Wahoos Winning Season Ends With Loss To Mississippi
September 11, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finished with its first winning season in its five-year history with a franchise record 81 wins this year.
But the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate, which won both the first and second halves this season, lost to the Mississippi Braves, 4-2, Saturday, ending its dream to win its first Southern League Championship.
It’s the second year in a row that Pensacola has lost in the opening round of the playoffs. After winning the second half of the season last year, it was swept in three games by the Biloxi Shuckers.
Mississippi’s victory at Trustmark Park earned it a 3-1 South Division playoff title. It advances to play the North Division title winner the Jackson Generals, who beat the Montgomery Biscuits, 8-2, Saturday.
Pensacola’s hitters were shut down by Mississippi’s pitching, generating just 10 runs and 30 hits in the four games. Meanwhile, the Braves scored 23 runs on 47 hits, getting 17 and 11 in the last two games.
In its three losses to the Braves, Pensacola seemed unable to get a clutch hit when it needed one. That was unusual for a team that set a franchise record with 12 walk-offs this season. But in the playoffs, the Blue Wahoos left 23 runners on base and was 5-31 or .161 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
The only player who did come through at the plate against Mississippi for Pensacola was shortstop Zach Vincej. He was 8-17 or .471 with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.
On Saturday, Mississippi right-handed starter Lucas Sims struck out the side in the third inning and struck out five of the six batters he faced between the second and third innings. He retired seven in a row. In his five innings of work, Sims allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out six.
He came out after Game 4 in Pearl, Miss., was delayed by rain for just over an hour at the end of the fifth inning.
The Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning for right fielder Connor Lien who singled to right field to drive in second baseman Levi Hyams and left fielder Dustin Peterson to jump out in front, 2-0. Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde threw to second to catch Lien trying to stretch his single to a double to end the inning.
“They got some big two-out hits and that’s kind of what they did all series,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said after the game.
Mississippi third baseman Carlos Franco hit a two out double in the bottom of the third inning off the wall in right field to score Peterson from first to put Braves ahead, 3-0. Franco finished the series 7-15 or .467 with a home run and 6 RBIs.
Pensacola came back in the fourth inning when Elizalde singled to drive in Blandino, who walked, and left fielder Phillip Ervin, who doubled off the center field wall, and pulled the Blue Wahoos within, 3-2.
Mississippi went ahead, 4-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning when center fielder Mallex Smith singled on a ground ball to left field with two outs to score shortstop Johan Camargo. Pensacola reliever Barrett Astin came in and struck out Hyams to end the inning.
“I thought the fourth inning was huge,” Kelly said. “We throw a two-spot on the board, we come back 3-2, and then they score a run. The momentum switches a little bit right there.”
The run chased Pensacola starter Tyler Mahle out of the game. The 21-year-old right hander worked 3.2 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on seven hits and a walk.
In the seventh inning, Pensacola had second baseman Brandon Dixon reach base with a walk and shortstop Zach Vincej earned the Blue Waboos third hit of the game with no outs but they were both stranded on base.
Ervin got his second hit of the game Saturday when he hit a line drive off of Mississippi reliever Caleb Dirks hip in the eighth inning and the fourth in the game for the Blue Wahoos. Ervin went 2-4 in the game.
One Injured In Motorcycle, Car Collision In Cantonment
September 10, 2016
A motorcyclist was injured in a collision with a car Saturday morning in Cantonment. The accident happened about 8:30 a.m. on Highway 29 at Woodbury Circle. The condition motorcyclist was not available. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tom Thumb Robbery Under Investigation
September 10, 2016
A Cantonment convenience store was robbed early Saturday morning, the third robbery at the store in the past two months.
According to dispatch logs, the robbery was reported at 12:42 a.m. at the Tom Thumb at the corner of Highway 29 and Woodbury Circle, and deputies were on scene in less than one minute. Deputies quickly established a perimeter around the store, and a K-9 unit was called to assist.
