game-deciding home run in five days. Last Saturday, he delivered a three-run shot to give the Blue Wahoos a comeback win at Biloxi.
This one at home capped a night with so much festive activity. The list included eight different ceremonial first pitches.
A special pregame recognition and in-game presentation was held for iconic Pensacola sports personality Dan Shugart, whose final sportscast on WEAR-3 was a last Friday.
With all this going on, the Blue Wahoos win made the night complete.
They quickly got the crowd energized in the first inning by scoring two runs on one hit. Jakob Marsee and Berry both started the inning with walks. On a steal attempt, Biscuits pitcher Trevor Martin made an errant throw, followed by another errant throw from center fielder Mason Auer to score Marsee and send Berry to third.
Joe Mack’s double scored Berry.
The Blue Wahoos had only two hits in the game until Marsee’s seventh inning single scored Cody Morissette for a 3-1 lead.
Berry’s heroics led to Roberts getting ready in the bullpen.
“It’s just staying loose out there,” said Roberts, whose 14 saves lead the Southern League. “We have a lot of fun out there in the bullpen.”
In the pregame activities, Roberts’ mother hid near the visitors dugout during the previous ceremonial first pitches. Austin was then summoned for a final one. When he got to the plate and saw his mother going to the mound, he put his glove over his face, overcome with emotion.
The two then had a long hug before walking back together as the crowd cheered.
Blue Wahoos starter Jeff Lindgren then took over on the mound for the game and delivered five solid innings before Chandler Jozwiak, Matt Pushard and then Roberts followed.
Following the game, both teams left on busses to travel to Montgomery, Ala. for a three-game series at the Biscuits’ home ballpark, Riverwalk Stadium, through Saturday.
After that, all teams will get Sunday and Monday off, before the schedule resumes with the Blue Wahoos playing a six-game series in Huntsville, Ala. against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
GAME NOTABLES
— The sold-out crowd of 5,038 was the Blue Wahoos 19th sellout in 42 home games. ,
— Wednesday’s game was also the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity outing with a group outing of 250.
— The Blue Wahoos played a special tribute to Dan Shugart from team owner Quint Studer, which aired on Shugart’s final broadcast last week. He was presented a customized decorated rocking chair in Blue Wahoos design.
— There will now be a 16-day gap between home games, the longest in franchise history. The combination of the Fourth of July schedule, a road trip to Rocket City, followed by the Major League Baseball All-Star Break that includes all Minor League Baseball levels as well, is the combination for the extended gap.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos at Montgomery Biscuits
WHEN: Thursday Thru Saturday. Game Times are 6:35 p.m on Thursday-Friday, 6:05 p.m. on Saturday
WHERE: Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery, Ala.
Molino 15U Boys Win Tri-County Tournament
July 3, 2024
The Molino 15U boys won the championship in the recent Tri-County Tournament. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Get Behind Early, Struggle At Plate As Biscuits Tie Series
July 3, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
M.D. Johnson has been the Blue Wahoos’ consistent staple on the mound this season at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
That connection slipped on this night, setting a tone for an overall tough night in the Blue Wahoos’ 6-1 loss against the Montgomery Biscuits on a “Doggone Tuesday” at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Johnson (3-5), who had allowed just three runs in his last four home starts, sustained his shortest home start, lasting only three innings and giving up four runs from five walks, as the Biscuits jumped to a big lead. All three of his wins this year have been at home.
A crowd of 4,244, which included a big turnout of youth baseball players, who are in town participating in the United States Specialty Sports (USSSA) tournament at two local baseball field complexes, watched the Biscuits even the series on their pitching strength.
The Blue Wahoos did not have multiple baserunners until the ninth inning.
And even that part ended quietly.
After Jakob Marsee, Paul McIntosh and Joe Mack all reached on walks to load the bases with none out, Biscuits reliever Alfredo Zarraga struck out the next three batters in succession. He ended the game by getting Nathan Martorella to swing and miss on a high 3-2 fastball.
The Blue Wahoos got their only run in the fourth inning when Mack hit a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Diego Infante’s RBI ground out.
The next Blue Wahoos hit was Harrison Spohn’s lead off double in the sixth inning. That was also the Blue Wahoos’ last of four hits in the game.
Montgomery made ballpark history in the top of the ninth when Matthew Dyer stole home – the first time in this ballpark’s 12-year history that any player had achieved a straight steal of home. It was followed by teammate Chandler Simpson scoring on a throwing error by reliever Tyler Eckberg.
The Blue Wahoos have a second chance to win the series in Wednesday’s deciding game of the three-game set at 6:05 p.m. Jeff Lindgren (0-0, 5.79), who first pitched for the Blue Wahoos in 2021 and rejoined the team last week from Triple-A Jacksonville, will be on the mound against Montgomery’s Trevor Martin (0-0, 3.60).
Lindgren began the season with the Blue Wahoos and pitched in five games.
This will be the Blue Wahoos’ Fourth of July themed game with a variety of activities planned, followed by the fireworks display to patriotic music. The two teams will then bus to Montgomery following the game to prepare to Thursday’s July 4 game at Riverwalk Stadium, which starts a three-game series there.
GAME NOTABLES
— More than 600 youth players, their parents and family attended Tuesday’s game on the first day of the USSSA Pensacola Beach Global World Series being held at the Santa Rosa Sportsplex in Pace and the NEP Sports Complex off Nine Mile Round.
