Chattanooga Sweeps Wahoos
May 8, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost a doubleheader against the Chattanooga Lookout and was swept in the five-game series for the second time in franchise history to the Lookouts since 2013.
Chattanooga won the doubleheader against Pensacola Sunday, 4-2, and, 3-2, at AT&T Field.
Pensacola has lost 12 of its last 14 games and is now 15-15 this season, which is tied for first with the Mississippi Braves in the Southern League South Division.
In the first game, Chattanooga scored three runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 2-1 Pensacola lead to win, 4-2.
Chattanooga first baseman Travis Harrison hit a two-run single in the sixth inning, leading the Lookouts to a 4-2 win over the Blue Wahoos in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday.
A single by DH Travis Harrison, part of a three-run inning, gave the Lookouts a 3-2 lead before third baseman Ryan Walker hit an RBI triple later in the inning.
The Blue Wahoos had taken a 2-1 lead when center fielder Tyler Goeddel hit an RBI single, bringing home right fielder Aristides Aquino in the second inning.
Deck McGuire dropped to 1-2 on the season when he gave up four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. McGuire gave up one walk and struck out six in his outing. He is now 1-2 on the year with a 4.01 ERA.
In the second game, Blue Wahoos reliever Brennan Bernardino gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to allow Chattanooga to sweep the double header with a 3-2 victory. He gave up a single to DH LaMonte Wade to center field that drove in right fielder Edgar Corcino.
In the second game, Austin Ross worked seven innings, allowed two runs, one earned on five hits, walked four and struck out six. His ERA is now 0.87, which leads the Southern League.
The Pensacola pitching staff leads the league in earned-run average at 2.69.
Blue Wahoos center fielder Tyler Goeddel was 4-7 in the double header with one run scored and two RBIs to lead Pensacola at the plate. Meanwhile, shortstop Blake Trahan was 3-7 with one RBI and a double, his third of the season.
Northview Runners Place At State Meet; Spencer In Fifth
May 7, 2017
A Northview runner was on the winner’s stand Saturday at the state meet in in Bradenton, FL.
Brandon Spencer placed fifth in the state Saturday in the boy’s 200 meters.
Last year, he attended the state meet as a spectator, and this year he is coming home with a medal,” said Northview coach Natalie Nall. “He worked over outside of the season to earn this. I’m proud of this work ethic and dedication.
Also for Northview,
– 800 meter — Brandon Korinchak placed 14th in the state
– Boys 4 x 100 – Brandon Spencer, Tim Bush, Keaton Solmonson, Joseph Wright – placed 11th
– Girls 4 x1 00 — Audriene Odom, Crystal Douglas, Nene Findley, Celeste North — placed 14th
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Lose To The Lookouts
May 7, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped Saturday’s game, 5-1, to the Chattanooga Lookouts and now have lost 10 of their last 12 games.
The team’s slump includes three straight losses to Chattanooga at AT&T Field. Pensacola’s losses come after winning a franchise record eight in a row.
Pensacola is now 15-13 and just one game ahead of the Mississippi Braves, who are 14-14, in the Southern League South Division.
Part of the reason for the losses are a lack of hitting. Pensacola’s one run Saturday came on just three hits.
Blue Wahoos second baseman Josh VanMeter was 1-4, DH Angelo Gumbs was 1-4, and first baseman Brian O’Grady was 1-3. Pensacola’s only run came when third baseman Alex Blandino, who was 0-2, smacked a fly ball to left field that scored Gabriel Guerrero, who reached first on an error by Chattanooga second baseman Nick Gordon. Gumbs singled Guerrero to third.
Chattanooga went up 5-0 in the first four innings. They scored twice in the second inning when Gordon singled to right field and drove in both DH LaMonte Wade and left fielder Travis Harrison.
In the fourth inning, Chattanooga’s right fielder Edgar Corcino doubled to centerfield scoring center fielder Tanner English and shortstop Engelb Vielma. The Lookouts tagged on another run when first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez singled to left field to score Corcino to go ahead 5-0.
Chattanooga starter Matt Tracy allowed all three Blue Wahoos’ hits in his six innings of work. He allowed one unearned run, didn’t allow a walk and struck out four. He improved to 2-2 with 2.60 ERA.
Meanwhile, Keury Mella allowed all five Chattanooga runs in 3.2 innings. He allowed six hits, walked five and struck out two. He fell to 0-3 on the season with a 4.76 ERA.
Pensacola’s bullpen – Ismael Guillon, Ariel Hernandez and Jimmy Herget – shutout Chattanooga the final 4.1 innings on two hits, four walks and nine strikeouts.
