Wahoos Blow Past Barons 6-2
August 24, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos used a trio of two-run innings to dispatch the Birmingham Barons 6-2 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in front of the 27th sellout crowd of the season. Despite the win, the Wahoos stayed four games behind first place Jacksonville who also won on Friday.
Pensacola got things going early against Birmingham starter Scott Snodgress, loading the bases in the first, but coming away with no runs. An inning later, though, the Wahoos tagged Snodgress for a pair of tallies on a two-run single from Ryan LaMarre to make it 2-0.
After Birmingham countered with two runs of their own on a Cody Puckett two-run single in the top of the third, Pensacola regained its two-run advantage in the last of the third. Travis Mattair drove home Tucker Barnhart to make it 3-2 while Ray Chang singled home Devin Lohman three batters later to make it 4-2.
Pensacola added to its lead in the fifth inning against reliever Nestor Molina with RBI singles from Brandon Short and Chang, making it 6-2. The offense came in support of Carlos Contreras (W, 3-2) who worked his way through five innings while allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Michael Lorenzen, Parker Frazier and Jamie Walczak combined to pitch four shutout frames to shut the door on the Barons.
Snodgress (L, 11-10) fell for the third straight time, failing to make it past the fourth inning. The southpaw allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in four innings.
The Wahoos will look to make it two in a row over the Barons on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Daniel Renken (6-8, 3.62) will start for Pensacola while Birmingham will give the ball to Scott Carroll (0-2, 6.35). It’s the final Fireworks Saturday of the season presented by Andrews Institute. The Wahoos will be wearing special blue camo jerseys which will be auctioned off throughout the game.
Tate Aggies Beat Gulf Breeze Dolphins
August 23, 2013
The Tate High School Aggies won a tw0-quarter varsity preseason game 25-7 over Gulf Breeze Thursday night.
The Aggies held a 7-0 lead in the first of two quarters of the preseason classic at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment with a 10-yard touchdown run from Tay Samuel.
In the second quarter, the Dolphins tied it up 7-7 on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Tate answered with a 69-yard touchdown run with 8:39 left from quarterback Sawyer Smith, 14-7 Aggies. Then, with 2:47 left on the clock, Samuel was in on a 60-yard interception return for another Aggie touchdown, 22-7. With a field goal late in the game, the Aggies went on to a 25-7 win.
The Tate Aggies will open regular season play under the leadership of new coach Ronnie Douglas in Class 7A on Friday, August 30 at 7:30 as they take on the West Florida High Jaguars at Woodham Middle School.
In a two-quarter junior varsity game, Tate also beat Gulf Breeze 7-0 Thursday.
For more varsity action photos, click here.
For junior varsity and band photos, click here.
Pictured: Tate High School’s preseason opener against Gulf Breeze ended with varsity and JV wins for the Aggies. Top photo: Tate quarterback Sawyer Smith returns an interception for a 60-yard touchdown. Photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida Jaguars Beat The Escambia Gators 35-0
August 23, 2013
The West Florida Jaguars beat the Escambia Gators 35-0 in a preseason classic game Thursday night.
The Jags were first on the scoreboard with a 17-yard touchdown catch by Ty Peasant from QB Joe Baker. The Jags upped their lead to 14-0 on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Baker to Lawrence Lee.
With 2:47 to go in the third quarter Chris Mitchell was in for West Florida with a 25-yard touchdown catch from Baker, 21-0 Jags.
West Florida went on to win with a one-yard quarterback keeper from Baker and a 40-yard touchdown catch by Kevin Lewis.
The West Florida Jaguars will open their regular season on Friday, August 30 as they host the Tate Aggies at Woodham Middle School.
NHS Lady Chiefs Sweep Volleyball Preseason Classic
August 23, 2013
The Northview Chiefs swept a varsity volleyball Preseason Classic at the school in Bratt Thursday evening.
The Chiefs beat Central 25-10, 25-19. Lana Clayton had three aces, eight kills; Tiffani Pritchett had five aces, three kills and two digs.
The Northview Chiefs also beat the Jay Royals 25-16, 8-25, 15-9. Lily Townson had two aces and a dozen assists; Danielle Steadham recorded one ace and six kills.
The Lady Chiefs will open their regular season Monday at 5 p.m. as they host Holmes County.
Pictured top: Members of the varsity Lady Chiefs are: (front, L-R) Hanna Ging (9 Soph), Lily Townson (10 Sr), Tiffani Pritchett (2 Sr), (middle row) Shelby Nielsen (4, Sr), Mallory Wiggins (12, Sr), Rebecca Grim (5, Sr), Penny Banda (13, Jr), (back row) Lana Clayton (6, Sr), E’Layzha Bates (8, Jr), Danielle Steadham (7, Sr), Kyndall Hall (14, Jr). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Stars Snap Wahoos Winning Streak
August 23, 2013
Hector Gomez scored on a wild pitch in the last of the seventh inning, boosting the Huntsville Stars to a 2-1 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. The setback ended Pensacola’s five-game winning streak and also put the Wahoos four games behind first place Jacksonville with just 10 games left in the season.
