Wahoos Pound Barons 16-8
August 3, 2013
The Blue Wahoos bats awakened in the first trip to Regions Field to the tune of a franchise-record 16 runs in a 16-8 win over the Birmingham Barons on Friday night. In addition to setting the franchise record for runs scored, Pensacola also broke the franchise record with 17 hits.
Pensacola fell behind early in the contest on a second-inning homer from Dan Black but responded in a big way in the third inning. Facing Scott Carroll, a minor league rehabber, the Wahoos put up five runs in the third inning. All five runs scored with two outs as Yorman Rodriguez smashed a two-run bases loaded double to right before Donald Lutz launched a three-run homer to right to make it 5-1. For Lutz, it was his first homer since April 21 for Pensacola.
Birmingham responded with a solo homer from former Wahoo Cody Puckett in the last of the third before taking the lead in the fourth with a five-spot of their own to take a 7-5 lead. All five runs were charged to starter Jon Moscot, who in his Double-A debut, gave up seven runs on seven hits in 3+ innings. Chris Manno came on to restore order with three scoreless frames, improving to 3-2 on the year.
Trailing 7-5 heading to the fifth, Pensacola put up 10 runs over the next three frames. In the fifth, Mike Costanzo’s two-run, two-out double tied the game up at seven. An inning later, Devin Lohman brought home another pair of runs with a two-out single that doubled the lead to make it 9-5.
The Wahoos blew the game open in the seventh inning, batting for the cycle as a team. Pensacola scored six runs on seven hits, including four doubles, a triple, and homer. Travis Mattair drove home two with a triple, Brandon Short and Ryan LaMarre brought home a run with doubles and Lohman capped things off with a two-run blast, his seventh of the season.
The teams traded runs in the last of the eighth and top of the ninth to account for the final two runs of the contest.
All nine hitters recorded at least a hit and scored a run in the offensive outburst while seven players recorded an RBI. Lohman (3-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI) led the charge along with five other players that record multi-hit games: Costanzo (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI), Rodriguez (2-for-6, R, 2 RBI), Lutz (2-for-6, 2 R, 3 RBI), LaMarre (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI), and Chang (3-5, 3 R).
J.R. Ballinger (1-1) took the loss for Birmingham, allowing five runs on four hits with three walks in an inning and a third. Caroll received a no-decision despite allowing five runs on five hits in 3.1 frames.
The Blue Wahoos remain four games back of the Jacksonville Suns, with each of the South Division foes picking up wins on Friday night. Pensacola and Birmingham battle again on Saturday night from Regions Field. Daniel Renken (5-7, 3.37) gets the ball for Pensacola against Birmingham’s Stephen McCray (9-7, 3.49). First pitch is scheduled from 6:30 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Tri-County 12U Competes In Softball World Series This Weekend
August 2, 2013
The Tri-County 12-U All Star softball team is competing in the 2013 World Series in Alachua, Florida, this weekend.
Friday morning Tri- County, the Alabama Babe Ruth State Champions, lost to Floyds Knob, Indiana by the score of 10-8. They will play Independence, Kansas, later today. On Saturday, they will face Ormond Beach, Florida, and Creeks, Florida.
Team members include Hayylee Watson, Avarie Jackson, Kendall Barrow, Kassadi Borders, Kolbi Bray, Malarie Foster, Olivia Cook and Katlynn Hobbs.
Pictured: The Tri-County 12-U All Stars Thursday at the 2013 Babe Ruth World Series in Alachua, Florida. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Nash Signs Division II Football Scholarship
August 2, 2013
Northview High School graduate Stetson Nash signed a football scholarship Thursday afternoon with NCAA Division II Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
Nash, 19, was a member of the Chiefs’ state championship team last year as an offensive and defensive lineman. Nash, joined by Northview coaches Sid Wheatley and Derek Marshman, visited several Arkansas schools.
“We felt like all along he could go and do great things in the classroom as well as in the game of football,” Wheatley said. “Harding has a great coaching staff and it’s a Christian school. Stetson will be a good fit.”
The 19-year old is expected to leave for Arkansas in about a week. He expects to play defense for Harding.
Pictured top: Northview grad Stetson Nash (seated) signs a Harding University Scholarship Thursday afternoon, joined by his aunt Linda Houston and (top, L-R) cousin Charles Houston, Jr., uncle Charles Houston and Christian Valasquez. Pictured inset: Nash is joined by Northview coaches Dereck Marshman (left) and Sid Wheatley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Knock Off BayBears 2-0
August 2, 2013
Having been dealt a pair of devastating one-run losses the last two days, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos responded with a 2-0 shutout of the Mobile BayBears in front of the 23rd sellout crowd of the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Thursday night. It was the third 2-0 shutout win of the series for Pensacola who took its first series in four tries against the BayBears.
Carlos Contreras spearheaded the shutout effort while picking up his first Double-A win in three tries. Contreras (1-1) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before yielding a one-out infield single to Ender Inciarte. The right-hander was able to work around the hit and work through six innings for the first time as a Wahoo. In total, he tossed six one-hit innings with a strikeout and two walks.
