Blue Wahoos Top Shrimp
April 15, 2019
- On a picture-perfect sunny Sunday afternoon at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos completed their first comeback win of the season, beating the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 4-3 thanks to a late two-run double by Jimmy Kerrigan and strong relief outings from Sean Poppen (W, 1-0) and Ryan Mason (S, 2).
Jacksonville took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run home run by John Silviano, just the second time this season the Blue Wahoos have allowed their opponent to score first.
Tanner English responded immediately in the home half of the first inning, leading off and hitting the first pitch thrown to him over the fence in left to cut Jacksonville’s lead in half.
After allowing two in the first, Blue Wahoos starter Andro Cutura settled in and put zeroes on the board the next three innings. Jacksonville added an additional run in the fifth, stringing together three straight singles with two outs to increase their lead to 3-1.
Jumbo Shrimp starting pitcher Cody Poteet was excellent early, allowing just the first pitch homer. But, the Wahoos caught up to him in the sixth inning.
Four straight Blue Wahoos batters singled to lead off the sixth inning with Jordan Gore, Luis Arraez, Brian Schales, and Mitchell Kranson each consecutively knocking base hits. With the bases loaded and no outs, Jimmy Kerrigan dropped a double down the right field line, scoring two and giving Pensacola a 4-3 lead.
Cuture finished with a line of 5.0 innings pitched, eight hits and three runs allowed, no walks, and two strikeouts. Poppen entered in the sixth, throwing two one-hit innings of scoreless relief and striking out four to earn his first victory of the season. Mason didn’t allow a hit in 2.0 scoreless, striking out three on his way to his second save.
Today’s win improves the Blue Wahoos record to a Southern League best 7-3 while Jacksonville falls to 4-6. Pensacola heads on the road to Biloxi tomorrow for a five-game series against the Shuckers.
Northview’s Kite Places Third In 1A State Weightlifting Meet
April 14, 2019
Northview High School’s Tent Kite finished third in the 129-pound weight class Saturday at the FHSAA 1A State Weightlifting Championship in Panama City.
Kite had best bench press of 240 lbs. and a best clean/jerk of 195 lbs. for a total 435, just five behind the second place finisher from River Ridge High School.
He placed second in the state meet last year.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Jay Track Athletes Advance To Regionals
April 14, 2019
Regional track results:
Northview High School
The boy’s track team placed second overall, while the girl’s team place third.
The following Northview track athletes will advance to regionals in Jacksonville:
Chris Nordman in triple jump
Ray Bush in long jump
Karlee Criswell in high jump
Sarius Davis in the 400m
Nene Findley, Lexi Broadhead, Keyshawn Breedlove, Dainel Merrit, Quay Thomas, Jarius Moorer in the 100m
Nene Findley, Daniel Merrit, and Keyshawn Breedlove in the 200m
Girl’s and Boy’s 4×100m Nene Findley, Lexi Broadhead, Korelis Morales, Sarius Davis, Daniel Merritt, Keyshawn Breedlove, Quay Thomas, Jarius Moorer
Girl’s and Boy’s 4×400m Nene Findley, Karlee Criswell, Sarius Davis, Taylor Lashley, Keaton Brown, Colby Morris, Daniel Meritt, Jarius Moorer
Jay High School
Jillian Thornton placed first in the girl’s high jump.
The following Jay girls track athletes will advance to regionals:
Jillian Thornton: 400m and High Jump
Hannah Whitlock: 1600m
Alyssa Chavis: 100m Hurdles and 4×100m
Amber Cross: 4×100m
Lexi Copeland: 4×100m
Amber Cross: 4×100m
Landry Cato: Pole Vault
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Top The Blue Wahoos
April 14, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued their stretch of incredible starting pitching on Saturday evening at Blue Wahoos Stadium, but the team fell 1-0 in a late-inning loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Griffin Jax took the mound for the Wahoos and delivered another scoreless start. He went 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four.
The Jumbo Shrimp countered with Jordan Yamamoto, who was just as good, allowing just one hit over 5.0 shutout innings and striking out four.
