Wahoos Remain In First With Two Games Remaining
September 6, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are in an exciting finish down to the wire for the second half South Division crown in the Southern League, and they have the added excitement with Billy Hamilton playing for them as he recovers from his right shoulder injury.
Pensacola lost Saturday night, 6-3, to the Mobile BayBears leaving two games left to play, but the sellout crowd of 5,038 got to watch in awe as Hamilton scored in the fifth inning from first base on a single, showing off his cheetah-like speed.
Hamilton beat the throw home even though he hesitated between second and third. Hamilton had reached first with a two-out single on a line drive to right field.
Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly, who coached Hamilton in the Rookie League, said the center fielder is fun to watch.
“Scoring from first on a single is not too shabby either,” Kelly said. “Once he saw the play would be close, he out ran the ball to home, which you supposedly can’t do. He just adds to the excitement. Billy is extremely fun to watch.”
Hamilton, the Rookie of the Year finalist from the Cincinnati Reds last year, said he felt very welcome by the fans, many who watched him set the minor league record of 155 stolen bases in 2012 for Pensacola. He currently leads the National League with 54 before going on the DL on Aug. 19.
“There are great owners and great people who work here,” Hamilton said. “They made me feel good.”
Hamilton, who was 1-3 with a run scored and a walk, said he would do what he could to help Pensacola clinch the division, which they currently lead by a half game over the Mississippi Braves and one game over Mobile.
“I can tell they really want to win it,” Hamilton said. “It’s fun to play with guys like that. I told them just because I’m a big leaguer, don’t treat me that way. I told them, I’m one of you guys.”
Pensacola shortstop Alex Blandino’s single to the right-center field gap in the fifth inning pulled Pensacola within, 6-2, on Hamilton’s safe slide home.
The Blue Wahoos added another run the seventh inning to come within, 6-3, when Blandino hit a ground rule double that knocked in shortstop Zach Vincej.
However, Mobile scored three times in the first inning with the BayBears second baseman Garrett Weber doubling in the right field corner to score shortstop Jack Reinheimer, who had walked. Mobile first baseman Rudy Flores then doubled in Weber. Finally, BayBears third baseman Sean Jamieson singled up the middle that Pensacola second baseman Zach Vincej stopped. He had Flores hung up between third and home but through the ball in the dirt to Blue Wahoos third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean and Flores scored to put Mobile up, 3-0.
Mobile led by as much as, 6-1, when Jamieson knocked in two more runs in the fifth inning on a double to the left center gap.
Pensacola, which secured its first winning record in a half since its first season in 2012, is now 37-31, while Mississippi fell to 36-31 with its loss Saturday. Mobile, which is trying to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year, improved to 35-31.
The North Division playoffs are already set with Twins Double-A affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts facing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits.
Pensacola is looking to make its first postseason appearance since its inaugural season in 2012 and end the longest drought of missing the playoffs by a Southern League Major League affiliate. The Cincinnati Reds last Double-A team to make the playoffs was Chattanooga in 2006.
The second half winner plays the Shuckers, which won the first half despite playing its first 54 games on the road, while Biloxi finished its new MGM Park by June 6.”
Kelly acknowledged that Pensacola has gone, 2-5, but still remains in first place. He thanked the last-place Jacksonville Suns for playing Mississippi tough.
“They’ve helped us out,” Kelly said. “We’re all competitors. Even last place teams need something to play for.”
Tate Beats West Florida (With Photo Gallery)
September 5, 2015
The Tate High School Aggies beat the West Florida Jaguars 17-3 Friday night at Woodham Middle School.
The West Florida Jaguars took an early 3-0 lead on a field goal. The Aggies regained the lead 7-3 on a quarterback keeper from Sawyer Smith.
Tate expanded their advantage to 14-3 on an 80-yard touchdown run from Alondo Thompkins. The Aggies held that 14-3 lead headed into halftime and came back with a field goal to win 17-3.
Thompkins racked up 134 yards for the Aggies.
For photo gallery, click here.
The Tate Aggies are off next week and will host Pensacola High School at 7:30 p.m. on September 18 for homecoming.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Northwest Escambia Opens Season Today At Home
September 5, 2015
The season is underway for the Northwest Escambia Chiefs Youth and Football program.
Today, the NWE youth program will host W.S. Neal at Northview High School. The complete season schedule is below:
The first game will start on time; the following game times each day are approximate.
* Homecoming ** Division Game
Mississippi’s Top 1A Team Defeats The Jay Royals (With Gallery)
September 5, 2015
The Jay Royals were defeated 12-0 by Resurrection Catholic Friday night at Merle V. North Stadium in Jay.
Resurrection Catholic is the top ranked 1A team in Mississippi.
