Nine-Run Second Inning Leads Wahoos To Blowout Win Over Lookouts
July 14, 2021
Pensacola scored nine times in the bottom of the second to runaway with Tuesday’s series opener 11-3 against the Lookouts at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
On the hill for Chattanooga, Graham Ashcraft (L, 3-1)—who struck out the side in the first—failed to record an out in the second as the Wahoos sent 15 men to the plate. Remarkably, nine consecutive Blue Wahoos batters reached safely to open the inning, using five hits and four walks to bat around before the first out. After Nick Fortes and Riley Mahan each walked to lead off the inning, Chris Chinea, Connor Justus, Galli Cribbs Jr., Devin Hairston, and J.D. Orr each knocked hits in succession to open a 6-0 lead for the Blue Wahoos. Two walks and two fielding errors later, the Wahoos led by nine.
The inning was highlighted by Devin Hairston’s bases-clearing double that put the Wahoos. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and Pensacola up by 9, Hairston came up to the plate and flew out to deep left to end the inning—just shy of a grand slam.
With the Wahoos up 9-0, starter Jeff Lindgren (W, 3-5) eased his way to a win, throwing five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits. He was lifted in the sixth for Andrew McInvale, who allowed one run across two innings of work. Zack Leban finished the final two innings in shutout fashion, giving up three hits and striking out one along the way.
After being no-hit on Saturday, the Wahoos have scored 21 runs in their last 18 innings. They have also created more separation between themselves and third-place Chattanooga for the second and final playoff spot in the Double-A South.
LHP Will Stewart (3-4, 4.20) will try to make it three wins in a row for the Wahoos when he takes the mound for his 12th start of the year tomorrow. He will be opposed by LHP Connor Curlis (3-4, 4.80).
Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Stars Win Florida State Championship
July 13, 2021
The Tri-County 8-10 Softball All-Star Team won the Florida little league state championship Monday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Tate Youth Football Camp
July 12, 2021
Registration is open now for the 2021 Tate Youth Football Camp, which will be held July 19-20 from 5-8 p.m.
The camp will be directed by the Tate coaching staff, assisted by Tate football players. This is an opportunity to work on fundamentals, practice agility, run through drills and learn about being part of a team.
The cost is $50 in advance, or $60 on the day of the camp. Attendees will receive a t-shirt. No football equipment will be needed. Cleats are recommended but not required.
To register, click or tap here. For more information, click the graphic on this page to enlarge.
Wahoos Knock 10 Hits In 10-4 Series Finale Win Over M-Braves
July 12, 2021
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos ambushed the M-Braves early and avoided a six-game sweep with a resounding 10-4 win at Trustmark Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Wahoos were off the the perfect start scoring five times before Edward Cabrera (W, 2-1) ever took the mound. M-Brave starter Spencer Strider (L, 1-2) struggled mightily with his command, walking five consecutive batters to put the Wahoos 2-0.
After a sac fly from Galli Cribbs, John Nunez and Devin Hairston tallied back-to-back run-scoring singles to put Pensacola up 5-0.
For a moment the Wahoos lead was in peril. Mississippi scored four times in the bottom of the fourth after hitting for the cycle as a team against Cabrera. Drew Lugbauer hit a two-run homer, Jefrey Ramos laced an RBI triple and Jalen Miller made it 5-4 with an RBI double.
After the first, Mississippi would not score again. Cabrera and the Wahoos bullpen held the M-Braves to a total of two hits over the final eight innings. Pensacola’s starter finished the game having thrown 85 pitches across 5.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked only one en route to his second win with the Wahoos.
The bottom of the lineup contributed a lion-share of the offense. Pensacola’s 5-9 hitters went 8-for-18 with nine RBIs and five runs scored. J.D. Osborne launched his first homer of the season in the win while Connor Justus and JJ Bleday each had at least one walk and one double.
The Blue Wahoos will now head home in preparation for their six-game showdown against the Chattanooga Lookouts. The series begins on Tuesday.