Gomez created the game-winning run on his own in the last of the seventh inning. With the game tied 1-1, Gomez singled off Pensacola reliever Loek Van Mil (L, 0-9), advanced to second on sac bunt, moved to third on a fly out to right field before scampering home on a wild pitch with two outs, which proved to be enough for the Stars.
Huntsville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning against the Wahoos’ Robert Stephenson. Eric Patterson singled to right and advanced to second on an error by Yorman Rodriguez, who mishandled the ball in right field. Jason Rogers then drove Patterson home with a single to put the Stars on top.
Stephenson battled his control throughout his outing, but bounced back to strike out five of the final six batters he faced in the contest, including three straight with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. The Reds top pitching prospect gave up only an unearned run in five innings, striking out eight and walking three.
Brooks Hall was nearly unhittable for Huntsville, limiting Pensacola to three hits over five frames to along with five strikeouts. He was lifted to start the sixth and the Wahoos immediately took advantage as Ryan LaMarre tripled against Eric Marzec and came around to score on a Mike Costanzo single, knotting the game at one.
Arcenio Leon (W, 2-7) faced one batter in the top of the seventh to pick up the win for the Stars. Casey Medlen (S, 12) pitched a perfect ninth to close the door on Pensacola.
The Wahoos now return home for their final homestand of the season, a five-game set with the Birmingham Barons. Carlos Contreras (2-2, 2.81) gets the ball for Pensacola against Birmingham’s Scott Snodgress (11-9, 4.44) with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday night.
Wahoos Edge Stars In 11 For Fifth Straight Win
August 22, 2013
Pensacola claimed their fifth straight win by sneaking past the Huntsville Stars 1-0 in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.
Ryan LaMarre scored on a wild pitch from David Goforth (L, 4-3) with two outs in the top of the 11th for the game winning run. He singled to start the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved up to third on a groundout allowing him to score when the pitch to Yorman Rodriguez got away.
Both teams had opportunities to score earlier in the game. Corey Wimberly was thrown out at home in the third inning when he tried to score on a throw to first base behind LaMarre who had just singled. That was the second out of the inning, but LaMarre was stranded at second. Huntsville looked like they had a run in the seventh, on what seemed to be a sacrifice fly. With the bases loaded and one out, Hector Gomez flew out to LaMarre in deep left-center field, appearing to score Jason Rogers from third, but the throw to third was in time to get Shawn Zarraga trying to advance from second, and the plate umpire ruled that the out at third was before Rogers crossed home from third base.
Both starting pitchers were outstanding. For Pensacola, Josh Smith fired 6.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts and only one walk in a no decision. Ariel Pena also took a no decision for Huntsville. He worked seven scoreless with eight strikeouts. The Blue Wahoos bullpen preserved the shutout between 2.2 innings from Jaime Walczak, a scoreless 10th inning from Drew Hayes (W, 4-3) and a scoreless 11th from Trevor Bell (S, 16).
Hayes earned the win two strikeouts in the 10th before Bell tied a Blue Wahoos record with his 16th save of the season. The Wahoos closer worked around a two-out single to match Justin Freeman’s record of 16 saves from 2012. The 11th was Goforth’s only inning of work in the losing effort.
The Blue Wahoos will keep an eye on the Jacksonville-Chattanooga game in Chattanooga, Tenn. later Wednesday night. With a Suns loss, Pensacola will only be 3.5 games out of first place.
The Blue Wahoos will go for the series sweep on Thursday night in Huntsville. Pensacola will turn to RHP Robert Stephenson (0-1, 3.00) for his second Double-A start against RHP Books Hall (2-4, 4.53). First pitch is slated for 6:43 p.m. in Huntsville.
Fans ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 21, 2013
Fans had chance to “Meet the Chiefs” Tuesday evening at Northview High School. NHS fans turned out to meet the Chiefs varsity and junior varsity teams, cheerleaders, band and dance team.
The defending state champs will take to the field a preseason matchup Friday at 7 p.m. against Bay High School.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Make It Four Straight Win 8-1 Rout Of Huntsville
August 21, 2013
Devin Lohman’s 3-for-4 game led the way as the Blue Wahoos beat the Huntsville Stars 8-1 for their fourth straight win on Tuesday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. With a loss from the Jacksonville Suns, Pensacola picked up a game in the Southern League south division standings. The Wahoos now sit just 4.5 games behind the first place Suns.