Jay (0-2) will next host Wewahitchka Friday at 7 p.m.
Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Baker Defeats Northview
September 4, 2015
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in high school volleyball action Thursday in Bratt.
JV
Baker def. Northview 2-0
4-25, 7-25
Varsity
Baker def. Northview 3-0
11-25, 8-25, 14-25
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Maintain Divison Lead Despite Loss
September 4, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos struggles against perennial Southern League contender the Mobile BayBears continued Thursday.
Mobile, just an hour west of Pensacola, is now, 12-4, this season against the Blue Wahoos and 51-32 since the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate was established in 2012.
Pensacola managed three hits in a shutout loss, 3-0, against Mobile in front of 4,572 Thursday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Blue Wahoos right fielder Juan Duran, who had two of Pensacola’s three hits on two infield singles, launched a fly ball to dead center with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning but Mobile center fielder Evan Marzilli hauled it in with his back to the wall.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he knew Duran didn’t get all of the ball to drive it 400-feet over the center field wall.
“I knew he missed it,” Kelly said. “But he’s so strong he can miss balls and still hit home runs. It did go 395 feet.”
Pensacola is on a 1-4 slide in its last five games against the Jackson Generals and Mobile, but it has been lucky to stay on top of the Southern League South Division. The Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate the Mississippi Braves lost to the Jacksonville Suns on a walk off three-run home run in the 10th inning and fell to 35-30. Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos also lost but dropped to 36-30 to remain a half-game ahead in the second half of the season.
Kelly said Pensacola was snake-bitten Thursday night, especially after Duran’s smash down the third base line in the second inning hit the umpire and bounced into Mobile third baseman Raul Navarro’s mitt in the second inning. Duran singled but the odd play seemed to rob Duran of a sure double.
Duran then threw a strike on a hit-and-run play from right field in the fourth inning that looked like it beat Mobile left fielder Socrates Brito to third base. However, according to Kelly who ran on to the field to argue the play, the third base umpire said Blue Wahoos third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean tagged the runner high.
Mobile ended up scoring three runs in the fourth with Brito and second baseman Garrett Weber hitting back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Pensacola starter Daniel Wright then walked right fielder Gabriel Guerrero and threw seven straight balls.
Mark Thomas, batting .163, came to the plate with one out and clobbered a double over Pensacola center fielder Beau Amaral’s head into the left-center alley to clear the bases and Mobile was ahead, 3-0.
“Everyone in the ballpark, including the runner, knew he was out,” Kelly said about the play at third on Brito.
Mobile, which has had six players from its 2015 team make their Major League debut this year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, got a strong outing from new pitcher Matt Koch, who earned his first win. He was making his first start for Mobile after a trade earlier this month between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets. He allowed two hits in 7.1 innings, walked four and tied his season-high with six strikeouts.
After Duran’s smash in the second inning, Koch settled down and retired the next 16 of 17 batters through the seventh inning. Koch allowed a runner to second base twice — once when Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth reached the bag in the fifth inning and again in the seventh inning when Duran earned an infield single up the middle.
Kelly only had praise for Koch’s slider and cutter.
“We knew he had good stuff,” Kelly said. “It’s hard when you haven’t seen the guy before.”
Pensacola is looking to make its first postseason appearance since its inaugural season in 2012 and end the longest drought of missing the playoffs by a Southern League Major League affiliate. The Cincinnati Reds last Double-A team to make the playoffs was Chattanooga in 2006.
“It’s one of five games,” Kelly said. “It tightens things up. It still comes down to winning this series. If we can win this series, they can’t catch us.”
Wahaoos Start Final Series Atop Division
September 2, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost the rubber match Tuesday to the Jackson Generals but it didn’t matter because the Mississippi Braves did the same against the Biloxi Shuckers.
That means that with its final home stand starting Monday against its rival Mobile BayBears, Pensacola remains a half game ahead of Mississippi and controls its own destiny – the chance to become the first Cincinnati Reds Double-A team to make the playoffs since Chattanooga in 2006.
Despite scoring five runs in the second inning, including a two-run homer by Blue Wahoos shortstop Alex Blandino, Pensacola lost the five-game series to Jackson, 3-2, with an 8-7 loss at The Ballpark in Jackson.
Pensacola finished 7-8 overall against Jackson this season, despite the Generals owning last place in the Southern League North Division in both halves with a 50-82 overall record.
Pensacola and Mississippi are battling for the South Division postseason spot. The Blue Wahoos are 36-29 in the second half of the Southern League season. However, it remains a half game ahead of Mississippi, which lost to Biloxi, 5-4, Tuesday to fall to 35-29.
Jackson scored two runs in the first when first baseman Jody Lara doubled to drive in a run and catcher Tyler Marlette singled to score another run.
