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.
NWE 10U Wins Gulf Coast Recreation Classic All-Star Tournament
June 26, 2023
Northwest Escambia won the 10U championship Saturday in the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic All-Star Tournament. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Smokies Canceled By Rain In First Half Finale
June 26, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Tennessee Smokies saw their series and first half finale on Sunday afternoon canceled due to rain. The game will not be made up.
After two consecutive off days, the Blue Wahoos begin the second half of their season in Montgomery on Wednesday night. They return home to Blue Wahoos Stadium on Tuesday, July 4 for a six-game series against the Biloxi Shuckers.
written by Erik Bremer
Blue Wahoos Split Doubleheader With Historic Win
June 25, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped the first game of their Saturday doubleheader 6-4 to the Tennessee Smokies, but rallied late to take the nightcap 6-5 and secure the best half-season record in franchise history.
At 41-27 with one game to play in the half, the Blue Wahoos officially surpassed the 2016 club that went 41-29 in the first half en route to a division title.
In game one, the Smokies used the long ball to take an early lead against Luis Palacios (L, 4-3). Haydn McGeary hit a two-run homer in the first, and Nelson Maldonado and Jordan Nwogu went back-to-back in the second, to put Tennessee ahead for good.
RBI singles from Victor Mesa Jr. and Griffin Conine brought the Blue Wahoos to within a run at 4-3, but Zac Leigh worked 2.0 effective innings of relief for the Smokies and Owen Caissie added two insurance runs with a double in the fifth to extend the Tennessee lead to 6-3.
In the seventh and final inning, Conine led off with a double and Troy Johnston followed with an RBI single before Danis Correa (S, 3) closed out the win.
In game two, Tennessee once again jumped out early with a first-inning home run from Caissie. José Devers evened the score with a Pensacola homer, and Conine brought in Nasim Nuñez with an RBI single in the third to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 2-1.
The Smokies evened the score against Jonathan Bermudez (W, 1-2) with a fourth-inning Cole Roederer RBI single, and Luis Vazquez blasted a 478-foot homer in the fifth to put Tennessee up 4-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Blue Wahoos drew three walks against Scott Kobos (L, 0-1) to tie the game 4-4 before Norel González capped the rally with a two-run single.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cristian Charle (S, 1) allowed a double and a Caissie RBI single before issuing a walk and three stolen bases to put the tying run at third and winning run at second. A strikeout of Roederer ended the game, securing a doubleheader split and eliminating the Smokies from the first half North Division race.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Smokies on Sunday afternoon.
written by Erik Bremer
Three In A Row: Wahoos Beat Smokies 7-4
June 24, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their third in a row on Friday night, beating the Tennessee Smokies on the strength of four home runs.
Will Banfield, Griffin Conine, Troy Johnston and Cody Morissette each went deep in support of Jake Eder, who allowed three runs over 4.1 innings in his first Double-A start since August of 2021.
Nasim Nuñez began the game by drawing a leadoff walk against Smokies starter Kohl Franklin (L, 2-4), then stole a pair of bases before scoring on a Johnston RBI single. Banfield went deep with a two-run blast a batter later, giving the Blue Wahoos a 3-0 lead.
Eder allowed an RBI double to Luis Vasquez and and RBI single to BJ Murray in the first inning, but settled into a groove as he made his milestone return in a continued recovery from elbow surgery. The lefty struck out two and walked three, departing in the fifth inning after throwing a prescribed 75 pitches.
Solo homers from Conine and Johnston helped stretch out the lead further, and Josan Méndez (W, 4-1) left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth to prevent a Smokies comeback.
Morissette’s solo homer in the seventh stretched the Pensacola lead to 7-3. Tennessee got a run back on another Vasquez RBI double against Blue Wahoos reliever West Tunnell, but Jefry Yan (S, 6) worked a spotless ninth to lock down the win.
The Blue Wahoos and Smokies play a doubleheader on Saturday, making up a rainout from Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer