Wahoos Double Header Washed Away
June 3, 2018
In series marred by bad weather, Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader has been canceled due to inclement weather. The Wahoos and Jumbo Shrimp will finish the first half of the season with Jacksonville having won six of the eight matchups.
The two teams hoped to squeeze a pair of games in on Friday, but after a three-hour, forty-seven-minute delay, both teams agreed to push the second game to Saturday. The first game nearly met the requirements of an official game, but with one out in the top of the fifth inning, the rains came down and halted played with Jacksonville leading 3-2. The weather would not cease, and by rule, the game was officially canceled and all prior stats were erased.
Almost every game at the Baseball Ground of Jacksonville dealt with soggy weather in some form or fashion. Wednesday’s 6-4 win was the only exception. Prior to the cancellation of today’s doubleheader, only one other Southern League game had been canceled.
Pensacola will head home in search of drier weather when they begin a five-game homestand against the first-place Biloxi Shuckers. RHP Daniel Wright (2-3, 4.98) will start the opener for the Blue Wahoos while RHP Thomas Jankins (6-3, 5.01) looks to secure his seventh win of the season.
Shrimp Beat The Wahoos
June 2, 2018
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp got out to a fast start with three first inning runs against Blue Wahoos starter Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 1-8) and never looked back on their way to a 4-0 win Friday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The first four Shrimp reached in the first inning before Gutierrez struck out Eric Jagielo for the first out of the inning. Isan Diaz singled home Kyle Barrett for the first run, then Monte Harrison scored on a fielder’s choice before Diaz come home on a single from Brian Schales.
They added another run in the third with Sharif Othman hit a long single to centerfield which scored Jagielo from second. Gutierrez struggled with his control throughout his 2.1 innings on the hill for the Wahoos. He finished with four walks and a hit batter. Two of the walks and the hit batsman scored to account for three of the Jacksonville four runs. The Wahoos starter did get five strikeouts and allowed just three hits. Four Blue Wahoos pitchers combined to strike out 10 Jumbo Shrimp batters over the seven-inning game.
Kolton Mahoney and Major League rehabber Brett Graves (W, 1-1) worked seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Graves pitched the final three innings for the win.
The contest was supposed to be the first game of a doubleheader, but the start was delayed for nearly three hours forcing the second game to be moved to Saturday as part of a doubleheader.
Saturday’s twin-bill will start at 4:05 c.t. when RHP Wyatt Strahan (4-4, 6.70) takes the hill against RHP Robert Dugger (0-0, 5.40). Game two will feature LHP Seth Varner (2-0, 3.33) against RHP Max Duval (1-5, 6.45).
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Molino
May 31, 2018
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety courses in Molino and Cantonment:
Online completion courses will be held as follows:
- June 6 (6 to 10 p.m.) & June 16 (7 to 10 a.m. )
- Molino Community Center
- 6450 Highway 95A N. in Molino
- June 12 (6 to 10 p.m.) & June 16 (7 to 10 a.m.)
- Langley Bell 4-H Center
- 3730 Stefani Road in Cantonment
- June 27 (6 to 10 p.m.) & July 14 (7 to 10 a.m.)
- Molino Community Center
- 6450 Highway 95A N. in Molino
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.
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.
Contact Paul Averill, Florida Fish and Wildlife hunter safety instructor at (850) 982-8070m or visit MyFWC.com/HunterSafety for more information.
Wahoos Rally Past Shrimp
May 31, 2018
The Blue Wahoos rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to snap their three-game losing streak with a 6-4 win Wednesday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game at 3-3 on an error in the seventh. Alberti Chavez led off with a pinch-hit single and scored from second on a routine ground ball past the Jumbo Shrimp third baseman.
In the eighth, the Blue Wahoos got singles from Luis Gonzalez, Daniel Sweet and Taylor Sparks to kick start the rally. Gonzalez went first to third on Sweet’s hit, then scored on an errant throw back to the infield from Cade Gotta in left field. Sweet scored on Sparks’s single, and Sparks came home on a wild pitch to make it 6-3 Blue Wahoos. Kyle Keller (L, 1-2) surrendered all the damage and suffered the loss for the Jumbo Shrimp.
The Shrimp got a solo home run from former Wahoo Eric Jagielo off Alejandro Chacin in the eighth, but that’s as close as they got. Each team belted two homers in the game, all four were solo shots. Despite suffering control problems on the mound, Keury Mella put the Blue Wahoos ahead with a solo homer in the third. C.J. McElroy hit his second of the season leading off the fifth.
Mella didn’t factor a decision after allowing three runs on just two hits over four innings. He fought his control all game with a season-high seven walks with six strikeouts. Kevin Canelon (W, 1-0) picked up the win. He joined the team before the game from high-a Daytona and worked a scoreless seventh inning. Alex Powers (S, 4) shut the Shrimp down in order in the ninth for the save.
