Conine Hits Record-Breaking Blast As Blue Wahoos Fall 6-4
September 11, 2022
Griffin Conine solidified his place atop the Pensacola Blue Wahoos’ single-season home run leaderboard, but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Wahoos dropped their game to the Tennessee Smokies 6-4 on Saturday night.
Conine blasted an opposite-field two-run shot in the sixth inning for his 24th home run of the season, surpassing Peyton Burdick’s 2021 total to become the franchise’s home run king. Conine also tied Aristedes Aquino, who hit 37 home runs for Pensacola in 2017 and 2018, atop the club’s all-time home run list with seven games to play in the regular season.
The Smokies took an early 1-0 lead against Cody Mincey (L, 5-6) in the first inning, as Zach Davis singled and stole second before Bryce Ball drove him in with an RBI double. Pensacola tied it up in the second with a solo homer from Will Banfield, but Tennessee jumped ahead for good in the third with a two-run homer from Chase Strumpf and RBI single from Andy Weber.
Pensacola finally mounted a threat against Tennessee starter Ben Brown (W, 3-0) in the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out. Demetrius Sims lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home one run, but Brown struck out Nasim Nuñez to strand the potential tying runs in scoring position.
Miguel Amaya provided some insurance for the Smokies in the fifth with a solo home run, and it proved useful as Conine’s two-run homer against Kyle Johnson in the sixth drew Pensacola to within a run at 5-4. Tennessee would get a run back in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Cole Roederer, and Bailey Horn (S, 4) got the final six outs to earn the save in a 6-4 final.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Smokies on Sunday afternoon.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Northview Beats Tate In ‘Summerford Bowl’ (With Photo Gallery)
September 10, 2022
Officially, it was the FFA Ag Bowl with a cowbell as the big trophy Friday night. But it was also unofficially the “Summerford Brother Bowl” as the Northview Chiefs beat the Tate Aggies 34-25 at Tate.
The game featured younger brother Wes Summerford as the three-year head coach of the Northview Chiefs, a 1R team from the smallest public school in Escambia County, and Rhett Summerford as the first-year head coach of the Tate Aggies from the largest school in the area.
For an action photo gallery click here. (Cheerleaders, fans, band and more coming by Monday.)
Wes Summerford said he received a text with a photo a few hours before the game that took him back to 2008. It was the first year ever coaching for Wes, right there with his four-year older brother Rhett on the field at Tate High School. “It was a lot of reminiscing and thinking about the things we’ve done together. Even tonight, even though we are on opposite sidelines…I think we both got it after tonight, so a little competition.”
“It’s a special thing for our family,” Rhett Summerford said. “I’m sure dad’s had a good night; you know both sons…”
Rhett paused, brother Wes to his side. His voice broke with emotion. “I love this guy. We’re close.”
Friday night, it rained. It poured. And then it rained some more.
The field was a wet, sloshy mess. And that might have been a little advantage for the Chiefs, Wes Summerford said. For the past three weeks, they’ve been practicing on a wet, sloshy, slippery, muddy field at Northview in Bratt.
“It was a great game. It was what you want in a football game, rain’s coming down” Rhett said.”We are just trying to get better at the ball.”
“I knew it was going to be a war,” Wes said. “I would expect nothing less. Tate did a great job of preparing for us. I’ve got all the respect in the world for their coaching staff and what they do. Those guys are going to be good. They are getting there.”
“Big win for our guys. I challenged them all week, playing a 7A team, it’s a big win for our program. It may be the biggest win we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Wes said.
Northview’s Jamarkus Jefferson had five touchdowns for the Chiefs. His first touchdown followed a 24-yard run from quarterback Kaden Odom down to the 1-yard line.
“Nothing ever surprises me with that guy,” Wes Summerford said of Jefferson. “Every coach that has coached against him will tell you the same thing…that he is our ‘Mr. Do It All’. He does a great job. He battles his butt off, and he’s a winner at the end of the night.”
“It’s not just Jamarkus though. Their quarterback is phenomenal,” Rhett Summerford said, adding that Northview QB Kaden Odom is who he would name as player of the game. “The quarterback kept us off balance in order for Jamarkus to get the run. It was Jamarkus, Jamarkus, and then you think you’ve got Jamarkus tired, and all the sudden they go quarterback the other way. That was like a dagger everytime it happened.”