Blue Wahoos On Losing End Of No-Hitter For First Time Ever
July 11, 2021
For the first time in franchise history, the Blue Wahoos were on the wrong end of a no-hitter, losing 6-0 to the Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park.
Bryce Elder fired seven shutout innings and struck out six while walking four. The M-Braves brought in Daysbel Hernandez for the final two innings. For Mississippi, it was the fourth no-hitter in the club’s history and the first since Ian Anderson and Jeremy Walker no-hit the Jackson Generals on June 28, 2019.
Zach McCambley made his Double-A debut for the Wahoos and struggled early against the red-hot M-Braves. The right-hander and top-30 prospect in the Marlins system allowed six runs in 3.1 innings.
McCambley entered the night having struck out 73 compared to just six walks across 11 starts with High-A Beloit. On Saturday however, the New-Jersey native battled his command as he walked five only striking out one.
The M-Braves led 4-0 after two innings. Up 1-0, Trey Harris hit a three-run double in the second to put Mississippi up 4-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Justin Dean homered off McCambley to make it 6-0.
Jose Mesa Jr replaced McCambley in the fourth but was only able to pitch 1.2 innings before he was lifted from the game due to injury. Tyler Stevens and Alexander Guillen pitched the final three innings scoreless fashion.
Including Saturday’s loss, the Blue Wahoos have now lost a season-long five straight games to the M-Braves. The club entered the series with a one-game lead over the M-Braves for the best record in the Double-A South and now find themselves four games out of first place and on the verge of being out of a playoff spot.
Pensacola will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon in a pitching rematch of Tuesday’s series opener. RHP Edward Cabrera (1-1,1.77) will face off against RHP Spencer Strider (1-1, 3.95).
M-Braves Rally, Walk-Off Wahoos in Ninth
July 10, 2021
In a 4-4 tie, Wendell Rijo dropped a game-winning single into shallow right to give the M-Braves a 5-4 win over the Wahoos on Friday night at Trustmark Park.
The Wahoos led for most of Friday’s game largely due to Will Stewart’s second consecutive quality start. The left-hander pitched six innings and allowed three runs (one earned) without walking
a batter. The only run he allowed in the first five innings was a solo homer to Jefrey Ramos in the bottom of the fourth.
With the game tied at 1-1, Pensacola scored three times in the sixth to take the lead. After Victor Victor Mesa reached on a fielding error, Peyton Burdick walked before JJ Bleday lined a run-scoring
double into right center. The inning continued as Nick Fortes reached on comeback to the pitcher that Fortes beat out due to Troy Bacon slowly lobbing the ball to first. After a sac fly and a walk, Tristan Pompey—who homered earlier in the game—beat the shift
with an infield single, which scored Bleday.
Unfortunately for the Wahoos, the three-run lead was short lived. Mississippi scored twice in the bottom of the inning, all with two outs. Stewart had the chance to end the inning when he induced
a comebacker from Ramos, but the southpaw’s throw to first sailed into right field. The inning continued and the M-Braves ultimately scored twice to make it a 4-3 game.
Josh Roberson took over in the seventh, and with two outs and a runner at first, Shea Langeliers drove in the tying run with a base hit to right.
Pensacola was unable to score in the eighth or ninth, and in the bottom of the ninth, Justin Dean walked, stole second, and eventually reached third on a groundout to short. That setup Rijo for
the game-winning single to give Mississippi their fourth straight win over the Wahoos.
Pensacola will try to avoid losing their fifth consecutive game to the M-Braves Saturday night.
M-Braves Take Two, Wahoos Drop Third Straight
July 9, 2021
The Mississippi Braves (35-22) used two separate penultimate-inning rallies to win both games against Pensacola (33-24) on Thursday at Trustmark Park.
The first game was the resumption of Wednesday’s suspended game, that began 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. There was no offense until the bottom of the eighth inning when the M-Braves cashed in on a pair of leadoff walks. After a sac bunt from Wendell Rijo, Braden Shewmake lined a base hit into center off Dylan Bice (L, 1-3) to put the M-Braves up 3-2.