The series continues with the middle game of five on Thursday night. The Blue Wahoos will turn to LHP Seth Varner (2-0, 3.33) for his second start against RHP Robert Dugger (0-0, 5.40).
Smokies Defeat Wahoos 11-6 To Claim Series Victory
May 28, 2018
The Blue Wahoos could not get the win in their final game against the Smokies despite a late comeback as Tennessee bested Pensacola, 11-6, to claim the series.
Pensacola trailed 9-4 in the bottom of the eighth. A Nick Longhi two-run base hit cut the Wahoos deficit to 9-6. Gavin LaValley came to the plate with only one out in the inning. LaValley hit a line drive that could have cut the deficit to one, but third basemen Jesse Hodges caught LaValley’s ball, then dove back to the bag to double off Shed Long and end the threat.
Hodges and Zack Short each hit solo home runs in the top of the ninth to increase the Smokies lead to 11-6.
The Blue Wahoos got off to a fast start in the game with four runs over the first two innings. C.J. McElroy, Longhi and LaValley combined to go 6-for-6 in the first and second innings helping the Wahoos to the early advantage. Pensacola starter Wyatt Strahan battled through four-plus innings but was charged with six runs (five earned) in the losing effort. He allowed just one earned run over his first 3.2 innings, but surrendered hits to seven of the last eight batters he faced before getting lifted with two on and nobody out in the fifth.
Carlos Navas, Jesus Reyes, and Juan Martinez combined to allow five runs out of the Pensacola bullpen. Offensively, Longhi and LaValley led the way with three hits each in the losing effort.
Preston Morrison earned the win in relief for the Smokies with a pair of scoreless innings.
The Wahoos will head to Jacksonville to face off against the Jumbo Shrimp for five games. Pensacola will turn to right-hander Daniel Wright (2-2, 4.59) against Shrimp right-hander Nick Neidert (4-3, 3.11).
Wahoos Snap Skid, Split Twin Bill With Smokies
May 25, 2018
The Blue Wahoos snapped their six-game losing streak with a 7-5 win over the Smokies on Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium in the second of a doubleheader after dropping the first 5-4.
With the Wahoos down 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth of game two, Brian O’Grady hit a two-run double to cut the Smokies lead to 5-3. Nick Longhi then came to the plate and hit a two-run single to tie the game. C.J. McElroy broke the Smokies backs with another two-run double to give the Wahoos their first lead of the series at 7-5.
The story for the Wahoos during the six-game losing streak was the team’s inability to score runs. However, the Wahoos found their confidence scoring late in the first game that repeated itself in the second.
In the bottom of the ninth of game one, with the Blue Wahoos down 5-1, Pensacola hit three home runs to tie the game at four. Taylor Sparks hit a two-run shot to cut the deficit down to 4-2 before C.J. McElroy and Shed Long belted back-to-back home runs of their own.
However, the Smokies won Wednesday’s suspended game off Trey Martin’s 11th inning RBI single to give the Smokies a 5-4 victory in the series opener.
In game three of the series, left-handed pitcher Seth Varner (1-0, 4.19) will make his first career Double-A start for the Wahoos. One of the top prospects in the Cubs minor league system, RHP Thomas Hatch (4-2, 3.06) will take the hill and try to give the Smokies a 2-1 lead.
Ballpark Closing Ceremonies Tonight For NWE, Changed To Next Week For Century
May 24, 2018
Closing ceremonies will be held tonight for Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park, while Century Little League has rescheduled their closing ceremony for next week due to this weekend’s rainy forecast.
Century Little League
Century Little League will hold closing ceremonies next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Showalter Park. Players and coaches should wear their jerseys.
Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park
Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park will hold closing ceremonies Thursday at 6 p.m. There will be additional fun activities and fireworks at dark. Players should wear their jerseys.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Derrick Brooks Joins Blue Wahoos Ownership Group
May 24, 2018
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos made another big catch when it was announced that Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks has joined two time Master champion Bubba Watson and Quint and Rishy Studer in the ownership of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
“I, like all Pensacolians have had great respect for Derrick for years,” said Quint Studer. “His accomplishments on the field are legendary. So too is his work off the football field. From a high school in Tampa, running an arena football team to numerous endeavors making life better for children and families, Derrick is a difference maker. His commitment to Pensacola has never wavered. We have seen this with the success of the flag football league.”
“I am excited to welcome Derrick into the Blue Wahoos family. We have known each other for a long time and I know he shares Quint and Rishy’s vision for improving the quality of life in our community” said Watson. “I loved watching Derrick play football, but more importantly I like the way he has used the platform he was given to make a positive impact on the people and communities around him. We are lucky that he is from Pensacola”
“Bubba and Derrick have great respect for each other,” added Studer. “I was thrilled when Bubba brought up the idea of Derrick joining our group. Rishy and I have always taken a long range look at things. Having local ownership is important. Those teams that move out of a city most often are owned by people that are not part of the community. Of course it also takes a supportive city and a well maintained stadium to ensure a team remains.”