Tate scored when quarterback Taite Davis found senior Carmelo Campbell for a 51-yard touchdown. Davis also hit Diego Dukes, and he was in for another TD from 12-yards out. Andre Colston had touchdowns of 10 and 53 yards to round out the Aggie scoring.
The Tate Aggies (1-2) will host Navarre (2-1) next Friday. It’s homecoming next week for the Northview Chiefs (3-0) as they take on Elberta (0-3) in Bratt.
And a footnote. As Friday night’s winner, Wes is expecting to see Rhett wash the dishes after this week’s Summerford Sunday dinner.
For an action photo gallery click here. (Cheerleaders, fans, band and more coming by Monday.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Score Recap
September 10, 2022
Here’s a recap of Thursday and Friday night football scores from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Northview 34, Tate 25 [Story, photos...]
- Pace 42, West Florida 14
- Jay 37, Franklin County 0
- Milton 47, Washington (delayed to Saturday)
- Escambia 12, Gulf Breeze 10
- Navarre 37, Rickards 6
- Pensacola Catholic 49, St. Stanislaus (Miss.) 27
- Baker 21, Bozeman 20
- Pine Forest 41, Pensacola 8 (Saturday)
ALABAMA
- St. Michael Catholic 42, Escambia County (Atmore) 13
- T.R. Miller 32, Jackson 29
- W.S. Neal 41, Monroe County 12 (Thursday)
- Cottage Hill Christian 20, Flomaton 16 (Thursday)
- Banks Academy 23, Escambia Academy 12 (Thursday)
Pictured: Northview beat Tate 34-25 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Conine Ties Home Run Record As Blue Wahoos Sweep Doubleheader
September 10, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept their doubleheader from the Tennessee Smokies on Friday night, winning 5-4 in a tense game one and exploding for a 12-7 win in game two.
Griffin Conine launched his 23rd home run in the first inning of game two to tie the record for the most home runs in a single season in Blue Wahoos history, equaling Peyton Burdick’s total in 2021. Conine also claimed the top spot on the franchise’s RBI leaderboard with 70 RBI on the year, passing Travis Mattair’s 69 RBI in 2014.
In game one, Dax Fulton was dominant with eight strikeouts over 4.0 hitless innings before Marcus Chiu broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the fifth. Demetrius Sims added an RBI single before Conine forced in another run with a bases-loaded walk to put Pensacola ahead 3-0.
After a long layoff, Fulton came back out for the bottom of the fifth and promptly served up a three-run homer to Jake Washer to tie the game 3-3. Zack Leban (W, 1-3) allowed a leadoff walk to come around in the sixth on a Bryce Ball sacrifice fly to put the Smokies in front 4-3, but in the top of the seventh and final inning Will Banfield delivered one final big hit for the Blue Wahoos. Down to their final two outs, the catcher took Jarod Wright (L, 0-1) deep for a go-ahead two-run home run as the Blue Wahoos took a 5-4 lead for good.
In game two, Conine’s early blast was countered by a four-run second for the Smokies against A.J. Ladwig (W, 8-5). Chase Strumpf hit an RBI single, Cole Roederer hit a two-run homer, and Zach Davis scored on a Conine throwing error as the Smokies took a 4-2 lead. Miguel Amaya extended the lead to 5-2 with a solo home run in the third.
In the top of the fourth, the Blue Wahoos charged back to tie the game on a two-run double from Bubba Hollins and an RBI single from J.D. Osborne. Knotted up 5-5 going to the sixth, Pensacola took advantage of erratic control from the Smokies bullpen to push across seven runs on only four hits. Osborne brought home the first run of the inning when Ben Hecht (L, 1-2) hit him with a pitch with the bases loaded, and RBI singles from Davis Bradshaw, Paul McIntosh, Norel González and Bubba Hollins contributed to Pensacola’s biggest inning since late May.
Friday marked Pensacola’s first doubleheader sweep after splitting their first six twin bills of the season.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Blue Wahoos Rally Late To Top Smokies 11-6
September 9, 2022
Trailing 6-0 after six innings, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos embarked on a furious rally to defeat the Tennessee Smokies on Thursday night by a score of 11-6.
