Blue Wahoos Split Twin Bill In Biloxi
April 14, 2023
After a rainout on Wednesday, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos played their first doubleheader of the 2023 season on Thursday night against the Biloxi Shuckers at MGM Park. A late, disappointing 6-4 loss in game one was avenged by a 6-2 win in the nightcap.
In game one, Nasim Nuñez opened the scoring with an opposite-field solo homer in the first, just the third long ball of his professional career. The Blue Wahoos added runs in the second and fourth thanks to triples from Victor Mesa Jr. and Troy Johnston, and extended their lead to 4-2 with a two-out RBI single from Joe Rizzo in the fifth.
Dax Fulton (L, 0-2) surrendered a two-run homer to Zavier Warren in the fourth, but returned for the sixth inning in good shape with a 4-2 lead intact. With two on and one out, Felix Valerio hit a comebacker to the mound that was nearly turned into an inning-ending double play, but saw Valerio beat a high throw to first to keep the inning alive. Fulton departed after allowing an RBI single to Noah Campbell, and Justin Evans gave up a go-ahead two-run double to Freddy Zamora to give the Shuckers the lead for good.
Darrell Thompson (W, 1-0) pitched effective relief for Biloxi before handing the ball to Abner Uribe (S, 2) for a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
In game two, the Pensacola pitching staff led by starter Zach King allowed eight walks but dodged out of trouble to keep the Shuckers at arm’s length. Wes Clarke gave Biloxi a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single, but King left the bases loaded to prevent further damage in a sign of things to come.
The Blue Wahoos evened the score 1-1 in the second on a Cobie Fletcher-Vance RBI double, and blew the game open in the fifth against starter Adam Seminaris (L, 0-1) with a four-run frame. Three consecutive RBI singles from Nuñez, José Devers and Joe Rizzo highlighted an effort that saw the Blue Wahoos push out their lead to 5-1.
Josan Méndez (W, 1-0) pitched effective relief, leaving the bases loaded once again in the fourth, before handing the ball for Austin Roberts (S, 1) for a six-out save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
File photo.
Tate Girls Tennis Wins District 1-3A Runner-Up Spot
April 13, 2023
The Tate High Aggies girls tennis team won the District 1-3A runner-up spot on Wednesday. They will head to regionals next Tuesday in Niceville. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Kaden Odom Signs To Play Baseball At Northwest Florida State College
April 13, 2023
Northview High School senior Kaden Odom signed Wednesday to play baseball for the Northwest Florida State College Raiders.
“I’d like to thank God for giving me the ability, surrounding me with great people to push me to get where I am now and for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love at the next level,” Odom said.
Odom finished his junior year with a batting average of .429 with 33 hits and 16 RBIs. He also led the Chiefs with 16 stolen bases.
Odom was also the quarterback of the state runner-up Northview Chiefs football team and had at least two D2 football offers.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Shuckers Postponed By Rain
April 13, 2023
Wednesday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers was postponed due to rain at MGM Park.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday.
T.R. Miller Slides Past Northview Varsity And JV (With Gallery)
April 12, 2023
T.R. Miller 3, Northview 2
The T.R. Miller Tigers slipped past Northview 3-2 Tuesday night in Bratt.
Cason Burkett went six innings, allowing three hits and three runs while striking out seven. Jamarkus Jefferson threw one inning in relief, striking out one.
Josh Landis led the Chiefs at the plate, going 2-3. Burkett, Jefferson, and Kaden Odom each added a hit for Northview.
Next up, Northview will host Chipley at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
T.R. Miller 3, Northview 0 (JV)
T.R. Miller defeated Northview 3-0 in junior varsity action Tuesday afternoon.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Brodie Rhodes opened on the mound for Northview, giving up three hits and four runs in four innings while striking out nine. Jayden White closed with two innings, surrendering one hit and striking out four.
Bryant Mason and Luke Chavers had one hit apiece for the Chiefs.
