Wahoos, Braves A Washout
August 18, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos’ contest with the Mississippi Braves scheduled for Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium was canceled due to inclement weather. The game will not be made up as the Braves and Blue Wahoos do not meet again this season.
Fans with tickets to Saturday night’s game can use their ticket for any of the final five 2013 regular season home games, subject to availability for a ticket of equal or lesser value. Exchanges must be made in person at the Blue Wahoos Ticket Office.
The Wahoos now hit the road for a six-game series with the Huntsville Stars starting on Sunday afternoon at 4:03 p.m. Carlos Contreras (1-2, 3.12), Saturday’s scheduled starter, will now get the call on Sunday against Huntsville’s Drew Gagnon (4-6, 5.51).
Wahoos Fall To Braves
August 17, 2013
Pensacola’s Robert Stephenson fired six shutout innings before yielding a pair of runs in the seventh and eventually falling in his Double-A debut, 5-1 to the Mississippi Braves in front of the 26th sellout crowd of the year at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Stephenson, touching 96 MPH with his fastball, allowed just two hits in the first six innings before walking the first two batters he faced in the seventh inning. Michael Lorenzen, the 38th overall pick in the 2013 draft, entered and gave up RBI singles to Jaime Pedroza and Barrett Kleinknecht with another run scoring on a throwing error by left fielder Josh Fellhauer turning a one-run deficit into a 3-1 lead for Mississippi.
Stephenson was charged with a pair of runs to fall to 0-1 with Pensacola. The right-hander yielded just two hits in six-plus innings with five strikeouts and three walks.
Mississippi’s Michael Lee was just as good for the Braves, limiting Pensacola to just one run on six hits in seven innings. His lone outlier was a Travis Mattair RBI single in the last of the second to give the Wahoos a 1-0. Lee improved to 8-8 on the year.
The Braves were able to put the game out of reach with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth against Drew Hayes. Mississippi strung together three hits around an error with RBI’s coming from Dan Brewer and Kleinknecht.
Pensacola will look to avoid its second series sweep of the year on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. The Wahoos will give the ball to Carlos Contreras (1-2, 3.12) with the Braves countering with southpaw Ian Thomas (7-7, 2.62).
story by Kevin Burke
Deer Hunting Changes Proposed
August 16, 2013
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is looking at possible changes to deer hunting in Northwest Florida, including all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, for the 2014-2015 hunting season.
Under the proposed changes, the FWC is looking at antler-point regulations in Deer Management Unit (DMU) D-1 that would require that antlered deer have at least one antler with two or more antler points on one side to be eligible for harvest. DMU D-1 is south of Interstate 10.
In DMU D-2, which is north of Interstate 10, antlered deer would need at least one antler with three or more points on one side to be eligible for harvest.
Hunters under the age of 16 would be exempt from the proposed antler-point regulations on private lands and on some wildlife management areas.
“The purpose of the antler-point regulations, both in DMU D-1 and DMU D-2, is to protect the majority of 1.5-year-old bucks from harvest while allowing the harvest of 2.5-year-old and older bucks,” said James Kelly, Assistant Deer Management Program coordinator. “During our outreach efforts, we heard a lot of support for increasing the number of bucks in the population, improving buck-to-doe ratios and increasing the size of bucks harvested.”
Other changes under consideration are to shift the antlerless deer season on private lands in DMU D-1 (south of I-10) from the current seven consecutive days to four weekend days during the general gun season.
In DMU D-2 (north of I-10), antlerless deer days would increase to eight weekend days. Three weekends would occur during general gun season, and one weekend would occur during the muzzleloading gun season.
“The proposed change in antlerless deer days in DMU D-1 is to fulfill the stakeholders’ goal of maintaining or increasing the deer population while also increasing the flexibility of antlerless deer days during general gun season,” Kelly said. “Deer-herd density and productivity is higher in DMU D-2, which is why we are recommending more antlerless deer days for this unit.”