The game turned into a bullpen battle late, and Jacksonville came out on top. Adam Bray entered in the seventh for the Blue Wahoos and set the Jumbo Shrimp down in order, but gave up the game’s only run in the eighth.
Jacksonville’s Magneuris Sierra singled to right with two outs in the eighth inning and quickly stole second. After Brian Miller walked, Justin Twine pushed a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Sierra and giving Jacksonville the 1-0 lead.
Out of the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen, Jordan Milbrath (W) threw 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out four. Dylan Lee (S) also threw 2.0 scoreless, earning his first save of the season.
The loss drops the Blue Wahoos’ record to 6-3 on the season, still good for first place in the Southern League South and the best overall record in the league. Jacksonville improves to 4-5 with the win. The two teams will finish their five-game set Sunday afternoon .
Northview Gets District Win Against Chipley (With Gallery)
April 13, 2019
Northview 3, Chipley 0
The Northview Chiefs picked up another big district win Friday night with a 3-0 shutout of Chipley.
Seth Killam pitched the win for the Chiefs. He lasted six innings, allowing no runs on four hits and striking out 11. Nick Venable earned the save out of the bullpen with the last three outs.
Killam , Venable , Jacob Bryant, Tanner Levins and Jackson Moore each had one hit for Northview.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Softball: Northview Splits With Jay (With Gallery); Tate Gets Big Win Over Milton
April 13, 2019
Jay 9, Jay 1
Northview 5, Jay 3 (JV)
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 9-1 in a varsity district game Friday night in Bratt, while the JV Lady Chiefs defeated Jay 5-3.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate 10, Milton 1
Tate 14, Milton7
The Tate Lady Aggies cruised to an easy 10-1 win over Milton Friday night in Milton.
Avery Beauchanie earned the victory for the Lady Aggies, giving up one run on one hit in seven innings, while striking out five.
Beauchanie, Shelby McClean, Gabby Locke, Amber Decoux and Ryleigh Cawby each had a couple of hits for Tate.
Pictured: Jay defeats Northview in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate, Pace Split Friday Night
April 13, 2019
Pace 6, Tate 2
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies 6-2 Friday night to split their regular season games 2-2.
Tied 2-2 after seven innings, the Patriots plated four runs in the top of the eighth to put the game out of the reach of Tate.
For Tate: Chase Tolbert 1-3, R; Jadon Fryman 1-2, R; Trevor Norton 1-2.
The Aggies are back in action next week against Choctaw and Navarre.
Tate 6, Pace 2 (JV)
The JV Tate Aggies completed their sweep of Pace by the score of 6-2 Friday. On Thursday, the JV Aggies beat Pace 7-6.
Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Shut Out Jacksonville
April 13, 2019
Devin Smeltzer’s first start of the year in Mobile was going to be hard to top. After taking a perfect game into the 5th inning on the road and striking out 9 in Pensacola’s 5-0 win over Mobile on April 6th, the bar was high for his first home start of 2019 on Friday evening.
Consider the bar raised.
Smeltzer shined in his Blue Wahoos Stadium debut, working into the ninth in shutout fashion. He exited with one out in the game’s final inning to a rousing ovation from the Pensacola crowd, having thrown 8.1 scoreless innings without allowing a run on just three hits while striking out eight. Reliever Cody Stashak recorded the final two outs to earn his first save of the year and preserve Pensacola’s 2-0 victory, their third straight over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
With tonight’s win, Smeltzer now holds a ridiculous stat line on the season: two wins, 14.0 innings pitched, just five hits allowed, and 17 strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos, who have scored first in all eight games this season, continued their trend of taking an early lead. Jordan Gore led off the home half of the first with a single, just as he did last night, and came around to score following a Luis Arraez single and an RBI groundout by Taylor Grzelakowski.
In the second, Jimmy Kerrigan was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on an infield single by Tanner English. The hit was English’s first with Pensacola after being activated from the injured list earlier today. English also made a large impact in the field, making a pair of diving catches in center field.
With the 2-0, Smeltzer cruised, scattering three hits and needing just 85 pitches to work into the ninth. Stashak needed just seven pitches to record the games final out, sending the fans home happy in the fastest Wahoos game of the year: one hour and 57 minutes.