Pictured: Northview Chiefs JV takes on T.R. Miller Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baker Tops Northview; Niceville Gets Past Tate
April 12, 2023
Baker 7, Northview 6
The Baker Gators defeated Northview 7-6 Tuesday night in Baker.
Aubrey Stuckey opened for Northview, allowing seven hits and six runs in four innings with five strikeouts. Jamison Gilman went for three and two-thirds innings
Stuckey had a dinger in the second inning, one of two hits for the night. Chloe Ragsdale, Mary-Clayton Dawson, Rylee Brooks, Makayla Golson and Allison Flowers also each had two hits for Northview.
Northview will host Gulf Breeze Thursday at 6 p.m.
Niceville 8, Tate 6
The Tate Lady Aggies fell on the road to Niceville 8-6 Tuesday.
K Balagbagan went four innings in the circle for Tate, allowing five hits and seven runs with three strikeouts. J Smith went for two, surrendering three hits and one run.
Latner led the Aggies at bat, going 2-3. Balagbagan, B Campbell, A Laird and T Showalter added one hit each.
On Thursday, Tate will travel to Crestview.
Pictured: Aubrey Stuckey for the Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Foiled By Shuckers In 10 Innings
April 12, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had the makings of a memorable win on Tuesday night in Biloxi, twice overcoming a deficit to take a 6-5 lead to the bottom of the 10th in the opener of their road series against the Shuckers.
Instead, Jackson Chourio showed why he is currently ranked the top prospect in Minor League Baseball. After hitting his first career Double-A homer in the fifth, the 19-year-old outfielder launched a walk-off two-run blast to send the Blue Wahoos to a 7-6 defeat.
The contest was a pitchers’ duel early, as Justin Jarvis took a perfect game into the fifth for Biloxi and M.D. Johnson fanned eight over 4.0 solid innings for Pensacola in his Double-A debut.
The Shuckers took a 4-0 lead on Chourio’s first homer in the fifth inning, but the Blue Wahoos jumped on the Biloxi bullpen in the seventh to tie the game. Paul McIntosh got Pensacola on the board with a solo homer before Griffin Conine brought home a pair with a two-run triple. José Devers tied the game when he reached on a throwing error, scoring Conine from third.
Biloxi reclaimed the lead in the seventh with an Isaac Collins RBI single, handing T.J. Shook (W, 1-0) a 5-4 lead going to the ninth. Down to their final strike with the bases loaded, the Blue Wahoos got a game-tying RBI single from Joe Rizzo before Devers was thrown out trying to score from second.
After a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning from Cristian Charle (L, 0-1) in his Double-A debut, the Blue Wahoos took their first lead in the 10th when Troy Johnston brought home Rizzo from third on a sacrifice fly. Charle got the first out of the 10th before Chourio blasted the walk-off homer beyond the center field wall.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday
written by Bill Vilona
Blue Wahoos Falter Late in 6-3 Loss To Biscuits
April 10, 2023
Patrick Monteverde ended last season as one of the top minor league pitchers in the Miami Marlins organization.
He began anew the same way, throwing a superlative-filled, one-hitter for the Blue Wahoos in six innings Sunday, but the Montgomery Biscuits rallied in the final two innings against Pensacola relievers for a 6-3 win in the series finale of the opening weekend at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3,878 endured one of the coldest home games in franchise history. The game-time temperature of 61 degrees, not accounting for the wind-chill, didn’t equate to the 57-degree temperature for a game in 2014.
Those in attendance watched a pitching duel through seven innings. The Blue Wahoos (1-2) provided Monteverde a 1-0 lead on Joe Rizzo’s RBI double to score Nasim Nunez, who led off with a single.
Monteverde, 26, rated the No. 30 prospect in the Marlins organization by MLB Pipeline, faced only 20 batters in the six innings. Aside from the fourth-inning single by Mason Auer, only three other batters got a ball out of the infield.