Kelly said the regulation proposals are based on detailed input from hunters, landowners, farmers and others during a series of public meetings, public webinars, surveys and technical assistance group meetings.
The proposed changes are recommendations by FWC staff and have not yet been presented to Commissioners for consideration and action. More detailed information and the opportunity to provide feedback on both proposals can be made at MyFWC.com/Deer.
Braves Power Past Pensacola
August 16, 2013
Tommy La Stella blasted a two run homer with two outs in the top of the seventh inning completing, a three-run comeback for the Mississippi Braves in a 4-3 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Mississippi trailed 3-0 after a three-run home run from Yorman Rodriguez in the last of the third, but scored in three straight innings starting in the fifth against Pensacola starter Josh Smith. In the fifth, four straight hitters reached for the Braves with two outs, culminating in a two-out single from Omar Luna.
An inning later, Edward Salcedo smacked his 12th round-tripper of the year to cut the deficit to 3-2. La Stella, who tied the game in the ninth on Wednesday with a solo homer, blasted a two-run shot off of Smith to give the Braves their first lead of the day at 4-3.
Smith took the loss for Pensacola, falling to 9-9 on the season. The right-hander struck out eight batters in seven innings of work, but he yielded four runs on 10 base hits.
Mississippi starter Mitch Atkins limited Pensacola to just three runs, all on the homer from Rodriguez, in his seven innings of work. Atkins improved to 5-1 as he struck out six and allowed six hits.
James Hoyt picked up his first save of the season by tossing the final two frames for the Braves. In the ninth inning, Ryan LaMarre doubled and moved to third with one out, but Hoyt struck out Josh Fellhauer and got Brandon Short to ground out to third to end the contest.
Having dropped five straight games, the Blue Wahoos will turn to the Reds top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson who will take the ball in his Double-A debut on Friday night. Michael Lee (7-8, 4.02) will get the start for the Braves with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
Wahoos Fall 3-2 In 14
August 15, 2013
Down to their final out in the ninth inning, the Mississippi Braves tied the game on a solo homer and went on to win on a wild pitch in the 14th inning 3-2 over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
In the 14th inning, Loek Van Mil walked the leadoff hitter Greg Golson, and then exited the game with an apparent injury. Mississippi loaded the bases on a single and a walk against Pensacola’s new pitcher Drew Hayes, who then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Golson to scamper home with the eventual winning run. Van Mil was charged with the loss for Pensacola, falling to 0-8 on the year.
Ryne Harper picked up his ninth save of the year with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 14th inning, making a winner of Gary Moran who improved to 2-2 with three scoreless innings of relief in extra innings.
Extras were made necessary thanks to Tommy La Stella’s two-out homer off Trevor Bell in the top of the ninth inning. It was the first blown save for Bell this season in 14 chances for Pensacola.
The Wahoos were held to just one hit through seven innings and found themselves down 1-0 headed to the eighth. However, the Wahoos found success against Shae Simmons as Josh Fellhauer gave Pensacola a brief 2-1 lead with a two-run double down the left field line.
The lone run in the game prior the eighth came on a controversial play at the plate in the fourth inning as La Stella somehow avoided a tag of catcher Tucker Barnhart at the plate on a Christian Marrero single and reached back to slap the plate ahead of Barnhart’s second attempted tag.
Both starters were strong in the game, although neither factored in the decision. For Pensacola, Tim Crabbe gave up just a run on seven hits in six innings while establishing a new season-high with nine strikeouts. Gus Schlosser limited the Wahoos to one hit over six frames, striking out four and walking three.
Pensacola will look to snap its four-game losing streak on Thursday night with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch. Josh Smith (9-8, 3.60) takes the ball for the Wahoos against the Braves’ Mitch Atkins (4-1, 2.65).
Lady Chiefs Prep For Volleyball Season
August 14, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs volleyball teams will begin the 2013 season soon.
