Generals Edge Wahoos 4-1 To Claim Series
May 20, 2018
The Jackson Generals were able to get three runs off MLB rehabber Anthony DeSclafani on their way to a 4-1 win over the Blue Wahoos Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
DeSclafani looked sharp after retiring the first four Generals he faced. With one out in the second inning, Juniel Querecuto softly doubled down the left field line. He scored a batter later on Galli Cribbs’ infield single and throwing error from second baseman Shed Long. DeSclafani struck out the next two batters to work out of the jam and he cruised until allowing back to back doubles from Kevin Medrano and Domingo Leyba to start the sixth. That signaled the end of his outing, both runners later scored to finalize his line of 5.0 innings with three runs allowed, two earned. He struck out eight Generals while allowing just one walk. He ended up throwing one pitch more than his allotted 75.
For the Generals, starter Taylor Widener (W, 2-2) was dominant against the Blue Wahoos over seven innings. Widener held the Wahoos to one run that came from an Aristides Aquino home run at the top of the second, his seventh of the season. Widener finished with 11 strikeouts and no walks. Yoan Lopez closed out the Generals win with a perfect ninth inning for his third save of the year.
In game four of the series, right-handed pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez (1-5, 5.74) will start for the Wahoos against Jackson right-hander Ryan Atkinson (1-4, 5.28).
Spring Football: Northview, Escambia County Atmore Play To Tie
May 19, 2018
The Northview Chiefs and the Escambia County County Blue Devils battled it out Friday night in a Spring Game and walked away in a 14-14 tie.
The varsity programs played to 14-14 in the first three quarters, while junior varsity fourth quarter was scoreless in Bratt.
“We were sloppy, they were sloppy, you expect that at this point,” Northview Chiefs Head Coach Derek Marshman said. “I think both teams are going to have a chance to be really good football teams. They’ve got a ton of athletes; they do a really good job. We are going to get after it this summer; that is where games are won. Our kids know that.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Mashman said he’s looking forward to a competitive season in the fall.
“We are going to come out and compete every game. The main thing we want is when we walk off the field for the other team to say that team competed as hard as anyone we’ve played. We have the opportunity to win each and every game, but we are never going to promise a win. But we want the other team to know we brought our A-game.”
Escambia County will be at Wilcox Central on August 31. The Northview Chiefs will host Vernon in a Kickoff Classic on August 17 and open the regular season on the road August 24 at Lighthouse Christian.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos And Generals Suspended In Ninth
May 18, 2018
Thursday’s opening game at Blue Wahoos Stadium between the Wahoos and Generals has been suspended due to inclement weather. The Generals had just taken the lead before play was halted with two outs in the ninth inning. The game will be resumed tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. Friday’s regularly scheduled game will start at 6:30 or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended contest.
The Generals ninth inning rally got started with a one-out double from Juniel Querecuto. After a groundout, Wahoos pitcher Robinson Leyer then hit Galli Cribbs and walked the next three Generals to give the visitors a 3-2 lead. As Wahoos manager Jody Davis brought in Rafael De Paula to finish the inning, the rains came down which resulted in play being halted.
Daniel Wright dominated for the Wahoos for seven shutout innings. The Wahoos starter allowed two hits, with no walks, and five strikeouts. Wright finished the night retiring 10 of the last 20 batters he faced. He has not allowed an earned run over his last 13 innings.
Generals starter Justin Donatella struggled early but settled into the game after a bumpy first inning. Shed Long led off the bottom of the first with his fifth home run of the season to give the Wahoos a quick 1-0 lead. After Daniel Sweet walked and stole second, he then scored on Gavin LaValley’s RBI single to double the Wahoos advantage. Brian O’Grady then doubled, but he and LaValley were stranded after Donatella retired the next three batters to end the threat. Donatella wound up pitching seven innings and he retired the last 15 Wahoos he faced.
In game two, right-handed pitcher Keury Mella (4-1, 2.00) will take the mound for Pensacola while south paw Alex Young (4-1, 4.64) will take the hill for the Generals.
Pace Gets Regional Semifinal Win Over The Tate Aggies
May 16, 2018
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies in the 7A regional semifinal Tuesday night in Pace.
Tate held a 4-1 run lead at the end of the first. Pace added five for the lead in the sixth, with Tate answering with two to tie it in the top of the seventh.
Raymond Lafleur hit a home run in top of the first with a line drive to right field, scoring Michael Potts for a 4-0 Aggie lead. Ryan Greene homered on a line drive to right field in the top of the seventh, scoring Darrien McDowell to tie it up 6-6.
The Patriots advance to the regional final on May 22.
Wahoos Beat The Shuckers
May 16, 2018
Aristides Aquino belted a pair of home runs to help the Blue Wahoos even the series against the Biloxi Shuckers with a 10-8 win.
Pensacola and Biloxi traded runs in the first inning and Aquino put the Blue Wahoos back in front with a solo home run on the first pitch of the second inning. The Blue Wahoos rallied for three runs in the third to go up 5-1. The first three hitters reached with singles before Brian O’Grady ripped an RBI double down the right field line. Daniel Sweet scored the third run of the frame on a ground out from Nick Longhi.
