Escambia Commission Recognizes Historic Little League Team
June 24, 2018
The Escambia County Commission recently recognized the 1955 Pensacola Jaycees Baseball Team for their peaceful and heroic contribution to the civil rights movement. The group of 12-year-old boys and their families risked social, physical and economic repercussions for playing the first game of integrated Little League baseball in the south against the all-white team the Orlando Kiwanis. Shortstop Admiral LeRoy, second baseman Rev. Freddie Augustine and family representatives of Clyde Charley, Richard Morris and Phillip Stewart attended the commission meeting.
The Pensacola Jaycees became the Northwest Florida regional champions not just for their skill, but because the all-white teams in the area refused to play the Jaycees. By local teams forfeiting the regional games, the Pensacola Jaycees advanced to the state championship in Orlando. While the Orlando Kiwanis beat the Jaycees 5-0, the game when down in history for breaking barriers. The all-black team is the subject of a new documentary film, “Long Time Coming: A 1955 Baseball Story.”
Commissioner Robinson wrote the proclamations and Commissioner May made the presentations. Both commissioners attended a screening of the film held at Pensacola State College sponsored by the African-American Heritage Society and the Pensacola State College Black History/Multicultural Committee.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Power Past Generals 11-4
June 24, 2018
The Blue Wahoos launched four home runs on Saturday night in an 11-4 win over the Jackson Generals at the Ballpark at Jackson. Taylor Sparks led the charge with two of them, including an inside-the-park homer to the left-center field wall in the fifth inning.
Gavin LaValley got the Wahoos going with his sixth homer of the season leading off the second inning. In the third, Shed Long singled home TJ Friedl to make it 2-0. In the fifth, Sparks drove a pitch off the wall in left-center field that caromed past the center fielder Daniel Robertson, and Sparks circled the bases for his first of two home runs on the night.
Jackson rallied to take the lead with a four-run bottom of the fifth. Robertson delivered the big blow, a three-run shot to give Jackson a 4-3 advantage. Pensacola followed with more big hits to reclaim the lead. In the seventh, Taylor Sparks belted his second home run of the game, this time over the fence with a man on, to put the Blue Wahoos up for good.
Jose Siri hit his first home run as a Blue Wahoo with a man on in the seventh inning, and Pensacola blew the game open with four runs in the ninth inning. Friedl delivered the knock-out punch with a bases-clearing double and later scored on a sac fly from Luis Gonzalez.
Seth Varner (W, 4-0) retired the first eight batters he faced on the mound before surrendering a two-out double to Generals starter Bo Takahashi (L, 0-2). Varner was charged with four runs (two earned) over six innings. He allowed just five hits with one walk and one strikeout in the win. Takahashi suffered the loss after giving up five runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out 10 Wahoos without issuing a walk.
The two teams continue the series Sunday night with RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (3-8, 5.63) starting for the Blue Wahoos opposite RHP Taylor Widener (4-3, 2.53).
Generals Sweep Doubleheader With The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
June 23, 2018
The Jackson Generals swept the Blue Wahoos in Friday’s doubleheader at The Ballpark at Jackson. The Generals took the first game 2-1 before edging the Wahoos 5-3 in game two. Jackson has now won all seven meetings between the two teams.
In game one Rudy Flores hit a two-run double over the first base bag to score Daniel Robertson and Domingo Leyba in the first inning. That proved to be enough. Pensacola got a run in the third when Luis Gonzalez doubled home TJ Friedl. The Wahoos got the tying run to third in the seventh but Taylor Sparks was stranded when Friedl flew out to center field.
Daniel Wright (L, 3-5) went the distance. He allowed just the two first inning runs over his six innings. He struck out four without a walk.
In game two the Generals struck first again. This time with a four-run second inning. The Blue Wahoos committed three errors in the inning behind starter Wyatt Strahan (L, 5-7). Jackson still used five hits in the inning, but all were singles.
Trailing 4-1 in the sixth, Pensacola rallied to pull within one. Narciso Crook was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to third a batter later on Shed Long’s single. Gavin LaValley doubled them both home before Luis Gonzalez reached on an error. Yoan Lopez (S, 6) came in from the Generals bullpen with LaValley at third and Gonzalez at first and pitched out of the jam without allowing the tying run to score. Jackson added an insurance run on the bottom of the sixth to cap the win.
Strahan took the loss after pitching two innings and allowing four runs (two earned). He walked one and struck out three.
The Blue Wahoos and Generals continue the six-game series on Saturday. LHP Seth Varner (3-0, 2.55) will get the start for the Blue Wahoos against Generals RHP Bo Takahashi (0-1, 8.56).
