Blue Wahoos Lose Ninth Straight
May 28, 2013
The Chattanooga Lookouts scored in each of their first four at-bats en route to an 11-1 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to finish off a five-game sweep on Monday evening at AT&T Field. Pensacola’s losing streak reached nine straight games.
The Lookouts pounded four home runs to blow out the Wahoos in the series finale. Yasiel Puig belted two homers, a three-run shot in the first and a two-run blast in the fourth to account for five RBI. Griff Erickson added a pair himself, a solo dinger in the second and a rout-capping, two-run moonshot in the seventh.
Tim Crabbe (2-4) was roughed up in three innings for Pensacola, yielding six runs (all earned) on five hits while walking four. After giving up homers in the first two innings, Crabbe walked three batters in the third, including two with the bags packed to force in two runs.
Pensacola’s lone run came in the top of the seventh when Theo Bowe smacked a two-out, pinch-hit double to score David Vidal from first. The two-bagger extended Bowe’s modest hitting streak to four games.
The Wahoos now return home to try and snap the extended losing skid with the first of a six-game series with the Jacksonville Suns. Chad Rogers (2-2, 1.93) gets the ball for Pensacola against Jacksonville’s Jay Jackson (2-1, 2.56). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Drop Another One
May 27, 2013
The Blue Wahoos were unable to hang on to two separate leads as Pensacola dropped their eighth straight with a 6-4 loss to the Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field on Sunday night.
The Blue Wahoos put two runs on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly by Ryan LaMarre that scored Bryson Smith from third, and an RBI single from Tucker Barnhart scoring Theo Bowe from second. The Lookouts were quick to respond getting a solo home run from leadoff man Rafael Ynoa in the bottom of the frame. Chattanooga tied it when Angelo Songco homered in his first at bat with the Lookouts in the bottom of the second.
In the fifth, Pensacola reclaimed the lead on a bases loaded walk to Barnhart that forced in Smith. A batter later, the Wahoos got another run when reliever Luis Vasquez balked to bring home Bowe. Again, Chattanooga answered. The Lookouts scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth against Wahoo starter Josh Smith to go in front 5-4. The big blow was a two-run double by Yasiel Puig, giving him six RBI for the series. He scored the go-ahead run later in the inning on a base hit from Ozzie Martinez. The Lookouts added some insurance with a run in the seventh off Wahoos reliever Drew Hayes.
Smith (L, 3-5) was finished after six innings and took the loss. He struck out six batters in the game, but the five runs he allowed were the most since he gave up five to Mobile in his second start of the season back on 4/10. All four Blue Wahoos runs were charged to Lookouts starter Steve Smith. He was finished after 4.1 innings and didn’t qualify for the win. Vasquez (W, 3-2) picked up the win out of the bullpen. He worked 2.2 innings and struck out four. He allowed both inherited runners to score. They were charged to Smith. Yimi Garcia (S, 10) pitched the final five outs for Chattanooga to record the save.
Bryson Smith was the bright spot in the Blue Wahoos order with a 2-for-4 game. He added a pair of runs scored.
Pensacola will look to snap their eight game skid and avoid the first five-game series sweep in team history on Monday night in Chattanooga. The Blue Wahoos will turn to RHP Tim Crabbe (2-3, 2.88) against LHP Michael Thomas (1-0, 1.23). First pitch is slated for 6:15 p.m. CT at AT&T Field. Following the game, the Blue Wahoos will return home to open a five-game homestand with the Jacksonville Suns.
story by Kevin Burke
Taylor Roberson Becomes Third Chief To Sign With Jeff Davis Volleyball
May 25, 2013
Northview High School’s Taylor Roberson signed a volleyball scholarship Friday with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
Roberson became the third Chief to sign a volleyball scholarship this year with Jeff Davis, joining teammates Morgan Smith and Morgan Payne.