There were no details immediately available early Saturday morning from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on any arrests or a suspect description. There were no reports of any injuries.
In early August, Sheriff’s investigators said they believe two previous robberies at the store were committed by the same suspect. The store was robbed on July 4 and again on July 29. In both robberies, the suspect walked behind the counter and took cash from the register without producing a weapon.
Anyone with information any of the robberies is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured above and below: The Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Woodbury Circle was robbed early Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour. Pictured bottom: A still image from a surveillance video from a robbery at the store in July.
Trump Brings His Message To An Overflow Crowd In Pensacola
September 10, 2016
A packed house was on hand Friday night for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s second visit to the Pensacola Civic Center. The crowd was estimated at about 12,000 people, while “thousands more” could not get in, according to Trump.
Trump’s hour-long speech was highly critical of his opponent, Hillary Clinton, with Trump labeling the Democratic nominee as “an unstable person” and “trigger happy”.
He discussed Clinton’s handling of classified information during her tenure as secretary of state and the decision by federal authorities not to charge her after a long investiation.
“She’s being so protected. She could walk into this arena right now and shoot somebody with 20,000 people watching,” Trump said as he held his hand like a gun, “right smack in the middle of the heart and she wouldn’t be prosecuted, OK?”
Trump also said he plans to increase the military, create better paying jobs and get rid of Common Core.
“It’s so good to be back in Florida, my second home…I love the people of this state, and together we are going to have an amazing victory on November 8,” Trump said.
Aggies Cruise To Homecoming Win Over West Gadsden
September 10, 2016
The Tate Aggies cruised to an easy homecoming win Friday night, 41-6 over West Gadsden.
The game was scoreless until 24 second before the end of the first when Tate took a 7-0 lead. By the half, the Aggies had expanded their lead to 21-0 after touchdowns with 5:42 and 0:50 remaining in the second half. Tate continued to dominate with a 34-0 advantage in the third, with West Gadsden’s only score coming with 4:38 in the third.
Tate (3-0) will be away next week at Pensacola High School.
COMING UP: NorthEscambia.com will publish a photo gallery with football action photos, the band, cheerleaders and the homecoming court by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Plays Up Against Gulf Breeze, Falls 42-0
September 10, 2016
For the second time this season, the Northview Chiefs played up several classifications and against much larger rosters, and for the second time this season the Chiefs were sent home scoreless. The 1A Chiefs lost to the 6A Gulf Breeze Dolphins Friday night, 42-0 in Gulf Breeze.
The loss came two weeks after a road trip to 6A Crestview in which the Chiefs lost 70-0. At 1-2, Northview’s win this season came last week 21-14 against a much similar-sized team from Escambia Academy in Canoe, AL.
Next week, the Chiefs are back home in Bratt as they play host to the Chipley Tigers. The Tigers (0-3) are coming off a 42-8 loss to Blountstown Friday night.
COMING UP: NorthEscambia.com will publish a photo gallery with football action photos, the band, and cheerleaders by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Dozens Of Holman Prison Inmates Refuse To Work
September 10, 2016
The Alabama Department of Corrections is reporting an inmate work stoppage at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
Friday morning, prison officials reported that group of approximately 10 inmates did not report to the facility’s kitchen for preparing the morning meal. Later Friday, approximately 35 inmates assigned to the facility’s tag plant that produces the state’s license plates took part in the work stoppage.
The warden and correctional officers have maintained proper security inside the facility, and ADOC staff are delivering routine services to the inmates without incident, according to the ADOC. In addition, ADOC has a contingency plan to assign inmates from a nearby work release center in Atmore to operate the tag plant if the work stoppage continues.
Inmates participating in the work stoppage at Holman have made no demands, and overall they have been cooperative in their peaceful protest. The work stoppage is isolated to Holman Correctional Facility, which is not on lockdown. There are no reports of inmates participating in the work stoppage at the remaining 27 state correctional facilities.