NWE, Century 8U All-Stars Team Up To Advance To State Tournament
June 22, 2018
A combined Northwest Escambia and Century 8U All-Star team placed second in the recent Cal Ripken Baseball District 7 8U tournament. They now advance to the state 8U Tournament next week in Sylacauga, AL. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop First Half Finale To The Mobile BayBears
June 18, 2018
The BayBears rallied from behind to win the first-half finale 6-4 over Pensacola on a warm Sunday afternoon at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Vladimir Gutierrez was excellent again today for the Blue Wahoos. He went six innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Those two runs were courtesy of Zach Houchin’s two-run home run in the fourth. Outside of that mistake, the Cuban right-hander was exceptional as he finished his outing with a season-high eight strikeouts and only one walk allowed.
The Wahoos rallied for runs in the fourth and fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2. In this sixth, after back-to-back hits from Nick Longhi and Brian O’Grady, the Wahoos scored on a wild pitch from Samil De Los Santos. Gavin LaValley later lifted a sac fly to center to score O’Grady to give Pensacola a 4-2 edge.
Wyatt Strahan (L, 5-6) entered the game in the eighth and struggled. He allowed a run in the eighth after Luis Rengifo tripled and later scored on Brennon Lund’s groundout. In the ninth he surrendered a leadoff single to Hutton Moyer who scored on Brendon Sanger’s game-tying double. In extras with a runner beginning on second base, Wade Wass homered on the first pitch he saw, which gave Mobile a 6-4 edge.
Jesus Castillo started the first three innings for Mobile. After that the BayBears used six different relievers for the final seven innings of the game, which included two position players in Bo Way and Jared Walsh. The Wahoos loaded the bases in the tenth but Dario Beltre worked around trouble to pick up the win (1-0).
The second-half starts on the road in Jackson when the Wahoos open up a six-game series against the Generals after the All-Star break. Four Wahoos will be participating for the South Division this year in Birmingham, AL. The Wahoos return to Blue Wahoos Stadium on June 28 when they host the Mississippi Braves. T
BayBears Sink Wahoos 4-1
June 17, 2018
Pensacola fell short of completing their first four-game winning streak of the season as the BayBears won Saturday night’s sellout at Blue Wahoos Stadium 4-1.
The Wahoos pitchers all struggled to settle into the game during their outings. Victor Payano, Jose Rafael De Paula and Alejandro Chacin (L, 0-1) totaled seven walks, six hits, and despite 11 strikeouts, allowed four runs over the course of the game. Jesus Reyes pitched only one inning in the top of the ninth and did not allow the BayBears to do any more damage.
The BayBears struck gold in the first inning on a Zach Houchins sac fly to center fielder Narciso Crook that scored Luis Rengifo to give Mobile the early 1-0 lead. With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning, Rengifo doubled in the right-center alley, which scored Zach Gibbons and Riley Unroe. That gave Mobile a 3-1 lead. Bo Way tripled on a line drive to right field, which allowed Gibbons to score another run that increased the lead to 4-1.
Joe Gatto had an impressive outing for Mobile as he pitched 4.1 innings with one run on seven hits, and no walks with six strikeouts. Tyler Stevens (S, 3) is credited with the save as he retired the side in the ninth inning, which secured the victory for the BayBears.
Aristides Aquino scored the only run for the Wahoos with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, which was his ninth home run of the season.
The Wahoos will look to bounce back in Sunday afternoon’s first-half finale. Pensacola right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez (3-8, 5.86) will open the game for the Blue Wahoos will take the mound, and right-hander Jesus Castillo (4-4, 5.23) will take the hill for the BayBears.
Wahoos Beat BayBears
June 16, 2018
Keury Mella pitched five no-hit innings in Pensacola’s 5-0 victory against the Mobile BayBears Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. This is the Wahoos third straight win and series win.
The Wahoos came out hot in the first inning as Nick Longhi hit a sac fly to center fielder Brennon Lund that scored Shed Long to give the Blue Wahoos an early 1-0 lead. Brian O’Grady came to the plate and doubled on a fly ball to Lund that allowed Narciso Crook to score which increased the Wahoos lead to 2-0.
Pensacola would strike again in the bottom of the seventh inning with a Taylor Sparks ground-rule double on a line drive to left field that scored O’Grady and Luis Gonzalez making the score 4-0. A wild pitch by Dario Beltre allowed Sparks to cap the scoring at 5-0.
Great pitching had been a key for success for the Wahoos in this series. Mella (W, 6-3) was stellar over five shutout innings of no-hit ball. His only jam was in the second, when he walked the bases loaded. Mella pitched out of the trouble with no damage. He finished with three walks, and five strikeouts for his second consecutive win. Robinson Leyer and Joel Bender would allow only one hit over the final four innings to secure the Wahoos victory.