After the Shuckers cut the score to 5-4, the Blue Wahoos rallied again with four runs in the top of the sixth. Aquino struck again with a two-run shot after Longhi led off with a single. After Shed Long singled home Chris Okey, Luis Gonzalez belted a ground rule double to score Long and cap the four-run sixth and stretch the lead to 9-4.
Pensacola picked up a valuable insurance run in the eighth inning to briefly make it 10-5 before Biloxi responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. The Shuckers got a run and brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Carlos Navas got Jake Hager to fly out in foul territory down the right field line to end the game.
Vladimir Gutierrez pitched 4.1 innings in the start for Pensacola. He allowed four runs on six hits with a season-high eight strikeouts. Gutierrez took a no-decision with Rafael De Paula (W, 1-3) getting the win with two innings pitched in relief. Adrian Houser (L, 0-1) gave up five runs (4 ER) on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Pensacola looks for its third series win of the season. RHP Wyatt Strahan (4-2, 6.75) will get the start for the Blue Wahoos against Shuckers LHP Kodi Medeiros (3-1, 3.34).
Century Little League Receives $3,000 Donation (With 8U Game Photos)
May 15, 2018
The Pensacola Sports Association made a $3,000 contribution to Century Little League.
The check was presented Monday between games at Showalter Park.
Pensacola Sports is a private not-for-profit agency primarily funded from revenues generated from membership and events. The group’s focus is education, inspiration and participation in various team, individual, amateur and professional sports activities.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tryouts Set For Northview Summer Softball
May 15, 2018
Northview High School will hold summer ball tryouts Wednesday and Thursday for girls interested in playing softball. Incoming ninth graders through the twelfth grade are eligible. Tryouts will be held on the softball field at 3:45 p.m. For more information, contact Coach Holland at (850) 327-6681.
Eighth Inning Homer Sinks Wahoos, 4-1
May 15, 2018
Jake Gatewood belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Shuckers a 4-1 lead, and eventual win over the Blue Wahoos Monday night at MGM Park.
Anthony DeSclafani and Michael Lorenzen made Major League rehab appearances ahead of Jesus Reyes, the Blue Wahoos scheduled starter. Both dazzled starting with three perfect innings from DeSclafani. He struck out four. The game started with rain falling, and after back to back strikeouts in the bottom of the first the game was delayed for 21 minutes. DeSclafani returned after the delay without any issues.
Lorenzen pitched his scheduled one inning and worked around a leadoff single in the fourth. He struck out one without a walk and left the game scoreless.
Shed Long broke the scoreless tie with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning. Biloxi took advantage of a pair of errors to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Then in the eighth inning, Reyes issued a one-out walk to Corey Ray who advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a shallow fly out, the Blue Wahoos intentionally walked Lucas Erceg to set up a right on right matchup with Jake Gatewood. Gatewood launched a line drive home run just inside the left field foul pole which proved to be the difference in the game.
Reyes (L, 0-7) finished the final four innings and was charged with four runs, three earned, with three walks and four strikeouts.
Shuckers starter Zack Brown took a no decision after seven strong innings. He allowed just one run on three walks and five strikeouts. Quentin Torres-Costa (W, 1-0) got the win after working a scoreless eighth inning. Southern League Saves leader Nate Griep (S, 15) finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the win and give Biloxi a 2-1 edge in the series.
Pensacola will look to even the series on Tuesday night. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (1-5, 5.45) to the mound against Shuckers RHP Adrian Houser (0-0, 4.34).
Five-Run Sixth Lifts Wahoos Past Shuckers, 6-4
May 14, 2018
The Blue Wahoos scored five-unanswered runs in the top of the sixth inning to blast their way past the Biloxi Shucker 6-4 on Sunday afternoon at MGM Park.
Shed Long gave the Blue Wahoos an early lead with his third home run of the season, a solo shot in the third inning. Biloxi answered quickly with four runs over the next two innings. In the fourth, a single and hit by pitch set up Jake Gatewood’s two-run double to put the Shuckers up 2-1. Milwaukee Brewers top prospect Corey Ray belted a two-run, two-out home run in the fifth to make it 4-1 before the Wahoos rallied.
Pensacola answered in a big way in the sixth inning. Reliever Josh Uhen (L, 0-2) retired two of the first-three batters he faced before getting ambushed. Aristides Aquino led the charge with a two-run home run to left field. Brian O’Grady followed with a double to right-center field, and scored a batter later on Cassidy Brown’s first double-a hit. Brown came home with C.J. McElroy when Wahoos starting pitcher Keury Mella (W, 4-1) ripped a double to left field.
Mella was solid on the mound too. He was charged with just two earned runs, four total, over seven innings. He added seven strikeouts without a walk to earn the win. Robinson Leyer (S, 1) closed the door with two scoreless innings for the save to secure the win.
The teams meet in game three of the five-game series Monday night. Anthony DeSclafani is scheduled to join the Blue Wahoos on a Major League rehab assignment and get the start. He hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since 2016. Also expected to pitch is former Blue Wahoo Michael Lorenzen, also on a rehab assignment. The Shuckers will counter with RHP Zack Brown (2-0, 3.18).
Tate High Cheerleaders Host Universal Stunt Clinic
May 13, 2018
The Tate High School cheerleaders hosted an Universal Cheerleaders Association Student Clinic Saturday. The UCA Staffers taught new skills and techniques to the programs that attended. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