Pensacola got the offense going with a four-run third inning. Two batters after Wahoos starting pitcher Tim Crabbe singled home the first run of the game, Devin Lohman unloaded for a three-run homer to left giving the Wahoos a 4-0 win.
The Blue Wahoos plated their fifth run on wild pitch in the fifth inning and put the game out of reach with three more runs in the seventh. Mike Costanzo’s two-run double highlighted the frame before he scored on a sacrifice fly from Tucker Barnhart.
Tim Crabbe (W, 7-8) earned the win for Pensacola after working six innings and allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly in the third. He surrendered five hits, all over the first three innings. The Blue Wahoo starter finished strong, retiring the final 10 batters he faced and 12 of the last 13.
Pensacola knocked the Brewers No. 3 rated prospect, Taylor Jungmann (L, 9-9), out of the game after five innings. He was charged with five of the Wahoos eight runs on seven hits. He walked two and fanned two in the losing effort. It was the first time all year Jungmann has allowed more than four runs in back to back starts.
Pensacola will look for their fourth straight win on Wednesday afternoon in Huntsville. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Josh Smith (9-9, 3.67) to the mound against Stars RHP Ariel Pena (7-8, 4.09). First pitch is slated for 1:03p.m. from Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.
Wahoos Sweep Double Header 2-1, 3-2 From Huntsville
August 20, 2013
The Blue Wahoos won their second and third straight games by sweeping their doubleheader with the Stars with a 2-1 win in game one, before claiming a 3-2 win in a rain-shortened second game.
In game one, the two teams waited out a 30-minute rain delay with two on and two outs and the Stars batting in the bottom of the first. Once it stopped, Huntsville took a 1-0 lead when Jason Rogers tried to move in to third on a pitch in the dirt, but Tucker Barnhart’s throw got away and allowed Rogers to score the first run of the game.
Pensacola evened the score in the fourth when Mike Costanzo unloaded on his third home run of the season, all against Huntsville. In the fifth, the Wahoos went ahead with back to back doubles from Jon Moscot and Ryan LaMarre. That proved to be all the Wahoos needed as Moscot (W, 2-1) finished five strong innings on the mound allowing just the one unearned run on only two hits with four strikeouts to earn his second win of the season.
Trevor Bell nailed down the save, his 15th of the season with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
In the second game, the Blue Wahoos used a solo home run from Brandon Short to kick start the offense. Later in the inning, Yorman Rodriguez plated two more with a two-run single to right. That was enough with the Wahoos holding off late rallies of a run each from the Stars in the fourth and fifth innings. With the Wahoos batting in the top of the seventh, the rains hit hard at Joe Davis Stadium immediately following a double to right by Corey Wimberly. The game was delayed and eventually called making the Wahoos the winners of the rain-shortened game.
Parker Frazier (W, 2-1) earned the win for the Blue Wahoos out of the bullpen with 1.2 scoreless innings worked. Stars starter Frankie De La Cruz (L, 1-4) surrendered all three Pensacola runs and was charged with the loss. Daniel Renken started for Pensacola and allowed just one run on four hits over four innings. He fanned six while walking just two.
The Blue Wahoos and the Stars will continue the series on Tuesday night in Huntsville. Pensacola will send RHP Tim Crabbe (6-8, 3.35) against Stars RHP Taylor Jungmann (9-8, 3-95). First pitch is slated for 6:43 p.m.
Wahoos Snap Losing Skid, Open Series With 4-1 Win Over Stars
August 19, 2013
Ryan LaMarre broke up a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the top of the third which proved to be all Pensacola needed in their series-opening 4-1 win over the Huntsville Stars at Joe Davis Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The win snapped a six game losing streak for the Blue Wahoos.
Following LaMarre’s blast, Pensacola added another run later in the inning when three straight batters walked following a Devin Lohman single. Mike Costanzo provided an insurance run in the fifth with a solo home run to right field.
Wahoo starter Carlos Contreras pitched well through five innings before running into problems in the sixth when the Stars collected four hits against the right-hander, including an RBI single by Jason Rogers. Contreras was done after six and allowed just the one run on six hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
Offensively, Costanzo and Lohman along with Corey Wimberly each had multi-hit games for the Wahoos. Contreras earned the win for Pensacola with Trevor Bell picking up his 14th save of the year with a scoreless ninth. Drew Gagnon took the loss for Huntsville after getting charged with all four Wahoos runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings.
The two teams will continue the six game series with a doubleheader on Monday. Pensacola will send RHP Jon Moscot (1-1, 6.60) and RHP Daniel Renken (6-8, 3.67) to the mound in games one and two respectively against RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-3, 5.06) and RHP Andy Moye (5-13, 4.20). First pitch is slated for 4:03 p.m. in Huntsville.