Bramwell Homers In Back-And-Forth Wahoos Loss To Trash Pandas
June 13, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos twice took leads in Thursday night’s game against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, but were unable to hold either in a 5-4 loss.
After a scoreless first three innings, the Blue Wahoos took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a line drive RBI single from Kemp Alderman against Rocket City starter Mitch Farris.
Spencer Bramwell extended the lead in the fifth inning, launching a 469-foot home run to left-center field with Shane Sasaki aboard for a 3-0 lead. Bramwell’s second homer of the season and third as a professional marked the longest documented homer for the Blue Wahoos since a 473-foot Jerar Encarnacion blast in May 2022.
Farris settled back into a groove after the long ball, ultimately delivering 6.1 innings and striking out a season-high 10 batters. The Trash Pandas charged back against Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer, getting on the board with a solo home run from Josh Crouch in the fifth and tying the game 3-3 in the sixth on a Sam Brown RBI single and Evan Edwards sacrifice fly.
The Blue Wahoos reclaimed a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning without a hit, turning two walks and a Cole Fontenelle error at third base into another run against reliever Brady Choban (W, 1-2). But once again the Trash Pandas countered, tying the game in the bottom of the frame with a David Calabrese solo homer against Jesse Bergin (L, 1-1). A two-out walk to Mac McCroskey extended the inning for Nelson Rada, who delivered the go-ahead RBI double to give the Trash Pandas a 5-4 lead.
Grant Richardson drew a leadoff walk in the ninth against Rocket City closer Sammy Natera Jr. (S, 5), but was stranded at second base to end the game. The Blue Wahoos managed only four hits on the night, and none after Bramwell’s fifth-inning homer.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos failed to gain ground on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers in the first half division race. They remain 5.0 games back with 9 to play before the standings reset in the second half of the season.
The series against the Trash Pandas continues on Friday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Bullpen Brilliant, But Wahoos Walked Off In 10-Inning Defeat To Trash Pandas
June 12, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got excellent bullpen work from four different relievers, but were walked off by the Rocket City Trash Pandas 5-4 in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
With two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Cole Fontenelle looped an RBI single to shallow right field that scored Nelson Rada from third for the winning run. With their second walk-off loss of the season, Pensacola’s winning streak ended at five games.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 2-0 in the third inning with back-to-back RBI singles from Kemp Alderman and Nathan Martorella against Rocket City starter Walbert Ureña. The Trash Pandas would counter with a two-run homer from Oscar Colas in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 2-2.
Johnny Olmstead doubled in the fourth inning and scored on a wild pitch to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 3-2, but the Trash Pandas once again answered back in the bottom of the fifth against Pensacola starter Robby Snelling. Four straight hits, including RBI singles from Sam Brown and Colas, put Rocket City up 4-3.
Josh White, who had recorded 19 consecutive outs since his last hit allowed, wriggled out of the jam and prevented further damage. Denzer Guzman was thrown out trying to swipe home on a double steal attempt, and Cole Fontenelle struck out to keep the score 4-3 to the sixth inning.
White ultimately recorded four outs before snapping his hitless streak, contributing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Luis Palacios worked a 1-2-3 seventh, and the Blue Wahoos rallied to tie the game 4-4 in the eighth with three singles. Ryan Ignoffo brought home Alderman with a two-out RBI single to right field, but Caleb Ketchup threw out Martorella trying to score from second to keep the game tied.
Dale Stanavich worked 2.0 hitless innings for the Blue Wahoos to force extras, but Jared Southard (W, 2-2) retired the Blue Wahoos in order in the top of the 10th without allowing their placed runner to score. Josh Ekness (L, 2-1) got the first two outs of the bottom of the 10th before Fontenelle’s bloop single scored Rada and sent the Blue Wahoos to a 5-4 defeat.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos failed to gain ground on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers in the first half division race. They remain 5.0 games back with 10 to play before the standings reset in the second half of the season.
The series against the Trash Pandas continues on Thursday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Tate High School Names Paul Bryan As New Head Coach Of Girls Track And Field
June 11, 2025
Tate High School has named Paul Bryan as the new head coach of the Aggies Girls Track and Field Team. Bryan brings with him an impressive legacy of district, regional, and state championship success.
Bryan is no stranger to high expectations. Known across the Pensacola area for his ability to build competitive, high-character teams, he brings both a winning tradition and a coaching style rooted in discipline, respect, and student growth.