The win improves Pensacola’s record to 6-2 on the season, best in the Southern League. Jacksonville falls to 3-5 with the loss. The two team’s will continue their five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.
Baseball Wins For Tate, Northview, Pine Forest; Softball Wins For Tate, Northview
April 12, 2019
Tate 6, Pace 2
The Tate Aggies defeated Pace 6-2 Thursday night.
Darrien McDowell pitched three and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit, one run and striking out six. Jace Dunsford went for one and one-third inning allowing one hit, one run and striking out one. Brantley Culbertson went two innings with one hit and striking out one.
Mason Land, Jadon Fryman and Sam Shackle had one hit each for the Aggies.
The teams will face each other again Friday night at Tate.
Northview 13, Chipley 3
The Northview Chiefs beat Chipley 13-3 Thursday night in Chipley.
Tanner Levins earned the win for the Chiefs in six innings, surrendering seven hits and three hits while striking out one.
Seth Killam went 4-4 for the Chiefs. Nick Venable, Jacob Bryant, Adam Aliff, Ben Wilson and Levins each had two hits for Northview.
Pine Forest 5, Washington 0
The Pine Forest Eagles flew past Washington 5-0 Thursday night.
Tekoah Roby pitched the win for Pine Forest, going seven innings with two hits, no runs, one walking and nine strikeouts.
Timmy Williams led the Eagles at the plate going 2-3.
SOFTBALL
Tate 6, Escambia 3
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated Escambia 6-3 Thursday night.
Abbie Burks pitched the win for the Aggies, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out three over seven innings.
Avery Beauchanie went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Aggies.
Northview 1, Paxton 0
The Northview Chiefs beat Paxton 1-0 in Paxton Thursday night.
Tori Herrington pitched the win with nine strikeouts. She also went 1-4 with a homerun.
Also for Northview: Makayla Jeneske 2-2, Aubree Love 1-3, Ashley Ragsdale 1-4.
Pictured: Tate beat Pace 6-2 Thursday night. Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat The Jumbo Shrimp
April 12, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos used more excellent starting pitching and late timely hitting on their way to a 4-3 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Thursday evening at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Brusdar Graterol, the top pitching prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization, showed off his 100-mile-per-hour heat while earning his first Double-A win, throwing 5.2 shutout innings and allowing just three hits while striking out four.
In their first six games of the season prior to tonight, Pensacola’s offense has scored first in each contest. Tonight was no exception, as Jordan Gore led off the home half of the first with a single and came around to score following a single by Luis Arraez, a walk to Jaylin Davis, and an RBI base hit by Mitchell Kranson.
With a one-run lead, Graterol locked into a pitching duel with the Jacksonville staff. Jumbo Shrimp starting pitcher Robert Dugger was knocked out of the game in the first inning when Arraez’s single up the middle deflected off his shoulder. Called into early relief, Kolton Mahoney and Parker Bugg combined to throw 5.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen, allowing just three hits while striking out four.
After cruising through five innings, Graterol allowed a base hit to lead off the sixth. He bounced back by striking out the next two hitters, ending his outing with a 99-mile-per-hour fastball past John Silviano for strike three. As reliever Tyler Jay entered the game, Graterol left to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Jay stranded the runner in the sixth before allowing two runs in the seventh (only one earned).
Clinging to a one-run lead, the Blue Wahoos pushed across an important insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. With Davis at first base and Gore at third and two outs in the inning, Jacksonville reliever Jeff Kinley attempted a pick off throw to first base. The throw drilled Davis in the shoulder as he returned to the bag and caromed away, allowing Gore to score from third and putting the Wahoos up 4-2.
Jacksonville took a run back in the eighth, using a lead-off triple by Justin Twine and an RBI groundout to pull within one run. With the tight lead, reliever Dusten Knight recorded the final six outs to earn his second save of the year, preserving the win for the Blue Wahoos, and capping the night by doing his signature back flip on the mound.
The win improves Pensacola’s record to 5-2 on the year, while Jacksonville falls to 3-4. The two teams will continue their five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium Friday.