On August 22, the varsity Lady Chiefs will host a preseason classic beginning at 5 p.m. featuring Northview, PCC, Jay and Central. On Monday, August 26, the varsity team will be in action at home against Holmes County at 5 p.m.
On Tuesday, August 27, Northview will host Pensacola Catholic. The JV plays at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.
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). Pictured below: Members of the JV team are (front, L-R) Beverly Hughes (9, Fr), Hope Coggins (3, Jr), Maddi Weber (2, Soph), Brittany Ward (24, Soph), (back row) Mallory Merchant (5, Fr), Dimonique Brown (1, Fr), Laurie Purdy (7, Soph), Leah Fischer (6, Soph), Courtney Grim (10, Fr), Victoria Amerson (14, Fr). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mississippi Downs Pensacola
August 14, 2013
The Mississippi Braves scored three runs in the first five batters of the game and never looked back, knocking off the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5-3 on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was Pensacola’s third straight setback.
Mississippi ambushed Pensacola starter Jon Moscot in the first as the first three batters reached within a six-pitch span, culminating in a two-run double by Tommy La Stella to push the Braves in front 2-0. La Stella would score two batter later on an Edward Salcedo to make it 3-0.
Moscot settled down to throw three scoreless frames before the Wahoos scratched a run across in the last of the fourth on a Ryan LaMarre triple and a fielding error by the shortstop Jaime Pedroza.
The Braves responded with an RBI single from Christian Marrero in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1. Moscot worked out of a bases loaded jam, but didn’t make it past the fifth inning, allowing four runs on nine hits to fall to 1-1 in Double-A.
Pensacola made things interesting once again with a pair of runs in the last of the fifth on a Tucker Barnhart RBI groundout and a Travis Mattair RBI single to claw to within 4-3 against Mississippi starter Aaron Northcraft, who went six innings to pick up his seventh win of the year.
Christian Bethancourt put the Braves back on top by two with a towering solo homer off Chris Manno in the top of the sixth to make it 5-3.
The Wahoos attempted a dramatic rally in the last of the ninth inning, loading the bases with one out against Braves closer Ryne Harper, only to see Brandon Short strike out and Mike Costanzo pop out to end the game. Combined with a Jacksonville win over Birmingham, the Wahoos fell five games out of first place in the South Division standings.
Pensacola will look to snap its three-game losing streak on Wednesday night behind Tim Crabbe (6-8, 3.44). Gus Schlosser (6-4, 2.37) will get the call for the Braves with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. on Faith Night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Suns Outshine Wahoos
August 12, 2013
Danny Pertusati drove in all four runs, including a two-run homer to give the Jacksonville Suns a 4-1 win over the Pensacola Blue on Sunday evening. Pensacola still won the series three games to two, but fell four games behind the Suns in the second half South Division standings.
An early pitcher’s duel between Carlos Contreras for Pensacola and Andrew Heaney for Jacksonville turned sour quickly in the fourth inning as Contreras yielded a lead-off single to Mark Canha and a two-run homer to Pertusati two batters later to make it 2-0. Those were the only two runs Contreras gave up in 5.1 innings, but he took the loss to fall to 1-2. Contreras scattered five hits while striking out seven and walking five (two intentional) in his outing.
Pertusati drove in his third run of the day with a bases-loaded RBI groundout in the seventh inning to make it 3-0 and added a fourth RBI with a safety squeeze against Shaun Ellis in the top of the ninth inning.
Heaney, meanwhile, made just one mistake on the day, a leadoff homer to Donald Lutz in the last of the seventh. It was Lutz’s seventh homer of the season. The southpaw prospect improved to 2-1 by allowing only a run on six hits with four strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Pensacola will now look to regroup after an off day Monday when they welcome the Mississippi Braves to town for a five-game series starting on Tuesday night. Jon Moscot (1-0, 6.30) gets the call for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Aaron Northcraft (6-8, 3.60). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on an Out of School Tuesday with fireworks following the game.