In addition Brooks and Studer have created Studer55. The initial focus will be building up flag football with a focus on academics and character building.
“I am humbled, excited, and ready to serve our ownership group in any role that will help the team win,” said Derrick Brooks. “This opportunity to work more strategically with my hometown and better serve our community with my partnership with Quint, Bubba and other partners. I have dreamed of professional sports ownership, so I am grateful that Quint and his wife allowed me this chance. Also, Derrick Brooks Charities plan to expand our flag football league with the NFL and increase our community programs with David Wilson’s leadership as part of the Studer Family of Companies.”
“We have also gotten to know Derrick’s desire to increase his Pensacola presence, as well as longtime coach, and now the athletic director for Studer55, David Wilson’s goal to move to Pensacola,” said Studer. “In the near future we will reveal the increased opportunities for children to be healthy both physically and mentally through Studer55. We are thrilled to have Coach Wilson back in the community.”
Brooks’ decorated NFL career began after twice being name an All-American at Florida State. In 2002, he was named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That season, he helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the franchise’s first Super Bowl. He is an 11-time Pro Bowler which is tied for the second most for a linebacker in NFL history. In 2014 he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His name is also enshrined in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor and his number 55 is one of three numbers retired by the franchise.
Jackson Generals Beat The Blue Wahoos 5-0
May 22, 2018
The Jackson Generals put on an offensive showcase against the Blue Wahoos in Monday night’s game to complete the series sweep at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The game was called after the top of the eighth as the rain began coming down, which gave the Generals a 5-0 win.
Starting pitcher Wyatt Strahan (L 4-3) got off to a shaky start. The right-hander allowed a two-run double to Rudy Flores that gave the Generals an early 2-0 lead. His pitching woes continued as Kevin Madrano singled home two, which doubled the Generals lead to 4-0 after two innings. However, he finished strong and did not allow a run over his final three innings.
Arizona Diamondbacks top prospect Jon Duplantier (W 3-1), pitched six shutout innings and allowed just one infield single on the night. The Wahoos were unable to solve Duplantier and the Generals starter did not allow a runner in scoring position all night. Yuhei Nakaushiro pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh inning before the game was called. Jackson’s win handed Pensacola its first five-game sweep since May 3-7 at the hands of Chattanooga.
The Wahoos will have an off day Tuesday before continuing the homestand with a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies starting Wednesday night. Right-handed pitcher Daniel Wright (2-2, 4.63) will start for the Wahoos against Tennessee right-hander Trevor Clifton (3-3, 3.83).
Generals Blank Wahoos 6-0
May 21, 2018
Saturday it was Taylor Widener who stymied the Wahoos bats. Sunday, it was Ryan Atkinson’s turn, and the former indy ball pitcher twirled six shutout innings in Jackson’s 6-0 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
For the second consecutive game, Jackson’s offense jumped out in front early. After a single from Jamie Westbrook, Rudy Flores cranked his seventh home run of the season off Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 1-6) to put the guests up 2-0. Jackson’s offense was relentless as they added runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings before they tallied one final run in the eighth. When the dust settled on Sunday’s contest, the Generals finished with six runs on 10 hits.
Gutierrez pitched five innings and surrendered a season-high five earned runs for the second time this year. His usual pinpoint command was absent in his ninth start of 2018. He often fell behind the General batters and issued a four-pitch walk to Marcus Littlewood in the fourth inning. Former Blue Wahoo and current Cincinnati Red, Michael Lorenzen, made his scheduled two-inning rehab appearance in the sixth inning, and did so in flawless fashion. Lorenzen retired all six batters he faced and struck out two.
The Wahoos offense sputtered again Sunday as Atkinson kept Pensacola’s bats in check. Despite recording hits in the first three innings of the game, the Wahoos were unable to drive any of the runners home. Atkinson navigated through trouble again the fifth inning after Alberti Chavez singled and C.J. McElroy walked, but the former Cincinnati Bearcat struck out Luis Gonzalez and got Brian O’Grady to pop out to end the threat. Atkinson struck out the side in the sixth before being lifted from the game, capping off a season-best 10 strikeout performance. Sam Lewis and Bud Jeter allowed one baserunner over the game’s final three innings. The Blue Wahoos have now been shut out three times this season.
Jackson’s starting pitchers have been the difference through the first four games of the series. Pensacola has pushed across three runs against the Generals starting rotation. The Wahoos are just 16-for-96 against Justin Donatella, Alex Young, Taylor Widener, and Atkinson. It gets no easier for Pensacola when they face the Diamondbacks top prospect in right-hander Jon Duplantier, who led all of minor league baseball last season with a 1.39 ERA. Duplantier was named the MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and also pitched for Team USA in the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Tomorrow’s finale is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with the Wahoos hoping to avoid a five-game sweep. Wyatt Strahan (4-2, 6.18) will get the green light for Pensacola while Duplantier (2-1, 2.96) looks to seal the deal for Jackson.