Norel González hit a grand slam in the seventh, and Paul McIntosh highlighted a four-hit game with a two-run homer in the eighth as the Blue Wahoos evened up their series against the Smokies one game apiece.
Tennessee struck first in the third inning when Jake Slaughter’s two-out fly ball to left field was lost in the twilight for an RBI double. Chase Strumpf took starter Patrick Monteverde deep for a three-run homer in the third, and Miguel Amaya connected on an RBI double against reliever Robinson Martínez to put the Smokies up 6-0.
Pensacola couldn’t solve Smokies starter Riley Thompson, leaving five men aboard over 5.0 scoreless innings. Against Peyton Remy in the seventh, however, they loaded the bases with a hit batsman and a pair of walks before McIntosh got the Blue Wahoos on the board with an RBI single on a 3-0 pitch. Eduarniel Nuñez (L, 0-1) entered to face González, who blasted his second grand slam of the season to put the Blue Wahoos within a run at 6-5.
After a scoreless seventh from Chandler Jozwiak (W, 1-0), the Blue Wahoos bats got back to work in the eighth. Davis Bradshaw led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored on a game-tying RBI double from Marcus Chiu. One batter later, Thomas Jones put Pensacola ahead with an RBI double of his own past a drawn-in infield. Demetrius Sims added an RBI single before McIntosh hit his two-run homer to cap Pensacola’s second five-run inning in a row.
McIntosh drew a bases-loaded walk for an insurance run in the ninth before Sean Reynolds, pitching multiple innings for the first time at Double-A, closed things out on the mound.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies with a doubleheader on Friday at Smokies Stadium.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate Freshmen Defeat Northview JV (With Photo Gallery)
September 7, 2022
The freshmen Tate High Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs junior varsity 30-14 Tuesday night at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
Northview (2-2) will travel to Atmore next Monday evening to take on Escambia County High School at 6:00.
Tate will travel to Navarre on September 15. The JV will play at 5 p.m. and junior varsity at 7:00.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Jay Tops Northview 3-2 (With Photo Gallery)
September 7, 2022
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-2 in high school basketball Tuesday night in Bratt.
The Royals came out on top 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 20-25, 15-8.
In junior varsity action, Jay won in two straight, 25-15, 25-23.
For a photo gallery from the varsity matchup, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Smokies Beat The Wahoos 14-4
September 7, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell in their series opener against the Tennessee Smokies on Tuesday night by a score of 14-4.
Jake Slaughter hit a pair of homers, scored four runs and drove in six to lead Tennessee’s winning effort as the Smokies inched closer to clinching a North Division playoff berth.
Slaughter opened up the scoring right away in the first inning with a two-run homer against Zach King (L, 2-5), who allowed four more runs in the third on RBI doubles from Nelson Maldonado and Chase Strumpf.
The Smokies added two more runs in the fourth on a Miguel Amaya sacrifice fly and Andy Weber RBI double. Pensacola got their only run against Tennessee starter Chris Clarke (W, 7-4) with a Norel González RBI double in the sixth to bring the score to 8-1, but Yonathan Perlaza answered back with a solo homer on the first pitch of the bottom of the inning as Tennessee got their bats back to work.
Bryce Ball hit an RBI double in the seventh before Slaughter capped his night with a grand slam in the eighth. Will Banfield’s third single of the game brought home a Pensacola run in the eighth, and Cobie Fletcher-Vance drove in another in the ninth with a sacrifice fly, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Blue Wahoos.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Tuesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Bonus Gallery: Tate Cheerleaders, Showband And ROTC
September 6, 2022
The Tate Aggies defeated the Pensacola High Tigers 35-26 in a Saturday morning game.
For a bonus photo gallery with the Tate cheerleaders, Showband and ROTC, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Rained Out In Series Finale
September 5, 2022
Sunday’s series finale between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts was canceled due to rain and wet grounds at AT&T Field.
The game will not be made up, as the two teams do not meet again in the 2022 regular season.
After an off day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos continue their road trip as they begin a six-game series against the Tennessee Smokies on Tuesday.