Lee Hyde came on to pitch a scoreless inning and a third to extend his scoreless innings streak to 28.1 frames before Josh Ravin picked up the final two outs in the eighth. Trevor Bell entered in the ninth inning and worked around a pair of one-out singles to nail down his 10th save in as many tries.
Offensively, Pensacola had multiple opportunities to blow the game open, out-hitting Mobile 13-4. However, the Wahoos settled for the pair of runs, the first of which came in the first inning on a Tucker Barnhart bases loaded RBI single. Pensacola left a runner on base in every inning except for the second before finally adding some insurance on a Travis Mattair solo homer in the last of the eighth. The home run was Mattair’s team-leading 13th of the year and 46th RBI, tying the single-season franchise record.
Bradin Hagens was the tough luck loser for the BayBears, giving up a run on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings to fall to 9-7 on the year.
The Wahoos now travel to Birmingham to face the Barons for the first time this season. Jon Moscot, called up from High-A Bakersfield on Thursday, will make his Double-A debut for Pensacola against Birmingham southpaw Spencer Arroyo (8-4, 3.16). First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday night.
story by Keving Burke
BayBears Top Wahoos 4-3
August 1, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos rallied from two separate deficits on Wednesday night, but still fell victim of a late-inning run in a 4-3 setback to the Mobile BayBears at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The game was tied at three headed to the eighth inning before the BayBears took the lead against Pensacola reliever Parker Frazier. Mobile loaded the bases with nobody out against Frazier who then gave up a sacrifice fly to Ryan Court to give the BayBears a 4-3 lead. Lee Hyde entered to limit the damage thanks to a pick off and a groundout.
Frazier took the loss for Pensacola, falling to 1-1. The right-hander allowed a run on two hits with a walk in just a third of an inning.
Pensacola had chances to tie and win the game in their last two at-bats but stranded three runners in the final two frames, including the tying run at second in the ninth when closer Jake Barrett struck out Yorman Rodriguez to end the game.
Mobile jumped out on top early in the contest against Pensacola starter Josh Smith. Ender Inciarte doubled on the first pitch of the game, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Justin Greene to make it 1-0.
Former Wahoo Mark Serrano got the start for the BayBears and dominated his former team with three shutout innings before running into a bit of trouble in the fourth. Mike Costanzo led off with a walk, moved to third on a Rodriguez double and scored on a groundout from Lutz to knot the game at one.
The two teams traded a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. In the top half, Mobile loaded the bases with two outs against Smith and scored a run on an RBI infield single from Raywilly Gomez that deflected off the glove of a diving Costanzo at first base. Drew Hayes came on to relieve Smith and uncorked a wild pitch, allowing a run to score and giving the BayBears a 3-1 lead.
Smith didn’t factor in the decision as he went 5.2 innings allowing three runs on eight hits while notching eight punchouts, one shy of a season high.
Pensacola battled right back in the bottom half to tie things up at three despite a baserunning mistake. With runners at first and second, Donald Lutz singled to left but Rodriguez was caught rounding second to far and induced a rundown between second and third before Corey Wimberly took off for home and was thrown out at the plate. Tucker Barnhart picked up the slack, though, with a two-run single to right scoring Lutz and Rodriguez.
However, Pensacola stranded runners on base in each of their last four at-bats adding up to a total of nine on the night. Six of the nine runners were left in scoring position.
Blake Cooper (3-2) picked up the win for the BayBears by getting the final out of the seventh inning and tossing a scoreless eighth.
The series wraps up on Thursday with the rubber game between the two squads at 7 p.m. Carlos Contreras (0-1, 4.66) will toe the rubber for Pensacola against Mobile’s Bradin Hagens (9-3, 3.63).
story by Kevin Burke
Pensacola Posse Wins World Series 14U Fastpitch Softball Tourney
July 31, 2013
The Pensacola Posse won the recent USSSA 2013 World Series 14U Fastpitch Softball Tournament in Gulf Shores. Team members are: (bottom, L-R) Kaili Okahashi, Pace; Paige Palmer, Cantonment; Savannah Rowell, Cantonment; Mallory Miller, Cantonment; Meagan Jones, Cantonment; (top row) Bryce Miller, Pace; Hadley Starratt, Cantonment; Destiny Herring, Jay; Samantha Kummer, Pace; Morgan Bolen, Cantonment; Kristin Quina, Cantonment; (back row) coaches Randy Miller, Sean Starratt, Pete Kummer, and John Quina. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BayBears Down Wahoos
July 31, 2013
The Mobile BayBears snapped an extended scoreless streak early, and held on late for a 3-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night in front of the 22nd capacity crowd of the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Mobile, having not scored in either of the first two games, fell behind early on a Mike Costanzo double in the last of the first inning that gave Pensacola a 1-0 lead. Unlike the last couple nights, though, the BayBears offense provided some support, tying the game in the top of the second on an RBI groundout from Rossmel Perez.
An inning later, Dustin Martin reached on a two-out infield single that scored Justin Greene, giving Mobile a 2-1 lead. The hits kept coming against Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe in the fourth inning when Ryan Court blasted his first Double-A homer giving the BayBears a two-run advantage.