“Coach Bryan has earned deep respect in the local athletic community, not just for the banners his teams have brought home, but for how he leads,” said Tate Principal Laura Touchstone. “He develops athletes who work hard, support one another, and carry themselves with pride. We’re thrilled to bring that level of leadership to Tate.”
Bryan’s coaching career started at Woodham High School in 1996, and he later moved on to Pine Forest High School. In almost three decades as a track head coach, he won state championships at Pine Forest and 2010 and 2011 and finishes as state runners-up at Pine Forest in 2009 and Woodham. He also earned half dozen state top 10 finishes.
He has won eight regional championships and 20 district titles, and he was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Girls 3A Coach of the Year three times.
“With a track record of excellence and a clear vision for success, Coach Bryan is set to take the Aggies to new heights. The entire Tate community looks forward to the impact he will have on and off the track,” Touchstone added.
Miller Leads One-Hit Shutout, Wahoos Beat Rocket City For Fifth Consecutive Win
June 11, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fifth game in a row on Tuesday night, collecting a season-high 13 hits and holding the Rocket City Trash Pandas to only one in a 6-0 victory.
Jacob Miller (W, 2-4) turned in the best start of his Double-A career, striking out seven Rocket City batters over 6.0 scoreless innings. Only a fourth-inning double from Denzer Guzman kept the Blue Wahoos from a combined no-hitter, instead settling for the 13th one-hitter in team history and the club’s first since April 2023.
Johnny Olmstead broke a scoreless tie with his team-leading eighth home run, a two-run shot in the fourth inning, to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-0 lead. Josh Zamora added an RBI single in the sixth to extend the lead to 3-0 against Trash Pandas starter Sam Aldegheri (L, 2-4), who contributed a quality start but was handed a tough-luck loss.
The Blue Wahoos added three more runs in the ninth, loading the bases with singles before Mark Coley II delivered a sacrifice fly and two more runners scored on a Guzman fielding error at shortstop to extend the lead to 6-0.
Nigel Belgrave struck out five batters over 2.0 perfect innings of relief, and Justin King worked around a hit batsman and a walk to pitch a hitless ninth and secure the shutout victory.
The Blue Wahoos won comfortably despite making eight outs on the basepaths and going 2-for-11 in scoring position. Their five-game winning streak is a season high, and draws them within 5.0 games of first-place Biloxi with 11 games remaining in the first half.
The series against the Trash Pandas continues on Wednesday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Pensacola Ice Flyers Announce Season Home Schedule With 29 Games
June 10, 2025
The Pensacola Ice Flyers will play 29 home games at the Pensacola Bay Center during the 202526 season.
The season kicks off with opening night on Saturday, October 18, 2025, setting the stage for the year.
The 2025-26 Ice Flyers home schedule is:
- Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025
- Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
- Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025
- Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
- Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025
- Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025
- Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
- Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025
- Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025
- Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025
- Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025
- Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025
- Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
- Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026
- Friday, Jan. 16, 2026
- Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026
- Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026
- Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
- Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026
- Friday, Feb. 6, 2026
- Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026
- Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
- Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
- Friday, March 13, 2026
- Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Friday, March 27, 2026
- Saturday, March 28, 2026
FWC Hunter Safety Courses This Month In Molino, Cantonment, Jay, Milton
June 9, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Molino, Cantonment, Jay and Milton. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Participants must take the online course before attending a class.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The two-day events will be held as follows, and you must have completed an online hunter safety course and have a copy of the completion certificate or field day voucher prior to taking a Field Day.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- June 9, 6 p.m. and June 28, 9 a.m. — Molino Community Center
- July 7, 6 p.m. and August 2, 9 a.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- July 14, 6 p.m. and August 2, 9 a.m. — Molino Community Center
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- June 16, 6 p.m. and June 28, 9 a.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- June 22, 6 p.m. and June 28, 9 a.m. — Santa Rosa Extension, Milton
- July 21 6 p.m., and August 2, 8 a.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes or by calling FWC safety coordinator Jeff Schumacher at (850) 767-3612 for more information or email.
Wahoos End Homestand With Three Homers, Blowout Win Over Clingstones
June 9, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
An offensive explosion carried by three home runs combined with stellar pitching helped put the Blue Wahoos on top Sunday afternoon, as they defeated the Columbus Clingstones 9-2 for their largest margin of victory this season.
