Molino 16U Green Hornets Take Second In Pace Tourney (With Gallery)
April 20, 2012
The Molino 16U Green Hornets finished second Thursday night in the Mid Season Softball Tourney in Pace.
For a photo gallery with the Molino 16U Green Hornets from earlier in the tournament, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Drop To Jacksonville Before Capacity Crowd
April 20, 2012
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Jacksonville Suns 4-3 Thursday night before a capacity crowd of 5,038 — the seventh full house this year out of 10 home contests.
The large crowd almost certainly guarantees the Blue Wahoos will continue to lead the Southern League in attendance, as they came into tonight’s contest best in that category, averaging 4,799 fans per contest.
Jacksonville won the series 4-1 after winning each of the final four games after dropping the first contest to Pensacola 2-1.
The Suns got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first, but the Blue Wahoos tied it at 2-2 after a sacrifice fly from 3B Henry Rodriguez, while 2B Brodie Greene led off the second with a single and subsequently scored on RF Yordanys Perez’s RBI double. Jacksonville however, made it 4-2 after solo home runs from C Kyle Skipworth and LF Ryan Patterson. The Blue Wahoos narrowed the margin to one from C Mark Fleury brought home Guzman but were held scoreless after that point.
SS Didi Gregorius (2-3, 1 R, 1 SO) extended his hit streak to eight games with his fifth multi-hit effort of the year, while CF Ryan LaMarre (2-4, 1 BB, 1 SO) and 1B Joel Guzman (2-4, 1 R) also collected two hits.
Blue Wahoos starter J.C. Sulbaran (6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO) suffered the loss despite fanning a team season-high 11 batters, allowing three earned runs on six hits in six frames. Suns RHP Omar Poveda (5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) earned the win after giving up three earned runs on eight hits in five innings, while reliever A.J. Ramos (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) notched his first save of the season after allowing a scoreless ninth inning.
Pensacola now heads on the road for a ten-game road trip, with stops in Montgomery and Jacksonville. The Blue Wahoos will begin their five-game series in Montgomery with the Biscuits on Friday night at 7:05 pm, with the Blue Wahoos expected to send RHP Pedro Villarreal to the mound. The Biscuits have yet to announce who will oppose Villarreal in tonight’s contest.
Jacksonville Edges The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
April 19, 2012
Jacksonville right fielder Kyle Jensen and catcher Kyle Skipworth both homered, while the Suns thwarted a Pensacola comeback attempt led by a trio of longballs and shortstop Didi Gregorius’ four hits to top the Blue Wahoos 8-7. With the win, the Suns clinched a series victory on Wednesday night at Pensascola’s bayfront stadium.
Jensen led off the second with his longball, while Skipworth left the yard in the following frame to help push the Suns to an early 4-0 advantage. Pensacola brought the contest to within one run when second baseman Brodie Greene deposited a 2-0 pitch over the left field wall with two men on for his first roundtripper of the season.
After the Suns plated two runs in the sixth, the Blue Wahoos roared back with a three-run seventh to draw the contest even. Center fielder Ryan LaMarre began the inning with a solo home run to right center, while first baseman Joel Guzman went deep later in the frame with a two-run blast to even the score.
Jacksonville again answered with a pair of tallies in the eighth to grab back the lead at 8-6, but Pensacola did not go down quietly in the final frame. Gregorius singled and moved to third on third baseman Henry Rodriguez’s single, before he was brought home on Guzman’s sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one. Greene then singled to place the tying run in scoring position for pinch hitter Mark Fleury, who fought hard in an eight pitch at bat but was called out on strikes to end the contest.
Suns reliever Joshua Schmidt (0.2 IP, 1 SO) earned his first victory of the season, while Blue Wahoos RHP Drew Hayes (1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB) suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 on the year. Jacksonville closer Evan Reed (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 SO) pitched the final two frames to notch the save, his fourth of the year.
Gregorius’ (4-5, 3 R) four-hit game was his second of the season after accomplishing that feat less than a week earlier, while LaMarre (2-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI), Rodriguez (2-5, 1 R, 1 2B), Greene (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) and right fielder P.J. Phillips (2-4) all collected multi-hit efforts in the loss. Jacksonville shortstop Chris Gutierrez (2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB) was the lone Suns hitter to tally a multi-hit contest, adding two runs and two RBI.
Pensacola and Jacksonville will meet Thursday night in the final game of the five-game series, with first pitch set for 7:00 pm. The Blue Wahoos are slated to send RHP J.C. Sulbaran to the hill, while the Suns are expected to hand the ball to RHP Omar Poveda.
Thursday night’s contest will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the season, with domestic drafts on sale for $2 dollars, while 12 ounce canned sodas will be $1 dollar. The Fur Circus, featuring three circus-themed mascots, will also be on hand for the second night in a row to perform before and during the game.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Shortstop Didi Gregorius had four hits in Pensacola’s 8-7 loss to the Suns Wednesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Ernest Ward, Ransom Middle Schools Track
April 18, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle and Ransom Middle school boys and girls recently competed in a track meet at Bellview Middle School in Pensacola.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Results from the meet were not provided by the host school.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Suns Shut Out Wahoos 7-0
April 18, 2012
Jacksonville third baseman Shane Bowman collected three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs to push the Suns past the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in a rain-shortened 7-0 shutout on Tuesday evening at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium.
