NWE 8U Wins Cal Ripken District Tournament
June 18, 2023
Northwest Escambia defeated host team Poarch 13-4 Saturday to win the District 7 Cal Ripken Baseball Tournament at Arrowhead Park. Both teams will advance to the state tournament on June 30. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall to Braves; Magic Number Drops To Two
June 18, 2023
The Blue Wahoos changed names and uniform design for the second time Saturday as the Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok.
But they weren’t able to reverse fate.
A capacity crowd was immediately quieted, after the Mississippi Braves erupted for five runs in the first inning and carried that into a 6-3 victory to continue being a roadblock at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was Pensacola’s third consecutive loss, which matched a season high.
But the team continued getting help from the Montgomery Biscuits, who beat the Biloxi Shuckers for a third straight time Saturday, thus enabling the Blue Wahoos (37-25) to have a shot Sunday at clinching the first-half race in the Southern League South Division in the series finale.
The Biscuits and Shuckers are both six games back with seven to play. The Blue Wahoos, however, have a head-to-head tiebreaker edge against Montgomery, and would clinch the division with a win and a Biscuits victory over Biloxi on Sunday. The M-Braves (30-31) are 6.5 games back after one game this season was not made up due to weather.
Saturday’s game at Blue Wahoos Stadium started an hour late at 7:09 p.m. following more rain at the ballpark. The Blue Wahoos staff and grounds crew members worked quickly to pull the tarp and prepare the field.
The rest of the night became favorable, enabling the crowd of 5,038 to take in the post-game fireworks as the usual Saturday attraction. On this night, it was also designated part of Pensacola’s participation in the Copa de la Diversión program, designed to honor baseball’s Latin American heritage.
Pok-ta-Pok was a game that dates back 4,000 years and was the first ball sport in recorded history played in the Americas.
Pensacola lost its first game in the specialty series on May 5, also against the M-Braves.
This one took a similar narrative.
The M-Braves produced five runs in the first inning off Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios, all with two outs. It was the third consecutive inning – going back to Friday night – that Blue Wahoos pitchers had yielded five runs in an inning.
Palacios struggled with control and ran long counts in throwing 27 pitches to give up the runs.
M-Braves leadoff batter Cal Conley singled, then stole second to start the rally. With one out, Palacious hit Jesse Franklin in his batter’s helmet. With two outs, he walked Landon Stephens, which became a decisive point. Drew Campbell followed with a double that cleared the bases and included a error on left fielder Dalvy Rosario.
The next batter, Beau Philip, blasted a two-run homer before Palacios got out of the inning when facing the eight M-Braves batter. The M-Braves increased the lead to 6-0 on Stephens’ solo homer.
Pensacola’s lone jolt of offense occurred in the bottom of the sixth when Nasim Nuñez led off by reaching on an error. Troy Johnston singled, then José Devers hit a two run single and advanced to third on a throwing error. Griffin Conine drove in the third run with a ground out.
But from that point, the M-Braves bullpen shut down Pensacola on zero hits in the final three innings.
The Blue Wahoos will try to salvage a split in the series Sunday, after winning the first two games earlier this week.
Jake Walters will make his second start for the Blue Wahoos. He worked four innings on May 12 against Birmingham, allowing one run. The M-Braves will counter with Tanner Gordon (2-3, 3.98 ERA), who started Tuesday’s game.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Blue Wahoos Lose Twice, But Magic Number Shrinks To Three
June 17, 2023
The weather changed from dangerous to welcoming. The ballpark was full again. And those Hawaiian shirts remain in demand.
These were wins in what became a double loss on the field Friday for the Blue Wahoos against the Mississippi Braves.
After the M-Braves first rallied for a 6-5 win in 10 innings in the resumption of Thursday’s suspended game, they kept hot bats rolling in clubbing 18 hits, including a pair of grand slams, plus a 3-run blast in their 15-3 win in Friday’s scheduled game.
Both outcomes dulled the mood among a capacity crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Giveaway Friday. The supply of ultra-popular Hawaiian shirts from sponsor Kona Brewing Company were distributed in less than 10 minutes. The first group of fans formed a line an hour and a half before the gates opened.
But despite twin defeats, the Blue Wahoos (37-24) actually gained closer to the finish of the first half division race. The Montgomery Biscuits swept a doubleheader against the Biloxi Shuckers, thus trimming the magic number to 3 in the Blue Wahoos’ quest to repeat as Southern League First Half South Division winners.
They maintain a six-game lead over Biloxi with eight games left in the schedule. The Biscuits (7 games back) and M-Braves (7.5) are close to elimination.
Veteran major-league pitcher Johnny Cueto made his second injury rehab start Friday on a path to return to the Miami Marlins. It did not go well.
Cueto gave up a trio of first-inning singles after one out. The next batter, M-Braves first baseman Cade Bunnell, blasted a Cueto pitch over the right-field berm for a grand slam.
Cueto finished the night working into the fourth inning, as planned, but allowed seven hits and five fly ball outs. He struck out one batter and threw 62 pitches.
