Fans ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 24, 2012
Fans had chance to “Meet the Chiefs” Thursday evening at Northview High School, 24 hours before the defending regional champs took to the field for a preseason matchup Friday night.
NHS fans turned out to meet the Chiefs varsity and junior varsity teams, cheerleaders, band and dance team.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Northview Wins Tourney Over Jay, Central, Escambia (With Gallery)
August 24, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs won a preseason volleyball tournament Thursday in Bratt, topping Jay, Century and Escambia high schools.
Northview defeated the Escambia Lady Gators in three – 19-25, 25-16, 15-12. Lily Townson had three aces for Northview. Misty Doran accumulated 11 kills, while Morgan Payne contributed four kills.
Northview also beat Jay — 20-25, 25-17, 15-12. Doran had nine kills, and Payne had eight. Danielle Steadham added four more kills for the Lady Chiefs.
In other action, Jay defeated Central.
Pictured top: Northview takes on Escambia High. Pictured inset: Central and Jay go up to the net. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Biscuits; Welcome 300,000th Fan
August 24, 2012
The Blue Wahoos batted around and tallied eight hits as part of a five-run fifth inning, led by a two-run triple from designated hitter Yordanys Perez, while three Pensacola pitchers kept Biscuits batters to just four hits in their 6-0 shutout victory over Montgomery in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, the Fish improved their record to 30-30 in the second half and are now four games behind the Biscuits for first in the South Division. Montgomery fell to 34-26 since the season’s midpoint.
The capacity crowd was the 37th of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 63rd home date. Prior to the game, the club welcomed their 300,000th fans at attend in their inaugural season. The Apostolides family was greeted by Blue Wahoos staff and Kazoo to celebrate the milestone and present the family with a special prize pack.
After both teams went scoreless into the fifth, LF Donald Lutz and C Tucker Barnhart began the Wahoos’ big inning with back-to-back base hits and then were driven in on Perez’s triple to right-center. Perez would then come plateward courtesy of 2B Miguel Rojas’ RBI single, while RF Josh Fellhauer eventually scored Rojas with a run-scoring double down the left field line.
The inning’s scoring was capped with Fellhauer coming across on 1B Beau Mills’ RBI single to left. The eight hits in the frame, collected by eight different Pensacola batters, set a new team record, breaking the previous mark of five that had been set on seven previous occasions. Pensacola plated their final tally in the eighth when Barnhart reached on a walk, moved to second on a free pass and third on a single, before coming home on a wild pitch.
Fellhauer (3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) recorded a game-high three hits and reached base four times for the second straight night, while Barnhart (2-3, 2 R, 1 BB) and Rojas (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) each collected a pair of base knocks for the Blue Wahoos. 3B Omar Luna (2-3, 1 BB) was the lone batter to collect a multi-hit effort for the Biscuits in the defeat. Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton collected a hit and two walks but did not steal a base to keep his all-time single-season steals record total at 148.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two hits in five scoreless frame to improve to 8-7. Relievers Josh Ravin (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Chris Manno (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) preserved the shutout with two shutout innings each. Montgomery starter Jacob Thompson (4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 7-11 after yielding five earned runs on nine hits in his 4.2 innings.
Pensacola will now travel to Pearl, Mississippi for their final road series of the season with a five-game set scheduled against the Mississippi Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday night, with the Blue Wahoos slated to send RHP Wirfin Obispo to the mound, while the Braves are expected to give the nod to LHP Jose Lugo.
Following the five-game series, the Blue Wahoos will return home for their final series of the regular season, facing the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, with the first game of that series set for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: The Blue Wahoos welcomed their 300,000th fans, the Apostolides family, Thursday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos were the first Southern League team to hit the 300,000 milestone this season. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Biscuits Clinch Series With 9-8 Comeback Win Over The Wahoos
August 23, 2012
Biscuits second baseman Derek Dietrich and designated hitter Ryan Garko hit back-to-back homers in the ninth, while Pensacola third baseman David Vidal drove home four runs, three thanks to a homer, as Montgomery defeated the Blue Wahoos in a 9-8 comeback victory on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The win clinches the series for the Biscuits and propels their second half record to 34-25, while the Fish fell to 29-30 since the season’s midpoint. Pensacola also dropped to five games behind Montgomery for first in the South Division.
