Six-Run Second Earns Wahoos 6-4 Win Over Suns
August 9, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored all six of their runs in the second inning and went on to knock off the Jacksonville Suns 6-4 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. With the win, Pensacola clawed to within three games of the first place Suns with 25 games to go.
Pensacola strung together seven hits in the second-inning rally, all coming off Jacksonville starter Adam Conley. Ryan LaMarre started the scoring with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Three batters later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Devin Lohman reached on an RBI infield single, setting up Mike Costanzo. The Wahoos first baseman provided the big blow of the frame with a bases-clearing, three-run double to make it 5-0. Costanzo came around to score on a RBI single from Yorman Rodriguez, completing the outburst.
Jacksonville came right back, though, with four runs of its own in the top of the third against Daniel Renken. Chris Gutierrez singled in a run before Zack Cox blasted a three-run homer to right field, cutting the Wahoos lead to 6-4.
Renken settled down to toss six innings for Pensacola, allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts to improve to 6-8 on the season. Jamie Walczak fired two scoreless innings to bridge the gap to Trevor Bell who set down the Suns in the ninth to pick up his 13th save of the year in as many tries.
Conley, tied for the Southern League lead in wins entering the night, took the loss for Jacksonville to fall to 11-5. The southpaw lasted five-plus frames and gave up six runs on 11 base knocks with five strikeouts.
Pensacola will now look for the series win having already won the first two games of the series. Tim Crabbe (5-8, 3.43) gets the ball for the Wahoos while the Suns will counter with Bryan Evans (4-3, 3.88). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
by Kevin Burke
Wahoos Outshine Suns
August 8, 2013
Jon Moscot fired seven shutout innings in his second Double-A start, combining with two other Pensacola relievers to shutout the Jacksonville Suns 2-0 on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The 21-year-old worked around bits of trouble in the first and sixth innings to keep his scoreless outing in tact. In the first inning, Yorman Rodriguez threw out Derek Dietrich at the plate when Dietrich tried to score from second on a Zack Cox single. Moscot (1-0) wouldn’t allow another hit until the fifth inning and ended up allowing four hits, all singles, in seven innings with five strikeouts and a walk.
The Blue Wahoos turned things over to Lee Hyde in the eighth, who retired the Suns in order to extend his scoreless streak to 30.1 innings dating back to May 21 between Pensacola and Louisville. Trevor Bell fired a perfect ninth to record his 12th save in as many tries for the Wahoos.
Moscot also provided a big blow on offense for the Wahoos, sparking a two-run rally with a leadoff triple in the third inning. He would come home to score on a Devin Lohman single to make it 1-0 before Lohman scored on a double play from Yorman Rodriguez to make it 2-0.
Anthony DeSclafani took the tough loss for the Suns despite allowing two runs (one earned) on 6.1 innings for the Suns. He struck out four and walked two while falling to 3-3.
With the win, Pensacola moved to within four games of first-place Jacksonville with four games remaining in the series. Daniel Renken (5-8, 3.58) is scheduled to start for the Wahoos on Thursday against the Suns’ Adam Conley (11-4, 3.04).
FHSAA Pledges Review Of Drug Policies
August 7, 2013
The Florida High School Athletic Association said Tuesday it would examine its policies dealing with performance-enhancing drugs in the wake of the wide-ranging Biogenesis scandal.
Officials with the association announced the review in a conference call with reporters. But they also stressed that the association itself is not allowed to test athletes for performance-enhancing drugs, and that many school districts would have trouble coming up with the resources to do so.
In Escambia County, athletes as well as participants in non-sports extracurricular activities and clubs must consent to the possibility of being selected for a random drug test.
Roger Dearing, executive director of the association, said the organization’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee would undertake the review.
The committee’s 15 members, including medical professors and coaches, are charged with considering whether to break out the association’s drug rules into their own policy, rather than having them as part of its sportsmanship policy, and whether new rules might be needed to help crack down on the substances.
Association officials say educating parents and students about the dangers of PEDs and pushing school districts to move quickly against coaches who encourage or ignore PED use will help.
“I think it’s something that we’ve got to put on the front-burner and be vigilant about,” Dearing said.
Dearing said the recent reporting about the Biogenesis clinic in South Florida serves as a “wake-up call” about the drugs’ possible impact on high-school sports. Biogenesis is infamous for its role in a scandal currently rocking Major League Baseball; more than a dozen players have been punished for their links to the clinic, and the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez is fighting a 211-game suspension that would last through at least the end of the 2014 season.
The Miami Herald reported Monday that it “has seen a partial list of alleged clients of Biogenesis from October 2011″ that included high-school students. It did not name the players on the list.
One of the biggest challenges in trying to test students is the financing, Dearing said. The Legislature did provide funding to randomly test about 650 students several years ago, with one student testing positive, but hasn’t funded a program of testing.