Suns Stun The Wahoos 8-6 In 16 Innings
August 11, 2013
Chris Gutierrez and Derek Dietrich homered in the top of the 16th inning, completing an incredible comeback for the Jacksonville Suns over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 8-6 on Saturday in front of the 25th sellout crowd of the year at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The loss dropped the Wahoos to fourth place in the South Division, three games behind the Suns.
The 16th inning was made possible thanks to a five-run ninth from the Suns. Trailing 6-1 entering the frame, Jacksonville loaded the bases with one out and got a run back on an RBI single from pinch-hitter Sharif Othman to make it 6-2. Loek Van Mil relieved Drew Hayes and promptly gave up a grand slam to Isaac Galloway on an 0-2 pitch to tie the game at six.
The Wahoos dodged Suns rallies in 10th, 12th, and 14th innings before building their own rally in the last of the 15th. Pensacola loaded the bases against Jacksonville’s Michael Brady, but Yorman Rodriguez struck out, sending things to the 16th.
In the 16th, Chris Manno (3-3) came on and yielded a leadoff homer to Guiterrez and a two-out shot to Dietrich to give the Suns a two-run lead. Arquimedes Caminero worked around a two-out single in the last of the 16th to pick up his fourth save of the year.
Pensacola had jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the contest through six innings. The Wahoos scored five runs in the first four innings, including two RBI base knocks from Mike Costanzo in the first and third innings. Travis Mattair, Rodriguez, and Devin Lohman contributed RBI’s as well in the first six frames.
Jacksonville started its comeback trail once Pensacola starter Josh Smith exited the game after six innings. Smith struck out five in his six scoreless frames, but had to settle for a no-decision. The Suns scored a run in the seventh against Shaun Ellis to cut it to 6-1 before the ninth inning heroics.
The game was the longest in the Southern League this year in terms of innings played and also the longest in Wahoos franchise history in both innings and time (5:01).
Pensacola will look to rebound in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. Carlos Contreras (1-1, 3.05) takes the ball for the Wahoos while the Suns will counter with southpaw Andrew Heaney (1-1, 5.00).
Wahoos Win Third Straight
August 10, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored in each of their first three at-bats, leading from wire-to-wire in a 5-2 victory over the Jacksonville Suns in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Friday night. The win gave Pensacola its third straight series victory and pushed the Wahoos to within two games of the first place Suns.
Mike Costanzo led the charge for Pensacola, starting things off with a one-out triple in the first and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Yorman Rodriguez. In the second inning, the Wahoos got a two-run double from starting pitcher Tim Crabbe with two outs to make it 3-0.
Crabbe surrendered a run in the top of the third on a two-out double from Mark Canha, but his offense backed him again with a run in the last of the third on a bases-loaded, two-out infield single from Tucker Barnhart that scored Costanzo to make it 4-1.
Again the Suns battled back with a run in the top of the fourth on a RBI single from Michael Main, but Crabbe limited the damage to the single tally. The right-hander got help from all over the diamond, with Barnhart cutting down a runner at the plate in the second when Austin Barnes tried to score on a ball that squirted a couple feet to his right being the highlight. Overall, Crabbe (6-8) lasted five innings for Pensacola, allowing two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
The 4-2 scored stood until the last of the seventh inning when Costanzo dropped a single into shallow center, scoring Corey Wimberly to make it 5-2. Costanzo went 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Pensacola’s bullpen was once again outstanding, limiting the Suns to just two base hits over four innings of relief. Chris Manno extended his scoreless innings streak to 16, dating back to June 30. Parker Frazier struck out three over two frames, and Loek Van Mil slammed the door with a dominant ninth that featured two strikeouts. For Van Mil, it was his eighth save of the season, and first since July 3.
With the series win under their belt, the Wahoos now look to extend their winning streak to a season-long four games on Saturday night. Josh Smith (9-8, 3.77) gets the ball for Pensacola against Jacksonville’s Justin Nicolino (2-2, 6.05).