Will Latcham (W, 2-1)—who pitched in the eighth—worked a scoreless ninth inning to give the M-Braves an early win to start the evening. Even though eight of Pensacola’s nine starters had a base hit, the Wahoos ultimately left nine men on base in the one-run loss. Pensacola is now 15-8 in one-run games this season.
In the second game of the night, Jeff Lindgren (L, 2-5) took the mound for the Wahoos and pitched well through the first five innings of the game. It was a back-and-forth affair between the two sides as the Wahoos led for most of the night. Riley Mahan laced a two-out, two-run double in the top of the first inning to put Pensacola ahead 2-0.
The seesaw battle soon continued. Mississippi scored once in the second to cut Pensacola’s lead down to 2-1. Both teams scored once in the third and the Wahoos tacked on another run in the top of the fourth to make it 4-2.
Things began to unravel in the fifth. With Lindgren still on the mound, Shea Langeliers hit a home run that initially looked just foul, despite being ruled a homer by the third base umpire. The manager of the Wahoos, Kevin Randel, and several of the players questioned the umpire and despite a umpire’s conference between all three officials, the call stood. One pitch later, pitching coach Tim Norton was ejected, clearly still baffled by the ruling of a fair ball.
After the ejection, Lindgren elevated his game, striking out the next two batters and taking the Wahoos to the top of sixth with a 4-3 lead.
However, in the bottom of the sixth, the M-Braves scored six times to stun the Wahoos and ultimately put the game out of reach. After a soft come-backer for the first out, the next six M-Braves all reached base safely. Lindgren allowed a walk and single before a wild pitch set up the M-Braves with two runners in scoring position. Lindgren then allowed a two-run base hit to Justin Dean to put Mississippi up 5-4.
Jose Mesa Jr replaced Lindgren and allowed back-to-back walked before striking out Wendell Rijo (who had homered earlier in the game against Lindgren). With two outs, Jefrey Ramos tripled to bring home two more and put the M-Braves up 9-4. Pensacola scored once in the top of the seventh but ultimately fell 9-5.
The Wahoos now sit two games out of first place and are in jeopardy of losing their third series of the year. LHP Will Stewart (3-4, 4.53) will take the mound for the Blue Wahoos and he will be opposed by RHP AJ Puckett (1-4, 3.15).
Wahoos And M-Braves Game Suspended Wednesday Due To Rain
July 8, 2021
Wednesday afternoon’s contest between the Blue Wahoos and the M-Braves was suspended due to rain and unplayable field conditions at Trustmark Park. The game was tied at 2-2 headed to the bottom of the fifth once the game was suspended.
In the top of the fifth inning and the Wahoos trailing 2-1, Pensacola initiated a rally that saw the visitors tie the game before the stoppage. With one out in the inning, Pensacola rattled off three consecutive singles before Blue Wahoo debutant Justin Twine lifted a sac fly to left field, which scored JJ Bleday. M-Brave starter Hayden Deal then dispatched J.D. Osborne before the heavens opened and play was halted.
Mississippi’s grounds crew and front office did all they could; but despite their best efforts, they were unable to pull the tarp over home plate and the dirt near first base. Once it became clear that the tarp was too heavy to move, it was obvious that baseball was done for the day.
Jake Eder—in his final start prior to the Futures Game in Denver—pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two runs, including a solo homer to Braden Shewmake. In total he allowed four hits and struck out four without walking a batter.
The plan entering tomorrow is to resume the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on Thursday beginning at 5:30. Once that game is concluded, the teams will play a seven-inning contest shortly after.
M-Braves Take Series Opener, Tied With Wahoos For First Place
July 7, 2021
The M-Braves surged past the Wahoos late in Tuesday’s series opener and defeated the Wahoos 8-1 at Trustmark Park.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Mississippi scored twice off Tyler Stevens courtesy of back-to-back homers from Jalen Miller and Greyson Jenista to put the M-Braves up 5-1. Any hopes for a comeback bid were erased after the hosts scored three more runs in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of three walks and two hits allowed by the Pensacola bullpen.