Aggie Nation on Top: Playoff Wins In Softball, Baseball
May 6, 2017
It was just good to be a Tate Aggie on Friday with the softball team winning a walk-off thriller in the regional quarterfinal and the baseball team winning two to claim the district championship.
SOFTBALL REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL
Tate 6, Milton 5
Tate Softball won the regional quarterfinal 6-5 on a walk-of homer over right center by Shelby Ullrich. Tate was down 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Ullrick drove in three runs.
For Tate – Hannah Brown 1-4, R; Hayden Lindsay 3-4, 3R; Belle Wolfenden 1-4; Shelby Ullrich 2-4, R, 4 RBI; Madison Nelson 1-3, 2 RBI; Sydni Solliday 1-3.
Hannah Brown earned the win for Tate. She pitched seven innings, giving up five runs, five hits, and striking out three.
Tate will take on Niceville at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Niceville in the Region 1-7A Semifinal game.
BASEBALL DISTRICTS
Tate 11, Escambia 1
In the 1-7A district semifinals, Tate easily beat Escambia 11-1 Friday.
Tate secured a strong 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The fourth inning was a regular home run derby for the Aggies with homers from Hunter NeSmith, Logan Blackmon and Logal McGuffey.
Gabe Castro earned the win for Tate Aggies Varsity. He pitched five innings, surrendering one run, three hits, and striking out three.
Tate 4, Pine Forest 3
In the 1-7A championship game, Tate won their second straight district title 4-3 over Pine Forest.
Logan McGuffey tossed a complete game for Tate allowing three runs, six hits, striking out six, and walking zero.
For Tate – Mason Land 1-3, R, RBI; Mason Land 1-2, R, RBI; Logan McGuffey 1-3, RBI; Hunter NeSmith 2-3, R; Corben Young 1-2, R.
The Tate Aggies will host Niceville Tuesday at 7:00 in the Region 1-7A Quarterfinal.
Northview’s Ohijie Elliott Signs With Alabama Prep Birmingham
May 5, 2017
Northview High School senior Ohijie Elliott has signed to play football for Alabama Prep Birmingham. He is pictured at a signing ceremony Thursday afternoon at Northview with family, friends and fellow Northview Chiefs players.
Chattanooga Beats The Blue Wahoos 7-4
May 4, 2017
Named the Southern League-MiLB Player of the Month for April, Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Tyler Mahle has had sharper games this season.
Although, the righty pitched a good game, the Cincinnati Reds’ No. 10 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.com, gave up season highs in hits (7), runs (3), walks (2) and tied his season-low for innings pitched (5), as the Chattanooga Lookouts rallied Wednesday from four runs down to win, 7-4, at AT&T Field.
Mahle turned the game over to reliever Alex Powers, who struck out five but gave up two solo home runs in his two innings of work that gave Chattanooga a, 5-4, lead that they never relinquished. Powers is 1-2 on the season with a 3.55 ERA.
Mahle gave up a homer — his first of the season — to Lookouts right fielder Edgar Corcino, his first of the year, in the fifth inning. The three earned runs raised the ERA of Mahle, who threw a nine-inning perfect game two starts ago, from 0.55 to 1.19.
Then Powers took over from Mahle and allowed solo shots to Chattanooga’s second baseman Nick Gordon, his second of the season, in the sixth inning and the game-winning blast to leftfielder LaMonte Wade, his third, in the seventh inning. Wade was 3-4 in the game with two runs scored.
Tyler Goeddel, who was playing his first game for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, scored two of the Blue Wahoos four runs in the game. The Cincinnati Reds moved Goeddel down from Triple-A Louisville Bats Wednesday to replace the injured Taylor Sparks, who was hit by a pitch in the palm of his hand and placed on the disabled list.
Goeddel, who played his 2016 season in the Major Leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies where he hit .192 in 56 outfield starts, was 1-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos had three starters with multi-hit games, including center fielder Gabriel Guerrero, who was 2-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs. It was his 12th multi-hit game and fourth in the last five games.
Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan was 2-4 with a walk, run and RBI, while first baseman Angelo Gumbs was 2-4 with a walk.
The Blue Wahoos went ahead, 4-0, of Chattanooga through the first four innings. Pensacola scored one run in the second inning when Guerrero scored on Alex Blandino’s single to centerfield. Guerrero then hit a double to left field in the third inning that drove in both Goeddel and Trahan. Finally, Trahan knocked in Goeddel on a single to right field.
Pensacola fell to 15-11 on the season but still owns first place in the Southern League South Division. Chattanooga evened its record to 13-13 in the North Division.
