Wahoos Split Double Header, Split Series With M-Braves
June 13, 2018
Vladimir Gutierrez (W, 3-8) picked up his second win in as many starts and Narciso Crook drove in the go-ahead in the sixth inning as the Wahoos earned a series win with a 2-1 victory in game one of Tuesday night’s doubleheader at Trustmark Park against the Mississippi Braves.
Gutierrez was locked in from the get-go. The Cuban right-hander allowed two hits through the first four innings of the ballgame and neither batter reached scoring position. In the fifth, his only mistake pitch was punished as Alex Jackson homered the 2-0 offering from Gutierrez to tie the game at 1-1. Gutierrez had the perfect response though as he retired the next three batters in order to close out the fifth.
It was the Wahoos who struck first in the game thanks to Taylor Sparks’ solo home run in the second inning off Andres Santiago (L, 2-3). It was his fifth homer of the year and it gave Gutierrez and the Blue Wahoos a quick 1-0 edge.
Santiago—much like Gutierrez—elevated his game after the home run. The right-hander allowed a total of three hits and pitched all seven innings for the M-Braves. The only other time he ran into trouble was in the sixth inning, when the Wahoos took the lead. Daniel Sweet led off with a bunt single and took second base on a throwing error by Daniel Lockhart. After a Shed Long sacrifice bunt moved Sweet to third, Narciso Crook singled home Sweet with an RBI single to right-field, which gave the Wahoos a 2-1 lead.
After 5.1 impressive innings from Gutierrez, manager Jody Davis turned to ball over to Alejandro Chacin to close the game out. Chacin secured the final five outs and the Wahoos hung on for the win. Gutierrez finished the game allowing just one walk and striking out seven.
In the second game of the twin bill, the M-Braves used a grand slam from Carlos Martinez to surge to a 5-1 win.
Wyatt Strahan (L, 5-5) ran into trouble in the second inning when he walked M-Braves starter Michael Mader with the bases loaded to give Mississippi a 1-0 lead. After a scoreless third inning, the M-Braves blew it open in the fourth when Martinez launched a questionable grand slam off the railing in left field to make it 5-0. At first glance, it appeared the ball hit off the top of the wall, but despite Davis’s pleas with the home plate umpire, the call stood.
Pensacola nabbed a run in the sixth when Crook singled home C.J. McElroy to make it 5-1. Crook finished the game with a pair of hits and extended his Double-A hitting streak to seven games. However, that would be all of the offense the Wahoos could muster as the M-Braves closed out the seventh inning in scoreless fashion.
The Blue Wahoos will wrap up the first-half of the season with a five-game series against the Mobile BayBears. These two teams haven’t met since Mobile took three of five from Pensacola in the opening series of the season. RHP Daniel Wright (2-4, 5.05) is expected to take the hill for the Blue Wahoos while RHP Jesus Castillo (4-4, 5.23) gets the nod for the BayBears.
Molino 10U Wins All-Star Championship
June 12, 2018
The Molino 10U All Stars recently won the Gulf Coast Youth Baseball tournament. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino 8U Wins All Star Championship
June 11, 2018
The Molino 8U team won an all-star championship this weekend. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino 14U Wins All-Star Championship
June 10, 2018
Molino 14U recently won the GCYB All-Star championship in Navarre. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Braves Best The Wahoos
June 10, 2018
Mississippi Braves starting pitcher, Touki Toussaint (W, 3-6), got it done on the mound, but did serious damage at the plate with two hits and three RBI in the M-Braves 12-4 win over the Blue Wahoos Saturday night at Trustmark Park.
The Braves struck first against Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Wright (L, 2-4) with a pair of runs in the second inning on Toussaint’s two-run single. He would strike again with two outs in the fourth. Toussaint ripped a double to left-center field driving home Connor Lien to put the M-Braves back on top 4-3.
Pensacola took the lead briefly in the top of the fourth. Brian O’Grady doubled home Nick Longhi to cut the deficit to 2-1. With two outs, Chris Okey singled home O’Grady and Luis Gonzalez to put the Wahoos up 3-2. The Braves piled on after taking the lead with a four-run fourth inning.
The Braves knockout punch came in the sixth inning. Already leading 9-3, Lien launched a drive to left field, Daniel Sweet made a leaping attempt into the fence, but he couldn’t hold on. Three runs scored on the two-out triple. Pensacola got a run back in the seventh on Narciso Crook’s first double-a home run to make it 12-4.
Wright lasted four innings and was charged with six runs on five hits with four walks in the losing effort. On the mound, Toussaint earned the win with 5.2 innings and three runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, Shed Long led the way with his second-straight two-hit contest.
The Blue Wahoos will look to bounce back behind All-Star RHP Keury Mella (4-3, 3.56). The Braves will counter with RHP Bryce Wilson (1-2, 7.43).
Varner Pitches Wahoos To Series Opening Win
June 9, 2018
Seth Varner pitched six strong innings for the Blue Wahoos in the 6-1 win over the Mississippi Braves Friday night at Trustmark Park. It is the season-best third straight win for the Blue Wahoos.