The screenings cost about $150 each, meaning to test each of the 283,000 athletes in FHSAA sports would cost around $42 million, Dearing said.
He suggested that a better tack might be to have local districts partner with civic groups or others who could help pay for some testing.
“I don’t think it’s the Legislature’s responsibility to fund, and I don’t think it’s the school districts’ responsibility to fund,” Dearing said.
Dr. Jennifer Roth Maynard, an assistant professor with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, said the advisory committee would begin its review at its next meeting, scheduled for the end of the month.
by The News Service of Florida
B’ham Over Pensacola; Wahoos Win Series 3-2
August 7, 2013
Tyler Saladino jumped all over an 0-1 fastball from Drew Hayes leading off the top of the 10 thinning, blasting his fifth homer of the season to give the Birmingham Barons a 7-6 walk-off win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night at Regions Field.
Saladino’s blast capped a wild back-and-forth affair that saw both teams take advantage of opportunities, but also strand a combined 24 runners. Pensacola was able to score in each of its first two innings against Southern League wins leader Scott Snodgress, getting a run in the first on a Donald Lutz RBI single and a run in the second on a Ray Chang RBI base knock to make it 2-0.
Birmingham came back with two in the last of the second off of Pensacola starter Carlos Contreras, scoring the tying run on a strikeout wild pitch with two outs. Contreras allowed just the two runs on three hits in five innings of work for the Wahoos.
The score remained tied until the fifth when Pensacola scored an unearned run on a sacrifice fly from Devin Lohman to make it 3-2 in favor of the Wahoos. Snodgress left in line for the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in six innings, but he was taken off the hook thanks to a four-run bottom of the sixth inning for Birmingham against Wahoo reliever Shaun Ellis.
Down 6-3 headed to the seventh, Pensacola responded with three more unearned runs, all coming with two outs. With the bases loaded, Yorman Rodriguez reached on an RBI infield single and was followed by a Lutz two-run single, knotting the game at six. Lutz had a huge night, going 3-for-5 at the dish with three runs batted in. Rodriguez chipped in three hits and an RBI as well.
The Wahoos did leave the bases loaded, however, in the seventh, and went on to strand 12 runners on the night, including nine in their final four at-bats.
Birmingham had a chance to win it in the ninth, loading the bases against Parker Frazier, but Keenyn Walker struck out to send the game to extras. Dan Remenowsky (1-2) picked up the win for the Barons by working around a leadoff single in the 10th inning. Hayes (3-3) took the loss, giving up the walk-off homer to Saladino, the first batter he faced.
Pensacola now returns home for a crucial five-game series with the first-place Jacksonville Suns starting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Blue Wahoos currently sit five games behind the Suns in the South Division standings after both teams lost on Tuesday. Jon Moscot (0-0, 21.00) gets the call for Pensacola while Jacksonville will counter with Anthony DeSclafani (3-2, 4.36).
story by Kevin Burke
Neiko Robinson Reports To Penn State Football Camp
August 6, 2013
Northview High School graduate Neiko Robinson was at Penn State Monday as the Nittany Lions opened their first day of camp.
The cornerback was due to be on campus in June with the rest of his class, but was not. PennLive.com reported Robinson was not enrolled in classes at Penn State due to “confusion” with his Northview High School transcript, forcing him to stay back home and finish a class.
But a spokesman for Penn State confirmed that the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Robinson was on the Penn State practice field.
Robinson will wear number 20 for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State opens their season Saturday, August 31 at 3:30 ET against Syracuse in a game scheduled to be televised on ABC/ESPN2.
Pictured top: Neiko Robinson receives his diploma from Northview High School principal Gayle Weaver on June 1. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
LaMarre’s Inside The Park Homerun Sparks 6-2 Wahoos Win Over B’ham
August 6, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were led by Ryan LaMarre’s inside the park home run in the third inning in their 6-2 win over the Birmingham Barons on Monday night at Regions Field. Pensacola has won three out of the first four in the five-game set, securing a series win over the Barons. It’s just the third time the Barons have lost a series in their new home.
Already leading 3-2, Pensacola opened up their lead with three runs in the eighth. An error by the shortstop allowed Devin Lohman to reach to open the inning and the door for the Wahoos’ late rally. Travis Mattair delivered the big blow with a two-out two-run double, and scored a batter later on Tucker Barnhart’s double.
LaMarre got the scoring started in the in the first inning, he scored on a sacrifice fly from Mike Costanzo after he doubled to start the game. In the third, LaMarre hit an inside the park home run with a line drive down the third base line.
The Barrons got a pair of solo home runs from Cody Puckett and Trayce Thompson in the third and fourth innings respectively, but that’s all they got while the Blue Wahoos scored four unanswered. Pensacola went up for good when Barnhart scored on a bases loaded ground out by Lohman.