With home runs from Johnny Olmstead, Grant Richardson and Nathan Martorella adding up to seven of the team’s nine runs, it was a high-flying day for the Blue Wahoos offense as they have pushed their winning streak to four.
“The boys are feeling good,” reliever Alex Williams said. “We’re swinging the bats well, we’re pitching well. Hopefully, we can continue this streak and make a little noise here at the end of this first half.”
Williams, who was awarded the win to improve to 2-0 on the season with Pensacola, provided three innings of shutout pitching, while moving to a streak of 11 scoreless innings.
“Trusting the defense, and filling it up (the strike zone),” Williams said. “I know we’ve got a lot of guys behind me that are working hard and getting better every day. Just filling it up and giving my guys the best chance to win and continue what the starter’s doing.”
That was something Williams was certainly able to do on Sunday. After four innings of two-run ball from Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, Williams bridged the gap in the fifth, sixth and seventh, while Ricky DeVito cleaned things up with a scoreless eighth and ninth to secure the Wahoos’ win.
“Learning from a lot of the other guys that have been here and trying to continue what’s been going well all year, the bullpen’s been great,” Williams said. “The starters have been great, and just trusting the process and keep going.”
The Blue Wahoos’ bats got going early, putting up two runs in the first inning. The first baseman Martorella picked up an RBI with a single to right, scoring Cody Morrissette, while Richardson drove in a runner as he beat out a groundball to second to break up a potential double play, allowing Kemp Alderman to score.
These were the first runs given up by Columbus starter Brett Sears at the Double-A level, after dealing ten innings of shutout pitching in his first two starts in the Southern League.
Richards was unable to continue the success he had found in his first two starts, as his final line consisted of 5.0+ innings while allowing seven earned runs.
A three-run home run from Olmstead in the fourth, along with a two-run home run from Richardson, were catalysts in driving Richards out of the game. Olmstead’s was a team-leading seventh of the year, while Richards hit his second in as many days.
Martorella added insurance in the seventh with a two-run home run of his own, pulling one out to right field against Amos Willingham.
Columbus’s lone two runs of the day both came off solo home runs from Designated Hitter David McCabe. His first two at-bats in the second and fourth against Ortiz-Mayr provided runs for the Clingstones, but were the extent of the offense for the Braves affiliate.
After winning five of six at home to get back above .500, including four in a row, the Blue Wahoos will take their lone trip of the season to Madison, Alabama, to take on the Rocket City Trash Pandas for six.
GAME NOTABLES
— With the conclusion of Sunday’s game, there are now just two series and 12 games left in the first half schedule. The Biloxi Shuckers hold a commanding lead in the Southern League South Division race with a 34-22 record prior to Sunday’s game. The Blue Wahoos entered Sunday six games back in the division standings in third place. The Montgomery Biscuits (29-27) are in second place, trailing by five games before Sunday. The second half schedule along with a new divisional race, will begin June 24.
— Injuries and roster moves had the Blue Wahoos scrambling for additional players. The team added infielder Jesus Hernandez, 21, a third baseman from the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Miami Marlins’ Class-A affiliate. He joined the team on Saturday.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos at Rocket City Trash Pandas.
WHEN: Tuesday through Sunday, June 15.
GAMETIMES: The games on Tuesday through Saturday all start at 6:35 p.m. The game on Sunday, June 15, is a 2:35 p.m. start time.
WHERE: Madison, Alabama.
Newcomer Richardson Shines Again, Bullpen Seals Third Consecutive Wahoos Win
June 8, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos turned another game into a battle of the bullpens.
That scenario has worked well for them.
After twice tying the game from 2-run deficits, the Blue Wahoos manufactured an eighth-inning run and had dominant closer Josh Ekness finish the night for a 5-4 victory against the Columbus Clingstones, delighting the usual capacity crowd (5,038) on a Fireworks Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In a game where each team’s pitching staff struck out 13 batters, the difference was Pensacola’s three relievers tossing scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, two baserunners and seven strikeouts in the final four innings.
The other difference-maker was new Blue Wahoos outfielder Grant Richardson. His two-run homer tied the game in the fifth inning and his eighth-inning single set up Mark Coley II producing a go-ahead single for the winning run.
Richardson, 25, began the season in the New York Yankees organization before getting released. He was back home in Fishers, Indiana this week when the Miami Marlins called to sign Friday to a free agent contract.