The game was called following the first pitch of the ninth inning, when home plate umpire and crew chief Spencer Flynn called for the grounds crew to cover the field with the tarp. Officially the game ended after eight frames, with Jacksonville taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
Bowman (3-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI) brought home runs with a run-scoring single in the third, a two-run base knock in the fifth and a solo home run in the seventh as he led all hitters with three hits. It was the second night in a row Bowman left the yard, as he tied last night’s contest at 4-4 with a solo home run to left in the seventh.
Pensacola RHP Daniel Corcino (4.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year after allowing two earned runs on three hits, while Jacksonville RHP Zach Neal (7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 7 SO) earned the win after yielding six hits while fanning seven in seven shutout innings pitched.
Blue Wahoos RF Yordanys Perez (3-3) accounted for half of the club’s six hits, collecting three hits in his first multi-hit game of his professional career.
Pensacola and Jacksonville will meet again Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm. RHP Tim Crabbe is slated to get the ball for the Blue Wahoos, while the Suns are expected to send LHP Graham Taylor to the mound.
By Andrew Green
Yordanys Perez had three hits in Pensacola’s 7-0 loss to the Jacksonville Suns Tuesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Downs Northview; Canes Headed Into Playoffs
April 17, 2012
The Flomaton Hurricanes wrapped up their regular season with a 2-0 win over the Northview Chiefs Monday night in Bratt.
The Hurricanes ended the season with a 23-4 record as they prepare for the state playoff series beginning Friday.
The winning pitcher for Flomaton was James Dean (5-0), pitching four while striking out six, walking two and allowing no hits. Jacob Newton pitched two for FHS, strikingo out three, walking one and allowing no hits, while Hunter Bonds allowed one in one inning on the mound.
Hunger Rigby took the loss for the Chiefs.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The Northview Chiefs have one regular season game remaining Thursday at 6 p.m. at Pensacola High School. And the Flomaton Hurricanes will host the first round of the playoffs against Zion Chapel at 4:30 and 6:30 on Friday.
Flomaton: Hunter Bonds SB; James Dean 2-4 2B, 1B R; Zack Watson SB; Jacob Newton 1-3 1B R; Cody Nolan 1-1 1B; Nick Sutton 1-2 1B.
Pictured: Flomaton traveled to Bratt Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Taylor Rigby, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Out Of District Tourney; Jay Royals Play Tonight
April 17, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost Monday to the Chipley Tigers, 1-0, in the FHSAA Class 1A District 2 Tournament at Baker School.
Chipley advances to play the No. 1 seed Jay Lady Royals (9-1 in district play) at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The winner advances to the championship game Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Lady Chiefs finished the season at 10-9 overall, 4-6 in regular season district play.
Sparta Downs Atmore Christian
April 17, 2012
Atmore Christian School lost to Sparta of Evergreen, Ala., on Monday, 11-4. The junior varsity game between ACS and Sparta was canceled due to rain.
Pictured: Atmore Christian School takes on Sparta in Evergreen, Ala., on Monday. Submitted photos by Alisa Hart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Molino 12U, 16U Lady Jags
April 16, 2012
The Molino 12U Lady Jags took part in the Mid Season Softball Tourney in Pace over the weekend.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Submitted photos by Gary Carnley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Walk Off With 2-1 Win Over Jacksonville
April 16, 2012
Pensacola first baseman Joel Guzman walked with the bases-loaded in the bottom of the ninth to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-1 win over the Jacksonville Suns in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium.
The win gives Pensacola a 1-0 lead in the five-game series, while the capacity crowd was the sixth in as many games at the Blue Wahoos’ bayfront stadium.
Pinch hitter Miguel Rojas, shortstop Didi Gregorius and third baseman Henry Rodriguez all singled in the final frame to set the stage for Guzman with two outs. The native of the Dominican Republic then drew a game-ending free pass on four pitches to cue the celebration and give the Blue Wahoos their second walk-off win at home this year.
Rodriguez started the scoring for Pensacola with a solo home run to left, his second of the year, to grab a 1-0 lead. Jacksonville however, drew the contest even at 1-1 when second baseman Jeff Dominguez brought home catcher Kyle Skipworth with a run-scoring single in the subsequent frame.
Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) earned his second victory of the year after striking out the side in the ninth, while Suns reliever Wade Korpi (1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss after allowing the final run, along with three hits in 1.2 innings of support. Pensacola starter Pedro Villarreal (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) pitched well but did not receive a decision despite yielding just a lone earned run on only five hits while fanning five in six frames.
Gregorius (2-5), Rodriguez (2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and second baseman Brodie Greene (2-4) all tallied multi-hit games for the Blue Wahoos, while right fielder Jake Smolinski (2-4, 1 2B) was the lone Suns batter to tally two hits. Despite his game-winning walk, Guzman saw his eight-game hit streak come to an end, though he has now reached base in his first nine contests.
Pensacola and Jacksonville meet again Monday night for the second game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm. RHP Curtis Partch is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Blue Wahoos, while the Suns are expected to send RHP Bryan Evans to the mound.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: First baseman Joel Guzman delivers a bases-loaded walk to push Pensacola to a 2-1 win over Jacksonville on Sunday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.