Pictured top: (bottom, L-R) Mom Tammy Ashcraft, Taylor Roberson, dad Wayne Roberson, (top) NHS volleyball coach Barbara Luker and Jeff Davis coach Allen Gainer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos On Short End Of Pitchers’ Duel
May 25, 2013
The Chattanooga Lookouts broke a scoreless deadlock with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Joc Pederson singled home Rafael Ynoa giving the Lookouts all they needed in a 1-0 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Friday night at AT&T Field.
Ryan Dennick allowed the run in the sixth, but it was his only blemish in an otherwise stellar start. The Wahoos lefty was strong through six innings allowing just the one run on six hits while fanning five. He retired 10 Lookouts in a row following a leadoff double by Blake Smith in the second inning. The next Chattanooga hit came in the sixth when Ynoa singled with a man out before he eventually scored.
Offensively the Wahoos were stymied by Lookouts pitching all night. The Blue Wahoos mustered just three hits, including back-to-back singles by Travis Mattair and Devin Lohman in the second inning. A strikeout and an inning-ending double play left the Wahoos without a tally following the threat. Pensacola’s only other opportunity came in the seventh when a single from Ryan LaMarre and a hit by pitch of Lohman put two on with one out. Despite a double steal, Pensacola was held off the board in the inning.
Dennick (L, 2-4) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos, while Rob Rasmussen (W, 3-2) earned the win out of the Lookouts bullpen. Rasmussen, normally a starter, worked two innings in relief of Chris Reed who pitched five scoreless innings for Chattanooga. Jose Dominguez (S, 1) shut out the Blue Wahoos in the ninth to earn the save.
The loss extends the Blue Wahoos losing streak to a franchise high six games.
The series continues from AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday. The Blue Wahoos will start RHP Daniel Renken (1-3, 4.37) against Lookouts RHP Andrew Santiago (2-5, 6.31). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT.
story by Kevin Burke
West All-Stars Win In Softball, Baseball
May 24, 2013
The West beat the East Thursday night in the Subway All-Star Softball Game at the University of West Florida, 4-3. It was the first time in many years that high school seniors of the West, representing Escambia County, beat the East girls from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Jessica Brigg of West Florida High School was named the West MVP. The West was coached by Amy Holland of the Northview Chiefs.
In the Subway All-Star Baseball game, the West of Escambia County beat the east 13-6 for the West’s first win in seven years.
Pictured top: West All-Star Coach Amy Holland (second from right) with Northiew All-Star players (L-R) Shaquanna Jones, Ariel Holland, Misty Doran and Morgan Payne. Pictured below: The 2013 Subway West All-Star Softball team. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Announce 2013 Football Schedule
May 23, 2013
The state champion Northview High School Chiefs have released their 2013 football schedule.
The schedule begins with a Preseason Classic game on August 23 against 5-A Panama City Bay. The Chiefs will also face 4-A Marianna, 6-A Choctawhatchee and 4-A Defuniak Springs Walton.
District games (in bold below) will be against Jay, Freeport and Baker. Homecoming is October 18 against Freeport.
Wahoos Fall Short In Series Finale Wit The Mobile BayBears
May 22, 2013
The Mobile BayBears won their fourth consecutive game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night, surviving a late rally by the Wahoos in a 4-2 victory at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Shutout through the first eight frames, Pensacola rallied to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Down to the last strike, Bryson Smith doubled home Michael Gilmartin to make it 4-1. After a Luis Durango single, a wild pitch scored Smith to cut the deficit in half. Ryan LaMarre came in representing the tying run, but flew out to deep center to end the game.
Mobile’s offense got off to a quick start in the first inning. Three straight BayBears reached to start the contest, capped by Nick Evans’ RBI single. Another run scored on a double play off the bat of Jon Griffin.