Blue Wahoos fans provided an ovation as Cueto exited in the fourth inning and he acknowledged the crowd by tipping his hand and signaling his appreciation.
The Blue Wahoos pulled within 4-3 in the sixth inning on Griffin Conine’s two-run homer, his 11th HR this season.
From that point, however, the bullpen was rocked.
The M-Braves exploded for five runs in the seventh and eighth innings against relievers Jonathan Bermudez and Brady Puckett. They combined to yield 10 hits.
The suspended game resumed in the top of the seventh Friday tied at 3-3 and without fans when it began at 5 p.m. – an half hour before gates opened.
The game had been stopped at 8:22 p.m. Thursday night when the first band of severe storms struck and stayed through the night.
Blue Wahoos reliever Josan Méndez got the final out of the seventh and retired the M-Braves in the eighth. Conine hit a solo home run to provide a 4-3 lead in the seventh.
But in the ninth, the M-Braves’ Hudson Potts led off with a game-tying home run against Cristian Charle. It forced the extra inning and the M-Braves got a two-out, two-run homer from Luke Waddell.
The Blue Wahoos got an RBI sacrifice fly from Nasim Nuñez and had two runners on, but the M-Braves’ Alec Barger struck out Cody Morissette to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos will try to regain a series lead on Saturday in the fifth game of the series.
Luis Palacios (4-1, 4.55) will be on the mound against the M-Braves’ Domingo Robles (4-4, 3.68).
First Deer In Florida Confirmed With Chronic Wasting Disease. Here’s What To Know.
June 16, 2023
The first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said road-killed 4.5-year-old female white-tailed deer in Holmes County sampled during routine surveillance activities has tested positive. It is the first known case of CWD in Florida, a contagious disease of the brain and central nervous system that is fatal to deer.
The FWC and its agency partners take CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan. As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease. The results from this initial sampling effort will inform resource managers so they can react with appropriate management strategies.
The FWC has been monitoring free-ranging deer since 2002 to detect CWD. During that time, the FWC has tested approximately 17,500 hunter-killed, road-killed and sick or diseased deer for CWD.
The FWC and its agency partners said they are taking CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan. As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease. The results from this initial sampling effort will inform resource managers so they can react with appropriate management strategies.
The FWC has been monitoring free-ranging deer since 2002 to detect CWD. During that time, the FWC has tested approximately 17,500 hunter-killed, road-killed and sick or diseased deer for CWD
“Working with FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) and our other partners, I’m hopeful that our combined efforts will limit the effects this will have on Florida’s deer population and preserve our exceptional hunting opportunities for future generations statewide,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young.
The FWC is asking anyone who sees a sick, abnormally thin deer or finds a deer dead from unknown causes to call the CWD hotline, 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282) and report the animal’s location.
Currently, there is no scientific evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans or livestock under natural conditions. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend consuming meat from animals that test positive for CWD or from any sick animal.
“We take very seriously our responsibility to prevent, detect, and respond to animal health issues in Florida – all to safeguard our agriculture industry and our world-renowned wildlife and natural resources,” said FDACS Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Ensuring the health of Florida’s deer population is a team effort, and we will continue to work diligently with our state and federal partners to respond.”
CWD is a contagious disease believed to be caused by an abnormal protein called a prion. It is a fatal disease for all members of the deer family and is currently documented in white-tailed deer, mule deer, sika deer, elk, moose and caribou. Signs of the disease usually appear 1.5 to 3 years after initial exposure and can include extreme weight loss and abnormal behaviors such as listlessness, lowering of the head, inattentiveness toward people, walking in circles, staggering and standing with a wide stance.
Controlling the spread of CWD is difficult once it becomes established in a natural population. Because prions shed by infected deer persist in the environment, the best chance for controlling CWD is acting quickly after it’s been detected to prevent more animals from becoming infected. CWD can be transmitted directly – from animal to animal – or indirectly from the environment. Multiple management strategies will be employed to control the spread of the disease.
The FWC along with its partners – the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study – will continue to update the public as more information becomes available.
Wahoos, Braves Suspended Due To Weather
June 16, 2023
Thursday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Mississippi Braves was suspended due to rain with the score tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning.
The game will be resumed at 5:05 p.m. Friday with no fans admitted.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for Friday’s regular game scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m.
NEP 10U Gold Wins All-Star Tourney; NEP 10U Blue Takes Second
June 15, 2023
NEP 10U Gold softball took first place and NEP 10U Blue softball finished in second place in the GCGSA All-Star Tournament last weekend.
Kayla Wroblewski was named the 10u Tournament Defensive Player MVP.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win In 10 Over Braves
June 15, 2023
The Blue Wahoos checked off the lone void so far in their stellar season.
They won their first extra-inning game. And did it dramatically, of course.
Catcher Will Banfield worked a full count with the bases loaded, then completed a big night by launching a deep fly to center field for a sacrifice fly that scored Troy Johnson with the winning run in the Blue Wahoos’ 5-4 victory in 10 innings against the Mississippi Braves.
Earlier in the game he blasted a 3-run homer.