The Blue Wahoos would start the scoring with a three-spot in the opening frame. Following base knocks from SS Miguel Rojas and RF Josh Fellhauer, CF Bryson Smith drove both home with a two-run triple down the right field line. Smith subsequently scored on Vidal’s sacrifice fly to center to cap the inning.
Montgomery narrowed the margin to 3-2 courtesy of single tallies in the third and fourth frames. CF Ty Morrison mashed a solo blast to right, his third of the season, while RF Mikie Mahtook took advantage of a pair of Blue Wahoos fielding miscues to cut the deficit to one.
Pensacola however, struck back with another three-run inning, this time in the fifth. Fellhauer and Smith both reached on base hits with one out, before Vidal launched his 11thh roundtripper of the year to left to take the team lead and put Pensacola ahead 6-2. LF Andrew Means in the next inning would bring home 2B P.J. Phillips with an RBI single to increase the Blue Wahoos’ advantage to 7-2.
A four-run seventh for the Biscuits would then make it a one-run game. Morrison and Dietrich recorded back-to-back runs-scoring singles to get the rally going, while Mahtook made it 7-6 with his two-run single to right.
Montgomery eventually entered the ninth trailing by a run, but took advantage of two longballs to grab their first and only lead of the game. Dietrich and Garko blasted their consecutive homers, the third of the season for Dietrich and eighth of Garko’s season. The Biscuits also added a key insurance run when 1B Michael Sheridan drove home Mahtook to go up 9-7.
The Blue Wahoos then mounted a comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth, putting the tying run on base. Pinch hitter Ryan LaMarre led off with a double and was brought home on an RBI single by Billy Hamilton. Hamilton then stole second to extend his own single-season stolen base record to 148 thefts this year, but was left stranded in scoring position.
Pensacola starting pitcher Mark Serrano (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite allowing two runs, one of which was earned on four hits in his six innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Montgomery RHP C.J. Riefenhauser (1.0 IP) earned the win with a scoreless frame in relief, while LHP Chris Rearick (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) notched his second save of the year.
The Blue Wahoos and Biscuits are slated to face off for the final time this year Thursday night at the bayfront stadium, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Daniel Corcino to the mound, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Jacob Thompson.
By Andrew Green
New Sign Welcomes Fans To Northview’s Football Stadium, Just In Time For Meet The Chiefs
August 22, 2012
A new sign on the football stadium press box at Northview High School will greet fans this football season. The “Home of the Northview Chiefs” sign was purchased by the Northview Quarterback Club.
The Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 7:00 Thursday night at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2012 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
Pictured above: A new sign welcomes fans to the Northview High School football stadium. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hamilton Breaks Steals Record As Biscuits Sweep Fish In Twin Bill
August 22, 2012
Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton stole four bases to set a new professional baseball record of 146 for stolen bases in a single season, while Montgomery swept the Blue Wahoos in Tuesday night’s double header. The Biscuits took the first game 4-2 before they topped the Fish 3-1 in the second contest at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the defeats, the Blue Wahoos fell to an even 29-29 record in the second half, while Montgomery improved to 34-25 since the league’s All-Star Game. The Wahoos are now four games out of first place in the Southern League South.
With two outs in the bottom of the third of game one and one steal away from tying the top mark, Hamilton lined a single into right field to reach for the second time in the contest. Hamilton then took off for second and swiped the base just under a strong and accurate throw from Montgomery catcher Mark Thomas. Three pitches later, the Mississippi native ran on the 0-2 pitch and dove head-first into third base ahead of Thomas’ throw to claim the record.
The record falls 20 years to the day after Vince Coleman and Donnell Nixon broke Rickey Henderson’s single-season stolen base record with their 131st stolen base of the 1983 season.
After both teams went scoreless through the first five innings of game one, Montgomery got the scoring started with a run in the sixth. 1B Greg Sexton walked and then advanced to third on C Mark Thomas’ double, before an RBI groundout sent home Sexton. One inning later, LF Brad Coon increased the advantage to 2-0 with an RBI single to center.