Birmingham’s solo home runs were the only blemishes on the line for Blue Wahoos starter Josh Smith (W, 9-8). He was finished after 6.2 innings and struck out seven against just one walk to earn the win. Barons starter Chris Bassitt (L, 2-2) took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits over seven innings.
The Blue Wahoos will look to make it four out of five in the series finale on Tuesday. The Blue Wahoos will turn to RHP Carlos Contreras (1-1, 2.87) against LHP Scott Snodgress (11-7, 3.70). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from Regions Field in Birmingham.
Story by Tommy Thrall
Northview To Hold Mini Cheerleader Camp
August 5, 2013
The Northview High School cheerleaders will host a mini-cheer camp later this week.
The mini-cheer camp will be held Thursday and Friday, August 8-9, from 3-5 p.m. in the gym. The cost is $20 for the camp and $10 for a shirt, register at the door. The mini cheerleaders will perform during the first quarter of the first home football game on August 23.
Pictured: Mini cheerleaders perform during a September 2012 game at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Skim Past Barons 4-3
August 5, 2013
Pensacola overcame an early 3-0 deficit, tying the game at three and eventually taking the lead with a two-out rally in the sixth to knock off the Birmingham Barons on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field. The Blue Wahoos have now won two of the first three games in the series.
Birmingham jumped out to a quick three-run lead in the last of the first against Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe. Brandon Jacobs brought home a run with a sacrifice fly and Cody Puckett drove home a pair with a two-out double to open up the three-run advantage. That was all Crabbe would allow, though, over 6.2 innings. The right-hander allowed just four more baserunners throughout his outing, allowing a total three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks to improve to 5-8 on the year.
The Pensacola offense responded immediately to the trio of tallies from Birmingham with three runs of their own in the top of the second. The first two batters reached on singles before Tucker Barnhart doubled off the right field wall to score a run and make it 3-1. Corey Wimberly notched an RBI with a groundout to short while Theo Bowe completed the rally with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Barnhart and tying the game.
The game remained knotted at two until the sixth inning when Pensacola mounted a two-out rally. Bowe tripled to the gap in left-center and scored on Devin Lohman’s ground rule double to make it 4-3. Lohman was 3-for-4 on the night, his third three-hit game in the last four contests.
All four runs came off Birmingham starter Michael Nix, who fell to 3-4 on the year. Nix allowed four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 5.2 innings.
Parker Frazier and Trevor Bell combined to retire the final seven Barons they faced over 2.1 innings to shut the door. For Bell, the perfect ninth was his 11th save in as many chances for Pensacola.
The Wahoos will look for a series win at Regions Field on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Josh Smith (8-8, 3.90) will get the ball for Pensacola opposite Birmingham’s Chris Bassitt (2-1, 3.18).
story by Kevin Burke
Softball Tourney Benefits Northview Quarterback Club
August 4, 2013
A coed softball tournament in Walnut Hill Saturday benefited the Northview High School Quarterback Club. Winning the tournament was the team named “Balls Deep”. Team members included Justice Agerton, Daulton Tullis, Morgan Ward, Jadlyn Agerton, Chasen Freeman, Brannon Freeman, Morgan Payne, Kevin Vaughan, Mark Shipps Jr., Brad Lowery, Melissa McCall Ward and Nathan Shipps. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Birmingham Routs Pensacola 8-0
August 4, 2013
Stephen McCray carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, completely shutting down a Pensacola attack that scored 16 runs the night before in Birmingham’s 8-0 win over the Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at Regions Field.
McCray retired the first 12 batters he faced before giving up a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth to Donald Lutz for Pensacola’s first baserunner. Lutz was erased on a double play. Ryan LaMarre reached on an error by the second baseman David Herbek in the sixth inning, but he was stranded.
The no-hitter extended into the eighth inning before Tucker Barnhart blooped a single into shallow left-center field for the Wahoos first base knock. McCray (10-7) ended up departing after the first two batters reached in the ninth, allowing two total hits in 8-plus innings with six strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The Barons offense provided plenty of cushion for McCray, scoring eight runs for the second straight day. Tyler Saladino led off the first with a walk and came around to score a sacrifice fly from Trayce Thompson to make it 1-0.
In the fourth inning, Mike Blanke blasted a three-run homer off Pensacola starter Daniel Renken to make it 4-0. Birmingham added another run in the sixth on a David Herback single to make it 5-0. All five runs were charged to Renken, who saw his string of seven straight quality starts come to an end. He allowed five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six frames.
The Barons left no doubt with an additional three runs in the seventh inning off of Drew Hayes, highlighted by a two-run double from Brandon Jacobs, who extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
Pensacola looks to bounce back with Tim Crabbe (4-8, 3.39) on the mound in Sunday’s middle game. Birmingham will counter with Michael Nix (3-3, 4.76). First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke