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.
Northview Names Justin Raley As New Head Baseball Coach
June 5, 2025
Northview High School has named Justin Raley as their new head baseball coach.
Raley is a familiar name in area 1A baseball — Justin Raley has been an assistant coach for the past three seasons at Jay, under the leadership of his father Duane Raley. Jay has made it to the regional finals in the past couple of seasons, after falling to Northview in the regional semifinals in 2022.
Raley said he took the Northview job with the blessings of his father.
“He told me that if I wanted the job to take it,” he said. “I felt like it was time for me to step out and do my thing.”
“I’m excited to get back in there and get rolling with the guys,” Raley said. “I know we’ve got a good group of guys; I coached many of them in middle school at Ernest Ward, so I’m excited to get with them and establish my philosophy of coaching and my philosophy of baseball.”
“I want our pitchers to be able to really compete on every count. I want us to be able to throw any pitch anytime. Our hitters to be known as guys that battle in the box, even in bad counts< he said. “We still fight for a quality of that to get a job done. I really I want to go in there and pretty quickly kind of establish my standard and my philosophy on the game.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Honor Northview Lady Chiefs Softball Before 3-2 Loss To Clingstones
June 5, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos honored the Northview Lady Chiefs softball team before a 3-2 Wednesday night loss to the Clingstones.
The Chiefs reached the FHSAA Rural Softball State Championship game for the first time in school history, bringing home the state runner-up trophy. The young team with just one senior also won the first regional title ever for the school as they went 22-7 under the leadership of head coach Amy Holland.
Lady Chief Bailey Burkette and Mikayla McAnally threw out ceremonial first pitches for the Wahoos.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Snelling Strong, but Late Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss to Clingstones
Game summary by Willie Phaler
With two of the top arms in the Southern League taking the mound in Wednesday night’s game, a 3-2 win in favor of the Columbus Clingstones lived up to be a pitcher’s duel.
Pensacola’s Robby Snelling (L, 2-5) and Columbus’s Ian Mejia (W, 5-0) opened up the game with three scoreless innings, but the Clingstones were able to break through in the fourth.
With runners on first and second with two outs, Geraldo Quintero sent a single to right for an RBI, while Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. drove in a pair with a single of his own to put the Clingstones up 3-0.
The three runs in the fifth were all the damage the Braves’ affiliate was able to run up against Snelling, but also all they needed in the 3-2 win to even the series.
The highly touted southpaw’s line on the night consisted of 5.0 innings with three earned runs and three hits while punching out three hitters.
Kemp Alderman put the Blue Wahoos on the board in the bottom of the seventh, sending his sixth home run of the year out to left field. The longball extends Alderman’s hitting streak to 10 games, the longest by a Blue Wahoos player this year.
The scoring in the seventh didn’t stop there for Pensacola. After a Nathan Martorella double against Mejia, Columbus manager Cody Gabella went to the bullpen for sidearming right-hander Jose Cuas. Mark Coley II sent a triple to left-center on the third pitch from Cuas, scoring Martorella and bringing the Wahoos within one.
After walking Johnny Olmstead to give Pensacola runners on the corners with one out, Cuas escaped after picking up a strikeout and a flyout to center.
Lefty Hayden Harris entered for the Clingstones in the eighth and picked up his third save of the year as he provided two innings of hitless ball to shut down the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola’s bullpen shined once again, as the trio of Luis Palacios, Lane Ramsey and Ricky DeVito combined for four innings of shutout pitching, allowing just one hit in relief.
With the series tied at one apiece, Pensacola will take on their alternate identity, the Mulltets, and send out Evan Fitterer (2-4, 3.40 ERA) to take on Lucas Braun (3-1, 4.08 ERA).
For a photo gallery, click here.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The games on Thursday through Saturday night will all start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game will be a 4:05 p.m. start.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NWE 12U All-Stars Win At Regional Championships
June 4, 2025
The Northwest Escambia (NWE) 12U All-Star team won the gold bracket championship in the NCS Florida Panhandle All-Star Regional Championship. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Recapture Winning Formula In Series-Opening Victory Over Clingstones
June 4, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos have started June by replicating the elements which won in the past.
Getting stellar pitching and defense, combined with the kind of timely, two-out hits missing in May, the Blue Wahoos put back-to-back wins together following Tuesday’s 4-2 victory against the Columbus Clingstones to begin a homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
After ending a franchise-record 11-game losing streak Sunday in Montgomery, the Blue Wahoos were again sharp when needed Tuesday.
They twice tied the game with solo runs, then got a go-ahead run in the sixth and another in the seventh.
Meanwhile, their bullpen was a beast. Three relievers, beginning with winning pitcher Josh White, who worked two innings with six strikeouts, combined to allow no hits, one walk and struck out nine of the last 12 Columbus batters they faced.
“Everything was working tonight, I was just trying to fill up the zone and now we’re on win streak,” White said.
Closer Josh Ekness earned his fifth save by striking out the three batters he faced with 11 strikes on 12 pitches. The Blue Wahoos have the lowest bullpen earned run average in the Southern League.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” White said. “Any guy that goes into the game is going to perform, going to do his role and we’re going to give our team the best chance to win.”
For perspective, the Blue Wahoos won back-to-back games just once in May, after doing it frequently in April.
“It’s good,” White said. “It was nice to end last week with a win and start this week with a win, so we’ll just try to continue it.”
The Clingstones, the Atlanta Braves’ new Double-A affiliate in Columbus, Georgia, are making their first trip to Pensacola as a relocated affiliate team.
They took a 1-0 lead in the third off Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller when Miller uncorked a wild pitch to score Kobe Kato, who had led off with a single and stole second.
The Blue Wahoos answered right back in the bottom half of the inning when Dalvy Rosario hit his second homer of the season over the left field fence.
Columbus regained the lead on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. In the fifth, the Blue Wahoos tied it when Jared Serna singled, stole second and third and scored on Kemp Alderman’s two-out single.
It was another big game for Alderman. He went 2-for-3, reaching on a walk as well, drove in two runs and made a sensational running catch in foul territory from right field in the eighth inning – hitting the netting to record the inning’s final out.
The Blue Wahoos got their lead in the sixth when Josh Zamora singled, and scored on Shane Sasaki’s double. Alderman then added an insurance run with his two-out RBI single in the seventh to score Serna, who had tripled with one out in the inning.
GAME NOTABLES
— Two Crestview middle schools, Shoal River and Davidson, combined to perform the National Anthem in a massive gathering of band members behind home plate. They had a group outing with parents and school faculty totaling 140 fans on one of the party decks.
— Tuesday’s game was the “One Price Tuesday” promotion where all ticket purchases received a voucher for a hot dog, chips and soft drink.
— For the second time this season, right fielder Kemp Alderman won Southern League player of the week honors. After struggling at the plate in recent weeks, Alderman went 11-for-23 during the series against Montgomery with a triple, homer, and three RBI, along with a stolen base. He first won the award on April 7, following the season-opening series.
— The Blue Wahoos were glad to see May go by. The team’s 7-20 record was their worst in any month since becoming a Miami Marlins affiliate in 2021 and was the second-worst percentage wise in club history.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday Thru Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The games on Wednesday through Saturday night will all start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game will be a 4:05 p.m.
Tate Baseball Names Summer Teams
June 3, 2025
The Tate Aggies have named their summer baseball teams.
The summer season begins June 10 at Tate as the Aggies take on Pace at 4 and 6 p.m.
A Team
- Keelan Beasley
- Lance Brady
- Aiden Bramblett
- Beau Bryant
- Mason Bryant
- Hunter Clayton
- Nate Connors
- Griffin Cook
- Connor Dethlefs
- Cal Foxworth
- Cooper Halfacre
- Kannon Ham
- Logan Kimmons
- Bryton McLellan
- Cade McNair
- Aydan Nigam
- Kaden Posta
- Evan Taylor
- Hunter Taylor
- Brody White
B Team
- Bryson Adams
- Kash Brown
- Landon Campbell
- Tanner Clark
- Dylon Dirks
- Jordan Edmond
- Trenton Godwin
- Brayden Luciano
- Trent Madden
- Grayson McLellan
- Carter Patero
- Ethan Priest
- Camden Siefert
- Sean Smith
- Carter Stewart
- Cayden Thompson
- Jackson Turner
- Parker White
- Elijah Wilbanks
- Antwonn Williams
- Frederick Woods
Tate Lady Aggies Name Summer Softball Teams
June 1, 2025
The Tate High School Lady Aggies have named their summer softball teams.
They are:
Team 1
- Kayleigh Burt
- Kaylie Mitchell
- Jordyn Banks
- Aubree Gorum
- Madison Smillie
- Mykamia Padgett
- Keirstyn Phillips
- Taylor Robinson
- Gracyn Campbell
- Ke’anna Smith
- Sarah Mitchell
- Brelynn Morris
Team 2
- Berkley Anderson
- Mikala Foster
- Faith Middleton
- McKynleigh Montano
- Melanie Ramirez
- Alaina Ritchey
- Aubri Romero
- Paisley Smith
- Kaitlyn Stefanko
- Khloe Gibson
- Emorie Nelson
- Bailey Parden
- Kaylyn Relstab
A schedule has not yet been made available.