Edward Cabrera’s fourth start with the Wahoos got off to a slow start as each of the first three hitters for Mississippi rattled off base hits. Justin Dean and Trey Harris each singled before an RBI single from Drew Lugbauer put the M-Braves up 1-0.
After that Cabrera looked like his usual self, striking out Atlanta’s top catching prospect Shea Langeliers before inducing a double-play ground ball from Braden Shewmake.
Pensacola tied the game in the top of the third thanks to back-to-back hits of their own. Riley Mahan floated a single into right field before Jhon Nunez poked a double into the right-field corner that scored Mahan from first.
Unfortunately for Pensacola, the offense would end there as Pensacola was held to a total of five hits while the club struck out 17 times. Mississippi retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after a leadoff walk to Lugbauer and consecutive singles from Langeliers and Shewmake.
With the loss the Wahoos and M-Braves are now 32-22 and have the best records in the Double-A South. The series continues tomorrow afternoon as LHP Jake Eder (3-2, 1.03) is expected to make the start for the Wahoos. He will be opposed by LHP Hayden Deal (1-2, 3.83).
Wahoos Walk-Off In Extras In Series Finale Against Biloxi
July 5, 2021
Riley Mahan broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 10th inning with a bases-loaded walk to give the Wahoos a thrilling 5-4 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium on the Fourth of July.
In the top of the 10th inning, the Shuckers capitalized on the extra-innings rule by scoring Luis Castro on a RBI single from Jesus Lujano. The Shucker left fielder finished the day 4-for-5, which was the third 4-hit game of his career.
Despite taking the lead, Andrew McInvale (W, 1-0) showed resiliency on the mound by retiring the next two batters without surrendering a run.
In the bottom of the 10th with Bleday on second, the Wahoos loaded the bases thanks to a hit-by-pitch and a walk. With the winning run at second and nobody out, Victor Victor Mesa hit a sac fly to right center that scored Bleday and moved Jerar Encarnacion to third. The Shuckers then intentionally walked Chris Chinea to reload the bases before Nick Lovullo hit into a fielder’s choice in which Biloxi shortstop Brice Turang got the force out at the plate.
With one out and the bases still loaded, Riley Mahan—who came off the bench in the bottom of the ninth—worked the count full against Robbie Hitt (L, 0-1) before drawing a game-winning walk.
For the Shuckers, the loss was their fifth in six days, and a disappointing way for the comeback bid to fall short.
After failing to score against Biloxi’s opener, Pensacola came out swinging against intended starter, Nick Bennett. In his first inning of work, the Wahoos scored three times. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third and only one out, JJ Bleday laced a double to the warning track in center to bring home two runs. Nick Fortes followed with an RBI single to put the Wahoos ahead 3-0.
The Shuckers had no answer for Pensacola said starter Max Meyer, who pitched five shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out four. It was the second time Meyer has pitched against Biloxi this week and the fourth time this season. In his four combined outings, Meyer is 1-0 and has pitched 19.1 shutout innings against the Brewers Double-A affiliate. The next time Meyer takes the mound, he will be in Denver, pitching for the National League in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Biloxi’s offense came to life once Meyer departed. Luis Castro led off with a double off Zack Leban before Alexander Palma launched his fourth homer of the season to cut Pensacola’s lead down to 3-2. The Shuckers then tied the game in the seventh after Turang walked, stole second, and scored on the RBI single from Palma.
For a moment it appeared the Wahoos were poised to walk it off in regulation, as they had the winning run on second base with two outs in the bottom go the ninth. Bleday hit a line drive to center that was run down by Ryan Aguilar to send the game in extras.
Pensacola now has six walk-off wins this season, and are an impressive 15-7 in one-run games.
The Wahoos next face the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, MS beginning on Tuesday, July 6. As it stands, the M-Braves are one back of the Wahoos for the best record in the Double-A South. RHP Edward Cabrera (1-0, 1.17) is expected to start the opener for Pensacola. He will be opposed by RHP Spencer Strider (0-1, 5.40).