Richardson, a former 17th round draft pick by the Yankees from Indiana University, then drove from Indiana to Pensacola and was called into play Friday night when Blue Wahoos left fielder Shane Sasaki got injured when leaping for a ball against the left field wall.
After producing a pair of hits Friday, he was in the starting lineup Saturday and helped change the game. He now has four hits in two days.
“It’s awesome to be part of this,” he said during the on-field, post-game interview. “These guys have welcomed me in with open arms since I got here and being around the clubhouse and all the guys, I’m very blessed to be able to be here and be with all the fans and be so welcomed by everyone.”
While in the Yankees organization, he was managed in 2022 by Rachel Balkovec, now the Marlins director of player personnel, who became the first woman in history to manage an affiliated minor league team connected to Major League Baseball.
“It’s an opportunity and I am going to try and capitalize on every opportunity I get,” Richardson said. “And I’m very thankful the Marlins are giving me this opportunity, so it is an unreal feeling.”
The win became the Blue Wahoos’ third consecutive victory – the first time that has happened since April 25 – clinched the series. It got the Blue Wahoos back to a .500 overall record (28-28) following their 11-game losing streak last week.
Columbus scored the game’s first run off Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton in the second inning. The Clingstones, the new Atlanta Braves affiliate from Columbus, Ga., made it 2-0 in the fifth after a leadoff walk and run-scoring double by right fielder Stephen Paolini.
But in the bottom of the inning, Johnny Olmstead drew a one-out walk and Richardson blasted a pitch from starter JR Ritchie over the left-center wall. It was the Blue Wahoos first hit in the game.
After Columbus got two more runs off Fulton in the sixth, reliever Jesse Bergin was summoned with two outs and the bases loaded. He struck out Cody Milligan to end that inning in what became a pivotal moment.
In the seventh, the Blue Wahoos tied the game with a pair of walks, two stolen bases, an RBI groundout by Jared Serna and a two-out single by Cody Morissette.
Olmstead’s two-out walk in the eighth began the winning sequence. He moved to second on Richardson’s single, then scored on Coley’s single to center.
Ekness retired the Clingstones in order in the ninth to earn his sixth save and create a jubilant mood for the fireworks show.
The Blue Wahoos are now 5-1 on Fireworks Saturday games.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday. 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Olmstead Homers Late And Dashes Home for Wild Walk-Off Wahoos Win
June 7, 2025
With a 5-4 walk-off win in the tenth inning, Friday night’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Columbus Clingstones turned out to be the Johnny Olmstead show.
With runners on second and third with no one out in the bottom of the tenth, Clingstones right-hander Luis Vargas sailed a pitch that ran inside to Wahoos newcomer Grant Richardson, getting by catcher Chandler Seagle and allowing Olmstead to score the winning run.
“We’re just counting on Grant (Richardson), our new guy who we just got today, to do his job,” Olmstead said. “Once I saw it hit the backstop, I just took off and won the game.”
Olmstead’s heroics didn’t start there for the Blue Wahoos, who were donning their red Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok jerseys inspired by the Copa series.
Trailing the Clingstones 3-1 in the seventh, Olmstead came to the plate with runners on first and second as the first batter to face right-handed reliever Blane Abeyta.
Abeyta entered after starting pitcher Blake Berhalter went six shutout innings, before allowing three hits in a row in the seventh, one of which was an RBI single from catcher Ryan Ignoffo for his first Double-A hit.
On the second pitch Olmstead saw from the Clingstones’ new arm, he sent a ball around the left field foul pole to vault the Wahoos to a 4-3 lead.
“When you can put together some team at-bats and come through for the boys, there’s nothing better,” Olmstead said.
This was the third three-run homerun in June for the Blue Wahoos, after hitting only one in the season’s first two months.
Prior to the Wahoos’ four-run frame in the seventh, the game had been all Clingstones. They got on the board in the fourth against Pensacola starter Adam Laskey, as Stephen Paolini hit a two-run home run to left to open the scoring. The longball was the first Laskey had allowed in 2025.
After a scoreless fifth from Laskey, the Clingstones struck once again against left-hander Luis Palacios. Third baseman David McCabe reached on a double to left-center after Mark Coley II missed a diving attempt, and was driven in by Geraldo Quintero.