Varner (W, 3-0) surrendered a leadoff home run to Connor Lien in the bottom of the first inning and that was his only blemish in the start. He finished with just five hits allowed, one walk and two strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos pounded out 12 hits with everybody in the lineup reaching base with a hit or a walk. Pensacola got the first five runs against M-Brave starter Kyle Wright (L, 3-7), and the scoring started in the third.
Shed Long doubled home Chris Okey to tie the game at 1-1. A batter later, Nick Longhi drove a deep sacrifice fly to the center fielder Lien which scored the go-ahead run, Varner, from third. Narciso Crook tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning to stretch the Pensacola lead to 3-1.
The Wahoos had Wright on the ropes when the first five batters of the fifth inning reached. C.J. McElroy led the rally off with a single followed by base hits from Long, Longhi and Brian O’Grady before Luis Gonzalez walked. Longhi’s single scored McElroy, and O’Grady’s brought home Long to make it a 5-1. Gonzalez drove Long in for his second run of the game with a single in the ninth to cap the scoring at 6-1.
Longhi and Long both paced the Wahoos hot bats. Longhi finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Long finished 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Robinson Leyer did a fine job in relief of Varner with two scoreless innings before Jesus Reyes finished the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Blue Wahoos look for their fourth straight win on Saturday night in Mississippi. Pensacola will start RHP Daniel Wright (2-3, 4.50) against Braves RHP Touki Toussaint (2-6, 3.52). First pitch is set for 6:00 c.t. from Trustmark Park.
Registration Open For Tate Aggie Summer Baseball Camp
June 8, 2018
The 2018 Tate Aggie Baseball Summer Camp will be held June 11-13 from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. for players 8-14.
The Tate High coaching staff and players will host a three day camp that will focus on all aspects of the games of baseball. Players will need to bring their glove, baseball cleats, bats, turf type shoes (for batting cages) and any other necessary equipment.
Spots are limited; preregistration is recommended. The cost is $100.
For a registration form and more information, click here.
Chiefs Football Volunteers Thursday At Care Center
June 8, 2018
Several members of the Northview High School football team volunteered Thursday at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center after summer workouts and conditioning. The Northview football linemen also held a car was Friday in preparation for summer camp. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Take Series With Narrow 3-2 Win
June 8, 2018
Wyatt Strahan (W, 5-4) overcame his Blue Wahoos Stadium woes and delivered a wonderful pitching performance that guided the Wahoos to a 3-2 game and series win.
It looked like an ugly start early for Strahan after Corey Ray pounced on the first pitch of the game with his ninth home run of the season. However, the University of Southern California product composed himself and retired the next three batters in order and escaped further trouble.
Offensively the Wahoos had their starter’s back with a swift response. After a leadoff single by C.J. McElroy, Nick Longhi scored McElroy with his eighth double of the season. With two outs in the inning, Luis Gonzalez singled home Longhi and later stole a base and scored on Narciso Crook’s first career Double-A RBI. When the dust in the first inning settled the Wahoos led 3-1.
Strahan cruised over the next three innings until he ran into Jake Hager in the fifth. The Shuckers shortstop jumped all over the 1-0 pitch and launched his sixth homer of the year to cut the deficit to 3-2. Again, Strahan rebounded and did not allow a run over his final 1.1 innings.
Jody Davis turned to his bullpen for a large portion of Thursday’s finale and once again the bullpen delivered. Victor Payano worked around a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and finished his night with two scoreless innings. Alejandro Chacin replaced Payano with one out in the eighth and finished off the frame with the lead intact. In the ninth, the skipper called upon Alex Powers and the Massachusetts-native finished off the Shuckers in dramatic fashion. With the tying run on second, Tyler Heineman hit a groundball to shortstop that was mishandled by Gonzalez. However, the Wahoos shortstop made a heads-up throw to third base, which caught Trent Grisham well off the bag and stuck in a rundown. After a couple throws, Gonzalez—who made the original error—caught the throw from Cassidy Brown to tag out Grisham and seal the win.
Pensacola will hit the road Friday morning towards Pearl, MS, for a five-game series against the M-Braves. LHP Seth Varner (2-0, 3.03) will make his third start of the year against former first-round pick Kyle Wright (3-6, 4.37). The upcoming series is the second-to-last series for the Blue Wahoos prior to the All-Star break
Cantonment Diamond Dolls Win 8U All-Star Tournament
June 7, 2018
The Cantonment Diamond Dolls won first place in a recent 8U all-star tournament in Navarre. The team also won a mid-season tournament, the Blue Angel Classic tournament and placed second in two additional tournaments.
The Cantonment Diamond Dolls are Lily Speight, Kenzee Tanner, Miley McMullan, Natalee Sherouse, Cheyenne Paul, Chloe Engle, Addison Wilson, Kaylyn Relstab, Kalleigh Jarman, Tessa Kendrick, Giovanna Barnes and Jamaria Cook. Head coach is Kenny Tanner and assistant coaches are Chris Sherouse, Scott Relstab, Justin McMullan, Joey Paul, Matt Speight and Adam Wilson.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.