District Semifinal: Tate Shuts Out Pine Forest
May 3, 2018
The Tate Aggies won their District 1-7A semifinal game over Pine Forest Wednesday, 12-0 in six innings.
Raymond LaFleur earned the win for Tate in five innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out four.
Nolan Rigby took the loss for Pine Forest. He gave up six runs on five hits in two and a third innings while striking out one.
Raymond LaFleur had three-run home run for Tate, going 1-2 with a run and three RBIs.
For Tate: Reid Halfacre 1-4, RBI, 2R; Jesse Sherrill 2-4, RBI: Mason Land 1-3, RBI; Hunter McLean 2-3, 2RBI, R; Blake Anderson 2-4, 2R; Darrien McDowell 2R; Ethan Bloodwoth R; Hunter Riggan 1-1, 2RBI; Trent Jeffcoat 1-2, 2R; Ryan Green R; Raymond LaFleur 1-2, HR, 3RBI.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lavally’s Glam Slam Powers Wahoos Win Over The Mississippi Braves
May 3, 2018
Gavin LaValley came to plate in the seventh of a tie ballgame and gave the Wahoos the lead in grand fashion. He belted a go-ahead grand slam to lift the Wahoos over the Mississippi Braves 9-5 on Wednesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
LaValley swung at the first pitch he saw from Josh Graham (L, 2-2) and blasted Pensacola out of its three-game losing streak. Pensacola’s five-run rally in the frame sealed the win in the series opener. The win was gritty, and the type of performance that surely impressed many of the Cincinnati Reds brass who were in attendance to watch the Double-A affiliate.
The start of the game was far from perfect for Daniel Wright and the Wahoos. Mississippi cashed in on a hit batsman and an error as the visitors scored twice in the opening inning. Michael Reed added to their lead in the second inning with his first home run of the season to make it 3-0.
Pensacola’s first rally came in the fourth inning with the hosts trailing 3-1. After the first two batters reached safely, Brian O’Grady hit his second double of the game to bring home Josh VanMeter. Taylor Sparks followed with an RBI groundout, which tied the game at three. Garrett Boulware then gave the Wahoos their first lead with a sac fly to center to score O’Grady.
The lead didn’t last long because Austin Riley homered with a man on in the fifth inning to reposition Mississippi ahead of Pensacola 5-4. Wright exited the contest after five innings and allowed five runs (four earned). He was replaced by Evan Mitchell (W, 1-0) who worked two scoreless innings in relief. Carlos Navas closed the game out the game with two shutout frames to clinch the win.
The Blue Wahoos bigger rally was in in the seventh when the home side scored five runs on four hits. Boulware and Alberti Chavez led off the inning with singles, and pinch-hitter Nick Longhi singled to right to score Boulware. After a groundout and an intentional walk to load the bases, LaValley lifted Graham’s slider off Travis Demeritte’s glove and over the wall for the first Wahoos grand slam since Eric Jagielo’s slam back on May 5, 2016.
RHP Keury Mella (3-0) will put his Southern-League best 1.00 ERA on the line Thursday night against LHP Michael Mader (1-0, 2.81). Pensacola is a perfect 5-0 in games that Mella has started.
Jay And Northview Fall In District Tournament
May 2, 2018
Northview and Jay both lost Tuesday in the District 3-1A baseball semifinals.
(5) Chipley 11, (1) Jay 5
(2) Freeport 7 (3) Northview 2
Trevor Singleton pitched 4.1 inning for the Chiefs, allow two hits and two runs will striking out five. Seth Killam pitched 1.2 innings allowing three hits, five runs and striking out two.
For Northview: Tanner Levins 2-4, RBI; John Chivington 2-3, RBI; Jackson Moore 2-2, R: Seth Killam 1-4, 3B, R; Jason Fischer 2-2.
Freeport will host Chipley Thursday for the district championship.
Pictured: Northview seniors (L-R) Trevor Singleton, Braxton Edwards, Jason Fischer and John Chivington. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton High’s Sager Signs With Faulkner University
May 1, 2018
Danielle Sager of Flomaton High School has signed to play forward with the Faulkner University Eagles. The four-varsity player maintained a 3.285 GPA while playing volleyball, basketball and participating in other school activities. She is the daughter of Larry and Terrie Sager. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall To The Jumbo Shrimp
May 1, 2018
Eric Jagielo took matters into his own hands against his former club as the Jumbo Shrimp won Monday’s matinee by a 5-3 final.
In the third inning with the game tied at two, Jagielo doubled off Wahoos starter Wyatt Strahan (L, 3-2) to score Monte Harrison, which gave the Shrimp a 3-2 lead. He would later score in the inning on a wild pitch by Strahan, giving the Shrimp a two-run advantage.
Those two runs neutralized a two-run rally the Wahoos strung together in the top of the inning. Luis Gonzalez hit his first Double-A home run to get the visitors on the board and Shed Long scored on a sacrifice fly by Gabriel Guerrero to temporarily tie the game at 2-2. Strahan struggled for the first time on the road this season and was removed from the game after just three innings of work.