However, that’s when Pensacola had a five-run inning in the second to go ahead, 5-2. Designated hitter Juan Duran started the inning with a leadoff single, followed by a single by first baseman Seth Mejias-Brean and then catcher Kyle Skipworth doubled them both in on a double to left field that knotted the score, 2-2. Blue Wahoos second baseman Ray Chang then doubled to score Skipworth for a 3-2 lead. That’s when Blandino crushed a one-out, two-run homer to centerfield and Pensacola went ahead, 5-2.
Jackson, trailing, 5-3, came back with its own five-run inning in the fourth inning to go ahead, 8-5. The big hit in the inning for the Braves was Jabari Henry’s triple that drove in two runs.
Pensacola scored a run in the fifth when Mejias-Brean singled in Phillip Ervin and another in the seventh when the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases and right fielder Jesse Winker scored from third on a walk to Chang. However, 8-7 was the closest the Blue Wahoos could get against Jackson.
Wahoos Stay In First With Win Over Jackson
September 1, 2015
Juan Duran tripled and Seth Mejias-Brean singled him in as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos evened its five-game series with the Jackson Generals and, more importantly, helped them stay in first place in the South Division in the second half of the Southern League season.
One run in the sixth inning was all Pensacola needed to eke out an all-important victory, 1-0, Monday at The Ballpark in Jackson.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Cody Reed held Jackson scoreless through eight innings, giving up just four hits and striking out eight. Reed improved to 5-2 on the year with a 2.53 ERA.
Pensacola closer Zach Weiss entered in the ninth to extend his team record 25th save of the season by striking out the side. It was the fifth time since July 31 that he’s struck out all three batters in an inning.
Their pitching is what kept Pensacola’s drive for its first playoff in franchise history alive with six games left in the season. It would also help the Blue Wahoos become the first Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate since Chattanooga in 2006 to play in the postseason.
Pensacola, which took the opener in the five-game series, is now 7-7 overall against Jackson this season.
Pensacola and Mississippi are battling for the postseason spot. The Blue Wahoos improved to 36-28 in the second half and remain a half game ahead of Mississippi, which defeated Biloxi, 3-0, Monday to improve to 35-28.
Both Duran, the DH, and third baseman Mejias-Brean went 2-4. Duran had a triple and scored a run, while Mejias-Brean doubled and batted in Duran for 46 RBIs this year.
Meanwhile, Pensacola right fielder Jesse Winker’s went 0-2 Monday and the Reds top prospect hit in 20 of his 27 games this month for a .344 average (32-93) in August.
Put A Ring On It: Tate’s State Champion Softball Team Receives Rings
August 30, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies won the Class 7A softball state championship last spring, and they were back in the spotlight Friday night as they received their state championship rings from Principal Rick Shackle and Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Lose To Jackson
August 30, 2015
Pensacola managed three hits Saturday and dropped the second game of the five-game series against Jackson, 4-0, at The Ballpark in Jackson.
After five Blue Wahoos recorded multi-hit games and the club pounded out 11 hits in the opener, the General’s Misael Siverio gave up a season-best one hit in six innings of work and struck out five to improve to 5-11 on the year.
The Pensacola loss and Mississippi victory means the Blue Wahoos lead over the Braves fell to half a game in the South Division with eight to play. Pensacola moved to 35-27 in the second half of the Southern League, while Mississippi improved to 34-27.
The Blue Wahoos are trying to make the postseason for the first time since the team began in 2012. It would be the first time a Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate has been in the playoffs since Chattanooga in 2006 — the longest drought of any Southern League affiliate. Chattanooga lost to Huntsville in the first round.
In the eighth inning, Jackson added an insurance run to go up, 4-0, when first baseman John Lara singled to left field to score DH Guillermo Pimental from third.
Generals left fielder Jabari Henry hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the season, to left center field in the fifth inning that put Jackson ahead, 3-0.
Jackson got its first run in the fourth when Lara doubled in shortstop Tyler Smith.
After four bad starts in a row in which he failed to pitch five innings, Pensacola starter Sal Romano had a strong outing, allowing five hits in six innings, walking one and striking out two. Part of the problem was he had walked 10 batters in 12 innings. However, Romano earned the loss against Jackson and is 0-4 since moving up to Double-A Pensacola.
Pensacola right fielder Jesse Winker went 1-4, hitting safely in six straight games. But he got tossed from the game in his last at bat arguing a strike out call. Winker has hit in 20 of his 25 games this month and is batting .368 (32-87) in August and .313 in the second half.
The Blue Wahoos two other hits came when third baseman Mejias-Brean doubled in two at bats and second baseman Ryan Wright, who was 1-4, singled in the ninth inning.