Crabbe (4-8) finished off a quality start with six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. It was Crabbe’s second straight quality outing and ninth of the season.
Mobile starter Bo Schultz, who retired 11 in a row at one point and 14 of 15 hitters from the second through sixth innings, quieted the Wahoos offensively. That changed in the seventh as Travis Mattair led off the frame with a solo homer to bring Pensacola back to within two. The blast was Mattair’s franchise-record 12th of the season, but first since June 28.
Mattair had an opportunity to plate the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, but grounded out with two on against Mobile closer Jake Barrett. Pensacola brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth inning against Barrett, but Devin Lohman struck out looking to end the game.
Schultz (4-2) picked up the win for the BayBears by allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings. Barrett picked up his sixth save of the year with 1.1 scoreless frames.
The two teams will tangle in game four of the series on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Josh Smith (8-8, 3.86) gets the call for Pensacola opposite Mobile’s Mark Serrano (4-0, 2.18) with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Tate’s Dunsford, West Florida’s Rosario Named To All-State Softball Teams
July 30, 2013
Miracle Sports has named two local players to the 2013 All State Softball Team.
Rachel Dunsford, an incoming senior at Tate high school, made First Team 6A for 2013 as a Utility player. The University of Alabama Birmingham commit hit .432 for the year with eight doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, .519 on base percentage and a .591 slugging percentage. In 2012, Rachel made Second Team All State.
Korina Rosario, incoming senior at West Florida High, made Honorable Mention in 5A for 2013. The Florida State commit hit. .467 for the year with 12 doubles, four triples, one home run, 16 RBI, .495 on base percentage and had nine stolen bases. Korina was 9-4 pitching for the jaguars with 134 strikeouts and a .166 batting average against.
Both players will sign their National Letter of Intent with their respective universities in November.
Miracle Sports is the official website of the Florida High school softball rankings and the Florida All-State high school softball teams.
Pictured: Korina Rosario (left) and Rachel Dunsford. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Renken Leads Wahoos To Second Straight Shutout
July 30, 2013
Daniel Renken fired six shutout frames for the second straight outing and the Blue Wahoos offense provided two early runs to knock off the Mobile BayBears 2-0 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was Pensacola’s ninth shutout of the season and extended the team’s scoreless innings streak to 18 innings.
Renken (5-7), riding a string of six consecutive quality starts since his last start against Mobile, dominated the BayBears over six innings. The right-hander allowed three scattered hits while falling one shy of a season-high in strikeouts with six. Renken’s lone bit of trouble came in the fifth when he worked with two runners on and one out, but he got a groundout and a strikeout to retire the side. With the six shutout frames, Renken extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.1 frames dating back to July 12.
The Pensacola offense provided solo tallies in the first two frames for the only runs of the night. In the first inning, Yorman Rodriguez jacked his second home run of the year off Mobile starter David Holmberg to give the Wahoos a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Ray Chang doubled home Travis Mattair to give Pensacola a 2-0 lead.
Holmberg took the loss for Mobile to fall to 5-6 on the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
That was more than enough for Renken, who gave way to Lee Hyde in the seventh inning. The Wahoos southpaw reliever fired two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit to extend his personal scoreless streak to 27.1 innings dating back to May 21.
Trevor Bell came on in the ninth inning and retired the BayBears in order to pick up his ninth save of the year.
Pensacola will now look to take the series against Mobile on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Tim Crabbe (4-7, 3.33) looks to build on his nine scoreless innings last time out for Pensacola against Mobile’s Bo Schultz.
story by Kevin Burke
Wahoos Top BayBears
July 29, 2013
Shaun Ellis combined with four relievers to fire a two-hit shutout of the Mobile BayBears in Pensacola’s 2-0 win on Sunday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The shutout was Pensacola’s eighth of the season
The Wahoos pitching staff tied a team-low for hits allowed in a game this season, sparked by the starter Ellis. The All-Star went four-plus innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Both free passes came in the top of the fifth inning and forced Ellis from the game. Parker Frazier came out of the Blue Wahoos bullpen to get a strikeout and a double play to end the threat.
Frazier (1-0) picked up his first win in a Pensacola uniform with three scoreless and hitless innings in just his second appearance since being traded from Colorado. The right-hander struck out three and walked only one.
Josh Ravin and Chris Manno combined to toss a scoreless eighth before Trevor Bell closed the door in the ninth inning to pick up his eighth save of the season.
Pensacola provided enough support with a pair of runs in the last of the second against BayBears’ starter Andrew Chafin. Mike Costanzo led off the inning with a walk before scoring on a double from Chris Berset. Ryan LaMarre drove home Berset two batters later with a single to make it 2-0.
Chafin took the loss to fall to 7-6 on the season. The southpaw allowed two runs on four hits in six innings with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Wahoos look to make it two wins in a row on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Daniel Renken (4-7, 3.56) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mobile’s David Holmberg (5-5, 2.92). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Story by Kevin Burke