Tri-County All Stars Are Florida Little League Section 1 Runner-ups
July 3, 2023
The Tri-County All Stars took the runner-up spot in the Florida Little League Section 1 State Tournament on Sunday at Showalter Park in Century.
The Town of Century and the Century Baseball Association hosted the tournament due to storm damage to the American Legion Park in Jay.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Homers Not Enough As Blue Wahoos Fall Late To Biscuits
July 3, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos overcame an early deficit and hit three home runs, but saw a late lead slip away in the eighth inning in an 8-7 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits on Sunday afternoon.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Heriberto Hernandez hit a game-tying RBI double off Eli Villalobos (L, 0-1) before Evan Edwards dealt the decisive blow with a go-ahead RBI single.
Luis Palacios was ambushed by Montgomery in the first, and the Blue Wahoos trailed 4-0 after four batters thanks to a pair of two-run homers from Junior Caminero and Logan Driscoll. The lefty settled down after that, however, and completed 6.0 innings for the third time at Double-A this season.
The Blue Wahoos wasted no time answering back in the second inning, scoring five runs off Sean Hunley to take a 5-4 lead. Norel González hit a two-run homer and José Devers added an RBI single before Troy Johnston hit his team-leading 14th home run to put Pensacola up a run.
After a Will Banfield homer in the fifth and a run-scoring double play off the bat of González in the sixth, the Blue Wahoos led 7-4. Mason Auer got the Biscuits back within a run at 7-6 on a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
Nelson Alvarez (W, 4-1) pitched a tidy top of the eighth before Montgomery’s rally against Villalobos in the bottom of the inning. Enmanuel Mejia (S, 3) pitched around a hit batsman in the ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series and road trip against the Biscuits on Monday.
written by Erik Bremer
Hostetler Homer Helps Blue Wahoos Beat Biscuits
July 2, 2023
Bennett Hostetler hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning to lead the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a wild 5-3 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Saturday night.
In the bottom of the first, Ronny Simon hit the first pitch of the evening from M.D. Johnson for a solo homer. The Blue Wahoos twice overcame early deficits to tie the game, thanks to a run-scoring sacrifice fly from J.D. Orr in the third and an RBI single from Griffin Conine in the fourth.
Simon again got the best of Johnson in the fifth with a go-ahead RBI single to put the Biscuits up 3-2. Johnson, in his first start since returning from the injured list, allowed three runs, two earned, over 5.0 innings in a no-decision.
In the seventh, Cody Morissette led off the inning for Pensacola with his second double of the night against John Doxakis (L, 4-3). Orr reached on an error, setting the stage for Hostetler’s mammoth blast off the left field videoboard to put the Blue Wahoos up 5-3.
Zach McCambley (W, 1-0) worked 2.0 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, highlighted by a nifty escape from a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh. Junior Caminero hit a flyout to right field that would have otherwise scored a run, but Simon made an ill-advised attempt to advance from first to second and Norel González threw him out with a savvy throw before the run crossed the plate for an inning-ending double play.
Jefry Yan (S, 7) got the final six outs to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Sunday.
Written by Eric Bremer; File photo courtesy Blue Wahoos
Eder Encouraging In 4-1 Loss To Biscuits
July 1, 2023
Jake Eder struck out seven batters over 5.0 innings on Friday night, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos offense was kept quiet in a 4-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
Eder (L, 0-1), making just his second Double-A start of the season in his continued return from injury, allowed two runs on four hits in the tough-luck loss. Ronny Simon’s two-run homer in the third inning proved to be all the run support the Biscuits would need.
Mason Montgomery (W, 2-2) turned in his best start of the year for the Biscuits, allowing just a single over 6.0 scoreless innings. Only a Will Banfield homer in the ninth inning prevented Pensacola’s second shutout loss of the season.
The Biscuits added insurance runs against Cristian Charle in the later innings with an RBI double from Mason Auer and an RBI single from Austin Shenton. Two outfield assists from right fielder Griffin Conine prevented Montgomery from collecting two additional runs.
Pensacola ends June with a 13-11 record, their third straight winning month after going 11-10 in April and 18-8 in May.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Saturday.
Monteverde Carves Up Biscuits In 9-1 Win
June 30, 2023
Patrick Monteverde earned his league-leading eighth win of the season on Thursday night, stifling the Montgomery Biscuits over 7.0 dominant innings in a 9-1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos victory.
Monteverde (W, 8-1) allowed only an unearned run on four singles as the lefty, bound for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Seattle next weekend, lowered his ERA to a league-best 1.93. In 26.0 innings against Montgomery this season, Monteverde has struck out 34 batters and allowed only one earned run.
After the Pensacola offense struggled through four hitless innings, Victor Mesa Jr. broke the ice with a three-run double against Victor Muñoz (L, 6-4) in the top of the fifth. The Blue Wahoos then put together five hits and six runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by run-scoring singles from Will Banfield, Norel González, Dalvy Rosario and Nasim Nuñez, as well as another RBI double from Mesa.
Montgomery’s lone run came in the fifth on an infield single, missed catch error and a double play grounder. Monteverde completed 7.0 innings for the fourth time in his career, and the third time already this season.
Zach McCambley and Jefry Yan combined to work the final two innings of relief for Pensacola, recording six outs without allowing a hit.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday
written by Erik Bremer
Tate High Cheerleaders Hold Lil Aggies Summer Cheer Camp (With Gallery)
June 29, 2023
The Tate High School cheerleaders held their three-day Lil Aggies Summer Camp this week.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
During the clinic, athletes learned proper stretch techniques, sideline cheers and chants, proper jump techniques, motion placements, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building.
The Aggies cheerleaders are planning their next clinic for the fall.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Johnston Homers In Wahoos 7-2 Loss To Biscuits
June 29, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos opened up the second half of their 2023 season with a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday night.
Troy Johnston was the lone offensive bright spot, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and his team-leading 13th home run of the season in the eighth inning.
Evan Fitterer (L, 4-2) took the loss, allowing a season-high five earned runs over 6.0 innings thanks to early homers from Diego Infante and Austin Shenton. Junior Caminero added a two-run single in the fifth inning to stretch the Montgomery lead to 5-0.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve Cole Wilcox (W, 2-6), who scattered three hits and fanned eight over 5.0 scoreless innings.
Johnston’s homer in the eighth prevented just the second Blue Wahoos shutout at the hands of an opponent this year, and gave the first baseman a league-leading 53 RBI on the season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer
Molino 5U Wins Gospel Projects T-ball Tournament; NEP Takes Runner-Up
June 28, 2023
Molino 5U won the Gospel Projects T-ball World Series tournament Tuesday. NEP Gold claimed the tournament runner-up spot. Pictured: Molino 5U above, NEP Gold below. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NEP 7U, 8U And 15U Baseball Take First In Gulf Coast Rec Classic, 10U Second
June 28, 2023
Three NEP teams finished on top at the recent Gulf Coast Recreation Classic. NEP 7U baseball, NEP 8U baseball, and NEP 15U Baseball took first, while NEP 10U took second placed in the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NEP 6U Gold Wins Gospel Projects T-ball World Series; NEP Blue Takes Second
June 27, 2023
The NEP 6U Gold team took first place in the Gospel Projects T-ball World Series, and the NEP 6U Blue team took second place. NEP’s Roman Hall was home run champion with nine total homers in the tournament, six of which were grand slams. NEP’s Malcolm Lewis had two home runs, while Ace Morgan and Easton Bairefield had one home run each. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