Max Duval (W, 1-2) did enough to secure his first win of the season. Outside of the third inning, Duval avoided danger and held the Wahoos to three hits and two runs (one earned) over his five innings. Jumbo Shrimp manager Randy Ready used four different relievers to secure the win for Jacksonville.
In the top of the eighth, Pensacola tried to mount a late-game comeback when C.J. McElroy delivered a pinch-hit single to score Josh VanMeter. With the score 5-3, Gavin LaValley came to the plate—representing the go-ahead run—and stuck out to end the inning.
Pensacola had another chance in the ninth off Jumbo Shrimp closer Jose Quijada (S, 2). After Brian O’Grady was hit by a pitch and Guerrero singled, VanMeter came to the dish as the go-ahead run. However, VanMeter popped out to third to end the series.
The Blue Wahoos open another homestand this Wednesday when the Mississippi Braves come to town. Pensacola’s only series victory this season came against the M-Braves two weeks ago. RHP Daniel Wright (2-1, 6.46) will get the nod for the Wahoos against M-Braves RHP Kyle Wright (1-3, 4.66). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.
Northview Tops Washington, Pace And Milton In NJROTC Flag Football Tourney (With Gallery)
April 30, 2018
Northview won a NJROTC flag football tournament held Saturday at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
Team placements and tournament records were a follows:
1st place Northview 5-1,
2nd place Milton (1) 4-2,
3rd place Pace (1) 4-2,
4th place Escamba 3-3
The Washington High School NJROTC also participated.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Football Holds Wash, Plans Another One Next Saturday
April 29, 2018
The Northview High School football linemen held a car wash Saturday at an Atmore auto parts store. But don’t worry if you missed it, they’ll do it all again next Saturday with a car wash from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Highway 29 in Molino. (Saturday was National Superheroes Day, just in case you are wondering about that top photo.) Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shrimp Sink The Wahoos
April 29, 2018
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp belted two solo home runs, while the Blue Wahoos could muster just one in a 2-1 final Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Aristides Aquino belted his first home run of the season off Cody Poteet (W, 2-1) in the second inning. It was the Wahoos first hit of the game and it put Pensacola up 1-0. That would prove to be the only offense of the game for the visitors as Poteet settled in to work seven innings for the Shrimp while allowing just two hits and the one run.
Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 0-4) made a strong start for the Blue Wahoos also, but he made two mistakes which proved to cost him and the Wahoos the game. In the third inning he served up a leadoff home run to Brian Schales which tied the game at 1-1. In the seventh, it was a lead off blast from John Norwood that was the difference maker.
Gutierrez took the loss despite allowing just the two runs with six strikeouts over 6.1 innings. It was his fourth consecutive start without a walk.
The Blue Wahoos will look to bounce back and even the series on Sunday afternoon with RHP Jesus Reyes (0-4, 5.65) on the mound. The Jumbo Shrimp are still undecided on their starter.
Wahoos Beat Jumbo Shrimp
April 28, 2018
Brian O’Grady launched a solo home run into the back of the right field bleachers to break a scoreless tie in the top of the eighth on Friday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The blast supported Keury Mella (W, 3-0) who pitched seven spectacular innings to earn his third win of the season as the Blue Wahoos beat the Jumbo Shrimp 1-0.
Mella was locked with Jacksonville starter Pablo Lopez in a pitcher’s duel through five innings. When Lopez was lifted, Jorgan Cavanerio (L, 0-1) picked up where he left off. The Blue Wahoos had a couple of chances throughout the game, but couldn’t get a run across until O’Grady came up leading off the eighth.
O’Grady wasn’t in the starting lineup, but came in when Shed Long was removed from the game in the fifth inning. O’Grady broke the tie lifting a fly ball over the right-centerfield fence off Cavanerio in almost the exact same spot where he had homered the night before. His two homers in the last two games are his only two of the season, but they tie him for the team lead.
Mella was excellent on the hill in his fifth start of the season. He threw 89 pitches over seven shutout innings. The Shrimp scattered just three hits against him as he struck out a season-high nine batters without issuing a walk. Carlos Navas (S, 1) backed him up out of the bullpen by shutting down Jacksonville over the final two innings to get his first save of the year.
Taylor Sparks was held hitless on the night to snap his hit-steak at a team-best 12 games. It was the longest active streak in the Southern League.
Tate Lady Aggies Win Fifth Consecutive District Championship
April 27, 2018
The Tate Lady Aggies won their fifth straight straight championship Thursday night, 11-1 over the Pace Patriots.
Hannah Brown earned the win for the Lady Aggies in six innings, allowing just one hit, one run and striking out six.
For Tate: Shelby Ullrich 3-4, R, 2RBI, Belle Wolfenden 2-4; Deazia Nickerson 2-2, RBI, R; Ryleigh Cawby 2-2, 2 RBI, 2R; Sydni Solliday 1-3; Shelby McLean 1-3, R; Amber Decous 1-3, 3RBI.
Up next, Tate will host Milton Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the 1-7A regional quarterfinals.