Mobile added to its lead with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, with RBI’s coming from the bottom of the order. Nick Ahmed’s first base hit of the series brought home Griffin in the fourth and two innings later, Ryan Stovall scored from second on an infield single by pinch-hitter Justin Greene. Stovall never stopped running on a play up the middle behind the second base bag to give the BayBears a 4-0 advantage.
Bradin Hagens (5-3) started for Mobile and danced around trouble all night long. He gave up four hits and four walks in five innings but stranded nine runners during his outing. Pensacola couldn’t score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the fourth and had the first two hitters reach in the fifth but couldn’t move them past first and second.
Tim Crabbe (2-3) took the loss for the Wahoos as he gave up four runs (all earned) on nine hits in 5.2 innings.
The Wahoos will now take Wednesday off before heading to Chattanooga for the first of five with the Lookouts on Thursday night. Chad Rogers (2-2, 2.18) gets the start for Pensacola. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
by Kevin Burke
Baybears Clinch Series Over Wahoos
May 21, 2013
Mobile outfielder Keon Broxton blasted two two-out, two-run home runs and lead the BayBears past the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-2 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The win clinched the series for Mobile, who has won seven of the nine meetings between the two teams this season.
Broxton’s first homer came in the second inning against Josh Smith. It scored Brent Clevlen, who had reached on an error with one out. Both runs ended up being unearned as a result.
Two innings later, Raywilly Gomez walked with two outs and Broxton laced another one over the left field fence for his second homer of the contest, and third of the season.
Both round-trippers came off of Smith, who fell to 3-4 on the year. Despite the loss, it was one of the best outings of the year for Smith, who went seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five base hits while striking out five.
Pensacola scored both of its runs in the last of the sixth. With runners at second and third and one out, Joe Mather brought home a run on a ground ball out while Travis Mattair followed with a single up the middle to halve the BayBears lead. The Wahoos had other chances to score in the game, but ground into three double plays, stranded seven runners, and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Devin Lohman saw his 16-game on-base streak come to an end with a 0-4 performance.
Michael Bolsinger picked up the win for Mobile in his first start since May 4. Bolsinger gave up two runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.
Tuesday’s series finale wraps up the 10-game homestand for Pensacola.
story by Kevin Burke
Tate’s Chris Shelby Signs With Huntington College
May 20, 2013
Tate High School senior Chris Shelby has signed a football scholarship to play at Huntington College in Montgomery. Pictured are (bottom, L-R) Kenneth Shelby, Chris Shelby, Tami Shelby, Caleb Shelby (top, L-R) Dean David Venettozzi and Principal Rick Shackle,. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mobile Beats Wahoos In 11
May 20, 2013
The Mobile BayBears offense awakened late in Sunday’s contest, tying the game in the ninth before winning it with three runs in the 11th inning, 6-3, over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Mobile’s Jon Griffin proved to be the difference in the contest, providing the game-tying single to right in the ninth inning before smacking a two-run base knock up the middle in the 11th. The BayBears added two more tallies in the 11th on a wild pitch scoring Griffin and an RBI single from Rossmel Perez.
The BayBear comeback nullified an outstanding outing from Daniel Renken. He made his first relief appearance since 2010 due to Manny Parra’s Major League rehab start. Renken was phenomenal in six-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four. Parra faced the minimum in two innings, walking one and striking out one.
Pensacola got on the board early with a first-pitch leadoff home run from Bryson Smith in the first inning. It was Smith’s fifth blast of the year, tying him for the team lead with now Major Leaguer Donald Lutz.
After Mobile tied the game in the top of the fourth, the Wahoos retook the lead in the last of the fourth on a sac fly from Tucker Barnhart scoring Ryan LaMarre, but lost another runner at the plate as Travis Mattair was thrown out from left field trying to score on David Vidal’s single with two outs.
The series continues on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. Josh Smith (3-3, 3.86) will start for Pensacola against Mobile’s Michael Bolsinger (2-0, 3.63)
story by Kevin Burke
Photos by Gary McCracken, click to enlarge.