Pensacola looks for a season-best four straight wins in Saturday night’s game. Southpaw Victor Payano, (0-1, 3.80) will take the mound for Pensacola, and BayBears RHP Jesus Castillo (4-4, 5.23) will take the hill.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Top Mobile BayBears 4-2
June 15, 2018
The Blue Wahoos came out on fire scoring four runs in the first two innings, on their way to a 4-2 win over the Mobile BayBears Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Pensacola now leads the series 2-0.
In the first inning, Nick Longhi singled on a ground ball to right field that scored Shed Long to put the Wahoos up 1-0. In the bottom of the second, Long doubled on a fly ball to score Gavin Lavalley. With two on and only one out, Narciso Crook singled on a ground ball that allowed Taylor Sparks and Long to score to increase the Wahoos lead 4-0. Every Blue Wahoo in the lineup had at least one hit and the Wahoos recorded a base hit in all eight innings they came to the plate.
Wright (W, 3-4) had a great outing for Pensacola. After giving up a double to leadoff hitter Luis Rengifo, Wright retired the next 13 batters he faced until Connor Justus singled with one out in the fifth. Wright pitched seven innings and allowed no runs on three hits, no walks, and three strikeouts.
The BayBears mounted a comeback in the top of the eighth inning as Luis Rengifo grounded into a force out that scored Justus. Shortly after Brennan Lund singled on a ground ball past third baseman Taylor Sparks to score Brendon Sanger that cut the Mobiles deficit at 4-2. Carlos Navas (S, 3) came in from the pen and got the Wahoos out of the jam with the final out of the inning.
Mobile threatened to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning after a pair of Navas walks, but both were stranded after Brandon Sandoval flew out to center fielder Brian O’Grady to secure the Wahoos the win. Navas got credit with the save after recording the game’s final four outs.
Pensacola can claim their third straight series win with a victory on Friday night. Right-hander Keury Mella (5-3, 3.33) will take the mound on for Pensacola, and RHP Jose Rodriguez (5-6, 5.68) will take the hill for the BayBears.
Wahoos Take Series Opener Against Mobile, 2-1
June 14, 2018
Brain O’Grady drove in Shed Long with a sac fly in the bottom of the ninth to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-1 walk-off win over the Mobile BayBears in Wednesday night’s series opener at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola began its comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning while trailing 1-0 against Mobile. Chris Okey smashed a solo home run over the left field wall to tie the game at 1-1. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shed Long led off with a double. He advanced to third on a passed ball. Narciso Crook was intentionally walked before O’Grady came through on a two-strike pitch. Right fielder Brandon Sanger made a sliding catch on the shallow fly ball, but his throw was way too late to get Long, sparking the Blue Wahoos celebration.
Pensacola got both runs off Mobile reliever Greg Mahle (L, 3-1), the brother of former Wahoo and current Red Tyler Mahle, who was saddled with the loss.
Seth Varner pitched an excellent game for the Wahoos. Varner pitched 6.2 innings and allowed only one run on three hits, and one walk. Varner finished with a season-high nine strikeouts, which was one shy of tying his career-high at 10. Alex Powers (W, 1-1) is credited with the win as he retired all three Mobile batters in the top of the ninth, producing two strikeouts in his one inning pitched.
BayBears starter Jason Alexander had a solid outing for Mobile. Alexander pitched six innings and only had one hit with no runs, two walks and six strikeouts in a no-decision.
Pensacola center-fielder C.J. McElroy left the game in the top of the first inning after he collided with the wall while making a spectacular catch on the second batter of the game.
The series continues Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Right hander Daniel Wright (2-4, 5.05) will get the start for the Wahoos against BayBears RHP Luis Pena (2-4, 4.27).
Tiger Basketball’s Prewett To Headline Auburn Club Dinner Meeting
June 13, 2018
Chad Prewett will be the guest speaker Thursday for a dinner meeting of the Escambia County (AL) Auburn Club.
Prewett is the director of basketball operations for Auburn University. Prewett is entering his fourth season on head coach Bruce Pearl’s staff and was promoted to director of basketball operations in April 2017. Pearl announced this week that Prewett will be back for the upcoming season.
Prewett started his coaching career at Escambia Academy in Canoe, just outside Atmore. From 1995-2004, he was a coach for the basketball, football, golf and track teams and added the title of Athletics Director from 1998-04. Escambia was awarded the AISA Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Program in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Check-in for the meeting begins at 5:30 at Wind Creek in Atmore, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 for adults, $15 for children under 12. Tickets are available at United Bank in Atmore and Flomaton, First National Bank and Trust in Atmore, Gregg’s Salon in Atmore and Talula Belles in Brewton.
Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.