Win Again Remains Elusive For Blue Wahoos
June 1, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored four runs, their highest total in almost two weeks, but surrendered a five-run fourth inning that proved to be costly in a 6-4 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits on Saturday night.
The Blue Wahoos took their first lead since last Sunday in the second inning, as Sam Praytor laced an RBI single against Biscuits starter Duncan Davitt (W, 4-2) to jump ahead 1-0.
Dax Fulton (L, 2-4) breezed through his first three innings, but walks and errors stacked up in a fourth inning that put the Biscuits ahead for good. Colton Ledbetter tripled, and three straight Fulton walks forced him in to tie the game 1-1. Fulton then committed a throwing error on a comebacker that let in another run before another bases-loaded walk and fielding error made it a five-run inning and a 5-1 Biscuits lead.
The fourth inning ended on an interesting note, as the Biscuits tried unsuccessfully to steal a run with a first-and-third double steal. Praytor’s throw to second baseman Cody Morissette retired Hunter Stovall, and Morissette’s return throw home was in time to tag out Ryan Spikes for an unusual 2-4-2 double play without a ball in play.
The Blue Wahoos fought back, as Luis Palacios steadied the game with 2.2 innings of effective relief and back-to-back singles from Kemp Alderman and Nathan Martorella started the sixth inning. Josh Zamora then hit a grounder to shortstop for a potential double play, but an errant throw scored both runners and put Zamora at third base. Johnny Olmstead’s sacrifice fly capped a three-run inning, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
Jesse Bergin and Nigel Belgrave each contributed a scoreless inning of relief for the Blue Wahoos, but JJ Goss (S, 7) got the final six outs for Montgomery to secure a 6-4 final.
With the defeat, the Blue Wahoos have lost 11 games in a row to extend their longest losing streak in team history.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Biscuits on Sunday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 3:33 p.m.
Laskey’s Quality Start Not Enough In 3-1 Wahoos Loss
May 31, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got another solid performance from their pitcher on Friday night, but couldn’t generate enough offense in a 3-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
Adam Laskey (L, 2-4) allowed just two runs over 6.0 innings, delivering his first professional quality start, but the Pensacola offense went just 1-for-9 with men in scoring position.
The Biscuits jumped ahead right away in the first inning, as Matthew Etzel and Brayden Taylor hit back-to-back RBI doubles with two outs for a 2-0 lead.
Montgomery starter Jackson Baumeister departed in the third inning with an apparent injury, and Jonny Cuevas (W, 1-0) entered in unexpected relief and contributed 3.0 scoreless frames. The Blue Wahoos left runners in scoring position in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings in an unsuccessful effort to back up Laskey’s strong start.
Pensacola reliever Justin King walked the bases loaded in the seventh inning and hit Cooper Kinney to force in a run, extending the Montgomery lead to 3-0. Josh Zamora delivered a long-awaited RBI single in the eighth to bring home Cody Morissette and get the Blue Wahoos on the board, but Derrick Edington (S, 1) entered to get the final out of the eighth inning and work a spotless ninth for the save in a 3-1 final.
With the defeat, the Blue Wahoos have lost 10 games in a row for the first time in team history.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Saturday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Fitterer Sharp, But Clutch Hitting Eludes Wahoos In 6-1 Loss To Biscuits
May 30, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had ample opportunity to convert on offensive opportunities on Thursday night, but couldn’t make the most of their chances in a 6-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
A night after going 0-for-11 with men in scoring position in a 3-1 defeat, the Blue Wahoos left a runner in scoring position in seven of their nine innings and brought in their lone run on an RBI groundout.
Evan Fitterer (L, 2-4) pitched well, allowing only two runs in 5.1 solid innings, but solo home runs from Xavier Isaac in the first inning and Ricardo Genoves in the fifth inning provided the Biscuits with an early boost.
The Blue Wahoos evened the score 1-1 in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs against starter Ty Johnson (W, 4-0) thanks to a hit batsman and two walks. Johnny Olmstead tied the game with an RBI groundout, but Johnson coaxed a popout and strikeout to escape further trouble.
The Genoves homer in the fifth gave the Biscuits a 2-1 edge, and the Blue Wahoos failed to capitalize on their many late-game opportunities to tie the game or take the lead. Their only hit among 15 at-bats with a man in scoring position was a Dalvy Rosario single in the seventh that moved Spencer Bramwell from second base to third. Both runners would be stranded, among the 10 total men left on base throughout the night.
In a rare off night for Pensacola reliever Josh Ekness, the Biscuits added four insurance runs in the eighth on a Will Simpson sacrifice fly and two-out RBI singles from Ryan Spikes and Hunter Stovall. Dan Hammer closed out the ninth for the Biscuits to secure a 6-1 final.
With the defeat, the Blue Wahoos have lost nine games in a row to tie a team record.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.