The Blue Wahoos had a 4-3 lead in the ninth and were one out and no base runners from finishing the game. But reliever Jefry Yan gave up a walk, a double and single. Griffin Conine, however, made a saving throw from right field to thwart Beau Philip from scoring the go-ahead run.
Yan was then strong in the 10th inning. With a runner placed a second in the extra-inning format, he struck out Jesse Franklin, got a short flyball that J.D. Orr rushed in to grab, then struck on the M-Braves Javier Valdes to end the inning. Yan had the crowd fired up, spinning in a celebratory, emotional dance when he ended the inning.
That lift carried right into the Blue Wahoos at-bat. With Johnston placed at second, Victor Mesa Jr. reached on an infield single. Conine was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Up stepped Banfield, who had a pitch from flamethrowing reliever Kyle Wilcox sail over his head, but bounce right back to prevent Johnston from scoring. Banfield then worked a 3-2 count, fouled off a pitch and connected with the next fastball for a flyball that easily scored Johnston.
With the Biloxi Shuckers rained out Wednesday in Montgomery, the Blue Wahoos (36-22) are now 6.5 games ahead of the Shuckers – the nearest team chasing – in the race for the Southern League first half title.
The M-Braves took a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a pair of solo home runs off Blue Wahoos starter M.D. Johnson.
In the bottom of the second, Mesa Jr. singled and Conine singled, then Banfield blasted for a 3-2 lead. The Blue Wahoos made it 4-2 when Cody Morissette scored on a wild pitch in the third inning.
The Blue Wahoos got strong relief from Austin Roberts and Dylan Bice, who combined for four innings and just one run allowed. That set up the riveting ending.
The Blue Wahoos will have their top pitcher, Patrick Monteverde (6-1, 2.09) on the mound Thursday against the M-Braves’ Scott Blewett (2-3, 4.43).
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
NEP 8U Softball Wins GCGSA All-Star Tournament
June 14, 2023
NEP 8U softball took first place in the GCGSA All-Star Tournament last weekend.
The NEP All Stars went 3-0 on Saturday, defeating Pace Blue 15-14, Molino 12-11 and Pace Red 10-0. On Sunday they started the day with a 9-0 loss to Navarre then beat Pace Blue 11-10 and Navarre 10-0 to force the title game. They topped Navarre 13-9 in five innings to claim the title.
Sadie Jones was named the 8U Tournament Defensive Player MVP.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win 12-9 Over Mississippi
June 14, 2023
Cody Morissette and Dalvy Rosario created a hit-making, run-scoring tsunami Tuesday, power-surging the Blue Wahoos into a 12-9 victory against the Mississippi Braves to open their six-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Morissette became the second Blue Wahoos player in less than two months this season to hit for the cycle – one of the game’s rarest feats – after it had been done just once before in franchise history.
Rosario, meanwhile, continued to wow. Playing just his fourth game for the Blue Wahoos, he went 3-for-5, including his third home run. He joined the team Friday from the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate, and promptly ignited his future with a walk-off homer.
The Blue Wahoos (36-22), who maintained a six-game lead against Biloxi in the Southern League division race, led 12-4 into the ninth inning, before the M-Braves got five runs off reliever Zack Leban. He recorded the final two outs.
Morissette, who went 4-for-6 with three RBI, was part of the Blue Wahoos’ season-high 18 hits. The infielder started with a run-scoring double in the third inning.
He then hit a solo homer in the fourth, tripled to lead off the sixth and spun a infield single in the seventh to get the four different hits for the cycle. Donald Lutz in 2014 was the only other Blue Wahoos player to get the feat prior to this season.
Victor Mesa Jr. hit for the cycle on April 18 against the Birmingham Barons. That game was a 10-4 loss.
This one was a middle-inning explosion for the Blue Wahoos. They scored a combined 10 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Four other players had multiple hits.
With their win, the Blue Wahoos put Montgomery and Mississippi – the other two teams in the division – further back in the rear-view mirror at 8 and 8.5 games back respectively. There are now 11 games left in the first-half schedule to determine a playoff spot.
Troy Johnston began the scoring barrage with his solo homer in the first inning. He went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. After the M-Braves took a 3-1 lead in the third inning, the Blue Wahoos responded with 11 runs in the next four innings.
Rosario, 22, a centerfielder and Dominican Republic native, hit a 2-run, 2-out homer in fourth inning to regain the lead for the Blue Wahoos and change the game. It started with Cobie Fletcher-Vance taking a high pitch on a 3-2 count to reach base.
From there, four runs ensued. After Rosario’s bomb, Nasim Nunez tripled and Morissette blasted a ball into the right center berm.
In the fifth inning, Norel Gonzalez and Will Banfield led off with singles. Griffin Conine followed with a monster blast over the batter’s eye in center field. Conine and Johnston both had RBI singles in the sixth as the lead continued to build.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Molino 12U Teams Take First And Second At All Star Tournament
June 13, 2023
Molino Ballpark 12U teams brought home first and second places in this past weekend’s All Star Tournament. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.