Now in his third minor league season, this was easily one of the best performances in his professional career. Monteverde, a Pittsburgh native, was an 8th round pick by the Marlins in the 2021 draft, after his junior season at Texas Tech.
Monteverde’s pivotal inning Sunday was in the fourth, following the one-out single by Auer. He walked the next batter Logan Driscoll on four consecutive pitches, then briefly walked off the mound in disgust.
He then regathered himself and struck out the next two batters. He threw a cutter to strike out Austin Shenton to end the inning, then retired the next six batters he faced in order to put a bow on the day. The lefty’s 11 strikeouts established a new career high.
Brady Puckett followed with a clean inning in the seventh. But the Biscuits (2-1) produced three runs off Austin Roberts in the eighth inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Alika Williams.
The Blue Wahoos’ Paul McIntosh energized the crowd with his two-out, two run single in the bottom of the inning. The hit scored Victor Victor Mesa, who reached on an error, and Nasim Nunez who coaxed a one-out walk.
Blue Wahoos closer Sean Reynolds was unable to seal the win, however, in the ninth inning. The Biscuits’ Driscoll led off the inning with a home run that nicked the right field foul pole as it was curving out of the field. That tied the game.
He then plunked next batter Herberto Hernandez and Austin Shenton followed with an RBI double. Williams then finished the scoring with a two out RBI single.
The Blue Wahoos will have an off day on Monday, then will begin a six-game road series on Tuesday against Biloxi Shuckers in Biloxi, Mississippi.
written by Bill Vilona, photo by Nino Mendez/Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate Aggies Drop Two In Tallahassee
April 9, 2023
The Tate Aggies dropped two games in Tallahassee, including one on the final play of the game.
Lincoln 4, Tate 3
The Tate Aggies lost to Lincoln 4-3 on the last play of the game Friday in Tallahassee.
Drew Reaves gave up three runs and five hits, striking out seven, in six and a third innings.
Frank Randall and Brayden Touchstone both went 2-3 for the Aggies. Reaves, Caden Kelly, and James Davis each added one hit for Tate.
Chiles 12, Tate 4
Chiles defeated the Tate Aggies 12-4 Saturday in Tallahassee. Complete stats were not available at publication time.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
McIntosh Slams Blue Wahoos To 12-7 Win
April 9, 2023
Blue Wahoos catcher Paul McIntosh was the team’s second-best power hitter during the Blue Wahoos’ memorable past season.
He showed that pop in the second game of 2023 with one big, first-inning swing and cannon ball grand slam into the stadium’s Pepsi Pirate Deck area, igniting the Blue Wahoos’ 12-7 victory Saturday night against the Montgomery Biscuits.
And then, more flares followed in the air with the traditional Saturday, post-game fireworks display, completing the night before another sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
McIntosh, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI and scored a run, was among four Blue Wahoos players with multiple hits in the game. He bombed a 95 mile-per-hour fastball with 113 mph exit speed that carried 440 feet into the right-center berm area. It was part of Pensacola’s 8-0 lead into the fifth inning.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos evened the season-opening, weekend series on a night when star prospect Eury Pérez had a rocky end to his start on the mound.
Perez struck out the side in the first inning, got a double-play to end the second inning, then retired six of the next seven batters.
But in the fifth, he gave up a leadoff home run to Biscuits catcher Logan Driscoll, then two walked a pair and didn’t record an out in the inning.
He was lifted when right fielder Dane Myers dropped a fly ball that led to two more runs scored. Pérez finished with four innings pitched, three hits, one earned run, three walks and five strikeouts.
Through four innings, the Blue Wahoos had eight runs on eight hits and eight of the nine hitters in the batting order had reached base. Seven different runners scored.
It was that kind of start in a game that lasted 3 hours, 13 minutes, and had nine pitchers used.
The season-opening, weekend series concludes Sunday with the Blue Wahoos’ Patrick Monteverde going against Montgomery’s Cole Wilcox.
Written by Bill Vilona, photo by Nino Mendez/Pensacola Blue Wahoos.