The Blue Wahoos however, came back to tie it with a clutch two-out two-run game-tying homer. LF Donald Lutz drew a one-out walk, before C Tucker Barnhart left the yard for his second longball of the year.
However, Montgomery plated two tallies in the extra eighth inning to pull ahead for good. 1B Michael Sheridan led off with a solo shot to right, his ninth roundtripper of the year, prior to RF Mikie Mahtook’s RBI single. Pensacola again fought hard in bottom of the frame and loaded the bases, but their hopes were shut down by the Biscuits.
Fish starter Tony Cingrani (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) did not factor in the decision despite giving up just two earned runs on three hits while fanning seven in seven innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Cingrani started off the contest by retiring the first 16 batters he faced. Montgomery starter Kyle Lobstein (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO) also did not receive a decision in the first game despite yielding just two hits in six shutout frames, while RHP Kirby Yates (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory.
Pensacola struck first in game two, beginning with 1B Beau Mills’ leadoff single in the second. The infielder eventually moved to second on a passed ball and third on a bunt, before being sent in on LF Donald Lutz’s run-scoring single to right. The Biscuits however, scored the next three runs to push ahead with single tallies in the third, fifth and seventh innings.
Montgomery C Mayo Acosta launched his fourth big fly of the year in the third to tie it, while the club took advantage of a Blue Wahoos passed ball to take the 2-1 advantage in the fifth. In the final frame, 3B Omar Luna drew a free pass and then moved to third on a single before coming across on Acosta’s sacrifice fly to center.
Biscuits starter Matt Buschmann (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) fired a seven-inning complete game to earn the win after giving up the lone earned run on just four hits in seven frames, while Blue Wahoos reliever Josh Ravin (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB) suffered the loss.
The two teams will now meet on Wednesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Mark Serrano to the mound, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Nick Barnese.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Billy Hamilton broke Vince Coleman’s record of 145 Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Emmele Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
HS Football: Meet The Chiefs Thursday At Northview
August 21, 2012
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 7:00 Thursday night at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2012 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Postponed; Will Double Up With Biscuits Tuesday
August 21, 2012
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos’ contest with the Montgomery Biscuits on Monday evening has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Tuesday night consisting of two seven inning games, with the first contest beginning at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for tomorrow’s game are valid for both contests, with gates opening at 4:30 pm.
Blue Wahoos SS Billy Hamilton remains at 143 steals, which is two away from tying Vince Coleman’s record of 145, which was set in 1983. Tickets are still available for tomorrow and the remainder of the series, and can be purchased online at BlueWahoos.com or at the Hill Kelly Dodge Pickup Window at the front of the stadium.
Tickets for tonight’s game can be exchanged at the Hill Kelly Dodge Pickup window for future Blue Wahoos home game tickets of equal or lesser value, subject to availability. Each ticket must be exchanged at least 24 hours in advance of the desired game and exchanges must be made in person and cannot be processed via telephone, e-mail or facsimile.
LHP Tony Cingrani is expected to get the start in game one for the Blue Wahoos, while RHP Chad Rogers is slated to get the nod in the second game. LHP Kyle Lobstein is scheduled to toe the rubber in the first game for the Biscuits and RHP Matt Buschmann is expected to start for Montgomery in the second game of the twinbill.
By Andrew Green
Blue Wahoos Beat Biscuits 9-2 To Open Series
August 20, 2012
Pensacola first baseman Beau Mills mashed a homer in his third straight game, while third baseman David Vidal also left the yard and right fielder Josh Fellhauer drove home three, as the Blue Wahoos topped the Montgomery Biscuits 9-2 on Sunday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The win pushes Pensacola to a 29-27 record in the second half and to within two games of the Biscuits for two games of first place in the South Division. Montgomery fell to a 31-25 mark since the midpoint of the season.
After both teams were held scoreless through the first four frames, both teams combined for the 11 tallies in the final five. Montgomery got the scoring started in the fifth when C Mayo Acosta led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, coming being sent home on 2B Derek Dietrich’s RBI double to left.