After the RBIs from Olmstead and Ignoffo in the seventh, the Clingstones knotted it up at four in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Drew Compton to right field, scoring Cody Milligan after he reached on a leadoff double.
Pensacola’s Dale Stanavich navigated the ninth and tenth, providing two scoreless innings of relief while tight-roping a bases-loaded situation in the extra frame.
“Those kinds of games are the ones you want to win,” Olmstead said. “Just trying to keep the good vibes going now and keep on rolling.”
With a 3-1 series lead, the Blue Wahoos will send lefty Dax Fulton to the mound tomorrow night, taking on JR Ritchie for the Clingstones.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The game on Saturday starts at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
Zamora’s Big Blast, Rosario’s Defense Lead Wahoos To Win Over Clingstones
June 6, 2025
The Blue Wahoos had their best run production Thursday in three weeks.
On a night with the first home-game rain daily this season – exactly one hour — it proved to be a good time for that to happen.
After scoring a pair of runs without a hit, Pensacola got a 3-run homer from Josh Zamora an inning later in the fourth to further build a lead and hold off the Columbus Clingstones 7-4 to take the team’s first mid-week lead in a series since April at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3.948 on Mullet Thursday, which settled in seats after the rain ended and a brilliant rainbow was cast over the outfield, saw the team taking on its customary alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets. The fans watched several pleasing elements.
The Blue Wahoos (26-28) received a shining start from Evan Fitterer, who worked six innings, allowed just two hits, one run and struck out five for his best outing since April 24.
His efforts carried into the offense, which had seven batters reach base on seven hits, plus five stolen bases – one off the team record. It was the kind of complimentary production the Blue Wahoos have strived to seek, after picking up their third win in the last four games.
“There’s nothing like it,” said Zamora in an on-field post game interview. “One through nine it’s phenomenal when we all get going.”
Also phenomenal was a catch made by Blue Wahoos left fielder Dalvy Rosario, who got a late jump on a blast by catcher Adam Zebrowski. As the ball was going over the left field wall, Rosario perfectly timed his leap and came down with the ball in one of the best home-run-robbing catches seen in this ballpark.
Rosario also had a big night at the plate, reaching base three times, scoring two runs and driving in another run.
With none out, two on in the fourth inning, Zamora jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Columbus starter Lucas Braun, one of 10 Clingstone players rated among the Top 30 in the Atlanta Braves organization. He sent it 385 feet over the left field wall with an exit speed of 99.3 mph off the bat.
That home run, his fourth this season, provided a 5-1 lead.
“Just (looking for) something over the plate,” he said. “Trying to be aggressive and score some runs for the boys.”
The lead expanded 7-1 after seven innings, then got shaky.
A rare hiccup from the Blue Wahoos bullpen occurred when reliever Nigel Belgrave gave up three runs in the eighth inning. Columbus then had the tying run at the plate with two-on in the ninth when reliever Jesse Bergin ended the game by getting third baseman Keshawn Ogans to hit into a double-play.
It was the most runs the Blue Wahoos had scored since a 9-6 win May 15 at home against Rocket City.
The runs began in the second with consecutive walks to Johnny Olmstead and Mark Coley. The Blue Wahoos then pulled off a double-steal, including only the ninth home plate steal in club history, to get the first run. Coley then scored when he swiped third base and came home on a throwing error.
In the fourth, Kemp Alderman and Nathan Martorella produced consecutive singles before Zamora’s homer.
In the fifth inning, Alderman’s two-out single scored Rosario for the sixth run. In the seventh, Rosario drove home Coley.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos honored the Gulf Breeze High beach volleyball team that recently won its second consecutive state championship and finished ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.com, which is a national outlet devoted to high school sports. For the Dolphins, it’s back-to-back titles and No. 1 rankings. The 17-member team, including six seniors were honored along with head coach Chelsea Kroll and her two assistant coaches. Adding to the school’s feat, the beach volleyball team was started only three years ago without any prior history in the sport.
— The city of Crestview had its own special night Thursday at the game. Crestview mayor JB Whitten threw out a ceremonial first pitch, along with Crestview’s “citizen of the year” award winner. The Crestview chamber of commerce had 60 guests the city of Crestview had more than 200 guests.
— The W.S. Neal baseball team from Brewton, Alabama had its outing.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Friday Thru Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The games on Friday and Saturday will start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game will be a 4:05 p.m. start time.