The age division categories in the tournament which runs through Sunday are 13-under, 12-under and 10-under and the teams are from eight states – Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Indiana. The teams participated in an opening ceremony style parade before the game.
— Earlier Tuesday, the Blue Wahoos players met with Naval Air Station-Pensacola base commander Capt. Terrence Shashaty, who returned this year to present Navy “call signs” to the players – the military version of nicknames. The group met in the season-ticket lounge in early afternoon to have a fun moment selecting names.
— The Pensacola Roller Gurlz, a roller derby team, greeted fans on the concourse and had table display at the game.
— Even with the hot, humid conditions, many fans took advantage of the opportunity to bring their dogs to the game and there were water bowls placed throughout the concourse for the pups.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Purr In The Park: Cat Night As The Wahoos Open Series With Win Over Biscuits
July 2, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Six innings into the night, the Blue Wahoos were heading down a familiar path of frustration against the Montgomery Biscuits.
This was the first “Purr In The Park” night in team history with fans allowed to bring their cats. But heat and humidity limited the number of pets.
Paul McIntosh changed that fate with one big swing.
His two-run, game-tying homer in the seventh inning became a much-needed emotional lift, followed by another break that led to a 3-2 win against the Biscuits in the only Monday game of the season for the Blue Wahoos. It made for a desired start to the Fourth of July week for the Blue Wahoos against their league divisional rivals.
“Yeah, it was awesome,” McIntosh said. “We hung around and we capitalized on it.”
McIntosh pounced on a first-pitch fastball from Biscuits reliever Patrick Wicklander and sent the ball over the left-center wall to ignite a crowd of 3,535, as well as the home team dugout.
Joe Mack led off the seventh inning by working a walk from Wicklander. Up stepped McIntosh with a clear mindset.
“I was just waiting for a fastball over the plate and I made sure not to miss it.” McIntosh said. “Going into that [at-bat], I had seen [Wicklander] a bunch, and he’s had success against me and I just wanted to make sure I got up there and saw a good pitch and made a good swing on it.”
He did. And it connected.
The Biscuits had won nine of these previous 12 meetings, all in Montgomery. It was the difference in the Biscuits edging out the Blue Wahoos for the South Division first half win and post-season playoff berth.
But in their stadium Monday, the Blue Wahoos received the usual array of strong pitching to stay within striking distance.
After McIntosh tied the game, the Blue Wahoos got the go-ahead run in the eighth without putting the ball in play.
Jakob Marsee reached on a one-out walk against reliever Keyshawn Askew. He then scored on three wild pitches with the Blue Wahoos’ Jacob Berry at the plate.
The third wild pitch came on a three-ball count, causing Marsee to race home while Berry went to first.
Blue Wahoos reliever Raffi Vizcaíno then closed out the game by retiring the Biscuits in order to get his eighth save. He was preceded by Dale Stanavich, who entered in the seven when Zach McCambley suffered an injury.
With rapid warmup and a 3-2 count, Stanavich struck out the Biscuits’ Matthew Dyer, who drove in the game’s first run in the third inning. Stanavich (2-0) then retired four of the next five batters he faced to earn his second win.
Blue Wahoos starter Adam Laskey worked five innings, allowing just four hits and striking out five.
The Blue Wahoos had just two hits until McIntosh’s blast, but the game stayed close.
“This is a special pitching staff,” McIntosh said. “I’ve had the liberty of having really special pitching staff last couple years in Pensacola, but man these guys keep us in games.”
The three-game home series will continue Tuesday and Wednesday before the Blue Wahoos then head to Montgomery for games Thursday through Saturday.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Tuesday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Blue Wahoos Split Road Series With Biloxi
July 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (41-33) closed out a week on the road on a positive note with a 5-1 victory at Biloxi on Sunday night.
After a rain delay pushed the game’s start back by over two hours, the Wahoos and Shuckers (33-40) played a seven-inning series finale. Despite the dreary conditions, Pensacola’s bats thundered out of the gate versus Biloxi starter Jacob Misiorowski (L, 2-3).
With one out in the top of the first inning, third baseman Jacob Berry smacked his second home run in as many swings – including Saturday’s go-ahead blast in the ninth inning – with a solo shot put the Wahoos in front 1-0. In the second inning, left fielder Tanner Allen provided power of his own with a two-run homer to extend the lead to 3-0. The blast was Allen’s first since April 18. Biloxi answered with a run in the home second, but Wahoos catcher Joe Mack got Pensacola back on the board in the following half-inning with the Blue Wahoos’ third home run in as many innings. Mack’s solo homer was his 14th on the year, tying him for the Southern League lead.
The early power surge was more than enough for Wahoos lefthander Jonathan Bermúdez (W, 3-3), who turned in his third quality start of the year in a Pensacola uniform (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 K). Righthander Matt Pushard closed out a scoreless seventh to lock down the 5-1 win and send the Wahoos back home with a road series split.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Monday, July 1 to face the Montgomery Biscuits. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Tate Aggies Host Baseball Camp
June 30, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies held their baseball camp last week with over 70 participants.
The camp for ages 7-14 was held at the Tate Baseball Complex.
The camp covered the fundamentals of baseball including throwing, hitting, fielding and base running. Team fundamentals were also covered, including bunt defenses, pop up priority, cuts and relays.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