The Blue Wahoos would then answer with two tallies in the bottom half of the inning. C Mark Fleury and 2B Miguel Rojas each reached on consecutive walks prior to SS Billy Hamilton’s single, which loaded the bases for Fellhauer. The right fielder drove home both Fleury and Rojas with his single to right, putting Pensacola up 2-1.
Montgomery then countered in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2. DH Kyeong Kang was hit by a pitch, before he was driven home on 1B Michael Sheridan’s run-scoring double to center.
Pensacola however, would then plate seven unanswered scores over the next two frames to pull away. SS Billy Hamilton sent in Rojas following his base-on-balls, while the Fish put up a six-spot in the following inning. Mills and Vidal each homered, while Hamilton and Fellhauer each drew bases loaded free passes to add to their RBI totals. Mills’ blast was his third in as many games for the Fish and is tied for the team lead this season with Vidal with ten homers.
Hamilton (2-3, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 2 BB) and Fellhauer (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 BB) each tallied two hits for Pensacola, and reached base four times while Dietrich (2-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI) and Sheridan (2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI) also collected multi-hit efforts. Hamilton did not steal a base in the contest and remains at 143 thefts this season, putting him two away from tying Vince Coleman’s single-season record and three from setting a new mark.
Blue Wahoos reliever Wilkin De La Rosa (1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned the victory to improve to 1-1 after firing 1.1 scoreless innings, while Biscuits reliever Marquis Fleming (2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Pensacola starter Wirfin Obispo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO) did not factor in the decision despite yielding only a lone earned run on just three hits while fanning seven in his five solid innings.
The two teams are scheduled to square off again Monday night, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. from the bayfront stadium. The Fish are expected to send RHP Chad Rogers to the mound, while Montgomery is slated to give the nod to LHP Kyle Lobstein.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mobile Tops Pensacola 5-2 In Series Finale
August 19, 2012
BayBears starter Chase Anderson held the Blue Wahoos to just five hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings of work, while left fielder Brent Clevlen blasted a three-run homer in the eighth to give Mobile a 5-2 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday evening at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
With their victory Mobile improved their second half record to 23-32 this year, while Pensacola fell to 28-27 since the midpoint of the 2012 season. Despite the defeat, the Blue Wahoos won the first Bay-to-Bay series with a 12-10 record against the BayBears this year.
Anderson (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO) earned the victory after giving up just five hits, in addition to his seven punchouts in six shutout innings of work, while Pensacola starter Daniel Corcino (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) suffered a tough loss, allowing only a lone earned run on just two hits in his six frames pitched.
Mobile struck early, plating their first tally in the second to take the 1-0 advantage. Clevlen began the frame with a walk, before eventually scoring on an RBI double off the left field wall by 2B David Nick.
The BayBears would then add four insurance runs in the eighth to pull away. Dan Kaczrowski led off with a double to right, and subsequently scored on a Pensacola fielding error. SS Chris Owings and RF Alfredo Marte followed with base knocks prior to coming home on Clevlen’s homer to left, making it 5-0.
Pensacola ended Mobile’s shutout hopes in the final frame thanks to the longball. CF Bryson Smith singled before being sent in on 1B Beau Mills’ two-run blast to left. It was the ninth homer of the year for Mills, which ties him for the team lead with 3B David Vidal.
2B Brodie Greene & RF Andrew Means were involved in a collision in right field during the eighth. Greene was taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, while Means was able to walk off the field under his own power. There is no word on the extent of injuries for either player at this time.
Owings (2-3, 1 R, 1 BB) was the lone BayBears batter to record a multi-hit effort, while SS Billy Hamilton (3-4, 1 SB) collected three hits and LF Donald Lutz (2-4) tallied a pair of base knocks. Hamilton stole second in the first inning to increase his season total to 143, which places him two away from tying Vince Coleman’s record and three from setting a new mark.
Pensacola now returns home for a five-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, beginning Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. from the bayfront stadium, with RHP Wirfin Obispo expected to get the nod for Blue Wahoos, while Montgomery is slated to give the ball to RHP Merrill Kelly.