Earlier this month, a corrections officer at Holman was left in critical condition after being stabbed. Prison officials reported that the inmate assaulted and stabbed the officer in retaliation for being denied an extra tray of food during the noon meal.
‘Woodlawn’ Author To Speak In Molino This Sunday; Free Showing Of Movie
September 10, 2016
This Sunday is “Woodlawn Sunday” at Highland Baptist Church in Molino.
Todd Geralds, the author of the book Woodlawn and the son of Tandy Geralds, the coach in the film Woodlawn, will be the special guest at the church. Woodlawn is a riveting true story of courage, strength, and football at the height of racial tension in Birmingham. The book has inspired the motion picture Woodlawn, and tells the story of Coach Tandy Gerelds, his running back Tony Nathan, and a high school football game that healed a city.
Geralds will speak during the Highland Mens’ Breakfast at 7 a.m., and during morning workship at 10:45 a.m.
The church will present a special free showing of the movie Woodlawn at 6 p.m. Sunday.
The 2015 film grossed $14.4 million at the box office.
Play Ball! Miracle League Open New Baseball Field
September 10, 2016
Members of Impact 100 and the volunteers of the Miracle League of Pensacola celebrated the grand opening of a new baseball field Friday night. The Miracle League of Pensacola provides an opportunity for the physically and mentally challenged to play baseball in a safe and encouraging environment. The generous grant received from IMPACT 100 has provided the resources to create an additional field to service future players and their families. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Game Three To Mississippi
September 10, 2016
The Braves scored four runs in the first two innings, including a controversial two-run, inside-the-park home run by right fielder Keith Curcio, and defeated Pensacola, 9-2, Friday at Trustmark Park. The victory put Mississippi up, 2-1, in the best-of-five series.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are on the brink of elimination by the Mississippi Braves in the Southern League South Division playoffs.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly was ejected for the second time this season when he stormed the field to argue about Curcio’s home run. Blue Wahoos right fielder Sebastian Elizalde raised his arms in the air signaling for a ground rule double when Curcio’s hit appeared to get lodged under the fence.
Kelly spiked his hat, took a big kick at the grass and gestured wildly at the right field fence to first base umpire Alex Zeigler, who threw Kelly out of the game.
The Braves got big contributions from two players that were recently called up from the High-A Carolina Mudcats. Curcio, playing in his second game, went 1-5 with the homer and two RBIs that put the Braves up 4-0 at the end of two innings.
Meanwhile, catcher Kade Scivicque, playing in his fourth game, went 4-4 with one run scored and one RBI. His single drove in first baseman Joey Meneses for a 6-2 Braves lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Mississippi Mallex Smith also led the Braves 17-hit attack going 3-3 with a walk, double and triple and one RBI. Smith has now played in eight games for the Braves on a major league rehab assignment after breaking his left thumb.
After Pensacola loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the first and failed to score, Mississippi jumped out ahead, 2-0, in the bottom of the inning.
Mississippi third baseman Carlos Franco, who is hitting .545 in three playoff games including a three-run homer Thursday, singled to right field to score center fielder Mallex Smith to take a 1-0 lead. Braves first baseman Joey Meneses singled to left field to drive in left fielder Dustin Peterson to put Mississippi up, 2-0.
In the third inning, Pensacola first baseman Ray Chang smacked a two out single to left field that scored center fielder Brandon Dixon bringing the Blue Wahoos within, 4-1, of the Braves.
Pensacola cut the lead in half to 4-2 when Zach Vincej tripled off the left field wall with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to score left fielder Phillip Ervin.
But that was as close as Pensacola would get to Mississippi in Friday’s game.
Pensacola starter Sal Romano, who threw great all second half going 5-4 with a 2.43 ERA, gave up five earned runs on nine hits and one walk, while striking out three in five innings.
Pensacola and Mississippi play the fourth game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Trustmark Park. If Game 5 is needed, it will be played at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In the North Division playoffs, the Montgomery Biscuits won, 4-3, over the Jackson Generals and now trail in the series, 2-1.