Northview, Jay Out of District Tournament
May 3, 2017
In the District 3-1A high school baseball tournament Tuesday, both Northview and Jay were eliminated. Chipley and South Walton will face off for the district championship.
Chipley 5, Northview 3
The Chipley Tigers eliminated the Northview Chiefs from the district tournament 5-3 Tuesday at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
Northview took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third and added two more runs in the top of the fifth before Chipley answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Wilson took the loss for Northview. He pitched two innings, surrendering four runs, four hits, striking out three, and walking zero. Mascaro started the game for Northview. He went for four innings, giving up one run, one hit, and striking out six.
For Northview: Quentin Sampson 1-4, R, 2B; Chandler Lowery 1-4; Jared Aliff 1-2, R, RBI; Zach Payne 1-3, RBI, 2B; Devin Stabler 2-3, R.
South Walton 9, Jay 5
Pictured: Northview takes on Chipley Tuesday in Niceville. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Chiefs, Jay Earn Wins In District Tournament
May 2, 2017
In District 3-1A high school baseball Monday:
Northview 10, Baker 5
The Northview Chiefs beat the Baker Gators 10-5 Monday night at South Walton High School.
Quenton Sampson went 3-3 for the Chiefs with two runs, two RBIs and a home run. Also for the Chiefs: Zach Payne 1-3, 4 RBI, 2B; Josh Neese 2-3, 2R; Seth Killam 1-3, 2B; John Chivington 2 R; Devin Stabler 3 R.
Northview will next play Chipley at 5:00 Tuesday at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
Jay 2, Freeport 1
The Jay Royals beat Freeport 2-1 in extra innings. Up next, Jay will take on South Walton.
Molino 16U Hot Shots Tops In Tournament
May 2, 2017
The Molino 16U Hot Shots won the 16U “B” mid-season tournament at Pace recently. The Hot Shots went undefeated in six games. Coaches are Karen Odom, Phillip Boutwell and Darrin Bridges. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win 4-1 Over Biloxi
May 2, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Austin Ross threw seven scoreless innings and right fielder Aristides Aquino flashed why his nickname is “Punisher” when he crushed a solo homer out of Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The stars of Monday’s game helped Pensacola snap a four-game losing streak to the Biloxi Shuckers and pull out a, 3-1, victory in front of 3,459 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly also monkeyed with his batting order for the second night in a row, putting left fielder Leon Landry in the leadoff spot.
Kelly said winning the final game of the five-game series was important. They improved to 15-10 on the year and lead the Southern League South Division by four games over the other four teams in their division.
“There was a time when being 14-10 in the month we would be really excited,” Kelly said. “Now we’re kind of disappointed. You hate to get swept in a five-game series.”
Pensacola got on the scoreboard first when Aquino sent the ball speeding out of the ballpark over the right center fence in the second inning. The 22-year-old’s second home run of the season put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 1-0.
Pensacola centerfielder Gabriel Guerrero hit a fly ball deep to center field in the sixth inning that allowed Blue Wahoos shortstop Blake Trahan to tag up from third, giving Pensacola a 2-0 lead.
The Blue Wahoos scored for the third time in the eighth inning when second baseman Josh VanMeter hit a towering fly ball to center that allowed right fielder Leon Landry, who had a leadoff double, to score from third.
Kelly said he watched some video on the Internet of Landry playing in 2015 for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
“He has really come on,” Kelly said of Landry, who is hitting .318 in his last six games after starting the season 0-18. “I’ve tried to find a place for him. I saw this really skinny guy running the bases and hitting home runs and thought, ‘he can do that for us.’”
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Austin Ross cruised through seven scoreless innings, tying his career-high with nine strikeouts. The 28-year-old allowed a leadoff double to Biloxi second baseman Mauricio Dubon to start the game but then retired 12 of the next 13 benefited from two double plays that came in the second and sixth innings.
Ross, who played his previous seven seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, allowed just three hits and two walks to improve his record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 0.79. That is the second highest ERA on the Pensacola pitching staff that features five hurlers with sub-1.00 earned-run averages.
“I’m sure he liked to get a little revenge” against his former team, Kelly said.
Ross said the pitching staff is constantly trying to top each other.
“People say hitting is contagious. Throwing the ball well is contagious,” said Ross, who spent the past two seasons in the Milwaukee organization as a reliever. “You want to go out there and throw six or seven scoreless innings. There’s a little bit of I want to have a good outing, too.”
Biloxi pitcher Angel Ventura also turned in a good start, working six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out three. He retired 11 in a row from the second through sixth innings.